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“CanIdo what I want?” Poe asks wistfully.

“No,” I choke on a laugh. “Lord only knows what you have in mind.”

“Complete chaos,” Poe smiles sweetly. That’s how I know he means it.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Adelaide

That day will be in my memories for a long time.

The way Asher kept his arm around my shoulders as we watched security escort her to the car. The nod and nervous smile Joseph gave me before he left with her. He was silently assuring me that he had it handled.

I personally think he has no idea what he’s in for.

How many lies will he unravel? And does it matter anymore?

Ash explained what happened on his side of the equation. What a damn mess. If even half of what he’s told me is the truth, this town is a cesspit, and I never knew.

When I started having doubts about this drawn-out, almost year-long drama, Gabriel backed him up. Then his girlfriend, the angry redhead.

Sadly, that insight led Poe to offer Tera a job at SoT to handle hacking and leaks. She politely refused, wanting to focus on her child.

She’s going to be an awesome Mom. I can already tell.

And the rest of the cake hovers around her so protectively that I’m not surprised I haven’t met them.

Trevor and Max. I prefer Frosting and Sprinkles, so it’s staying.

It’s going to take a little while before they lighten up around me. I’m the same way. Too many painful things went down the one time I saw them. It’s between us all like a ghost.

Plus, it’s going to take a while for me to convince Tera that she’s not to blame for not backing me up. She’s obsessed with the thought that it’s her fault. It wasn’t until I told her that William is the only one who should get the blame for it that she backed off.

She looked at Amanda with narrowed eyes, and they nodded to each other. Co-conspirators on my behalf.

I probably won’t see her for a while after that because Ash caught the look. I hope she enjoys her grounding. I’m sure Ash will make it fun.

Poe keeps his distance from them, which isn’t the best thing, but he’s wary. I can’t blame him.

He decides to accept Gabriel's offer on a trial basis. He explained it to me, but I’m still confused. Soldiers and trauma victims under one roof, with a bunch of seasoned SoT members thrown in. It sounds like a volatile mix.

They’re starting off small. Two men already live in the building across the street from Matthias LLC, soon to be Jefferson LLC. Ex-soldiers. They can add from there. Turning the office site into apartment housing is already underway.

When Poe comes back from meeting them, he’s convinced to give it a try.

Here’s hoping it works out.

As for me and the Broussards, that’s not complicated.

I don’t hear from Valerie at all. Joseph calls and checks in with me once a week with updates on her.

Daniella has joined Valerie in refusing to talk to me, and I don’t mind it one bit.

Sophia calls sometimes, but it’s awkward. We’re never going to be right with each other.

Suzette has lost her mind and is the most pushy. She’s determined to make amends for everything. I try to treat her respectfully, without all of the eager friendliness that I used to have. She hates it.

She’s trying; I’m just not there yet.