Fraud (Antihero Inferno #2) - Lily White Page 0,46

expressly forbidden me from talking to ever again.

“You have no explanation,” he says while I stand there staring at him with my jaw slack.

“Which is what I thought. And why I’ve decided that you’re now cut off from everything I’ve given you. I take part of the blame for this, Ivy, because I’ve coddled you your entire life. Fixed all your problems, and never forced you to fix them yourself so you’ll stop doing the stupid things you do to cause them. Regardless of whether the engagement is real or not, you are responsible for opening a door for Gabriel to do something like this again. You know better with him. He’s always been a monster. So, now that you’ve allowed this to happen, you can do what it takes to fix it. On your own. And without my finances to help you.”

I’m about to die right here in front of him.

About to wither beneath the murderous glare in his eyes.

Not because I’m cut off. I’ve always wanted to take care of myself. This might give me the opportunity to prove that I can. But it’s painful because I’ve hurt him again.

I love my parents. Despite how screwed up they are in their own lives, I never wanted to disappoint them. And this last issue has driven a spike into a relationship I’ve been fighting to rebuild.

“Scott can clear this up. He was with me the entire time in California-“

“Scott is the person who told me about your date,” he yells, cutting me off. “And that was right before he quit his job because he’s tired of chasing after you.”

What?

My jaw drops at that.

Scott and I were always on good terms.

“I suggest you and Emily walk out of here right now and decide how you plan to smooth all of this over. I have nothing more to say to you.”

With any other person I would plant my feet in place and keep arguing. But it’s no use with Dad. Once he’s made a decision, there’s no talking him out of it.

I have to fix this.

On my own and without his help.

Emily and I turn to leave, but my dad calls out to stop us.

“Emily, actually, I have something to say to you as well.”

The knot of fear crawls back into my throat as we both spin back to look at him. His eyes lock on her, disapproval obvious in his face.

“You are an engaged woman. While I don’t necessarily agree with the decision your parents have made for you, I still feel you should honor that engagement, at least when it comes to public appearance. And if you think nobody noticed you sneaking out of my house with your hair a mess and your clothes out of place, you’re wrong. We also noticed the twins coming out after you. And no woman should be caught having anything to do with Ezra and Damon Cross. They are loose cannons. My advice is for you to stop having anything to do with them. You have no idea what any of those men are up to.”

I want to argue on her behalf. Mason Strom isn’t much better than any of the Inferno boys, yet she’s being married off to him like some kind of object that can be bartered. But I keep my mouth shut because it would only make this worse for her.

Emily must feel the same because she answers him as demurely as possible.

“Yes, Mr. Callahan.”

He nods his head once.

“You both are excused.” His eyes slide to lock on me. “Fix this problem, Ivy. This is the last chance I’m giving you.”

Nodding my head, I turn back to the door and rush out, my arm clasped with Emily’s. Neither of us say a word as we run downstairs and out of the house, both of us beaten down.

After climbing back into the car and driving away from the house, we settle against our seats as we pull into traffic.

“What are you going to do?” she finally asks me, her voice soft.

“I have no idea.”

My thoughts are racing at this point with no clear direction of what I should do next or where I should be heading.

All I know is that I have to beat Gabriel at his own game. And knowing him and the power he holds, this battle will not be easy.

Ivy

Emily takes me back to her house since I no longer have one, the car rolling to a stop near the children’s wing of the mansion, both of us