Page 11 of Collateral Damage
Ethan and Arden’s only main request for tonight? No drama.
Damn it.
“Conrad wanted one last chance to get revenge on your uncle,” my mother says, patting Arden on the shoulder. “I’m so sorry about this. Let’s go out there and enjoy the rest of your night, shall we? If anyone asks about the marriage contract, you say it’s a good thing you’re Gregory’snieceand move on to another conversation.”
“Why does Uncle Conrad want to get back at Dad?” Chandler asks from where he’s been leaning against one of the industrial refrigerators, and my heart sinks.
We’ve kept so much from my brother. Even though he’s an adult, he has the heart and mind of someone much younger because of his Down Syndrome. He doesn’t need to know about our sordid family history.
Mom frowns. “Oh, sweetie. Once we get home, you and I can talk about it privately.”
He steps forward, and Mom pats him on the shoulder.
“Tell me now. I want to know,” he demands, voice cracking.
Fuck. My heart has already taken a beating, but right now it’s about to go through another ten rounds. Of course he’s known we’ve been hiding things from him. Chandler is not dumb, contrary to what people may think.
Mom opens and closes her mouth, the color draining from her face, and I know she’s about to confess the truth.
But before a word comes out, the door flies open, and Cooper stalks in, followed closely by his scummy father.
Cooper’s earthy-brown hair has grown since the accident, hanging around those dark eyes. He looks so much like his father these days. The smug eyes. The clenched jaw. The airof confidence that boarders on arrogance. It’s apparent they’ve come here to gloat, not to apologize or explain.
“What’s going on here?” Ethan’s voice is laced with venom, which makes me happy for Arden. This is a man who is always going to put his bride first, no matter the circumstance, and Arden deserves nothing less than complete devotion.
“I think it’s time we talk about some things,” Conrad says, and my chest tightens, as if a band of anxiety is squeezing my ribcage. Somehow, I know that whatever is about to happen is going to make my world spin upside down.
He slides into the center of the kitchen like he owns the place, pulling out an envelope from his inside suit jacket and presenting it to my mother. “You know I’ve been meaning to speak with you about Arden,” he says. “Don’t act so surprised.”
Her eyes grow cold. “How dare you.”
“How dareI? I’ve been trying to set up a meeting with you for weeks, but you refused to see me. I tried to warn you, Amelia. I really did.”
My mother doesn’t say a word as she snatches the envelope from Conrad’s hands and tears it open. My heart pounds against my ribcage, increasing in tempo when Mom’s face goes from incredulous, to shocked, to resigned in the space of a long, drawn-out minute. Her backside hits the edge of the nearby countertop, her entire body defeated, and tears form in her eyes.
“What is it?” I breathe, stepping forward. I try to take the paper, but she shakes her head.
“Arden, this is for you,” she says solemnly.
Arden’s cheeks go bright red as she strides forward and takes the paper, her eyes scanning the contents. She passes it off to Ethan, who looks it over, his face hardening to steel.
“Would someone tell me what is going on here?” I turn to my old lover, my old friend, the boy I count on to always tell me the truth. “Ethan, what is it? Tell me.”
But he doesn’t say a word.
“Please tell us,” Chandler says, and Hayes folds his arms over his chest, appearing equally frustrated. My brothers are twenty-three and seventeen. They’re still young, and especially young-at-heart, but they can hold their own.
Ethan tucks his arm around his wife and glares at our father, but he’s as speechless as the rest of them.
“This is getting ridiculous,” I snap. “Enough with the secrets.”
Conrad’s gaze is steady on Amelia Laurence. “I didn’t want to do this in front of everyone, but you’ve left me no choice. You know the contract is binding. You can see the test results for yourself. Have your people call my people first thing Monday morning, and we can get started on the equity transfers.”
He turns on his heel and disappears into the party, leaving the rest of us to clean the mess he left behind. Cooper should leave, too, but he doesn’t. He stands at the edge of the group, eyes heavy like he’s waiting for something. Finally, his gaze meets mine, and something dark flashes there. Once again, I’m reminded this is no longer the man I used to know.
“Mom, what’s going on?” I try again, but my mother is no longer hiding behind anger; it’s pain that’s written all over her face. The kind of pain she endured at my father’s hands after we found out about the affair with her best friend. And in that moment, I know without a shadow of a doubt, that whatever is in that paperwork, it has to do with Dad.
“Later, children. We’ll talk about this later.Afterthe party,” she instructs.
