I reminded her. Pip seemed to sober at that. “This isn’t going to work unless we can find a way to be civil.” I wisely left out the part about us having no choice. I refused to let either of us screw up my son like my parents had done me.
“And what exactly is this?” she asked, waving her hand between us. “I don’t want to be with you.”
“I’m not that fucking wild about you, either,” I lied. For now, it felt like the truth.
“So, what do we do?”
I shrugged when I was feeling anything but nonchalant. “We co-parent.”
The disappointment in her eyes seemed to match the turmoil in my gut. I wondered how long I could convince myself that it was enough. It had to be. Even if I told Tyra everything, it could never erase what we’ve done to each other.
“Okay.”
I should have been relieved by her whisper of agreement. The sadness in her eyes was gone, replaced by determination. I felt like I’d just had my heart torn from my chest. I forced myself to speak, to form the words that implied I was content with our new arrangement. “Okay.”
Maybe someday I would be, but I highly fucking doubted it.
Tyra took River back upstairs, and Lou had gone with her. Once Wren and I were alone again, I dug into my pocket—the one that didn’t hold my phone. I was relieved blabbermouth hadn’t checked that one as I removed the small box I’d stowed inside.
“I believe this belongs to you,” I told Wren as I held out his engagement ring. “I told you I’d keep it safe.”
Wren almost seemed reluctant as he slowly took it from me, his expression solemn. “I thought I’d be able to give this Lou, but now, I’m not so sure.” His eyes flashed, and I had the feeling he was remembering getting shot.
“I figured you’d say that. It’s the other reason why I’m here,” I told him after taking a deep breath. “I have a plan.”
His brows dipped as he stared at me. “A plan?”
“This war has never been between Exiled and Thirteen. It’s between three men with no honor and too much greed.”
Wren seemed to mull that over before shrugging. “What difference does it make? We’re caught in the middle regardless.”
“Exactly. But we shouldn’t have to pay for the sins of our fathers, Wren. We didn’t ask for this any more than we asked to be here. Our fathers don’t seem to give a shit what their feud does to us as long as they get what they want. We’re nothing but collateral damage. Instead of standing by like prey to be picked off, like pawns in their little games, I say we show them what happens when rivals play dirty.”
I watched as Wren sat back, his gray eyes slowly turning an electric blue. “I’m listening.”
Two days later, when I finally returned to my father’s castle on the hill, I found him not in his office as I expected but sitting on the deck. He was soaking in the sun as if he were basking in his glory.
“Son,” my father greeted with a surprised raise of his brows. “I’m surprised to see you’ve returned so soon.”
I stood over him with my fists balled, not caring about the threat I posed or the men with their guns aimed at my head. My father was just lucky I wouldn’t risk leaving River without his. “You knew about my son, didn’t you?”
“Of course, I did,” he answered without a single flinch. “I know everything that’s happening in my town.”
I allowed myself to smile. “You didn’t know that your enemy was living right underneath your nose for over a year.”
He waved his hand dismissively. “An unfortunate mishap I attribute to my frequent absences and the mediocrity of my spies. Besides, Harlan is not my enemy. I’m told he’s no longer Exiled.”
“Then why did you have him shot?”
“Because his father is still my enemy.”
“Then why not kill Ever, too?” I didn’t bother questioning whether my father knew of my best friend’s true paternity. Underestimating him is how I’d lost everything.
My father held his hands apart as he smiled. “If I played all of my cards too soon, how will I win the hand?” I watched him take a sip of his bourbon and wondered how easy it would be to poison his supply. I definitely had access. “You should be grateful. If I wanted to kill Wren Harlan, he’d be dead.”
I narrowed my gaze. “Then why