No fucking way.
“That was us motherfucking slaying this donkey.” Charles opened his palm, showing the remaining three coins. “Check out deez nuts.” He stuck out his tongue just as I slammed his hand shut before anyone could see.
“Did we go viral, though?” Jo asked, slurring her words.
“I didn’t record anything,” Keller said, deadpan.
“Dammit, Kell, our parents are dead now. We have to think about our futures. I’m trying to turn this family into something respectable.” She started giggling uncontrollably. “We can’t lose the farm too.”
Fuck.
She’s high.
“Are you all high right now?”
They paused, then burst out laughing in unison.
“Are you high?” Jo lowered her voice to a baritone, apparently mimicking me.
Jesus Christ, I can’t deal with this.
Grandfather had no coins.
He had no staff.
He had no guards.
He had nothing.
Nothing but the power that had grown like a cancer inside of him and metastasized with revenge.
I pushed through the crowd, finding DA Miller standing beside the fountain, two swans splashing at his back.
Miller turned to me. “Hello again.”
I pulled out the coin from my pocket. “It’s time.”
His haughty, East Coast WASP face slipped, and he looked at the gold coin with wonder. “I always thought these were a myth.”
I glanced at the stage, my grandfather had nearly finished with his speech. “It’s time,” I repeated.
He swallowed, blinking, and pocketed it. “Right. Let’s do this.”
DA Miller disappeared toward Crowne Hall, and I searched through the crowd of diamonds and ivory tulle dresses. Lottie was at the edge of the stage, holding a glittery feathered mask to her face.
When she saw me, I nodded.
“Crowne Industries and Du Lac Enterprises becoming one,” Lynette said. “It’s what Arthur would have wanted.”
Lynette and my grandfather raised their crystal glasses. “To a new era—”
“That’s going to be a problem…” Lottie stood up. “Because you don’t have a company anymore, Beryl.”
STORY
“S-sweet pea?” Lynette sputtered at the sight of her daughter. “What’s happening?”
I wondered what had gone through Lynette’s mind all the time her daughter had been missing. She didn’t look happy to see her now…she looked distraught.