Page 88 of Executive Decision

She growled, “I hate this. I don’t want to be fawned over.”

“Well, you don’t have a choice, princess. Sleep.”

She mumbled something while curled under the covers. This place was usually occupied when I visited Mom and Tim north of the city and didn’t want to drive home. I left Daphne to sleep, returning downstairs. Chloe was in the kitchen devouring an entire cheeseboard while Tim prepped cocktails. Mom was at a tennis lesson.

“So, is she calming down?” Chloe asked.

“She’s fine,” I answered. “She’s resisting rest, but I think she will calm down eventually with nothing else to do.”

“I feel so bad she fell. Claire was a total baby about something silly.”

“This is why I don’t fuck with horses,” I said. “Make fun of me all you will, but Daphne is worse for wear.”

“She doesn’t even have a concussion, brother. Calm down. God, you’re too protective.”

I rolled my eyes. “I’d like not to start a war with the Delphines, okay?”

“Uh-huh. That’s totally what it is.”

Tim snickered.

“I don’t need you piling on, Tim,” I said.

“She’s a nice girl,” Tim said. “But you brought her here.”

I did. I figured the alternative was to drive her home and deal with her mother. Forced to pick a matriarch to deal with, I’d pick mine. I didn’t need to tell Danna Delphine anything we were up to. That wasn’t our dynamic. I figured Daphne would want to handle it more delicately than in her current state with two bruised ribs.

“Who did you bring here?”

My mother arrived, still dressed in tennis whites.

“Claire wasted someone. We’re trying to patch them up,” Chloe said. “You look… accomplished.”

“I just beat Danna Delphine quite triumphantly,” Mom said. “Her sour face was so satisfying. I unseated the Queen unceremoniously.”

Chloe burst into a fit of laughter. Tim made eye contact with me.

“Oh, fuck!” Chloe patted my back. “Well,thisis awkward.”

“She just lost her husband. Could wetryto be nicer?” Tim asked.

“For all the years she tortured me, I doubt it, sweetie.”

That was debatable. I gathered Mom and Danna felt they were the victims in this feud for the contest of Hostess with the Mostess in Chicagoland. Neither was the winner. They had different niches. Mom never got a fair shake given her status as a “new money” working woman. Danna only had to manage domestic matters for an old money husband, but she was often vilified for having strong opinions in a way a man never would.

“So,” Mom said. “Who did Claire attack?”

“Well, she teleported and bucked her off,” Chloe said. “But you should ask Cal since it was hisfriend.”

I cringed.

“Wait, is it Kristy?” Mom’s face brightened.

“No. Kristy doesn’t ride,” I answered. “Chloe, I’d like to strangle you.”

“Who is it?” Mom grew impatient.

“Daphne Delphine,” I sighed. “She went out with Chloe and?—”

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