Fraud (Antihero Inferno #2) - Lily White Page 0,68

claimed Gabriel is depressed about it and won’t get out of bed for anything but work.”

My brow arches at that.

It makes no fucking sense. The fake engagement was Gabriel’s control over me when it comes to my dad and my finances. Why would he give it up?

I scan the article again. Obviously he did this. Nobody else but him feeds the news bullshit information.

Carefully scrawling through each line looking for a cryptic message, I find none and drop the phone back in Emily’s hand.

“He’s up to something,” I say again.

I know Gabriel.

Better than anybody.

He wouldn’t do this without a reason.

Emily shakes her head and brushes the length of her red hair over a shoulder.

“Or he’s letting this go. You wrecked his house, Ivy. And stole his car. Maybe he’s old enough now to realize this will just get worse if you two keep going.”

I think about that. Purse my lips. Glance out over the distance.

“Nope. He’s up to something.”

The only problem is I have no idea what.

“I can call Ezra or Damon. See what they have to say. We’ve only heard from Ava, and she gets limited information from Mason.”

I don’t bother glancing at her.

Emily has been more relaxed these past three days away from the twins. That alone is telling. It pisses me off, actually. What the hell are those two doing to her that can make her so upset?

There’s no telling with them. The twins have always been an issue. Always. And I feel bad I’d encouraged Emily to have fun with them in high school, instead of warning her not to get involved. Even if I had warned her, I’m not sure she would have listened.

Refusing to be the reason she reaches out to them now, I shake my head.

“No. This is between Gabe and me. And it should stay that way. I’ll call him myself. Offer my condolences for the failed engagement. Feel him out.”

While I watch, the sun sets behind the horizon, its dying fire a blaze of color spreading across a cloud streaked sky. Beyond the tree line, nocturnal animals begin their chorus, and I shiver at the memories that sound brings to mind.

“It’s probably best you avoid Gabriel. I can call the -“

My eyes snap her direction.

“What’s going on with you and the twins? You’ve been more like yourself the past three days we’ve been here than you have the past month.”

A question keeps screaming in my head, one I’ve kept from asking, but what kind of friend would I be if I left it alone?

“Are they doing something to you?”

I’ve never seen any physical signs that anything bad is happening. But you still have to worry about your best friend when she’s sleeping with men people call Violence and Anger.

Guessing where I’m going with this, her expression falls, and she blows out a breath.

“Not what you’re worried about. No.”

Suspicion fills me. I can’t tell if it’s because I truly don’t believe her, or that I’m on edge from everything with Gabriel.

“Are you sure?”

She better be sure. If she’s not, I’ll kick both their asses. How I’ll accomplish that, I have no idea. Those two are the poster children for Scary As Fuck, but I’ll figure out something.

She gives me a half-hearted grin.

“I might put up with a lot from people, but I wouldn’t allow that. I told you, it’s complicated, and I’m not ready to talk about it yet.”

“Promise to tell me when you’re ready?”

Emily nods.

My shoulders relax at that.

“Fine.

Bracing her forearms on the handrail, she leans forward and laughs. “You’re stalling.”

Skin bristling to hear the accusation, I smile. The sweet one that is lined with bullshit to hide what I’m thinking. She sees right past it.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Uh huh.”

Her hair catches the porch light that flickers on above our heads, her turquoise eyes assessing me.

“What I find interesting is that you’re not afraid of Gabriel. So why the hell are you stalling to keep from calling him?”

Because I know he’s up to something. And I have no idea what.

Pushing away from the handrail, I walk into the house with Emily following behind me.

“Maybe I just don’t want to hear his annoying voice.”

“Sure. We can go with that.”

“Fuck off.”

She laughs when I grab my phone from my purse and blow out a steadying breath.

“No time like the present,” I mumble as I scroll to his number, hit the button and bring the phone to my ear.

Gabriel answers after two rings. “Thank you for calling Jaguar. This is