Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 75592 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75592 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
“… Be careful, all right? We know the Mardraggons’ true colors.”
Wade’s voice jolts me out of my memories and I smile at him. “Yeah… I know. I’ll be careful.”
The conversation shifts naturally as Trey looks out the barn door, his gaze distant. “Can’t believe that bastard Lionel is out of jail already. Makes my blood boil. What I wouldn’t give to serve up a little Blackburn justice.”
Admittedly, I’d love to see my brothers pound Lionel to a pulp but I stop that idea in its tracks, because Wade and Trey are just stupid enough to think they could get away with some sort of retaliation. “You need to let the court system handle him. The last thing this family needs is you two to get in trouble and besides, we need to think about Sylvie first.”
“Of course she’s the main priority,” Trey declares, his voice heavy with the gravity of the situation. “And supporting Ethan too, but at least he’s got Marcie fretting over him and Sylvie. I don’t think he’s minding that at all.”
I chuckle because seeing my big brother fall in love with Marcie has been the bright spot in all of this. Setting the container of food to the side, I ask, “How do you guys feel about Sylvie seeing Gabe? Ethan’s pretty opposed to it right now.”
Wade leans against the barn wall, folding his arms as he considers. “I get why Ethan’s wary, but Gabe did turn in his own father. That’s got to count for something, right?”
Trey shakes his head, the creases in his brow deepening. “It’s not just about what Gabe did or didn’t do. It’s about keeping Sylvie out of any more drama. She’s been through enough already.”
“Yeah,” I murmur, twisting the napkin between my fingers. “She mentioned wanting to see him. Gabe wants that too, but Ethan’s not budging.”
“Well, there’s no way in hell Sylvie is going back to that house,” Trey growls.
I glance up at him. “Gabe’s not living there. He bought a mansion over on Pike’s Way.”
“Really?” Trey says with a low whistle. “Breaking ties, I suppose.”
“Maybe,” I reply, although that certainly seems to be the case.
Wade kicks at a clump of dirt on the barn floor. “Sylvie’s caught in the middle of all this mess. It’s not fair. Maybe seeing Gabe would give her some normalcy, or at least as normal as it can get with our families.”
Trey’s laugh is cynical. “Normalcy? With the Mardraggons? That’s a stretch.”
I nod, understanding both perspectives. “It’s tricky. On one hand, Sylvie deserves to have all her family around, especially the ones who care about her. I asked Gabe to amend the trust agreement to remove the reversion clause pertaining to what happens if Sylvie dies.”
Snorting, Trey drops his foot from the chest. “He’ll never do it. That goes against his own interests because while he might not actively want Sylvie dead, he won’t give up the slight possibility if she died of some noncriminal cause, he’d get the winery.”
“Perhaps,” I murmur, wondering what Gabe will do. He didn’t commit one way or the other and I don’t know the man’s mind. I thought I did at one time, but that turned out to be a lie.
“Not to change the subject,” Wade says, pushing off the wall, “but to change the subject, did you hear the old Harrison farm is up for sale? It includes all their inventory.”
Trey chuckles, rubbing his chin. “Yeah, imagine us getting into the racing game. The Blackburns doing thoroughbreds. That’d shake things up.”
I frown slightly, practical as ever. “But we do saddlebreds. We don’t know the first thing about racing horses.”
“That’s not entirely true,” Wade counters with a smirk. “Mom’s from a thoroughbred racing family back in Ireland.”
“Having a few distant cousins who breed thoroughbreds isn’t exactly deep knowledge,” I drawl. “Not enough to tap into the business.” I seize the opportunity to lighten the mood. “Speaking of tapping into things, how’s your latest conquest? Still trying to juggle three dates in one day?”
Trey’s face turns a delightful shade of red as Wade bursts out laughing. Trey is a playboy and a commitment-phobe, and “dating” isn’t exactly the right word for the time he spends with women.
“Hey, a man’s got to have some hobbies,” Trey defends himself with a sly grin.
“Keep telling yourself that,” Wade says, clapping Trey on the shoulder.
I stand from the chest, placing the container of food back in the paper bag. I intend to finish it but I’m done talking to these buffoons and it’s getting late. “I’m going home. You two lock up.”
“You don’t get to order us around.” Wade waggles his eyebrows. “We’re older than you.”
“In age, but not maturity,” I toss back. As I walk by him, I land a solid punch on his arm and he yelps. “Besides, we both know I can kick your asses.”