Page 82 of A Matter of Fact

“And he wants Rhys home.”

“And he just went.” Beckett scoffed. “I find that nearly impossible to believe, Sebastian.”

“Our father threatened you,” Sebastian blurted, dropping his forehead against Remington’s chest with a defeated sigh. “Not directly, but the implication was there.”

“Me?”

“You’re standing between him and what he wants.”

“What does he want?” Beckett pulled his hands out of his pockets and folded his arms in front of his chest before dropping them loose at his sides. He had no idea what to do with his hands, but he felt like he was going to crawl out of his skin if he didn’t do something.

“Rhys.” Sebastian looked up at Remington. “Can I have another drink?”

Remington gave him a small nod, encouraging Sebastian to sit back down at the table. “As long as you keep talking.”

“How are you so calm?” Beckett lobbed the accusation at Remington, the other person in the room who wasn’t part of the St. George family.

“Because this was my life. Is my life.” Remington lowered himself back into his seat, refilling three of the four wine glasses. “I grew up with money. I know what it can do to people.”

“My brother…I can’t.” Sebastian’s chin quivered. “His whole life, he…”

“I know.” Remington sighed, stroking his hand down Sebastian’s shoulder.

“He put everyone else first, always. I had no idea. I always thought…”

“You thought he was selfish,” Beckett interjected, drawing Sebastian’s attention. “You thought he was manipulative and calculating and cruel.”

“He is all of those things,” Sebastian countered. “But not selfish.”

“No. He’s not.” Beckett had barely known Rhys for a month and he knew that to be true. Down to the marrow of his bones, he knew Rhys would do anything for the people who mattered to him.

Even abandon them.

If it was necessary.

“He has a plan,” Sebastian went on, falling into another ramble. “He has a plan. He said he’ll fix it. He asked that I make sure you’re taken care of until he gets back.”

Beckett made a disgusted noise in his throat. “I don’t want your money.”

“He said you would say that.”

Beckett bit his lip, his eyes filling with tears. He looked at the door, like if he stared at it long enough, he could will Rhys into existence again. He could bring Rhys back. Because whatever was happening was something that Beckett didn’t understand.

“I’m not sure how long he’ll be gone for,” Sebastian went on. “But I knowhim. Beckett, you need to know he didn’twantto go. He didn’t want to leave you. Especially not without saying goodbye. He was as distraught as I’ve ever seen him.”

Beckett shook his head.

“This isn’t…this shouldn’t be my place to say.” Sebastian took a large swallow of his wine and inhaled a trembling breath. “I heard a lot when I went after him. The things my father said to him. I…I had no idea.”

“Are you going to elaborate or leave me wondering?” Beckett asked.

Sebastian looked at Remington. “Did you know it was our father who made him end things with Callahan?”

Remington nodded. “I had a feeling.”

“He…Rhys…” Sebastian frowned, chin shaking again. “Did you know how much he tolerated…for me? So I could…”

Remington nodded again.