Page 165 of Beauty
Beckett himself watches from afar, pushing one of his youngest daughters on the swings, his lips tipping up in what I take as approval.
A thread of relief works its way through me. Though when Brooks clears his throat, it vanishes. “So this is serious?”
I nod, keeping my head high. “Yes.”
With a subtle dip of his chin, he holds out a hand. His grip is a little too tight, but I tolerate it. All in all, I couldn’t have asked for a better reaction from him. Once he releases me, he wraps his sister in a hug. “He’s a good one.”
She smiles over at me. “Don’t I know it.”
As he steps away from her, he zeroes in on me, his expression hardening. “And she’s the best one of us all. Be good to her.”
My heart warms at the warning. “Always.”
Gavin gives me a similar lecture after we eat, but Aiden is all smiles, hugging me and welcoming me into the chaotic world of the Langfields.
A game of softball is suggested, and teams form, and when Ollie gets a hit off War’s easy pitch, I throw him onto myshoulders and run the bases while all the guys “struggle” to tag us out.
It’s easily one of the best days I’ve had in a long time.
As the sun starts to descend, Liv, Sara, Millie, and Ava take the kids over to Liv’s to put on a movie, and the rest of us settle around a small fire pit in Adirondack chairs. While Gavin works on getting a fire started, Beckett hands out cigars. Lennox and Aiden share one, and Hannah snuggles on Daniel’s lap while he lights his. Sienna is quiet, sticking by my side.
The longer she goes without speaking, the more the unease that’s been simmering on low since her confession in the car amps up.
Finally, when I can’t take it anymore, I tug her hand and nod toward the path around the small pond. “Want to walk with me for a bit?”
With a glance around the circle, she sighs. “Yeah, I could use a break.”
We sneak away without being stopped, and when we’re out of earshot, I tuck her into my side. “You okay?”
She’s quiet at first. Like maybe she won’t respond. But after a moment, she sags against me and whispers, “No.”
Stomach plummeting, I stop and turn her to face me. The dim lighting of the lamps throughout the park is likely soothing to most. The lapping of the water against the small dock nearby too. But in this moment, my nerves are set on edge. “What’s going on?”
Her shoulders droop. “Ezra saw us at Allure.”
Fuck.My stomach lurches, but I temper my reaction. I was not expecting the conversation to go there. “What?”
She shifts on her feet, looking everywhere but at me. “He saw us. You and me. AndGarreth.” Her eyes dart up to mine before skittering away again.
I take her hand and squeeze gently. “Okay.” The situation is not fucking ideal, and it guts me that he saw Sienna like that, but the pain radiating from her now tells me there’s more to the story.
“He’s blackmailing me,” she explains.
“What the fuck?” My muscles lock up, and it takes me a second to realize I’m crushing her hand. I ease off, but I don’t drop it.
She shakes her head. “He doesn’t want to renew your contract. He says if I don’t go along with his plan, he’ll tell my brothers.”
The sound of water lapping on the dock is drowned out by a buzzing in my ears, and my vision goes hazy. “What else did he say?” I grit out.
She shrugs and licks her lips, once again avoiding eye contact. “He offered to take your place.”
“That motherfucker.” I finally release her hand and give in to the urge to clench mine into fists. I will kill him.
“It’s fine.” She gives me a pleading look. “I took care of the video, and our attorneys are working out an agreement.”
“Sienna.”
“And I’ll find a way to keep you here. A different contract?—”
