Seriously, what was my father thinking when he decided to draw up a will where he shoved us all in this town for eighteen months?
Some days I want to dig into Dad’s past to see if I can find something significant that will clue me in. Others, I just think he was fucking with us.
“You could’ve been a professional chef,” Blaire says, grabbing a tortilla chip and dipping it into the guacamole. “Was your grandma the one who taught you how to cook?”
I nod. It wasn’t, but I let them think that. It was actually G’s mom. My grandmother was adorable—a saint—but she didn’t have the patience to teach anything.
“I wish someone had taught Henry how to cook,” Sophia complains about her husband. “Dad is trying, but he’s a slow learner.”
We all laugh at him.
Henry is used to having maids, nannies, and every service at his disposal. My grandparents worked hard to teach me that I had to clean after myself, among other things.
While in college, G, the guys, and I took turns cooking, cleaning, and shopping.
I still do everything for myself. Well, unless I’m on tour. During concerts we have roadies carrying our instruments, bringing the food, and sometimes driving me around.
If I could avoid it, I would. According to my manager, I have to have a crew. They are necessary. Lang just likes to have everything done for him. Since he has the support of our PR, I just let it happen.
“It’s only September,” Henry reminds me. “With that attitude, I doubt you’ll last the next twelve months around here.”
“In two months, I’m getting the fuck out of here,” I say, baiting him.
There’s a part in Dad’s will where he allows us to leave town after we’ve been here for six months. In order to do that, we have to contact Jerome Parrish, the one who handles our father’s estate, and ask for permission to leave. We have thirty days that can be used all at once or however we want. I don’t plan to use them unless it is necessary. If I want to get out—I just do it.
“I might take the thirty days and keep you guessing if I’ll return.”
“You do that, fucker, and I’ll hunt you down,” Vance threatens me. “I swear if any of you bail, I’ll kill you.”
“See, he speaks,” I say to no one in particular.
Everyone complains that Vance is always quiet and brooding. Obviously, they don’t take the time to have a conversation with him. He and I aren’t tight, but we get along. I still like to taunt him as I do with everyone else. I’m judicious that way.
“You just need to piss him off.”
“Which is why he’s always talking to you, isn’t it?” Blaire, Hayes’s wife, rolls her eyes. “Just when I think you guys have matured, you prove me wrong.”
I grin at her while searching for the salt. “I like to keep the excitement around this house.”
Vance’s glare should scare me. It scares everyone—but me. If necessary, I could take him. Yes, he has some kick-ass training, but I do too. I wish he had accepted to join The Organization. When I indirectly offered him an opportunity to work with us, he declined. I’m not sure if it’s because he’s hoping to go back to his friends. I hope not. If he does, we’ll have a problem.
Of my five brothers, my favorite is still Mills. We’ve been hanging out for a long time, so it makes sense that we’re the closest. After him, it comes to Hayes, the doctor who isn’t that bad. He’s just clueless, but fun to hang out with.
Pierce might be the next one. I’m still trying to understand him. He’s more fucked up than I thought. His marriage is the weirdest thing I’ve ever witnessed in my life. I think we all just want to shove him and Leyla in a room and say, “Don’t come out until you fuck away your issues.”
Henry is another clusterfuck. He’s getting better since he has a wife who keeps him in line.
Everyone in this house treats me like I’m still the baby of the family. They are also afraid that I’m going to leave town because I can’t be contained.
News flash. I leave whenever the fuck I want.
“I mean it, Beacon,” Vance repeats. “You better not do something stupid.”
I lift the spatula and my free hand in surrender. “I wouldn’t dare to piss you off.”
Henry snorts. “You’re such a fucking liar.”
Oh, yes, Henry. I’m one of the best liars in the world. I trained for that. If only you knew.
I check the time. “I’m meeting the guys in Happy Springs. We’re going down to Portland. I’ll be back around one, maybe two in the morning.”
“No!” Vance’s voice booms throughout the kitchen.
Everyone jumps. I give him a lazy glance. “Come on, Dad. I promise not to break curfew.”
“He’s right, kid,” Pierce, who always has to follow the fucking rules, sides with him.
These assholes are so fucking predictable. I’m getting bored. I need a challenge.
“Fine,” I groan. “If you can’t trust me, it’s all the same. The music store opens at nine. Maybe I can leave for Portland at seven tomorrow morning if Vance allows it.”
“You’re a fucking pain in the ass!”
I take the warm tortillas out of the oven, plate the meat on a platter, and put everything on the table.
“Ready. Make sure to go easy on the tomatillo salsa. It’s hot. The red one is mild. The guacamole doesn’t have any jalapeno. We don’t want Blaire to have acid reflux.”
“Have I ever told you that you’re my favorite, kid?” She kisses my cheek.
I grin and wave at them. When I reach the door, Hayes asks, “Aren’t you going to have dinner with us?”
I shake my head. “Nope, I’m going to have dinner with the guys. I’ll be back within an hour or so.”
It doesn’t take me long to drive to the cabin I own. It’s between Happy Springs and Baker’s Creek, near the river. The guys are already there waiting for me. I exchange cars. One of the rookies from The Organization is with them—the decoy we use so no one notices my absence. He’s about my height. Slightly skinnier, but he can pass as me. No one has noticed my absence while I’m in Seattle. We have a routine that’s worked so far.
The timing on when to leave the mansion tomorrow morning is key. Pierce and Leyla wake up early to feed the animals. Aren’t I lucky that the guys are trained to be invisible?
Tomorrow, one of my brothers will be pissed that I didn’t sleep in the house. They’ll bitch that I’m putting everyone in jeopardy. I’ll argue that they are wrong. They have no proof. It’s my word against theirs.
See, Dad. You can’t dictate my life. You lost the right when you abandoned me.
Chapter Nine
Grace
My phone rings just as I’m about to leave the house. It’s Beacon.
“Yeah?” I answer, closing my eyes and waiting for him to psych me about tonight.
I’m still unsure what’s happening. Either I have a blind date, surveillance, or…God knows what my brother planned.
Seth said, “Dress nicely. Imagine the most romantic date of your life. Just make sure to leave your knives behind.”