Page 90 of Love is Angry

“What do you two know that I don’t?” I ask, getting frustrated.

“Nothing,” Laura says. Steve relaxes and goes back to eating his breakfast. It occurs to me that he’s on Dad’s payroll, and if there’s something Laura knows that Dad wouldn’t want me finding out, the best way to ensure it would be to have Steve babysit her.

“Hey Steve, you think you can give us a minute? I’d like to talk to my sister in private.”

“No can do, Rhue. Sorry. Boss’s orders.”

“He’s not here,” I point out irritably. “You’re telling me he ordered you not to leave her alone with her own brother?”

Steve gives me a long look. “Especially with her own brother,” he says.

“Laura, what the hell?”

She shrugs. “It’s true. As of yesterday, I’m not allowed to speak to anyone without Steve present—including, and especially, you.”

“Don’t know what you said to him,” Steve adds. “But you really pissed him off. And now he’s punishing her for it.” He cuts into his breakfast savagely. “Maybe you should leave it alone.”

“What the fuck are you trying to tell me, Steve?”

He gives me another of those long, serious looks. “I’m trying to tell you that you’re doing more harm than good, despite your intentions. You need to drop it. All of it. Now.”

I look at Laura, who won’t meet my gaze. “Really?” I ask her.

“I don’t think you should be badgering her like that,” Steve says mildly.

“And I do not give even one single shit about your unsolicited opinion.”

I get up and collect my phone and keys, not interested in having a heart-to-heart with him, but Steve—now with his suit jacket on––decides to cut me off before I leave the breakfast room.

“Hold on,” he says. “I’m serious. I’ve been watching over this girl for months now. She’s not just my job, okay? She’s someone I care about. Her wellbeing matters to me, and believe me, I’d rather be working in other parts of Mr. Echeveria’s business, not here, in the middle of this hot mess you people call a family.”

I stare at him. “The fuck is your point?”

“Point is, I see you. Even when I’m supposed to be invisible, I see you. I know you care about Laura, and you’re both still grieving for your mother. Mr. Echeveria can be remarkably difficult, I know that, too. But my point is, take it easy, Rhue. The more you push the old man, the tighter his grip is gonna be.”

I shake my head. “You don’t know him as well as you think you do.”

“I guess I could say the same thing about you. You don’t think he’s going to take the conflict between you two out on your sister? You think because she’s physically fragile, he’s going to give her any more grace? Every move you make against him isa move against her until the day she turns eighteen. Remember that.”

I’m ashamed to admit that I never realized any of this. I need time to process it—time to work out a better plan. One that won’t put Laura in danger, but will still end with Julian behind bars.

“Love you, Laura,” I tell her. “Be good.”

I don’t bother bidding Steve farewell. No, I just give him a faint nod and move past him. Leaving them both behind, I head out. Time to drive back to Ithaca. I’ve had enough of home for this weekend. I’ve caused enough pain—and I’ve stirred enough shit.

Chapter 39

Madison

I didn’t sleep well. How could I? My conscience and my sense of self-preservation were at war all night, and even when I did manage to drift off to sleep, my dreams were full of the same torment.

I’m yawning as I take a seat in the lecture hall, barely able to keep my eyes open.

“Hey, sleepy head,” Rhue says as he sits down beside me. “Get in late?”

I shake my head. “No—just have a lot on my mind.”

“You and me, both,” he says bitterly.