Tainted Forever (Tainted Knights 5)

“You don’t seem too disappointed,” I observed.

“I’m not. Whatever any of them decides to do with their lives, I’ll support a hundred percent.”

My phone buzzed with a text. Glancing down, I saw that it was from Derrick, asking if we could have drinks. I sucked my bottom lip between my teeth. Lucy and Angie both knew Jace and I were back together, but I hadn’t mentioned it to Derrick.

I shot him back a quick reply, telling him I’d see him later in the week then put my phone away.

“Something wrong?” Aunt Emmie asked, and I lifted my gaze to find her watching me closely.

“Just a friend wanting to have drinks,” I evaded.

“A male friend?”

“Scott’s soon-to-be brother-in-law,” I gave in and told her.

“Derrick Stewart?” I shrugged. “He’s an up-and-coming real estate genius. Shannon is pretty cool, too. Hell of a lot better than Jillian.”

“I don’t disagree,” I muttered. I’d only met Shannon the one time, but she showed me more warmth and compassion in those few minutes than Jillian had the entire time I’d lived in the same house with her and my father.

“Did the divorce get finalized?”

“Wasn’t it announced in the papers?” She shook her head. “Then I guess it hasn’t happened yet. The paps know more about my father than I do.”

She patted my leg. “Fuck him. You got me, kiddo.”

My heart lifted. “I know, Auntie Em. Love you.”

Her eyes softened. “Love you too, Kin.”

Chapter 26

Jace

The drive home from Malibu after spending the evening with Emmie and her husband was quiet. Kin seemed distracted as she scrolled through her emails while I drove us back to LA.

“Want me to sit in on your auditions tomorrow?” I asked, wanting to help her as much as she would let me.

“If you can spare the time, that would be great,” she murmured as she typed a reply to a message she’d just gotten.

“Even if I couldn’t, I would make time for you, baby.”

Her fingers stopped typing, and I could only assume she’d sent her return message since I had to switch my gaze back to the road. “I would appreciate your input.”

“Did Emmie find y

ou a drummer for the first few weeks? You’re still using the legends?”

“Yeah. Wroth Niall will be my guitarist. Shane, Zander, and Liam are going to alternate to fit their schedules, but I still don’t know who will be my drummer.” She dropped her phone in the cupholder, turning in her seat so she could face me better. “I really don’t want to bother Jesse or Devlin, but I’d feel more comfortable with either of them.”

“We’ll figure it out,” I promised her, reaching for her hand.

Her phone vibrated, and she quickly snatched it up before I could entwine our fingers. I shot her a glance and saw her brow pucker with a frown as she read the message.

“Something wrong?” I asked when she started typing furiously.

“Derrick asked me to meet up with him for drinks earlier, but I told him I was busy and would see him later in the week. But he’s insistent we meet tonight.”

My fingers clenched around the wheel. “You were going to meet him without telling me?”