Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 94094 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94094 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
“I know, it’s hard to believe you missed out on being my woman and now you’re my sister-in-law,” he teases.
Clay’s nostrils flare. “You keep playing with me, Wade.”
Wade holds his hands up in the air. “I’m just joking. Damn, that temper is nasty.”
Clay frowns and waves a hand at Wade. “You’re going to learn when to stop joking with me. I don’t play when it comes to my wife.”
The ladies giggle behind their hands. I even have to grin a little. That is until Cane comes over and leans into my ear.
“I need to talk to you.”
Turning, I then lean in to kiss Chlo’s lips as she glares up at Cane. She turns, I’m sure to look for Ally as she places her hands on her hips. I move my lips to her ear.
“Not tonight,” I whisper. “This is your night. Let it go.”
She purses her lips. I peck them and rub a hand up and down her arm. Stew grabs her attention with more talk of the showing and the sales. I get the feeling he’s going to offer her another show very soon.
The Soho show will be another hit, I’m sure. I push all of those thoughts to the back of my mind as I lead Cane to Stew’s office for some privacy. We step inside and I close the door behind us.
“What’s going on?”
I narrow my eyes at him as he pulls a hand down his face and blows out a breath. He looks like he’s holding on to his cool by a thread.
“She’s pregnant. I need this to be over. Whatever I need to pay, I need it to be done.”
“Shit.”
“Exactly. The games end now.”
“What games, Cane? You need to talk to me.”
“Ally doesn’t get into this shit on her own. She’s covering for an ungrateful-ass friend.
“A friend I want out of her life. I was just giving her the rope to hang herself. I think she’s finally done it. This is over. I’m taking the lead. Ally has no say anymore, not with our baby involved.”
“I don’t like this.”
A knock comes at the door. I turn to it as it opens, and Clay sticks his head in. I nod for him to enter. I’m not sure if I’m surprised to see Wade enter with him.
“What are you doing here?” Cane says to Wade.
“I know more about your life than you do. Trust me, you want me here.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Your father wouldn’t have started this if he didn’t think we could fix it.”
Suddenly, I freeze as his words hit me. “What do you mean Dad wouldn’t have started this?”
“Oh, come on, man. You guys haven’t figured it out yet?”
“Figured what out?” Clay bites out.
Wade rolls his eyes. “He wants you all happy, he’s trying to make things up to you and your mother. You think he wants control, but he’s trying to right his wrongs.
“He knew about Clay’s obsession”—he points to me—“your lost devotion”—he turns and looks at Cane—“and Cane’s secrets. You all fell into his trap, and I helped him set it. It was my way of doing something for my brothers.”
I bare my teeth and run a hand through my hair. That man has to control everything. He just can’t help himself.
“Listen, you guys can’t be angry with him forever. He loves you all. What you all see as control is his way of keeping each of you on the path to a good life and happiness. No, he hasn’t always gone about it in the right way—trust me, I know that better than anyone, but he means well.”
“But why?” Cane says. “Why all this… this meddling?”
“That you’re going to have to ask him about yourself.”
“Wait, hold on. Are you telling me this whole time he was doing this to get me back with Chloe?”
Wade shrugs and gives me a mischievous smile. “Among some other things. He’d hoped you would have addressed the Addison thing sooner. We didn’t see the Sid situation coming, that delayed his plans a bit.”
Cane blows out a breath as he runs his hand through his hair. “Wait, but I met Ally after the terms were served.”
“Ah, yes, he intended to give you time to find someone and fall in love, but you stepped right into the plan as if he’d planned that part himself. When he figured out who she was… I’ve never seen the old man look so triumphant.”
“He played us all.”
I scoff. This all tastes bitter on my tongue. I rub at my chest. I want to be angry, but my feelings are so conflicted.
“I wouldn’t have gone through all this if it weren’t for him. I wanted to be my own man. He almost ripped that from me again,” I say bitterly as I think aloud.
“No, he didn’t. In time, you will see. He’s trying to get something to all of you.”