Page 150 of Family Affair

“Maybe it was you. Maybe Smirnoff knows what he’s doing by trying to nail your ass.”

“He’ll nail my ass regardless.”

His face mean, Ross straightened up. “That’d be rich, wouldn’t it, if they send you away for a murder you didn’t commit. Stevie Stark will rattle his rotten bones six feet under, having the last laugh.”

Cade took a small step forward, and suddenly they were standing nose to nose. “You had no right to tell Coco, asshole. You accomplished nothing.”

“Didn’t I? Well, I don’t care. I am tired of keeping secrets.”

“Join the fucking club,” Cade said through clenched teeth. “Your opinion doesn’t matter. You should’ve kept your mouth shut.”

“Is that what you ordered Frank? To shut up and go to trial for Stevie Stark? But he wouldn't roll over and play dead for you.”

“That’s exactly what he did.” Damn Ross, it was too much.

“You had betrayed him!” Ross was livid. “You chose to save your own miserable hide. He refused to squeal, didn’t he? He died, and you, motherfucker, you go on living.”

Cade was appalled. “You make it sound like I killed Frank.”

“Indirectly. You should've had his back, but you were never there for him, not even when he nearly ended it at that gallery. He was trying to quit, you know? He hadn’t produced a single painting in almost a year. He hadn’t touched alcohol for as long. He had kept his lips sealed, and y’all stayed above the waterline, then you had to meddle. You killed Stevie, whether you wanted it or not. And Frank got the blame. It was too much, I suppose, even for Frank. If only he wasn’t drunk that night… ” Ross looked angry and so forlorn.

Cade scraped his hand over his face, feeling wretched. Ross didn’t know the whole story. He didn’t know how Frank had twisted Cade’s arm into dealing with Stevie Stark to stop Father’s interview. Mother had been right, everyone played their part. Every fucking one of them was to blame.

“You created a hero who never existed, Ross,” he almost growled. “I would give anything to change the past, but you know I can’t.”

They fell silent.

“Why did you come?” Ross finally asked.

“To make a request. About Coco.”

Ross’s face registered surprise. “What about her?”

“Like I said, my time is running out.”

Ross’s expression said he wasn't exactly opposed to the idea of Cade in jail.

“Coco got dragged into this mess because of that one dinner she had with me. The dinner date got recorded. There was some PDA caught on that tape.”

“I know. Dan told on you.” There was disgust in Ross’s voice.

Cade ignored it. “Dan is on the warpath because of that tape. Alex’s been suspicious of Coco ever since her house got raided. And Smirnoff thinks she and I are Bonnie and Clyde, running around the countryside murdering innocent preachers. If I’m out of reach, stick close to her. Just… until the game is over.”

Ross just stared at him. “Awfully bold of you to ask. I don’t owe you.”

“If you want to say no, say it now.”

He waited, his heart beating evenly even if his spirits were sinking. He wanted Ross to come through. He desperately hoped he would.

“Okay,” Ross caved in. Reluctantly.

“Thanks.” He wanted to hug Ross, to tell him everything would be all right, that he’d make everything right, like he had done when they were little. But he refrained and instead reached out and clapped Ross on the shoulder.

His brother flinched. “I’m not doing it for you. I’m doing it for her.”

“Whatever your reasons, I’m grateful.”

“Wow. Be careful, or you’ll turn into Frank. God forbid you become protective of anything except your own ass.”