Page 21 of Savage Truth

“Why do you keep checking your phone?”

Damon’s dark smirk said he knew why. And goddammit, I couldn’t give him an answer. I was checking my phone repeatedly because I was waiting for a text from Riley, as if I was some sort of lovestruck girl.

It scared the hell out of me. Because I did care, though I never wanted to. Sleeping with her was supposed to cure the need I had for her, but it hadn’t. I wanted her even more.

Phoenix handed me a beer, and I took a long pull, ignoring the droplets that hit me when Shane dove into the pool. Aunt Cece woke from the commotion of us barging into their house. She came down the hall, took one look at me, and forced me to take a seat while she examined my head.

I didn’t care about the bump or the cut. The satisfying hit to Dad’s face eclipsed any pain I might have felt. The cut wasn’t bad enough for stitches, and she went back to bed, wearing a frown.

One good thing came of waking our aunt. She’d cleared us to stay there as long as we needed. Rather than disturb her sleep further, we moved completely outside and the farthest point away from her room.

“Now that you’re calm”—Phoenix eyed me warily—“what’s this about?”

I filled them in on what I knew. Raelyn was the woman Dad was screwing when our mom swallowed the pills and overdosed. “That’s the real reason I wanted Riley cut off from everyone. If we got to her, we’d get to her mom.”

“Isn’t working, though, is it?” Phoenix dropped to the pool’s steps and submerged himself to the top of his swim trunks.

Shane grabbed a Nerf football and threw a perfect spiral to him. They tossed it back and forth while Damon’s stare bored into me.

“I heard you screwing Riley.” He lowered his chin. Darkness flashed in his eyes. “Better get your junk checked for disease. No telling where she’s been. Like mother, like daughter.”

I set the beer and my phone down. “You better shut the fuck up. Riley’s nothing like her mother.”

“You’re touchy about this girl who spread her legs so easily for you.”

I got to my feet and was halfway around the pool before I knew what I was doing. Damon met me in the middle, and I launched my fist into his face. He blocked and retaliated. We traded blows, each one more satisfying than the last.

A hard shove to my side made me lose my balance. There was a splash. I was underwater.What the hell?I hit the bottom of the pool, righted myself, then launched to the surface at the same time Damon did. I growled and lunged.

“Stop!” Shane shouted.

Damon and I glared at each other before turning toward our cousins, who were obviously pissed. Both stood with hands fisted at their sides.

“You’re already fighting with your dad,” Phoenix said between clenched teeth. “You can’t be fighting each other.”

Phoenix was right. I focused on Damon, my fists balled underwater. I still wanted to pound him. “Riley’s nothing like her mom.”

“Fine. She isn’t bad, but she’s not wholly good, either.” Damon frowned as he waded to the stairs and climbed from the pool.

I followed his lead, got out of the pool, and dropped into a chair. I’d kept the PI to myself, but maybe it was time to come clean. “There’s more about Riley that I haven’t shared.”

He snorted. “Why am I not surprised?”

Phoenix and Shane each pulled up a chair, and I dove in, telling them everything I’d learned from Wes. How he’d found pictures of them in another state, their changing names and appearances, and finally… how they were grifters.

“So they’re after your dad’s money?” Phoenix’s eyebrows furrowed. “Won’t your dad make Raelyn sign a prenup?”

“Let her have his money. It would serve him right for everything he’s done. Besides, our trust is protected.” Damon’s blue eyes flashed with dark intent.

“He would probably do a prenup, but that’s not what I’m back and forth about. I have this information from Wes, and if I share it with Dad, he should kick them out.”

“Should but probably won’t.” Phoenix leaned back in his chair.

“He seemed pretty into her when we were at your house.” Shane grabbed one of the towels and slung it around his neck before picking up his beer for a long pull.

“Keep it to yourself.” Damon crossed his arms over his chest. “This is Dad’s problem. He’s the one who cheated for years on Mom—”

“Nice to see you’re finally on my side about them.” I couldn’t have kept the dryness from my voice if I tried. We got along about most things, but not any of this. It was mostly my fault as I’d tried to shield him from as much of Dad’s cheating as I could. Unfortunately, it had backfired, and he thought Mom’s issues were the root of their problems.

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