Page 86 of Wayward

“Clean start, that’s what we’re here for.” Bri’s voice shakes, and she doesn’t look at anyone but the cowering man across the table from her.

“Clean start, right? Fuck. Promise to not hit me?” Brick stumbles over his words.

“Sure.” Easton’s eyes flick to Calvin, then me. I’m not making any such promise, and damn straight you know Calvin isn’t.

“Emily broke up with me after Candy died.”

“Why would she . . . ” Easton’s eyes flare, and I’m not working out whatever he’s figured out. “You were with Bri the whole time? You were dating Emily for her money, just like Candy was dating my dad?” Easton growls.

Brick puts his hands up. “No, I—you won’t hit me, will you?”

Haley and Dante join us. Haley places the tray on the table in front of me and sinks into the seat next to mine.

“I already promised,” Easton says flatly.

“I was with Candy. Candy came up with a plan to take the Pink Phoenix, and her diamond-encrusted wedding dress.”

“Brick.” Bri’s voice has stopped shaking. “You’re leaving too much out.” She turns to Easton. “My aunt loved your dad, at first. But she couldn’t take the threats. She was scared for her life. She just wanted out.”

“Threats?” Haley says.

Bri closes her eyes and pinches her nose. “That’s why she got me a job on the yacht. She wanted me to protect her.”

“From whom, Bri? Why?” Easton smacks Brick’s reaching hand away from the pastries Haley bought.

“Rocky’s ex,” Brick says. “She was threatening Candy. Candy came to me because she thought the threats were too subtle for Rocky to take seriously. That’s how we . . . how we ended up being together. With me comforting her.”

I turn away because if there’s one thing I don’t want in my graphic imagination, it’s an image of Brick doing whatever he thought was comforting Candy.

“Why are you here? How is this your clean start?” I ask.

“Rocky’s at the forum across the street. He won’t take my calls, and the office won’t let either one of us get close to them. I need to give him something. In person,” Brick whispers.

“What? What could you possibly need to give a man after you slept with his fiancée who is now dead? Why would he need anything from you?” Easton asks.

“Well, he does,” Bri says.

“I have something to give him.” Brick pulls something out of his jeans pocket and puts it on the table with his hand over the top.

Easton lifts Brick’s hand, revealing a sheet of paper folded in thirds with Rocky’s name on it. “What is that?” Easton points.

“It’s a letter,” Bri whispers.

Chapter 38

Swab the Deck

Easton

“Aletter? What the hell does Rocky care about a letter from someone who cheated on his daughter with his fiancée?” I fucking yell it because the vultures surrounding Rockwell-Harding have taken my family to a place of terror. And I don’t mean only Emily and Dad, but Haley and the guys too. This letter ignites my fury.

“Please, it’s important, Easton,” Bri says. “Your father will want to see it. And Candy had the whole thing planned out, how we were all going to make a new life away from . . . Honestly, they didn’t mean for it to happen. Take the letter. Please. Give it to your dad. It’s important.” She waves it at my face.

I snatch the letter from Bri. I’m about to tear it in half when Sam plucks it from my hand. The damn thing isn’t even sealed or in an envelope. It’s just a piece of paper folded in thirds. Fucking thing is probably written in crayon, anyway.

“The wedding dress with the smaller diamonds and the Pink Phoenix were Candy’s escape plan?" I say. "Not that it worked. She ended up dying anyway.”

A fat fake tear rolls down Bri’s cheek.