bonded.
But in the week since Rusty had disinherited Ross, he hadn’t heard much from his brother and sister. Most of that distance could be placed on his own shoulders. He’d been so busy finding a home for Charlotte, Ben and himself as well as shoring up his own financial resources that he hadn’t prioritized sitting down and talking with them. Also, a part of him had subconsciously put off this meeting. Because that part feared where they stood in this face-off between him and Rusty. Gina and Asher had always been his allies, but at the risk of incurring Rusty’s wrath?
He didn’t know. And he dreaded finding out.
The door to the room opened, and Gina and Asher walked in. Ross stood at the end of the table, tension drawing him tight, unfamiliar indecision humming through him. He studied their faces, searching for...what? Anger? Sadness? Resignation? Did they resent him for making them choose a side...
“Dammit, Ross,” Gina snapped, striding forward and not stopping until she threw her arms around him and held on. Relief poured out of him like a geyser, almost sapping his strength. He wrapped his sister in an embrace that was probably too tight, but he couldn’t ease up. Not when he’d never been so grateful for a hug. “Where the hell have you been?” A smile curved his mouth at her muffled scolding. “We’ve been worried sick about how you’ve been doing, and all we can get out of you is a ‘fine’ or an ‘I’ll call you back.’ Which you don’t do, by the way.”
Gina tilted her head back, glaring at him. “Good thing you arranged this meeting because I was ready to storm The Bellamy.” She lightly punched him in the arm. “And thank goodness for the Royal gossip hotline or I wouldn’t even have known where you were staying.”
“She was actually ready to barge in five days ago,” Asher added, voice dry but holding an unmistakable affection for their sister. “I convinced her to wait since you had a lot going on—you know, new family and being disinherited—but we didn’t intend on waiting too much longer.”
Asher clapped Ross on the shoulder, giving it a brief squeeze. His tone might have been amused, but concern darkened his brown eyes. Ross gave him a small nod, which his brother returned before picking up a cup and pouring coffee into it.
“Gina, quit making like a clingy octopus and release Ross. Here.” He passed her the cup and fixed another for himself, a brief grin flashing across his face as she switched the glare from Ross to him. “Okay, Ross. Tell us what the hell is going on. We’ve heard Dad’s rant about your ungratefulness, stupidity, disloyalty to family and being led around by your dick.” He sipped the fragrant brew. “Now, what’s the truth?”
Ross arched an eyebrow, that vise around his chest loosening at his brother’s sardonic words. “How do you know that’s not the truth?”
Asher snorted. “When Rusty starts trying to curry favor with me instead of treating me like the unwanted, redheaded stepchild, then I know he’s full of shit. And he wants something. That something being getting me on his side to pressure you into caving and falling back into line. Which, even if you weren’t my brother, would’ve put me firmly in your camp.”
“Same here. Since you’ve been banned from the office, he’s acting like he actually cares about my input on business decisions. When we both know he doesn’t respect my opinions—never has. He’s in full-on bribe mode.” Gina shook her head, disgust curling her mouth. “As if we’re so stupid we can’t see right through his manipulations.”
Or desperate enough for his attention and his approval that they would turn on him. That was how Rusty Edmond operated in business and with his children.
“So give,” Gina prodded. “And start from why we’re just finding out we’re an aunt and uncle.”
Ross did as they requested. And with the two people he trusted most in the world, he confessed everything that had happened since that moment he and Billy had spotted Charlotte in Sheen. By the time he finished with discovering he’d been locked out of the ranch, his credit canceled and then being swiftly tossed out of the family business, they’d all sunk onto the couch in the meeting room’s small sitting area.
“If I doubted Dad’s seriousness, the package he had delivered to The Bellamy would’ve confirmed it. It included a letter stating I was not welcome at Elegance Ranch and fired