Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 113319 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 567(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 378(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113319 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 567(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 378(@300wpm)
“She thought you’d say that, so she followed up by asking if we could go get Niamh, who doesn’t need physical violence to make people cry?”
Jess stared at Ulric for a long, quiet beat. “No. But there’s been a change of plans. Send word to the shifters at home. We’ll be staying for that extended family party after all, and I’ll be inviting some of you. Niamh can have her crack at messing with his mind then. How’s that? Let’s see how good he is at gaslighting her.”
A wide grin came across Ulric’s lips. “Perfect. Can I go to watch?”
“No, your hair is too loud. Your mom can, though. In fact, let’s send her into some of his familiar haunts so she can get some reconnaissance on him. I feel like fighting dirty.”
“Sounds good. Last bit of—” He jerked his head, looking back toward the kitchen. In a moment, he had reduced his volume and started talking faster. “Last bit of news. Mr. Tom flew up to Jimmy’s room when he realized there was trouble in the house. Jimmy was…” He poked his head a little farther into the room, angling to see the stairs. “He was up at the top of the stairs listening, I guess. Whatever he heard upset him, and he asked Mr. Tom to help him clean out his room so he could leave after dinner. He doesn’t intend to listen to you or your ex if you tell him to stay, which… He’s nineteen. Why is he being pushed around by his parents?”
“That’s his dad, not me.”
“He explained about his dad. Your ex is trying to force him to stay by dangling some sort of allowance over his head or something?”
“What?” Jess asked. “He’s using his court-mandated school allowance to make Jimmy visit?”
And there was the missing piece.
It always came back to control with this man. He used money or manipulation to maintain control of those around him. He must be a holy nightmare to work for. Or maybe that was the only place where he was okay, because the company title said he mattered. What he said went there, backed by his ability to fire people. It was only life that was messy. Family.
Jess ran her hand over her forehead. “I’d thought Jimmy was fine hanging out with his dad.” She closed her eyes, swaying a little.
Austin jumped up to brace a hand on her shoulder, but she shrugged him off.
“Matt set a lot of that up, telling me Jimmy had agreed with the plan. Jimmy never mentioned…” Two hands went to her face. “But then, why would he? What would I do to help? I enable his dad. I tell Jimmy to go to his room to help calm Matt down. Instead of fighting for my son, I make him play along. I’ve been forcing him to stay in the same cage I’m trapped in. No…was trapped in. I got free and left him behind, still trapped.” She wiped a tear away from her eye. “What sort of mother am I?”
“Alpha Steele, I’ll leave the consoling to you,” Ulric said, “but Jessie, you should know that Mr. Tom thought that was ridiculous and will now put Jimmy on an Ivy House allowance. You’ll probably want to make sure it’s not too extravagant. Long story short, Jimmy is leaving with us after dinner—”
“No.” Jessie straightened, tears dripping down her face, and tensed her shoulders resolutely.
Austin watched the theoretical straw rotate through the air, in slow motion, aiming for the camel’s back.
“He’s leaving now,” she said firmly, and not even a hardened alpha would be comfortable looking into those wild, fiery eyes. “Get him out. I’ll take care of his father.”
She didn’t bother to wipe at the trail of tears that lightly streaked down her cheeks before walking across the front room and toward the kitchen. Matt was just emerging, a fresh scotch in hand. No doubt he’d made Camila prepare it for him, and the composure and confidence he now exuded suggested he’d also used her to regain his footing. This guy did not know when he’d been beaten.
“Good God, Jacinta, look at the mess of your face…” His brow pinched. He was suddenly wary. The hand that held his drink dropped a little, and it was clear he was looking into the eyes of a female gargoyle for the very first time.
A female gargoyle who was ready to protect her young.
“If you interrupt the payments for Jimmy’s schooling for even one day, I will legally drown you, do you understand me? Controlling him with money ends now. If you think you can legally browbeat me, think again. I’ll bleed you dry without even blinking. Try me and find out if I’m bluffing. In addition, I’ll be sending an auditor by to look over everything that has transpired thus far. You’d better make sure your books are squeaky clean. There will be damages for any negligence.”