Shattered Dynasty

I nod. “I will. Just need to get through these months.”

“Maybe if you try to butter up the son . . .” She licks her lips. “Maybe I should . . .”

“He would never go for that.”

“What are you saying? I’m not good enough for Trent Aldridge? Or are you already spreading for him now?”

“No. I don’t do”—I shake my head—“That’s not what I said.” Not even close. I hate that her thoughts are so binary—defend and attack. Sex and pride. “And I don’t want to fight with you. He hates us. There is nothing we can do to get the money faster.”

“Fine, whatever.”

We sit in silence, then Brad moves to stand and walks over to me.

My body instantly tenses.

He looks down at me with a look in his eyes. One I know too well from seeing them replicated on Erin’s past creeps.

“I’m sure you can think of a way to convince him not to hate you . . .” He dips his chin down.

His gaze lingers too long over my chest, and I feel dirty. Not the first time a man in my sister’s life has made me feel this way. But now I’m older, stronger, and use my voice.

I get up and move toward the door. Away from him. “I’m not going to do that.”

“Well, bills are due soon, so you might need to reconsider it,” Erin adds into the conversation.

With a sigh, I look at her and ask, “How much do you need to tide you over?”

Before Erin can give a number, Brad walks closer again. “Three grand, minimum.”

“I don’t have access to that kind of money.”

“Then find a way to get it, dammit. If there is nothing else, you can fuckin’ go,” Brad says. “The bills are due in four weeks. Tell your boy toy you need money for school. It’s yours, right?” He doesn’t wait for me to answer. “Then there ain’t no problem asking for it.”

“Fine.” I head out the door.

The trip was a waste of time.

My sister gave me no information I needed.

Not true.

She knew what Ronald tried to do to Ivy.

She knew what a monster he really was.

Trent is right.

It is blood money.

I’ll give my sister her share and keep a little for me to use to leave. Then I’ll get as far away from all of this as I can.

There is nothing salvageable here.

My mind is all over the place when I head back to the loft. It feels like everything inside me is twisted up. I can’t think straight. Sometimes seeing Erin will do that to me. Talking to her brings me back to the past. Especially today after what she said.

I don’t need her to remind me what my life could have been like had she not been there.

Those thoughts live in my brain whenever I’m alone at night and allow my thoughts to wander.

Normally, I would hit the gym at Ludlow. A good forty-five-minute run does wonders to clear the cobwebs of the past from my mind.

That’s what I’m missing.

The release of endorphins. Those bad boys will get my brain in the right place in no time.

As I’m about to enter the loft I notice that across the street there’s a truck. I halt my steps, my eyes narrowing to look at it.

It’s just sitting there. Across the street. But that’s not the part that has my back going straight, it’s the person in the driver seat.

He’s staring at me. Not moving. Just looking at me.

I can’t see who it is, he’s wearing a baseball hat and sunglasses. That’s the thing that bothers me, it’s not sunny out.

I’m still staring as the door behind me opens. I jump at the movement, turning my body to see Gail.

“Are you okay?” she asks.

“It’s just the truck across the street.”

“What truck?” she asks, confusion evident in her voice.

“The one over there.” I turn to point at the truck, but it’s gone. “That’s so strange—I swear . . .” I shake my head. “Forget it, it was nothing.” Not wanting to make a bigger fool out of myself. Obviously, it was nothing and I’m being dramatic. No reason for Gail to know I’m being paranoid. That’s all I would need, Gail telling Trent. I would never hear the end of it.

I enter the loft, and then I head straight for my room and change into my workout clothes. Then I’m off in search of Trent.

He might have something he expects me to do. So, before I leave again to run, I need to let him know where I’m going.

After I come up empty-handed in the main level, I head to his gym.

That’s an option.

Would Trent mind if I used it?

Probably, but it’s not enough to stop me.

As I turn the corner, my feet stop, and my mouth drops open. My brain stutters for a moment at what I am seeing.