Page 3 of Falling Into Forever
“Family,” he snorts. “You’re so desperate to find one, you put blinders on to everything and everyone else. Poor Dante,” he says in a mocking tone.
It takes all my effort to keep a neutral expression on my face. This isn’t him. This is the drugs talking.
“Poor little Dante.” Taunting me is one of his favorite pastimes. “Left home alone at five years old, so now you try to make everyone love you—to be so good that no one will ever leave you.”
I crack the knuckles on my right hand, and he pauses with a snarl on his face.
I was left home alone a lot, but I’m guessing five is just when I became aware of it.
“How’s that working out for you, Dante?” He says my name like a curse. “Did that piece of shit in Connecticut love you? Oh, that’s right. She sent you packing as soon as—”
“That’s enough,” I say through gritted teeth. I place my hands in my lap but keep my fists balled tightly under my desk. I won’t give him the satisfaction of a visual reaction. “Dad may have been stuck with me after my mother died, but make no mistake, he didn’t want me any more than he wanted the rest of you. Why do you think we moved every two years? He’s never been someone any of us could count on.”
I’m still not sure why he didn’t put me up for adoption, but Trent doesn’t need to know that. I’ve already told him too many secrets, and now, I fear that was a mistake.
“I’ll never regret putting family first.” I sigh and glance at Saylor’s picture for a split second before focusing on Trent again. “All of my family. Saylor showed me what family should look like, and for that, she’ll always be a part of mine.”
His sneer is full of contempt. “You’ll never regret putting family first? That’s stupidly idealistic.” His features take on a hard edge, but his expression is vacant—my brother is no longer in control of himself. “Regret is a funny thing,brother. Never say never.”
It’s a warning, but I can’t begin to fathom for what.
“Listen.” I rub my forehead with my thumb and pointer finger. I can’t seem to apply enough pressure to make the rising headache disappear, though. “I’ve worked too hard to hand this company over to some sleazy trust fund kids for a fraction of what it will be worth in five years.”
His knuckles turn white on his thigh. “A trust fund kid like me?”
How did I miss this? I haven’t seen Trent spiral like this since my first week in California.
After I got him out of that mess, he promised he’d stay clean. Will this always be the cycle for him?
“You’re not a trust fund kid. You started working on TV shows when you were still in diapers.”
“And not a day since. Is that what you mean?” He may be older than I am, but emotionally, he’s stunted at eleven years old.
“Damn it, Trent. Stop putting words in my mouth.”
“Sell the fucking company.” Sweat gathers on his forehead, plastering his stringy hair to his skin. The vehemence of his tone is what unsettles me most. It makes warning bells chime loudly in my mind. He’s grasping at straws, and he knows it.
His nostrils flare, and his face reddens, but this is about money. He hasn’t had a paying gig in three years, and if he’s using again, the only money he has left is probably tied up in the shares of Ascendancy Inc. that I stupidly gifted him.
I lift my hand to loosen the knot in my tie and lean back in my chair. “I’m not selling.” I release a heavy sigh. “How much do you need?”
“It’s not about the money.” His eye twitches, calling attention to the lie.
I yell, “Don’t lie to me, Trent. Not to me.” I take a calming breath before my employees start asking questions. “I’ll buy your shares.” My shoulders are as tight as my words. It’s the last thing I want to do. These shares are supposed to be his retirement plan. That’s why I’ve worked so hard.
How long do you have to take drugs for them to cause that vacant look and sallow skin? I’m not entirely sure how he’s able to function like this. It pisses me off and makes me incredibly sad. I’ve worked my ass off to rehab his image and his career. It’s a slap in the face after everything I’ve accomplished and a wrecking ball in his family’s life.
But he’s your family. You would help him if you cared. And you owe him this. It’s not his fault he had no real family who loved him, and Mike Thompson has never put anyone over himself—especially you.My inner voice is an honest asshole.
“Playmore is willing to pay double what they’re worth.” His tone fluctuates between pissed off and a whiny teenager. I hate witnessing this level of desperation, but it’s the proof I’ve been waiting for—he’s in way over his head.How much could he possibly owe?
If I’d been around when we were kids, maybe I could have…
It’s not even worth going down that path. Trent is one of two half-siblings who live in California, and where Trent is a match about to catch fire, Hunter is a self-made asshole, but at least he has his shit together.Would he help with Trent if I called him?
Not likely. Trent burned that bridge well before I knew I had brothers.
I doubt even having our father around would have kept him clean. Not with what I now understand about our childhoods.
