Page 68 of Never Dance with the Devils

“Okay, that’s one issue addressed,” Cameron says. “More importantly, how’re you doing?”

“Peachy,” I deadpan.

“Kayla.” He looks and sounds so much like Dad that it’s eerie.

“Not ready for this,” I reluctantly answer. “Not that itmatters. The target’s already placed and been hit with about a million bullseyes.”

“Last time I checked, the videos had about five million views,” Kyle corrects unhelpfully.

“Damn it, Kyle,” Cameron hisses, backhanding our brother’s arm. To me, he says, “What’s the play? Tell us what you want us to do and what you need. That’s why we’re here.”

“I’ve handled the contract stuff, and Mr. Rodriguez will be here soon. I don’t think there’s anything a cease-and-desist letter can do, but we all know that if shit hits the fan,the first person you call is a lawyer.” Both of my brothers echo the last part with me, all of us equally well-trained by Dad. “And I need to talk to Mom and Dad before they find out through the grapevine instead of me. That’s my next stop.”

“Go,” Cameron declares. “I’ll talk to Rodriguez, because you’re right, there’s nothing he’s going to be able to do. It’ll be a quick check-in to make sure it’s not defamation, which it’s not. So go talk to Mom and Dad. I’ll hold down the fort here.”

Can I do that? Let my brother take care of me like this? I certainly never have before. Any issues that come up in my life, I handle them myself, preferably without anyone even knowing they existed. I’m the image of perfection and calm on the surface, even when my duck feet are paddling furiously underwater.

“Really?”

“Give me a little credit. I’ve had a few attorney meetings in my lifetime, you know?”

He has. More than me, but this isn’t about business. This is about me, personally. I can see on Cameron’s face that he wants to do this. I don’t know if it’s the first timehe’s considered that I might need help or if it’s the first time he’s healthy enough to be able to help, but I find myself relaxing my strained grip on the situation. I can let him do this. It’s one meeting.

I nod. “Thank you.”

“Damn it,” Kyle interjects. “Cole hasn’t had a chance to hack into the cameras at home yet. We’re not gonna get to see you breaking their hearts when you tell them their sweet, innocent daughter is shacking up with two guys.”

I stare at Kyle, gobsmacked. He didnotjust say that, did he? I thought…

Cameron laughs, hearing the teasing that I missed. “Sweet? Innocent? Who the hell are you talking about? Sure as fuck not our sister. Unless there’s a secret one somewhere.” He looks around the room like a Harrington lovechild might pop out from under the desk. “Kylie? Karla? Cassie? We know you’ve got a ‘k’ sounding name!”

I snort. We all know there’s no lovechild. Only us, and I don’t know how Mom and Dad put up with us the way they did. But even after everything my brothers have put them through, I think this is still going to send them into a tizzy.

“I kind of wish there were cameras too, so Cole could swoop in to rescue me, if need be,” I say, finding some small morsel of humor in this. I freeze, replaying what Kyle said again. “And we’re not shacking up. We just said I love you last night… well, sort of.”

“Saying it or not, that’s where you’re heading,” Cameron says, as if he’s the subject matter expert on relationship stages. “And you know what comes next?”

Kylehums, “Dum-dum-dum-dum…” Then he sobers, his brows knit together. “Wait, how’s that work? You can’t marry two people. Can you?”

I shake my head, the image in my head both blowing my mind and needing to be pushed away for now. “I have no idea, and we’re. Not. There. Yet.”

“You keep telling yourself that, Sis,” Cameron tells me, trying unsuccessfully to hide his grin.

“Yeah, that lady doth protesteth waaaay too much,” Kyle says, drawing out the ‘way’ a ridiculously long time.

“Lady? What lady? All I see is a badass bitch. Now, go.” Cameron shoos me out the door and right into Mr. Rodriguez.

I could stop. The meeting will be short, and I should take the time to do it before going to see my parents. But I glance back over my shoulder, seeing Cameron’s look of reassurance. He’s got me. He’s got this handled.

“Cameron’s going to meet with you, Mr. Rodriguez. Thank you for coming,” I tell him, already walking past him.

And on my way to the most awkward and uncomfortable conversation I think I’m ever going to have with my parents.

Heeey, Mom and Dad, so… about that happily ever after you hoped I’d get? What if it’s a bit extra happy? Like twice as happy?

KAYLA

To a lot of people, the Harrington estate is a huge monstrosity of the outskirts of town, but to me, it’s simply home. With all the memories associated with that, both good and bad.