“You’re right. It’s huge. It’s also something Brady truly regrets, and it was an accident. He can’t beat himself up forever.” She rubs the tissue along the bottom of her nose and sneezes.
Well, at least we agree on that. “And what about you? Do you have any regrets?”
“Of course I do. I told Brady over and over that bike was a death machine. He never listens to me.”
“I’m not talking about the bike or the accident. How could you offer a grieving family money for their silence, Sheila? Five million dollars is what I find regrettable.”
She looks completely stunned. The small smile slides off her face, and she flushes red. Her wrinkles crease tight around her eyes. Blood pumps through a vein bulging out of the top of her forehead. “That is family business and does not concern you,” she says, her voice firm and commanding. I’ve definitely hit a nerve and she’s pissed. But, damn it, so am I.
“Right. You once said I was family. I suppose that’s just another one of the many lies in the Hunter household.” I spit the words venomously. Even though my legs shake so wildly my knees are knocking, I turn and run, pounding up the stairs to my room, Liv’s room.
She calls after me, but I don’t turn back. I don’t care what she has to say. It will probably be a lie.
Damn it! I really needed that coffee.
Brady
As I sit under a tree, thinking of all the things I want to say to Tori when I get home, my phone vibrates in my pocket. When I pull it out, my heart stutters, hoping it’s her. It’s not. Anger laces my words when I answer, “Hello, Sheila.”
Her voice is rigid and unsteady. God, I hate this woman. Nothing good ever comes out of a conversation with her. “Brady, how could you tell Tori about our money?”
“It’s my money, Sheila,” I coldly remind her.
“That’s not relevant, Brady. Tori shouldn’t be involved with our family business, and you know that. I think it’s time she finds a new place to live.” The shrill tone of her voice sears through me, sparking my ever-present anger.
“Don’t even think about asking her to move. It will only hurt Liv. Besides which, I didn’t tell her anything. Harrison blurted out something about the contract and the money at the beach. She’s probably fishing.”
“She’s not fishing, Brady. She knows we paid Vanessa’s family. She even knows how much.”
Damn him! I’m guessing Harrison’s been talking to her while I’ve been away. He’d better only be talking, because if he’s touched her, I might have to hurt him. “Well, I didn’t tell her. Harrison probably filled her in.”
“Good. If he talked that, means his family is five million dollars poorer.” Her unkind words makes me sick. She’s a heartless, greedy bitch.
“Enough, Sheila. I don’t give a shit about the contract. I’m not asking them to give the money back, and neither are you.”
“You just watch me, Brady,” she threatens.
“Sheila, you’d better listen to me. Stay away from Vanessa’s family, or I’ll take what’s mine and destroy you.”
“Brady! How can you talk to me that way? I’m your mother. You need to think about what this will do to your future if it gets out.” Her words are tiring. I’ve heard them all before.
“You mean your future, Sheila. Vanessa’s family has nothing to say, so stop flipping out about it. Don’t you have a job to do?”
She sighs into the phone. It’s intentional and increases my annoyance with her. “And what about Tori, Brady? What if she runs her mouth? I should talk to her and make sure she knows not to discuss this with anyone.”
The thought of her talking to Tori enrages me. “You stay the fuck away from her, Sheila. I will talk to Tori. She’s not going to tell anyone.”
“You better do it soon, Brady.”
“Goodbye, Sheila,” I snarl.
I end the call and throw my phone on the ground. I detest that woman. I’ve always felt disconnected, but after I learned what kind of a woman she is, I grew to hate her with every fiber of my being. I play along, allowing her to be motherly for Liv and Tug, but she’s dead to me.
Chapter 28
Tori
Tug is prompt, knocking on my door at exactly six. Of course, he didn’t have far to go to be punctual. I open the door and chuckle, as his mouth is hanging open.