EPILOGUE #2
"I'm not going to do anything stupid. I just need to talk to him."
"Famous last words," Archer muttered.
Clara dipped her chin, searing me with a serious look. “Do you promise me?”
“Scout’s honor,” I said, smoothing my hands over her hips before pressing a kiss to her lips.
“You weren’t a Boy Scout,” she reminded me.
“Still applies, kinda.” I ruffled Mia’s hair. “We’ll be right back.”
I tipped my head, letting Trojan know I was ready. We crossed the event patio in long strides. As I zeroed in on his face, the anger kicked back to life. What a fucking prick this guy was. Sebastian saw me coming and had the audacity to smile.
"Nightingale. I was wondering when you'd show up. I assume you got my correspondence."
"Your correspondence.” I couldn’t even prevent myself from openly mocking him. “You're suing me for defamation, you fucking asshole.”
"Evidence you manufactured." Sebastian swirled his whiskey as he leaned against the bar, unbothered. "My lawyers have proof."
"Your lawyers are also idiots. Everything in that research is vetted. Time stamped. Documented. I can notarize it too if that’ll help."
"It’s funny that you think a notary helps your case. Very basic of you. The point is the evidence doesn’t even matter. Either way, it's going to cost you." He took a sip, his eyes cold. "I don't need to win, Nightingale. I just need to drain you."
"You're a piece of shit."
"I'm a businessman. There's a difference." He set his glass down, offering a plasticized smile that made my stomach turn. “And what are you?”
My hands clenched into fists. “A man with morals. Which is far more than you can say.”
“Gentlemen! Things seem to be getting tense here.” A new voice cut in, and a man I didn’t immediately recognize angled himself between Sebastian and me. To Sebastian, he said, “Why don’t you go talk to Charlie? He’s waiting by the door.”
Sebastian took off without another word, leaving me and this mystery man facing each other down.
“Are you Sebastian’s keeper?” I bit out.
“Not quite.” The man extended a hand, a similarly plasticized smile overtaking his face. I remembered I’d seen him at a party with Sebastian months ago. Clara had pointed him out. “I’m Sterling. Sterling Cross. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
I eyed his hand for a moment then shook it briefly. I didn’t say anything.
“I’m Sebastian’s cousin. I’ve been wanting to meet you, Nash.”
"Well, you've met me. Now fuck off."
Sterling didn’t even flinch. “I think it’s important for us to get to know each other a bit better. We’re entwined now.”
“Only because your cousin is suing me, which he’s free to not do anytime he wants.” I offered a tight smile before signaling for the bartender. I needed a drink.
“It goes deeper than that,” Sterling mused, leaning against the bar beside me, scanning the party. My skin prickled at his nearness, and I stepped away.
“I guess if you want to be weird about it, sure,” I conceded.
Sterling turned to look at me, his gaze darting across my face. I saw the same strangeness in his face as I had Sebastian’s. Something unsettling. Uncanny. Something I just couldn’t put my fucking finger on.
“I know that you applied for an inheritance and got denied,” he said in a low, steady voice that meant business. The party shrank away, leaving only his intense gaze and the confusing words coming out of his mouth.
I struggled to process how he could have found out. Media leak? A legal slip?
“How do you know?” I asked simply.
Sterling watched me for a long time, both pity and amusement warring on his face. “It was extended to everyone in the family.”
The family. The bartender arrived and I ordered my whiskey neat, then a second one for Archer, or for myself if I decided I needed it. Without looking at Sterling, I said, “So you’re part of the family, huh?”
My heart started racing as I tried to parse his words in real time. This didn’t make sense. What the fuck was he talking about family?
“Yeah. And hey, so are you.” He knocked my shoulder, almost like saying come on buddy. “Your dad, you know…he did what he thought he had to do all those years ago.”
A rushing noise blossomed between my ears. Everything in my body started getting hot. Prickly.
“It’s been a surprise, to say the least,” Sterling went on, “but I think there’s really a chance for us to come together. I mean, this makes us cousins. You know?”
My nostrils flared and I dared myself to look at him. “What the fuck are you talking about?”
Sterling leaned in, and I couldn’t tell if the smile on his face was true joy or something more sadistic.
"My grandfather is your grandfather. Your dad is my uncle, and Sebastian, well…” Sterling glanced out across the party, then back at me.
“I don’t think he’s taking the news very well but someday he’ll be glad to know that he has two new brothers. ”
I swallowed hard, the words refusing to enter my brain or my understanding of life. I laughed disbelievingly. The bartender returned with my whiskey, and I downed it in one gulp.
“You’re full of shit, Sterling.” I slid the glass across the countertop, contemplating the second one.
“I understand it’s probably hard to integrate.
Your father has always been extra promiscuous.
That was one of the earliest things I understood about him, even as a young boy.
He cheated on his wife so much. He loved finding women below his station to fuck around with, usually in other states.
Like your mom. He was a good uncle though, despite all that. ”
My hands were fists again, and when I slid my gaze toward Trojan, his eyes were already on me. He nodded slightly, and I could tell that he was ready for whatever happened next.
I leaned toward Sterling. “There’s no way in fuck that I’m related to Sebastian Cross,” I spat. I didn’t know that, but it was true in my heart, and that was all that mattered.
Sterling looked extra amused now. “Trust me, we’ve been struggling to accept it as well.
It really looks bad for the family brand to have something like Nightly Developments associated with us.
So you can rest assured that we won’t be reaching out for a partnership or anything like that. This can stay…our little secret.”
My chin dipped, anger pumping hot and quick through my veins.
“Reach out sometime,” Sterling said, flashing me a business card. “I’d love to connect and help fill in the gaps. We can invite your dad. Would be good to have a reunion, you know?”
I looked at the business card, I looked at Sterling’s face, and I saw Trojan move into position, blocking Sterling in.
And then I punched that motherfucker square in the face.
THE END