Page 18 of Double Down

Not just mine.

Ours.

"Conrad wants you in the room," Maverick is telling her. "You should hear whatever bullshit he's about to spin. But let's not put you in the line of fire."

Fuck that. She’s always going to be my target. I want her here because I want her to know what she’s pulling our focus from.

Even if I literally asked for this.

She gives him a thin smile and nods. He kisses her temple. I glance at Storm, expecting jealousy—something. Some hint of annoyance or that knife flying through the air again.

His face is already blank. The mask he wears for the parents is locked in place.

Atticus squeezes drops into his eyes to clear the red. Maverick squares his shoulders, bracing for the coming shit storm.

I do the same—shake off the unwilling pull I feel when I look at Phoenix and slide on the mask of bored indifference after making sure there's no evidence of the last few days on me or in the room. Everything is clean.

Not that any of it will matter.

The conference chime sounds from my laptop. I answer. My father’s gaze flicks around before he speaks, cataloging me at the head of the table and Maverick to my right, Atticus to my left, and Storm behind me in the shadows.

He can be seen, but barely. That’s the way he likes it.

The call splits to four screens almost immediately: my father; Maverick's father; both of Atticus's parents sharing a frame; and Storm's mother. For a moment I get a flash of a naked woman behind Maverick’s father. He adjusts the screen, but no doubt that was Maverick’s new stepmommy.

I remember her from high school. I used her once to make Phoenix jealous after we split, I hope she got better in bed. All I remember is loud moaning, and her idea of dirty talk was to tell me all the things she wanted me to buy.

Someone should have told her that fucking Atticus’s dad would have gotten her more. You can’t have a prenup for hush money.

None of us exchange greetings. Just bored glances, as if we had called this meeting and interrupted their day. Disappointment sits on their faces like it's carved there.

My father opens the discussion, his gaze direct on me like I'm an employee and not his son. "We’ve made a decision."

I didn’t know there was anything in question…?

I bite my tongue. Provoking him never helps. It's best to let him think he's in control. I keep my hands flat on the table in front of me, my shoulders loose, my eyes steady.

"This summer we’ll be conducting a trial run to see if you boys are ready.”

“Ready…?” Storm’s question is a murmur, barely audible. His mother glances down as my father barrels on.

“You will be taking over the entire Savannah property for the next quarter."

We sit in silence, waiting for the catch. There's always a catch when it comes to our parents.

Atticus's father speaks next. "We’ve given you everything you need to succeed and take your place in our world, but you’ve seen fit to squander the gifts we’ve offered."

"You must understand, we are concerned for your future. The future of Titan-Wynn. It’s obvious that we raised you too soft. Gave you too much," Atticus's mother cuts in, unwilling to let him have the last word.

Storm's mother rolls her eyes. “Speak for yourself, Carine. Storm knows what is expected of him, and the punishment if he fails.”

Maverick's father jumps in before the bickering really starts.

"Look at it this way. You boys have an opportunity here. A real chance to prove we did right by you. If you rise to the challenge, you’ll enter the next stage of your life as our equals."

“Which is it?” Maverick murmurs. “You were too soft on us, or you did right by us?”

My father sends a sharp glare through the screen. "Effective immediately, the four of you will assume operational control of all facets of Titan-Wynn Resort. Casino, security, VIP services, hotel management, entertainment—everything."