Chapter 3
Chapter Three
ANGELICA
Goosebumps raced along my arms. I shivered, rubbing them. I wanted to blame it on the cool aircon air billowing out of the vents overhead, but it wasn’t. I risked a glance across the expansive room drowned in everything red cedar to him. My brother, Silas.
My chill was because of him.
Any other day he refused to acknowledge me, going out of his way to pretend I didn’t exist in his life.
Today I would’ve preferred that to the chilling glare he directed my way.
Our gaze met, my pulse skipped in response.
His dark brown eyes never moved from mine, searching for something.
But there was a twitch at the edge of his lips…
a sneer. Panic pushed in and my thoughts raced.
What did I do now?
The door opened abruptly and a frantic, balding man awkwardly dressed in an expensive suit rushed in.“Right, sorry about that folks,” he looked down as he spoke, flopping into his chair and spun.
A thick, leather-bound folder impacted the desk with a slap . I jumped, hating how Silas still stared at me. What was his problem? I risked a glance as the lawyer started.
“As you can understand with the many holdings and private equities your father had, it's caused me a great deal of time to go through it all.
“And?” Theo snapped.
Jude cut him a look. “Theo, enough.”
But the lawyer kept going. “Some portions of your father’s business have been updated to obey his latest wishes, but there was a large portion which wasn’t…and that’s that older portion of the business and the income derived from that portion we’re having a discussion about today.”
Silas pushed forward. “What do you mean the older portion of the business?”
The lawyer’s cheeks went red. That wasn’t a good sign.
“There’s a rather large portfolio here. This,” he motioned to the thick folder. “Is basically a list of names that your father has, the…” he cleared his throat. “The ones on paper anyway.”
“And the ones which aren’t?” Silas cut across the room.
The lawyer scanned the room, seeking help or something. But no one was moving, not even Jude.
“All of the casino’s, the restaurants and other properties including all the houses are yours. That’s all water tight. But there were portions of the financial strategist holdings that weren’t updated. Those parts were rather difficult for your father as you well know to…um, update.”
Silas slammed his hands down on the end of the desk. “What the fuck are you trying to say here?”
The door opened and in walked a man I barely knew. A man who looked very much like his brother, Dante Ares.
“He’s saying it comes to me.” Lincoln answered as he stepped inside and closed the door.
Silas just glared at his uncle as he moved inside the room.
“No.” Silas shook his head, then stabbed his finger in the air at his uncle. “ Fuck no.”
“Sil.” Jude stepped forward, heading for his brother’s side and put his hand on his shoulder.
Silas shrugged it off hard and pushed away.
“There’s large portions of the…dealings listed in the will that automatically goes to your Uncle, things like…the risk team and negotiators.”
“What the fuck?” Silas shook his head. “This isn’t happening.”
“It’s not the end of the world, Silas.” Lincoln chuckled, shaking his head. “After all, we are family.”
I didn’t think anyone could earn more hatred than Silas harbored for me, but as he shifted that barely-controlled look of rage at his uncle, I realized I was wrong.
“Think about it this way.” Lincoln smiled. “We get to finally work together. Your father’s talked about you non-stop, says you’re quite the negotiator. I’m looking forward to seeing you in action.”
Silas took a step closer, meeting Lincoln eye to eye. “You and I don’t work together, not now…not ever .”
Lincoln’s smile grew wider before he nodded to the thick folder on the desk. “I think you’ll find that it does. I own half the holdings and half the teams. You and your…family, the other.”
Family?
What did he mean by the word family?
What he should’ve said was brothers. Heat rushed through me as the lawyer pulled the file closer. “The business is one large part of your parent’s legacy, but there are others. More personal ones…that involve everyone here today.”
Silas went grey, the color drained out of his face. Gabe glanced my way and reached for my hand. I couldn’t stop from shaking, leaving him to grip me even tighter.
“Your parents have expressed their very strong desire to keep you all together as a family.”
I flinched as the lawyer lifted his gaze to me. “This includes you, Angelica. You’ll all stay in the house and be awarded financial security as a family until such times as all five of you agree to leave. This decision has to be unanimous.”
“What the fuck are you saying?” Theo barked. “We have to stay together ?”
“If you want your money, then yes.” The lawyer answered.
Theo spun, throwing his hands in the air. “What the fuck?”
Then they all looked at me. One by one. Silas wrenched that glare my way, baring his nostrils flared before he muttered. “We’ll just see about that.” He turned away from everyone and strode to the door, yanking it open so hard it hit the wall with a crack, before he was gone.
That burn filled my cheeks as I trembled.
Then Theo glared my way, only he didn’t leave. Gabe gripped me tighter, shifting protectively against me.
“It’s not her fault.” He urged.
“Of course it’s not.” Jude shook his head. “No one’s saying that?”
“It sure seems that way.” Gabe muttered.
“This is a lot for everyone to come to terms with.” The lawyer rose, giving a pathetic smile that was more than a wince. “Maybe take some time, talk amongst yourselves and then we can make time to discuss the specifics?”
He was done, that was easy to see and couldn’t wait to be rid of us.
“Thank you, Marvin. I think we all need to take some time.” Lincoln strode forward and grabbed the lawyer's hand and my brothers saw it all.
I knew them well enough to know when the lines of war were drawn.
“How about a shake?” Jude tried to ease the tension. “Let’s get out of here and head to Monicas, we can talk about this all later, okay?”
I didn’t nod, nor did I fight when Gabe smiled, then turned to me. “Yeah, that sounds good.”
As always I went along when Jude jerked his gaze to Theo who glared at Lincoln. “Theo, now.”
A huff came from Theo followed by a snarl before he strode for the door. This was going to be bad. I knew it in my bones, but as I headed for the door Lincoln turned around and took a step toward me, giving me a smile. “Angelica.”
I stopped, freezing as he grabbed me and pressed me against his chest. “I know it’ll be hard now without your mom.
” He eased away, staring into my eyes. “I just want you to know I’m here for you, day or night.
I want you to call me for anything, I truly mean it.
Day or night for whatever you need. I know how much Meredith loved you. ”
“Thank you.” I murmured as Gabe gave a yank, pulling me toward the door and my brothers waiting.
“Didn’t know you two were chummy.” He muttered coldly as we headed along the hall.
I grabbed the door as he pushed open, stepping out into the morning sun to find our limousine waiting for us. “We aren’t.” I answered.
He gave me a look and climbed in after Theo and Jude, taking a seat with his back to the driver, leaving me to do the same. My brothers stared at me, not saying a word. Normally this didn’t bother me, but it did today.
The door closed with a thud.
“This changes everything.” Theo muttered.
“It changes nothing.” Jude shook his head. “It’s not about money and the business. It’s about us and how we stick together.”
“I wouldn’t say that around Silas if I were you.” Theo finished as the driver climbed in, started the car and pulled out.
Silas. He was going to be even more pissed off than usual. Better to stay in my room, at least until I could get away from them. I didn’t care about the money, didn’t care about the cars or the business I was never involved in. I cared about survival, especially now.
Heat moved through my cheeks with the weight of his stare. I met Theo’s glare with my own. “What?”
“Nothing.” He shrugged. “Just trying to work out how a nobody like you wormed your way into our family.”
“Wormed.” I snapped. “The only worm I see around here, Theo…is you.”
He moved fast, lunging across the interior of the car. But Jude was there, grabbing him around his waist and driving him backwards. “Enough! For fucks sake you two, get it together! Our parents just fucking DIED!”
Theo shoved his brother away, adjusting his shirt. That cruel fucking glare aimed at me. “Our parents! Not hers!”
“Oh give it a rest.” Jude shook his head. “You’ve played that same fucking song all your goddamn life.” He glanced my way. “Angelica is as much a part of our family as Gabe. You want to bitch about him too?”
I swallowed the pain.
“Well?” Gabe snapped, staring at his brother. “Are you?”
“Of course not!” Theo glared. “You’re our fucking blood.”
Gabe puffed his chest out and jerked his head my way. “And so is she.”
Theo pushed back in his seat, dragging his hand through perfect dirty blond hair, sulking and seething like he always did.
But that glare didn’t last long as it drifted down my body.
I shifted against the seat, tucking my dress in around my thighs.
I hated it when he looked at me like that.
Like he’d enjoy hurting me given the chance.
Only I wasn’t about to let that happen.
Family or not, I was a ghost. They just didn’t know it.
The limousine pulled into a private driveway, heading to the rear of the packed restaurant. Monica opened the rear door as we climbed out, giving us a sad, awkward smile that rang false.
“Mon.” Jude called, giving her a hug.