Page 23

The glare Tate shoots my way is murderous. Beyond the tears and humiliation is an anger that’s lurking. It makes me want to taunt that emotion out of him, bring it to the surface, and tame it into submission.

No one fucks with my family.

No one.

“Jude,” Dad says, “he’ll meet you outside in a few. I’d like to speak with Tate alone.”

I shoot warning daggers at Tate. He’s not going to sway my father. I won’t allow it to happen. With a clipped nod, I exit the office and stalk out of the house. After a brisk, short walk, I barge into Callum’s house. I pass by my brother’s office on the way to the stairs. He’s hard at work at his desk and Willa sits nearby at a laptop in a cozy armchair. They’re in the process of building a finance company now that Callum’s no longer a teacher. He’s a statistics and econ brainiac, so it suits him well.

Callum waves a hand as I pass but doesn’t ask what I’m up to. That’s the good thing about this family. We do what needs doing and usually the rest of us will fall in line. Callum trusts me to be in his house.

I make it into Tate’s room. Everything is neat and orderly. The only tell that an outsider lives here is the black cat sprawled out on the bed and the pet carrier tucked in the corner. I ignore the cat to hunt down Tate’s luggage. In the closet, I find one suitcase and a small amount of clothes. Quickly, I rip them all off the hangers and shove them into the luggage. Then I gather up his meager belongings in the bathroom, check the drawers in the room to remove anything left in there, and drop the suitcase on the bed next to the cat.

“Litter box?” I ask the cat.

He swishes his tail and meows at me. No help at all. Definitely docking Tate’s pay for this little freeloader. I eventually find the litter box and extra box of litter stowed in the open carrier.

“Let’s go, fucker.”

The cat stands and stretches before lazily walking toward the edge of the bed. I pull him into my arms and settle him on my shoulder. Thankfully, he hangs on while I grab the carrier and suitcase.

I nearly knock Willa over as I exit the guest room.

Her features fall and sadness glints in her eyes when she takes in my haul. “Tate’s leaving?”

“Moving in with me for the time being,” I bite out.

Until we fire him for real.

“What about Funky’s food and water bowl?”

“Who?”

She purses her lips. “The cat.”

“Bring it over later. Fucky will manage until then.”

“Jude, his name is Fun—”

Ignoring her, I sweep through the house in a whirlwind of anger, struggling to get the door open with all the shit I’m loaded down with and then make my way back over to Dad’s. Just as I stop in front of the porch, the front door opens.

Tate steps out and winces at seeing me. Another flash of bitter anger washes over his features before he rushes over to me. Reaching up, he grabs his cat and pulls him down into his arms. The cat, who’d been holding on for dear life, claws the shit out of my shoulder, ripping the fabric of my favorite hoodie.

I’ll dock his pay for this too.

“I’m ready,” Tate says, lifting his chin. “Let’s go.”

I’m ready too, little liar.

This is the beginning of the end of your time with the Parks.

Tate

Ican’t believe this is happening.

They know. They know and I’m still here.

Well, not technicallyheresince my previousherewas Callum’s place and Nathan’s office, but I’m still here with the Parks.