Page 74 of Romeo

“Is that a threat?”Odie demands.

“It’s a promise,” Riley growls.“Now, we already spoke to Glen Dodger.He told us that your grandfather was having money troubles and came to him to ask for help getting out of the publishing contract.Is that true?”

That gets his attention.He shifts his gaze to me.“What was it like?Seeing him again?”He doesn’t answer Riley’s question, and the one he directs at me is like a dagger to the gut all over again.

Riley lunges forward, but I grip his arm to keep him from ripping my brother apart right there.His muscles are tense beneath my fingers, his body hard and ready to attack.He’s trembling beneath my touch, a byproduct of the rage etched into his feral expression.

“Put your dog on a leash, Jules,” Odie says, obviously not threatened at all—a stupid move on his part.“I see my sister has managed to convince you—yet again—that she’s a victim.”

“I was a victim.And you know that.”

“And I told you to move on, didn’t I?There was no sense in trying to do anything about it because Glen Dodger is untouchable.Even more so now.Maybe if our grandfather had figured that out sooner, he’d still be alive.”He spits the words out then tosses the folder onto the bed.

The blood rushes away from my face, and I grow cold.It was my fault.All of this is because of what happened all those years ago.“Did you know he was looking into it?”

“Of course I did,” Odie spits out.“I told him the same thing I told you—to drop it.That Dodger was untouchable and going after him—especially with his candidacy announcement coming up—was a mistake.”

“Dodger killed him?”

Odie’s disapproving glare is one I’m quite used to.“Grow up, Jules.There’s no proof Dodger killed him.”

“Then who else?Who else would have wanted him dead?”

“Who knows.It’s just as likely you made enemies who decided to collect.It’s not as though you’ve been an upstanding citizen your entire life.”

His accusation is a slap to the face.I may have been an alcoholic.But Ineverhurt anyone.Enemies?Aside from Dodger, I have none.“That is not true, and you know it.”

“Do I?”he questions, crossing his arms.

“What about the contract?”Riley asks, seemingly back in control of his temper.“Why was he trying to get out of it?”

Odie rolls his eyes.“Because Jules negotiated a ridiculous contract on his behalf.And once again, I had to go in and fix her mess.Our grandfather didn’t care much for the terms of the new contract, and when I explained to him it was better all the way around, he was furious.”

“You’re the one who altered the contract?”

“The original one was for less than the advance I got him.He was one of the most prolific actors of his generation; he deserved more than a measly $200,000.”

“He didn’t want that much of an advance because he didn’t need it!”Anger and betrayal burn through me.“He was adamant that he wanted to keep the advance low.It wasn’t about the money for him.”

“Itshouldhave been about the money.Especially after everything you cost the family.”

I take a step closer, my hands balling into fists.“Youburiedhim with that contract.And it wasn’t even just the money.You renegotiated terms that were unreachable even for someone who’d been writing novels for years.This was his first one, and he wanted to be cautious.”

“Cautious isn’t what makes money,” he sneers.

I stare back at him,finallyseeing him as the greedy man he is.How did I miss it all these years?Why did I fight so hard to get him to see me when I couldn’t even truly see him?“You buried him, Odie.He raised you—gave you everything—and you betrayed him.”

“I was helping him,” Odie replies.“And he would have seen it.”

“Where did the money for the advance go?”I ask.

Odie glares at me.“That’s none of your business.”

“Actually, it is.I’m his grandchild too.So where is it?”

“Moved to somewhere you can’t touch it.I moved it the second it hit his account.Just to make sure he didn’t do anything stupid and gift it to you too.”

“Is that why he went to Dodger?”I ask, tears burning in the corners of my eyes as the pieces start fitting together.“He went to him for help becauseyoumadehismoney inaccessible?”

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