Hulk has come out to play. It’s been a few years. How you doing, buddy?” I say.
Ford’s apple didn’t fall far from his dad’s hot-temper tree.
He takes a swing at me, but I duck, putting him against the wall. He’s so predictable when he loses his shit.
Asher and Lincoln each grab one of my shoulders, and I release Ford. When Ford comes at me again, the two grab his arms and subdue him while he hurls profanities at me, trying to wrench himself from their grip.
“Calm down,” Lincoln says.
After a minute, Ford does settle down, but he doesn’t join us on the couch. Instead, he bends at his waist, heaving for a breath by the bar.
“You good?” Asher asks.
Ford nods.
“Like I was saying, you brought her back here. If Isla weren’t here in the first place, I wouldn’t be in this position. Now we have to figure out what my dad wants so that we can get ahead of his plan.”
“I can do some digging,” Lincoln says. “See what I can unearth on what she’s been doing since she was away—look into her financials, her parents.”
I nod.
“She just finished law school, hasn’t taken the bar yet,” Ford says.
“That’s what she told you,” Ryker says. “Who knows whether it’s the truth or not? It’s not as if any of us kept up with her after her sex tape with Asher was released.”
My teeth gnash together at the mention of the sex tape.
“See what you can find,” I say to Lincoln. “In the meantime, what should I do about my dad?”
“Isn’t it obvious? You need to do as he told you. Play nice with her.” Ryker’s right, but I’d been hoping to hear something else.
“What’s your problem with her anyway? I thought you two used to be friends back in high school?” Asher asks.
“Who said I had a problem with her?”
“Your face at the party last week. You looked like she just took a shit in your Maybach,” he says, lighting up another joint.
“I’m surprised you even remember there was a party last week.” I cross my arms over my chest.
Asher grins. “I can handle myself. It’s all up here.” He taps his temple.
“I don’t have a problem with her. I just think someone with her reputation isn’t good for Ford’s campaign.”
Ford looks at me as if he knows better, but he doesn’t say anything. He’s done enough damage. It’s not like we all sat around and talked about who we liked back in high school like Harper and her friends did.
“Good. Then it won’t be a problem for you to do what your dad says until we can get one step in front of him,” Lincoln says. “The last thing we need is him calling in that favor.”
He’s right. Because if that happens, it won’t matter what Dick the Prick wants me to do—I’ll have to do it no matter how abhorrent, vile, or illegal it is. A deal is a deal in the Stone family.
9
Chapter Nine
Isla
After the run-in with Garrin on Tuesday night, I was happy to get a text from Everly Brookes wanting to catch up. Everly and I used to be best friends back at Forest View Academy, but I haven’t seen or spoken to her since I left.
I have no idea what she’s been doing with her life, but since I’m here for the foreseeable future, it’d be nice to reconnect with someone who’s presumably happy to have me back. So we made plans to meet up at Coppersmith’s, a restaurant that specializes in a variety of steaks, for dinner and drinks.
I’m already seated at our table when she arrives, standing in the front of the room, glancing around the restaurant. I wave to grab her attention, and when she spots me, a large smile transforms her face and she rushes over. I pop up out of my seat, a huge smile on my face as well. At least one person from high school besides Ford is happy to see me.
“You look phenomenal! I can’t believe you’re back!” She envelops me in a big hug, which I return wholeheartedly. She squeezes me for a minute, and when she lets me go, I lean back to take her in.
Everly still looks like a porcelain doll. I remember being jealous of her in high school because while the rest of us were dealing with the usual teenage skin problems, hers was always perfection. Her hair rests at her chin and is no longer a medium brown but a white-blonde