“I don’t know,” I admit as unease pools in my stomach. I should call your bluff and make you drag this into court. See if you like what secrets would be uncovered about your mother. “It’s probably nothing. Bullshit and lies.”
“You think they’ll really deal with the triplets?”
“They have no choice and Lucian knows it. Leo fucked them and it all goes away if they play nicely. I’m sure the Morellis have bigger fish to fry than our little guppy, Ash. A truce with us is worth its weight in gold. They’ll bring those twatlets to heel.”
“Well done,” Perry says, holding up his fist.
I bump it with a roll of my eyes. Thankfully my phone buzzes saving me from further brotherly bonding weird-ass bullshit.
“Constantine,” I bark out in greeting.
I listen for a bit and then grunt out my agreement before hanging up.
“I’m dropping you off so you can get your car,” I tell Perry, “and then I want you to get to Ash and Keaton. Find out what happened and make sure they’re okay. Something just came up at the office.”
It seems the night just got a little more interesting.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Ash
I’m overjoyed at getting to see Win’s mom twice in one day. Completely ecstatic. So excited I can barely contain my giddiness.
My attempts to convince myself are squashed the moment Keaton leads me into the living room where Caroline and Tinsley are seated. Caroline, in a leather armchair, is no longer wearing her smart suit but has changed into what must be considered casual for her—a rose gold velour tracksuit. It’s such an old lady thing to wear but of course she looks like a million bucks. Not a billion because, well, it’s a tracksuit. Tinsley is comfortable on the couch in a pair of white, fuzzy pajama pants and a giant Pembroke Prep rugby hoodie, that if I had to guess based on the sheer size of it, belongs to her brother.
“A little late for an unannounced visit,” Caroline says, setting her iPad aside on the end table beside a lamp, her tone cool and bitchy as always. Though she also seems a little more high-strung than usual. As if she’s worried. “Winston at his Morelli meeting? They’re taking a long time. I told him I wanted this shut down. Now.”
Keaton saunters in and plops down next to his sister. “He’s there, and I got stuck babysitting his girlfriend.”
I could smack him right now. While his mother’s attention is still on him, I scratch my face with my middle finger earning a smirk from him.
“Someone explain,” Caroline clips out, clearly not in the mood for games.
That makes two of us.
“After you dropped me off today when we went shopping—”
“Wait,” Keaton interrupts me, “you went shopping with Mom?”
Tinsley’s brows lift in surprise.
“Yes,” I mutter, continuing on. “Win needed new salt and pepper shakers.”
Tinsley smothers a laugh while Keaton shakes his head. Caroline is not impressed. She flicks her fingers at me in one of Win’s signature moves, indicating for me to keep the story moving.
“This reporter was waiting for me by my door. I, uh, tried to call my dad but…” I chew on my bottom lip to keep from crying. “I called Winston. He didn’t pick up, so I left him a text. The reporter accidentally pushed me or fell into me, I’m not sure, and I bumped my head. When I came to, he was taking pictures.” A flood of heat burns my cheeks. “My dress had ridden up and—”
“That’s enough,” Caroline bites out, thankfully ending that disgusting retelling. “Keaton, call Ulrich.”
“Already two steps ahead,” he says waving his phone. “I called him earlier while Francis made me dinner.”
Caroline’s glare is back on me, searching for answers.
“Winston showed up,” I say, unable to keep the smile off my face, “and he ran the guy off. We were, uh, hanging out when he got a call from my stepbrother. It must have been threatening because Win then helped me pack my stuff up and my bird so we could go back home.”
“Home,” Caroline repeats as though the word is sour on her tongue.
“He made some calls,” I continue, “obviously to Keaton and Perry. I’m not sure who else. When we arrived at Winston’s, they were there waiting for us. Keaton stayed with me while they went to their meeting.”
Keaton’s features grow stormy as he takes over. “I was talking to Ulrich when I heard banging. Nate was trying to get into Win’s place.”
Caroline’s brows pinch together. “And you didn’t let him in?”
“Win said no one was to come inside,” I explain. “Nate started freaking out about how Win would be angry I didn’t let him in. Then, he accused me and Keaton of being together. Oh, he also called me some choice names. But, when I threatened to call security, he left.”