Page 51 of The Bargain
She laughs. “You have to care. We need to get you to New York. Also, Harper texted me. I’ll have my contract today for sure.”
“I told you.” My cellphone rings, and I grab it from the nightstand to find Anna calling, gritting my teeth at the idea of talking to her.
“I’m going to make coffee,” Sofia says. “Take your call.” She’s already headed for the door, and I grunt and throw away the blanket, sitting up and not even thinking about answering thecall. I’ll be there tomorrow. I’ll talk to my father and my brother about whatever is going on, not her.
The minute the call ends, it starts ringing again. I grimace and pull on my pants before walking toward the bathroom. I’ve just turned on the shower when my cell starts ringing again, and I’m at my limit. My temper is hot when I finally answer. “What, Anna?”
“Why are you so hostile?”
“Whatdo you need?”
“Your brother—”
“You already have him.”
“Don’t be a smartass. Grant—”
“I’ll be there tomorrow. I’ll handle him then.”
“Where are you now? Why didn’t you handle him already?” she snaps. “He’s not right, Ethan. This deal he’s made must have gone south. He’s pacing. He’s not sleeping. He’s all jittery, so I think he’s on something.”
Sounds like Grant, I think. When the going gets tough, he reaches for an outlet, and apparently Anna isn’t it anymore. “If you’re this worried, go see my father.”
“He won’t listen to me. You know that.”
“I don’t know anything about your relationship with my brother or my father,” I say, my tone as uncaring as I feel.
“I know you’re bitter—”
“Move on. I have.”
“If you’re no longer thinking with your cock, think with your wallet. He’s gotten Dalton in bed with the wrong people, and you’ve done nothing about it.”
“You’re confused if you think my time with you was about some undying desire to fuck you. It was a business transaction that went bankrupt.”
“You’re such a dick.”
“Yeah, well, go suck my brother’s a little longer, and maybe you can control him again. If not, talk to my father.”
“No reason to be so crass.”
“I’m just speaking the truth.”
“If you think you’re not implicated in this mess, you’re wrong,” she snaps. “We’ll all end up in jail if you don’t find a way to get him out of this.”
“Sounds to me like you’re scared, and it makes me wonder just how involved you really are, Anna. My guess is, you were behind whatever my brother is into, until it went south. I’ll be home tomorrow night. If things are as bad as you think they are, talk to my father.”
“Ethan—”
I hang up and set my phone down, shed my pants, and walk to the shower before stepping under the warm water, my hands settling on the wall, my jaw locked. I do not love Anna. I never loved her. A normal person, however, would break up with their ex and part ways, not sit across from them at Christmas dinner. She seems to revel in the divide between me and Grant. Sofia’s right, though. I need to fix my family. It’s what my mother would want, but they have to want to come together, and I’m not sure that’s an idea grounded in reality.
As for Grant, he’s fucked up. He’s always been fucked up. I’m not sure I can blame my father for worrying over Grant, who’s clearly easily led astray, but the way he’s going about managing Grant isn’t working. He’s crashing and burning. And if Anna is legit, and not full of bullshit, he’s taking us with him. The door to the shower opens and closes, and Sofia steps inside—gorgeous and everything I need right now. I catch her to me and fold her close. She laughs and pushes me against the wall. With her hands planted on my chest, she studies me, understanding in her face. “What happened? What’s wrong?”
“Family stuff. Fucking Anna. She says Grant is high and in a shit storm of trouble. I don’t know what to believe.”
“Then we need to leave tonight for sure. Maybe right after I get my passport.”
“No. Your father matters. We stay until we get him straight.”
