Page 75 of The Dis-Graced
Dalton and Derek smirk back at me.
“I agree,” Devon says. “I mean, look at me. I was born with everything I could have wanted, and somehow I managed to fuck it all up. She’s really smart and funny and has a good head on her shoulders. I mean, if I weren’t so fucked up, I might give it a shot.”
“Oh, really?” Dalton sneers. “How would you even know?”
Devon’s eyes shift to me. Damn him.
“Wait, have you been hanging out with Grace?” Derek asks. “So that’s what mom was talking about.”
“It’s not so much hanging out…”
My brothers eye me, Devon guiltily, Dalton and Derek with curiosity.
“It was as a favor to Luke,” I finally say.
Derek’s jaw drops. “Wait—are you actually working with her?”
“We were working together on a project.”
“Are you fucking kidding me? Do you realize how badly she could damage the Dallanger name? Mom is going to flip.” Dalton leaps from his seat, pacing small circles as he’s wont to do when he’s frustrated.
“Mom already knows, as you heard, and, you’re right.”
Derek pulls out his phone, his thumbs working at lightning speed. “Dis-Graced Journalist Finds Work With Billionaire Drake Dallanger,” he reads from the screen.
“Un-fucking-believable!” Dalton hisses, balling his hands into fists. “First Devon, now this!?!”
“Guys, guys,” Devon says. “Drake has this under control. It will be impossible for more to come out because she’s staying with him. This is all being strategized, and I’m sure—”
Derek lets out an obnoxious laugh, clapping his hands. “Congratulations, bro. You have taken my spot as loosest cannon of the bunch. Well, Devon kind of wears the crown, but someone had to fill the position while he was gone.”
Dalton’s face is full of judgment, but of course it is. It’s Dalton.
“For your information,” I address the small crowd of brothers. “My business relations with Grace Anders has been severed.”
“So, your business relations have been severed. What about personal relations?” Derek quips.
It’s not often that I lie to my brothers, fortunately, or rather unfortunately, I don’t have to.
“Those have been severed as well.”
“Fuck me!” Dalton exclaims, burying his head in his hands.
“The situation is done, so there’s no need to linger or worry. The most important thing on our plate is Devon, so let’s make sure we handle this correctly. There’s a lot on the line here.”
I fail to mention that one of my greatest assets is on the black market, one our own father had been working on. I figure it’s best not to worry them, despite how anxious it has me.
What if Grace is in on it?
“I have work to get to. You misfits can see yourselves out.”
My brothers murmur their goodbyes as they leave, closing the door behind them.
I pull my phone out, bringing up Zevran’s contact information.
Drake:We need to talk.
?
