Page 22 of Mr. Wrong (Hollywood Knights #1)
Twenty-Two
Lex
Roughly twelve hours ago, I had Ellenore bent over my bathroom sink and screaming my name. Now I can’t stop yelling at her for shit that’s not even her fault.
The problem is that there’s no one else to blame.
I mean, who else is there? Landon for being right?
Cassie for wanting a mom? Killian for being a nosy, judgmental bitch?
Myself for not wanting to accept the fact that maybe— just maybe —after six years of being the one who changed her diapers and braided her hair, my niece doesn’t need me anymore.
Fuck.
Stopping mid-charge, I stand by the side of the pool and dig my phone out of my pocket and punch a few buttons. It’s ringing before I can even get it up to my ear.
“This is Landon,” he says, which is ridiculous. I know who the fuck it is and he knows it’s me.
“I want her gone.” Even though saying it makes me feel like the biggest asshole that ever lived, I don’t mince words. I push the last of it through clenched teeth when he doesn’t answer me. “I’m serious, Landon.”
“I can tell.” He sounds bored, the silence filled with restaurant noises—people talking, clattering silverware, servers shouting out orders. “We’ll discuss it in the morning.”
“No.” I shake my head, turning to aim my glare in the direction of the house.
I can see her through the kitchen window, sitting where I left her, the sandwich I made her untouched.
She looks lost. Like she’s about thirty seconds away from giving up and walking away from the whole lot of us.
“We’re going to talk about it now. I want her gone . ”
“You’ve spent six hours with the woman, Lex.” He chuckles quietly. “She seems smart. Good with kids. So, what is it about her that you find so objectionable? Are you afraid she’s going to—”
“Don’t fucking patronize me,” I bark at him.
“I’ve given you everything— my whole goddamned life —so you can make your movies and your millions while you pretend your own fucking daughter doesn’t even exist. You owe me .
” It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell him I slept with her.
That would do the trick, especially if he has ulterior motives where she’s concerned.
If I tell my brother about what happened last night, he’d have Killian cut her a hefty check and take her home.
She’d have the money she needs to start her life over and I’d be rid of her. Our lives could go back to normal.
It’s the perfect solution. One I should’ve thought about hours ago, but as perfect as it is, I don’t say it. Because telling my brother about us feels like a betrayal and I find myself unable to do that to her, no matter how angry and desperate I am to get rid of her.
“ Your life ?” He’s getting angry, his tone losing some of that Landon Trask smoothness.
“Let’s talk about that life you so selflessly sacrificed for me—you’d already blown your scholarship.
” It’s quieter now, like he’s found a quiet corner to take me to task.
“You were on academic probation and about a week away from being tossed out of USC on your ass. You didn’t give me your life —you used me and what happened to Rachel as an excuse to run away from it. ”
I don’t know which shocks me more—the fact that he actually said Rachel’s name out loud or the realization that he’s right.
“Fuck. You.” I can barely get the words out, my teeth are clenched so tightly.
“Yeah?” He sounds tired. Like talking to me is some monumental task he doesn’t have the strength to tackle.
“Well, fuck you back.” I hear the rasp of him sliding his hand over his face like he’s trying to wipe away the frustration that comes with being my brother.
“You know what she did this morning when I asked her to walk me to my car? She defended you. She told me that it would be cruel to take you away from Cassie because it’s obvious how important you are to her. That she needs you.”
I don’t need to know that.
Don’t want to know that.
“It’s her or me.” I turn away from the view of her through the kitchen window when I say it. “I mean it, Lex—either you get rid of her or I’m gone .”
I hang up on him before he can say another word.