Wicked and True (Wicked & Devoted 4)

“Fine.” His dad paused. “I don’t even know who you are. How are you so not like the rest of us?”

More than once, Zy had wondered the same thing. He still didn’t know why he’d never been a fortune chaser like his father, lazy and worried only about appearances like his mother, or a budding tycoon more concerned about his own pleasure than actually contributing to society like his brother. “I grew up with three examples of what not to be. That was all I needed.”

That and the fact he’d been determined to be his own man.

“Are you still in Louisiana?”

“Why?”

“It’s…backward and mostly full of bumpkins and—”

“The ‘bumpkins’ are great people who care about each other and their community. They’re turning into the kind of family I’ve always wanted and never had.”

“Ouch.”

“You never spared my feelings as a kid. I’m just returning the favor. Oh, and when you announce the divorce tomorrow, my name better not be anywhere on that press release.”

“I’ll have it removed.” His father sighed. “Will I ever hear from you again?”

“I don’t know.” Then the taxi driver pulled into Tessa’s neighborhood, and his patience with this conversation ended. “That all depends on you. I have to go.”

“I’m sorry.”

Zy knew his dad wasn’t merely apologizing for this latest fiasco but a lifelong host of disappointments. “And I’m sorry it’s come to this. Maybe someday.”

“Goodbye, son.” His father actually sounded choked up.

And Zy didn’t have the energy to decide whether he believed the man or not. The taxi was stopping in front of Tessa’s place, and this was the future he needed to focus on. “Goodbye.”

With that, he hung up, paid the taxi driver, then hauled ass out of the car—well, as much as he could in his banged-up condition. Then he hobbled up Tessa’s walkway. On the other side of the door, he heard familiar male voices. The bosses were here? They fucking better not be firing her…

“Are you in love with Zy?” That was Logan.

Exactly what Zy wanted to know. His heart caught in his throat as he eavesdropped, waiting for her reply.

“I don’t know what you want from me,” Tessa said. Her voice was so soft, but he heard the catch in it.

Zy frowned. What kind of answer was that?

He pushed the door open and took in the scene, Tessa surrounded by all the bosses, looking exhausted and worried and put on the spot by the three bastards they worked for. “I want the truth, baby.”

She stood, clearly shocked. “You’re here?”

Had she thought he wouldn’t come as soon as he could? Or was she simply wishing he hadn’t?

He nodded and entered, shutting the door behind him. “Yeah. And I’m waiting for you to answer that question. Do you love me?”

“And that’s our cue to leave.” Hunter stood.

The other two followed suit, Logan frowning as if he wasn’t quite ready to rush out the door.

Good. Since Zy was on a roll, cleaning house and sweeping out the shit, he might as well continue. “After you three apologize for lying to her and manipulating her.”

She gaped. “I’m the one who owed them the apology. I passed on company secrets. I didn’t do what I should have when Hallie went missing and—”

“You’ve already owned up to it,” Hunter put in.

“And that’s good,” Zy added. “But what they’re not telling you is why they suddenly removed the restrictions in our contracts keeping us apart.”

Tessa frowned and turned to the trio.

Hunter grimaced. “When we suspected you or Trees of being our mole, we assigned Zy to investigate you both. He was pissed and he resisted. After weeks of almost no progress, we decided to change the contracts, which, as you know, we finalized on Monday. Then we told him he had two weeks to prove which of you was our mole. If he didn’t, we planned to fire you all.”

She gaped, then lifted trembling fingers over her pretty pink mouth. “You put Zy in a terrible position.”

He nodded. “The worst, and I’m sorry for my part, baby. I should never have suspected you.”

“I gave you reasons to.” She looked down contritely, then turned to the bosses. “I understand why you did what you did, but I wish you’d come to me directly instead of putting Zy in the middle.”

Logan sighed and elbowed his older brother.

Hunter looked grumpy but nodded. “Yeah. In hindsight, we should have. So we’re apologizing to both of you.”

“And we’ll try to be less asshole-ish in the future,” Logan added.

Joaquin rubbed at the back of his neck. “This management thing is still new for us. We’re, um…feeling our way through and sometimes we’re a little blind.”

“I understand,” she murmured. “And I hope you find your sister soon. If there’s anything I can do, let me know.”

“You’ll be in the office next week?” Hunter asked.

“Maybe not first thing on Monday.” Of course she needed more time with her daughter. But then she looked up at him, a silent acknowledgment that they had unresolved issues. “But soon.”