Page 110 of Kiwi Gold

“Because he’s drunk,” I said. I’d got between Peter and Drake already, because I seriously thought Drake was going to rush him. I actually seriously thought Drake could kill him, if you want to know the truth. Laila had both her hands on him now, but more weirdly, Mum did, too. Ewan was beside me, which I was grateful for. Frank, of course, had his mouth open and was sitting frozen, the useless twit, like a headmaster whose boys had rioted and who couldn’t believe it.

“Don’t do it, Torsten,” Mum said, her voice low. “He’s not worth it.”

“Dad.” Liana was nearly crying now. “Did yousabotagehim? Why would youdothat? I never asked you to do that!”

“Oh, no,” Lark said. It was more of a moan, really.

Lexi said, “It needed only this,” and started to laugh.

I was furious. Stone-cold filthy. I said, “So you rang up your old mate and told him Torsten had dementia.”

“Only because I heard about his face,” Peter said. “You have to admit, it was a perfect opportunity.”

“How did you hear about his face?” I asked.

“How?” His eyes shifted from side to side. “Can’t remember.”

“Rubbish,” Mum snapped. “Of course you can remember.”

Liana said, “I told him.”

Lexi said,“What?”She was advancing on Liana now. “Youtoldhim? After I told you?”

“Wait,” I said. “How didyouknow?”

“Because I was texting with Torsten, of course,” she said.

“Why?” Lark asked, which was probably the most sensible question anybodyhadasked.

“He’s oddly funny,” Lexi said. “And he likes me. Odd taste, but there you are. I lacked a stable paternal figure growing up, Larissa’s always telling me, which is why I’m so erratic in my choices. Her word,” she told Torsten, “not mine. I like my life, thank you very much. I’m adventurous. Seems I come by it naturally.”

“I know.” He was almost smiling. “Too bright for what you’re doing, though, like I told you. Time to put those brains to work.”

She sighed. “You’re sobinary.”At which he laughed.

All right. This was getting odder by the minute. Also, I couldn’t see it as funny. Not for Torsten, and not for me.

Laila said, her voice low and shaking with emotion, “What kind of a man are you?” Not to Torsten. To Peter. “You sabotaged yourson.”

“Stepson,” I said.

“I adopted you!” Peter said.

“You did,” I agreed. “Oddly, I can’t thank you for it.” I was controlling myself. So was Drake. It was getting harder.

“I didn’t sabotage him,” Peter said. “He’s bound to get the contract now. He’s the obvious next choice, after Drake. Skating on past glories, Drake is. You’re too old,” he told Torsten. “Too old not to fall down, even. Step back and let my son take over. It’s his turn.”

“I don’t need a turn,” I said. It was all I could do to keep my voice from rising. “I need a level playing field.”

“And that’s what I gave you!” Peter said.

“You told them he was insolvent,” Laila said. “Insolvent! How could youdothat?”

“What?” Peter was blinking at her. “I didn’t. I said he’d been struggling because Drake’s got it locked up, that’s all. I said he needed a chance!”

“Dad.”Liana moaned the word.

“You piece of …” Drake was losing the battle. “You can’t even cheat with any level of competence. I should’ve told you to leave, back then,” he told Mum. “I should’ve told you to go.”