Fraud (Antihero Inferno #2) - Lily White Page 0,11
play their games, it’s Ava.
“Why would you do that? And to who?”
Her eyes lower, the shame I see on her face deepening. “We all have our reasons, but that’s not the point.”
“Who is the woman?”
“Luca Bailey. But you wouldn’t know her. She went to Yale and somehow ended up here. I have no idea what they even want from her, just that they want something.”
Okay.
Either the car just crashed into a building or my world imploded around me, the force of it shaking me to the core.
“Say that name again. I’m not quite sure I heard you right.”
Ava locks her eyes with mine. “You don’t know her.”
“Say it,” I insist.
Because...no.
There’s no fucking way that-
“Luca Bailey. Why?”
I don’t recognize her first name.
But her last?
Oh yeah. That rings a bell.
A shiver runs down my spine to think there is definitely more to this than meets the eye. And I’m sick over the fact that certain secrets aren’t as unknown as I’d believed.
“You look pale, Ivy. Are you feeling all right?”
Turning to look out the window, I reach for those streamers of sunlight again. I need them right now. Their warmth. The serenity of bright patches breaking through the rolling clouds.
Now I have an idea of why Tanner wants information from me. And if I’m right, then a world of trouble is about to crash down on my life.
“No,” I answer, my voice shaking more than I’d like. “I’m suddenly not hungry.”
“Is it something I said? We can go somewhere else, if you’d like. Just tell me what you want to do.”
I want to run.
I know that.
If what Tanner wants has anything to do with what I know, then I need to run.
The only problem is I can’t be sure.
Not yet.
Not until I talk to Gabriel.
There are only a few days left before our date. I can plan in the meantime. Prepare.
And if this is about what I think it is, then I’m about to leave for an extended vacation.
But not before I find out for sure.
And not until I’ve reminded the Inferno just who it is they’re dealing with.
Glancing at Ava, I round my shoulders and smile. “Actually, I’m feeling a little better. We should still do lunch. And while we eat, you can tell me everything you know about Gabriel and the Inferno.”
Gabriel
The night is somewhat surreal. Not because anything has happened yet, or that I worry anything will.
To everybody else, it’s a normal Friday. The guys are gathered at the house. All but the twins, who are off doing whatever it is they do, and Shane, who is at a bike show.
As I pull up to Tanner’s house, I park around back near four other cars that belong to Mason, Jase, Taylor and Sawyer.
The interior of the car goes silent when I kill the engine, but rather than stepping out, I stare at the screen of my phone, my thumb hovering over a missed call from Warbucks.
How funny that he should call on the same night I’m due to meet up with Ivy for the first time in ten years. He was the influence that indirectly caused the war I’ve had with her since the day we met, the man who stoked my rage so that I would strike out at her because I couldn’t defend myself against him.
Maybe it’s a coincidence he should check in with me when I finally have her within reach, but I still find the timing suspicious.
It wouldn’t be surprising to learn our fathers track us. We’re the sticky fingers they have on the younger generation, and now that we’re all of age, our value has only increased for the screwed-up things we can do to people.
Sending us all to law school wasn’t a coincidence. Lawyers make incredible criminals, only because we know the laws well enough to bend or break every one of them.
Every aspect of our lives were planned out to suit them.
The only problem is that it will ultimately lead to their downfall.
The last person I want to talk to is my father, but I hit the button to return his call and bring the phone to my ear just as the asshole picks up after the second ring.
“I think you know why I’ve been calling.”
There’s a scratchy grumble to my father’s deep voice from years of smoking cigars. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve wished that sound indicated throat cancer of some type, but unfortunately he hasn’t dropped dead yet.
“To wish me a happy birthday,” I deadpan. “How sweet