for rehab, she told me. She’d pay off the debts I had left, but that was it. She’d pay for me to go to rehab, get an education, start a real job. A fresh start.” He hissed the words at me. “That’s how she put it. A fresh start. She sat there with a baby in her belly, no husband in her life, and told me about a fresh start.”
Are you egging him on at all? Chann questioned Shannon, worry in every word.
No. This is all him.
Move in closer. Alarick’s voice didn’t leave any room for argument. Right on the edge of the tree line. He can’t see us in the dark. My superior hearing could pick up the movement I knew he wouldn’t notice as he glared at me.
“I took it, of course. How could I not? It’s not like I had any choice. I went to the rehab she picked out. Quit drinking. It was enough to convince her I was serious about everything. I learned to keep the gambling quiet. I got an accounting degree, and I found a different kind of way to pay for debts at first.” He stared up at the sky, though, unlike me, he wasn’t taking comfort from the moon above him. He stared at it as if he could own it, the way he wanted to own the world around him it seemed. “I’d found I was good at numbers, you see. A shift here, a change there. Easily covered.”
“You were, what, laundering money? Embezzling it?” Okay, so math wasn’t exactly my thing, but I had some idea of what that was about.
He smirked. “Something like that. It’s amazing what people will sign on an accountant’s advice.”
Anger began to creep through me. My wolf snarled, pushing me to shift, to throw off Alarick’s command and take down this pathetic excuse for a man in front of us. “I still don’t get it!” My voice was louder now, though I knew I needed to keep calm. “So you’re mad that she made you go to rehab? That she made you get a job? Grow up? This is all stupid sibling rivalry bullshit!” My wolf wanted to howl a challenge, to tear into this man who had spent the last month threatening us, threatening our family over nothing.
“Stupid girl,” he spat. “Of course not.” I blinked at him for a moment before throwing my arms up.
“Then it’s just been fucking story time?”
Language, Ian told me, though it seemed more habit than an actual censure.
“As emotional as your mother,” he snarled. “So sure you’re right.”
“Considering how emotional you are at the moment, I don’t think you have room to talk,” I snarked, crossing my arms over my chest, breathing in the scent of pine to try and center myself.
Try not to piss off the crazy man, Chann suggested with a weak laugh. As much as I want to kill him, I don’t think Raff would approve.
He would if he was a true threat to the pack, Ian commented idly. He already gave Alarick permission. Huh. Creepy, but okay.
“Fine then. Finish your story. I still have to study tonight. Unlike you, I’m not a degenerate,” I reminded him. I could hear Chann wince across our bond as I ignored his advice.
Lyle seethed. “I needed more money,” he explained stiffly. “I approached your mother a few times over the years. Never about gambling debts, of course. Told her I had moved, changed jobs. Hospital bills. All on the up and up. Every time, she told me she had you to worry about now, you came first. She couldn’t lend me money, she was sorry.” He kicked my car and I growled. He whirled, searching for the sound, not realizing it had come from me.
Careful, Penny, Alarick warned.
He kicked my car. Mine! I snarled back.
Thought you didn’t like your car, he teased, though the words were strained.
It’s still mine, I muttered back.
“If you want to kick a car, kick your own,” I told him. “That’s from my scholarship, and I don’t want it damaged.”
“I’ll damage it if I choose. You only have it because I agreed you could go to that school. Maybe I’ll just pull you out of there.” His eyes searched my face, and manic glee crossed it when I scowled. “Oh, didn’t like that much, did you? Maybe that will make you more cooperative.”
“Why don’t we just focus on story time first?” I deadpanned, studying my fingernails. “So my mom wouldn’t give you money