By Virtue Fall (The Shakespeare Sisters 4)

An ice-cold shiver snaked down Ryan’s spine. ‘Is that what this is about?’

‘What do you mean?’ His father widened his eyes in mock innocence.

Ryan leaned forward, keeping his eyes narrow, his voice low. ‘You know exactly what I mean. Are you doing this to make me sell my shares to you?’

‘I’m just trying to offer you a solution. If you want to save the wharf, what better way to do it than sell your shares? We can even make it part of the deal.’

Ryan leaned back from his father, flexing his bicep muscles in an attempt to keep his fisted hands by his side. His nose flared as he breathed in, feeling the anger swirling up in the pit of his stomach, then rising through his abdomen. It was as though every muscle in his body was tensed, waiting, waiting, until he unleashed the fury building inside.

‘You’re an asshole, you know that?’ Ryan hissed. ‘This is going to break Mom’s heart.’ He couldn’t believe she’d let go of her heritage so easily, not when she’d been so effusive about it to Charlie.

‘Your mother leaves the decisions to me.’

Yeah, she did. Ryan knew that much from experience. His father had him over a barrel with no way to turn. Either he sold his share of the business or he lost the one place that felt like home. It was a lose-lose situation.

‘So that’s it?’ Ryan asked, his throat dry. ‘You’re gonna let them build a whole load of condos on our history and not give a damn.’ He shook his head. ‘Where’s your family loyalty?’

His father’s laugh was harsh and low. ‘Where’s yours?’ he replied. ‘At least I’ve stayed here and kept the business going. You left town and never looked back, so don’t come here wailing about your heritage when it hasn’t meant anything to you for years.’ He stood, gesturing at the door. ‘I’ll let you see yourself out. Unless you’d like me to call security to escort you.’

‘Call whoever the hell you want,’ Ryan said, wrenching the door open. ‘I’m sure they’ll kiss your ass and tell you how wonderful you are. But the fact is we both know what kind of man you turned out to be. One who bullies his wife to get what he wants. You’re a coward through and through.’

‘Don’t bother coming back unless you plan to sell me your shares.’

‘Oh, I’ll be back. I own a bit of this place, and I own a bit of you, and I know how crazy that makes you. So I’ll be back, Dad, and I’ll be sure to make your life hell.’ Ryan stalked out, not bothering to look back, even though he could picture his father’s sneer. He knew how to get to him, and enjoyed winding him up. Ryan could feel the fury taking over his body.

It remained his constant companion as he drove back home.

‘Is Poppy asleep?’ Ryan’s jaw was rigid, the bone at the corner twitching, as he stood at her back door. He had a hand on the doorjamb, but his body was as straight as a rod. The tension was radiating from him in waves.

Juliet licked her lips, trying to moisten the dry skin. ‘Yeah, she went off about an hour ago.’ She frowned. ‘Is there something wrong? Is Charlie okay?’

He nodded. ‘Yeah, he’s asleep, too. They must have worn him out at soccer practice.’ Even his words sounded stiff. Juliet wanted to reach out, to touch him, to soothe, but her hands remained by her side. What on earth was going on? She licked her lips, looking at him with soft eyes. She’d never seen him so uptight before.

‘Would you like a drink?’ she asked.

‘No. I just wanted to see you. Just wanted to hear your voice.’ He swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down. ‘It’s been a shitty day.’

‘Is it something to do with the wharf?’ she asked, remembering how angry he’d been the previous weekend.

‘Yeah. Turns out my father wants to use it as leverage against me. He’s offered it in return for my shares in the family business.’

She wanted to reach out and smooth the lines on his forehead. Even though they were a foot apart, she could feel the tenseness radiating from him. ‘What are you going to do?’

‘I have no goddamn idea.’ He closed his eyes and took in a mouthful of air. ‘I promised my grandfather … ’

‘Promised him what?’

‘I promised him I’d never sell the shares.’ He winced. ‘But I also promised him the wharf would never be developed. And I’ve got no idea how to keep them both.’

‘Which would be more important to him?’ she asked.

‘I don’t know.’ Ryan shook his head, and the confused expression on his face deepened. ‘The business was his life. But the wharf was his love. Jesus, I’ve no idea how to make this better.’

She looked up at him, taking in those deep eyes, and the clouds just behind them. ‘Doesn’t love matter above anything?’ she asked. ‘Wouldn’t you save the thing you loved over the thing you’d worked for? If your house was on fire you’d go in and get Charlie, not your camera or your photographs.’

Ryan leaned against the door frame, his strong shoulder pushing onto the wood. ‘You’re right,’ he said, his voice soft. ‘Strange how you’re always right.’

‘You should tell that to Poppy,’ she said, a half-smile on her face. ‘She wouldn’t agree with you.’