Page 74 of The Dis-Graced

“Well, if this is the route you’ve all chosen to take, then there isn’t much I can do about it, is there? Let’s all hope this doesn’t up an bite us in the ass.”

She pivots on her heels, heading for the door. Before she leaves, however, she turns back and says, “By the way, it looks like your little collaboration with the dis-graced journalist has made headlines. Hope it was worth it.”

My gut twists in knots, but I don’t let it show on my face. Grace is leaving, and I don’t really care what the headline says. If she tells the whole world we fucked, I just don’t care.

Devon’s face gives way to distress. It’s obvious he’s in deep conflict.

The door closes, and my brothers let out a collective sigh of relief.

“We can do this,” I say. “This isn’t just the right thing to do. People will see that we care, and that will pay off in the end.”

“I sure hope so,” Dalton says.

“Welcome to the Land of Misfit Brothers, bro,” Derek jests, slapping Dalton on the back. “It’s always good to see a first-timer in the doghouse.”

“Yeah, the drinks are okay,” he holds up his glass, “but the tenants are assholes.”

We each laugh, and it doesn’t feel at all forced. Dare I say, it’s natural.

“God, how long has it been since we’ve all been together?” Derek asks.

“Maui, right before my almost wedding,” Dalton answers.

“Yeah, I’m sorry about that. Truly, I was—”

Dalton turns to Devon, his face sincere. He reaches to put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “Naw, we’re good. You really saved me there. I’d probably be divorced and paying a small fortune in child support if it wasn’t for you.”

Devon covers Dalton’s hand with his own. “Thanks, I needed that.”

“We need to get together more often,” I say. “As more than just businessmen, as brothers.”

“Will you be having Luke tail us?” Dalton quips.

I frown, unable to mask my worry. Very few people had full access to ALAN, and Luke was one of them, along with myself and Elliot. Of course, my mother can probably finagle her way into whatever project she has her sights set on, but I would know about it. I want to think that Luke would never betray me, that he thinks of me as a brother, but the evidence is mounting against him.

As much as I hate, and I really do mean DETEST, Gabriel Icor, he wouldn’t lie about this. Just knowing ALAN’s name tells me he has someone on the inside. Now, it’s possible that some low-level R&D tech guy gave him some information, and the sale is all a bluff, but I don’t see Gabriel playing that dirty. And to what end?

“Just us, the Dallanger bros,” I finally say.

“Ya know,” Derek says. “I wouldn’t really mind if Luke tagged along if he brings that hot sister of his. What’s her name? That chick in the news?”

“Grace,” Dalton says. “I remember when she tagged along with Luke that one time. Mom had the maid running around, disinfecting just about everything she touched.”

My gut twists into knots. “I don’t remember that.”

“Of course, you don’t,” Dalton says. “You were busy running off with Luke. It was that day we went to the career thing.”

I search my memories for the day in question, vaguely remembering Luke’s parents having to take work out of state. They left Luke and Grace for three days, and Luke wasn’t allowed to leave his sister after school, so she came with us.

Of course, being siblings, he found her annoying, so we disappeared almost as soon as we got to my place and didn’t turn up again until it was time to pile into the car and go to the career event held by my school.

“Too bad Brigger’s busting a nut in her,” Derek says.

“Hey,” I snap.

“What? Are we going to pretend like it didn’t happen?” Dalton laughs. “It explains how she got all that work.”

“I just don’t think it’s right of us to judge her,” I say. “We grew up with silver spoons in our mouths, access to the best schools, and high-level connections. Whatever she did to get ahead, it doesn’t matter. She’s undeniably talented and put herself through college working three jobs.”