“I’ll liquidate.”

“Excuse me?”

“Get your man on board, or I’ll liquidate the entire goddamn company.”

“Bullshit. You have a board to answer to, son. They’ll never agree.”

“Money talks, right? Especially when you’re losing it.” Cale narrowed his eyes, but Dash pretended not to notice. “What if the company makes some bad decisions? A tanked investment here and there. What if I sold off its assets one by one until there was nothing left to keep them interested. The board will do my dirty work for me, won’t they, pops?”

Cale lunged across the table in an attempt to grab Dash’s neck. I got to him in time to pull him out of reach. Dash didn’t even flinch.

I fought back my surprise at Dash’s threat. What he was talking was anarchy against his father.

“Cale, do something,” his mother shrieked.

The lengths he was willing to go humbled me. He’d be a pariah to his parents if he weren’t already.

“I should have never given the company to you,” he said with a sneer. “You aren’t worthy of such greatness, you ungrateful shit. Now get out of my house!”

Dash walked away without another word, and I followed behind feeling numb. His back was tense the entire walk to the car with his fists clenched at his side. He moved to open the driver’s door, but I couldn’t endure the ride back without understanding what just happened.

“Fuck man. What was that?”

“Insurance.”

“That didn’t sound like insurance.”

“He’ll come around.” He looked away as soon as the words escaped not believing them any more than I did.

“And if he doesn’t?”

“Then my father can consider his legacy extinct.”

* * *

“How did it go?” I heard as I stepped inside my brother’s home, followed by Dash. Willow must have been waiting by the door. Dash shed his coat and then pulled her as close as he could with her belly between them.

“How do you feel about being poor again?” he asked.

She shrugged and bit her lip. “It’s suited me for years. I’d be worried about you, though. How would you feel without your silver spoon to keep you warm at night?”

“Who needs a spoon when I’ve got you to put in my mouth?”

“Ew,” Sheldon groaned as she walked by eating a bowl of cereal. “Guys, I’m right here and your niece could hear.”

“Shouldn’t she be asleep?”

“She is. But I’m saying, hypothetically, what if she did hear your nastiness?”

“It wouldn’t be any more traumatizing than witnessing the actual act.” Dash visibly shuddered, and Willow hid her face in his chest as her shoulders shook.

“You’re welcome for the pointers,” Keenan shouted from somewhere.

“Guys,” I interrupted. “My girlfriend.”

“Right.” Sheldon flopped on the large recliner and took another bite of her cereal. “So what do we do now without Dad on our side?”

“I don’t know, but we need to get a lawyer on this first thing. Has anyone called her aunt and Jackson?”

“I tried calling them, but they are vacationing in the Bahamas. I couldn’t get through,” Willow answered.

“Fine time to vacation in the Bahamas,” Keenan griped as he walked into the living room. His hair was wet and his chest was bare.

“Dude, put some clothes on,” Dash growled and actually covered Willow’s eyes.

“My house,” he mumbled back. “It’s not my problem if your woman sees something she likes.” Willow took that time to snatch Dash’s hand away, and Keenan took the opportunity to wink in her direction.

“Now is not the fucking time.” My voice rose with each word until it felt like the world shook around me. They each looked contrite enough for me to actually feel my blood flow again.

“Sorry. It’s just hard to believe Lake did this. What if the police are just trying it to screw with you?”

“Are you asking if I did this?”

Willow met my stare squarely and said, “Did you?”

“I did not kill Mitch,” I admitted slowly. I looked around the room, meeting everyone’s eyes. They all nodded, but I could sense their doubt. “Do you think I would let them take her from me if I were guilty?” I knew the moment realization dawned.

“Well, we aren’t going to know anything until we get Lake out of there. Dash, what about the company’s lawyers?”