Chapter 5 #2
“I assume you have the issue of Conrad Hanson well in hand?” Jean hedged, something in her tone.
And that angered Tracey… Which confused me.
Taylor quickly wrote me a note and moved it in front of me. “Jean doesn’t care about your well-being but wants you still in play for her later.”
Oh, yeah, I knew that better than anyone.
“They can’t have made it to the council and be stupid,” I said with a sigh. “They have to know the threats were real and valid even if coming from someone young with breasts given who stood with me. Hopefully, it will be best-case scenario outcome.”
I frowned when Tracey waved for me to go on, mouthing for me to tell her more. Why?
But I trusted Tracey, so I would… Just not the whole truth.
“It was a stupid move by a moron,” I hedged.
“Yes, he’s never been my favorite person,” she drawled.
Right, they went to Morrigan together, that was what I was missing.
And then I knew what to say. “He made the same leap you did that I’m a goddess witch. I couldn’t fault your logic, but his was completely rooted in sexism, and he wanted the backing of the owner of Familiar Treasures to secure him taking over his father’s seat not knowing I’m the owner.”
“Always thinking he was the smartest in the room,” she drawled. “But idiots are dangerous because they react too quickly and half-cocked.”
“Yes, but Hanson will want to keep his seat over his son’s ass when he couldn’t even get what he wanted,” I muttered.
“Even if I was a goddess witch, announcing to the world that you were the priest of one wouldn’t endear you to most people.
It would have just made him a target to the top-tier families.
It was a stupid, stupid play and most of the council was pissed. ”
“Good, glad to hear it and you’re both safe then,” she said, sounding genuine.
But I wasn’t touched. I couldn’t be her pawn if I was someone else’s.
It was still best to move on. “I’m willing to help with your security issues if you’re willing to be sneaky.
” I smiled when she snorted. “I’m thinking an off-site interrogation with magic would be best for your show, but bring their familiars and I can speak to them as well to get you more. That’s what I’m offering.”
She was quiet several moments. “Would there be some initial help so I can start with who I think is clean and then they could take over?”
“I would be willing to do that as long as there is a separate agreement that you would never come for my parents, family—the Oliverias as well,” Taylor replied.
“My parents, the Oliverias, Moons, and Cooks truly want to give you a chance to turn things around. I want you to leave them alone as well.”
“Done,” she immediately agreed. “And what do you want, Bevin?”
“I want Clare and me to be able to visit Grandfather’s grave as we want and access to the Shaw family library,” I answered immediately, having wanted this for a while.
“You know better than others why my education was lacking, but I filled in a lot. I’m trying to put too much together, but unfortunately I didn’t have the foresight to list books or keep a bibliography. ”
I frowned when she was quiet, the silence dragging on, and given what I’d already been through today, I didn’t have enough patience for games.
“I could petition for Grandfather to be moved to the Millen property I own since he never changed his name, Jean,” I snapped. “We know—”
“Visit Grandfather all you want, Bevin,” she cut in, her voice tired.
“You misunderstood my hesitation.” She let out a huff when I didn’t reply.
“Even I’m not that fucking petty. Just let us know when you’re coming and I’ll do my best to keep Mother busy, but I make no guarantees on that since she’s—she’s Mother. ”
“As someone with an outside perspective that doesn’t necessarily want you to thrive but wants Bevin not to be hurt and you are the best option, I have some unsolicited advice,” Tracey muttered.
“I would advise you remove your mother from the board.” She chuckled when I looked at her in horror. “Not killed, Bev. Stuffed somewhere.”
“Because she brings nothing to the table and she’s toxic.
Even if Jean was always her favorite—she’s sexist. She believes the bullshit that we aren’t as smart and lacking.
It was the only way—she was brainwashed.
Plus, she irks Grandmother and that’s distracting.
That dissension between them looks bad and there needs to be stability,” I agreed.
“I will think on that,” Jean cut in, like she wanted the topic dropped.
“Next time she does one of her little digs or cuts into you, make it clear you know what she’s doing even when she turns it around and tells you that you’re being too sensitive and it’s a mother’s job to point out your flaws so you can correct them,” I told her gently, knowing the game.
Jean was quiet for several moments. “She never used to do that to me.”
“She is someone who can only survive by cutting others down, and we’re not there for her to sharpen her claws on anymore, Jean,” Clare said as she walked into the room.
“Send her away to heal after being separated from her abusive mate. Make it clear that it’s a time-out for her to get her shit together or she can be banished forever.
“And take away her spending power. For fuck’s sake, watching her on social media trying to outspend everyone bragging it was lies about the family finances was grotesque.
It undermines you and us. She basically referred to you as a placeholder until you were mated and then your mate could really lead the family. ”
“Yes, I’m aware,” Jean said in a cold voice.
“I’m not throwing salt in your wound,” Clare told her gently.
“I believe you made a bad call about Hughes when scared. I don’t want you hurt either even if I cannot be in the fight with you.
Get Mother out of there before she scars you the way she has Bevin and me.
You don’t deserve that. Mother will never be an asset or help you. Get rid of her, Jean.”
I was shocked when Jean let out a shaky breath, sharing a look with Tracey that she clearly felt the same.
“I thought—she made me—thank you.” She cleared her throat.
“Clare, the line is always open for any advice you have. I’ve made it clear to the whole family that I’m not Charles and what you did wasn’t a betrayal, but you simply took yourself out of the storm so you couldn’t be used against me when you’re not a fighter.
Unflattering, but I did the best I could. ”
“It’s also not wrong. Thank you.”
“Bevin, I’m fine with you having access to the library.
I was simply trying to figure out how to facilitate that when I don’t trust the eyes and lips around me.
I’m assuming you know the locations of where you pulled books and the visual of where they are and what they look like is where you would want to start? ”
“Yes, and I understand now,” I sighed. “It would be drama for both of us if I showed up there.”
“Yes, that was where my head was,” she confirmed. “Visiting Grandfather’s tomb or the family plots on the back part of the main estate is easily explained. Inside the house is… Tricky. Especially before I remove Mother.”
We were quiet several beats and Clare was the one to speak up first.
“Tell Grandmother the truth and I will come for lunch with her and I will film the library shelves,” Clare offered. “I’ll take pictures of shelves and locations—get some titles, and that way at least Bevin can tell us where to focus and maybe Grandmother can help.”
“That’s more than acceptable,” Jean agreed. “Let me know who you want me to coordinate with about the rest.”
Done and done, and I was glad to have the win because Mrs. Reid had asked me several times about my supplementary learning and I hadn’t had much to tell her. Which was rather embarrassing as I kept saying I actually knew a lot more than it seemed.
“That was smart, but there’s one more thing you need to be smart with and it has to be tonight before you throw in the towel,” Clare said gently.
“It’s all over about how many you’re dating or with.
Much more and we won’t be able to put the stopper back in the bottle.
You have to say who you’re dating and handle the situation. ”
“I know,” I whispered, staring down at my hands. “I hate being so public and so many obsessed with me.”
“Yeah, it sucks. It’s not just you but being a Shaw,” Clare agreed.
I wasn’t sure if that helped, but it made me feel not as alone?
Maybe.
It was beyond awkward to sit down with so many people to discuss my dating life, but it also helped because it was just me with several guys.
“First, we need to adjust the narrative,” Clare said firmly. “You’ve never confirmed you don’t have your purity.”
“I have in class, but sarcastically like so what?” I muttered.
“Right, but that doesn’t count. Not—even the council hearing doesn’t count. It’s all speculation and bullshit.”
“Agreed,” Jasmine said firmly. “The statement should be that you…” She shot Wyatt an apologetic look.
“I understand and understand better what you’ve tried to discuss with me before,” he said with a sigh. “It came off more confrontational and I wasn’t open to hearing it.”
“We’ve all been under too much pressure, and I absolutely didn’t handle it all as well as I could have,” she accepted before looking at me. “Clare, Tracey, and I agree that your stance is that the potion your parents gave Gregg Haddock knocked you out and wreaked havoc on your body.”
I sighed. “And like any smart, reasonable woman, I took a pregnancy test to be sure.” Then her look to Wyatt made sense.
“Especially given the relationship between the Shaw and Wyatt families. But I didn’t know it was him.
Make it clear that it was an unnamed rescuer and not wanting to be named was what put me on edge. ”
“Good, even better. He wanted to stay unnamed to protect himself from your family, but of course that would worry you,” she agreed, jotting down notes. “Now, we need to make it clear you are dating one person, committed and only—”
“Winter,” I whispered.
Everyone went quiet and a throat cleared before his deep voice filled the room. “You sure, little sexy?”
No… But it made the most sense.