let you date someone more in your league.”
I clenched my jaw to keep my mouth from dropping wide open at the games my parents were prepared to play. “That is absolutely not the case at all.” I willed Leo to believe me. The list of things I needed to explain and ask forgiveness for was stacking up fast, but he was still here, and hopefully that was half of the battle right there. “I’ll explain more later, okay?”
I didn’t break eye contact until he nodded at me.
I started forward, Leo tightening his hand in mine as we brushed past Mom.
“Shayne,” she shouted. “Where do you think you’re going?”
I ignored her as I turned left into Dad’s study and started opening his cupboards and drawers. I knew the albums were in here somewhere. I just didn’t know where the old bastard had put them.
“What are you doing, Shayne?” Mom stood in the doorway but she didn’t come in.
I spotted the albums in the back of a cupboard and let go of Leo to grab them. I loaded them into my arms and headed back out of the room.
“Nothing now,” I said as I passed Mom by.
Leo caught up to me as I began to climb the stairs and walked by my side. I walked right to Dad’s bed and tossed the albums onto the covers beside him then stepped back and waited.
“Hey, aren’t some of those your grandpa’s albums? The ones we looked at when we were kids?” Leo asked, his voice quiet. He took my fingers and squeezed them gently, showing his support—he’d always known how much these albums meant to me.
I squeezed his hand back, trying to leech some of his strength from him.
Then I looked at Dad, meeting his gaze, unafraid. “You can do what you want with them.” I nodded at the albums, ignoring the squeeze of grief around my heart.
Leo meant more.
I wasn’t going to let Mom and Dad hold these over my head any longer while they molded me into what they’d always intended for Kane. I wasn’t the spare for their heir.
“I can’t be bribed,” I added, filling the silence he left before I delivered my final blow. “I’m choosing Leo.”
Dad shook his head, his mouth forming a malicious grin. “Well, well. Turns out you’re just as big a disappointment as your brother. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. We never could rely on you.”
“Shayne.” Leo whispered my name but I kept my focus on Dad, waiting for his next shot.
I didn’t have to wait for long. He rested a hand on one of the books, patting the scuffed leather cover. I’d run my fingers over those covers so many times, thinking of all the memories they held. The albums had both comforted me and given me something to aspire to.
“You know,” he said, and his words were so artfully casual. “I never actually saw the value in these books. That was remiss of me. Luckily, I saw the error of my ways and had them appraised.” His eyes crinkled with a smile of greed. “It turns out there are pictures your grandpa took that would fetch top dollar.” Then came mock amazement. “Imagine that!”
I ground my teeth as I listened to him then jumped at his sudden bark of a laugh.
“I was sitting on a goldmine, and I didn’t even know it.” His voice turned danger-level low. “Of course, some of them are also…worthless.” He narrowed his eyes and stared at me, and I knew he was talking about the ones I’d created with Leo during day trips out to various places. Then he sighed. “But I’m feeling generous. I’m willing to give you one last chance to fall into line.” He patted the album again. “One last chance for all these to be yours, no strings attached.”
I almost laughed in his face. Kane had been right. There would always be strings. Doing one thing for my parents would lead to more and more. Kane had been trapped in the same pattern for years. Until Adrian, anyway, and then the weight of my parents’ full attention had switched to me.
“I don’t think so.” I shook my head, disappointed my parents weren’t better people. “I choose Leo. I won’t allow you to ruin my relationship, and I won’t subject myself to a life without love for either you or Mom.” I allowed myself a short laugh as I stepped back a little, my gaze still firmly fixed to Dad’s because I sure the hell