I take a sip of wine. “He did. He let me handle Tate and promised he would never involve him so long as I behaved. There were a few requirements for him not to step in, but I made sure that was never the case.”
Uncle Jasper wasn’t going to have either of us running amok. There was a curfew, and children were seen and not heard. We were required to pursue doctorates, but Tate was allowed to get his in education because I allowed it; I got mine in Philosophy because Uncle Jasper chose for me.
“I also wanted his fortune.” For that, I had to do a lot more than a few fights in the ring. He made me prove myself over and over through sick tests of loyalty. I keep that part to myself. It’s disturbing shit that Ace doesn’t need giving him nightmares.
“So, are you mega rich?”
“Would it be hard to believe if I was?”
“Kinda, yeah. You’re Mr. Mountain Man. You like the simple things.”
I nod.
“After he died, all I wanted was freedom. The wilderness is the freest place there is.” Free from the rat race, free from societal norms, free to be who I want to be. Unfortunately, that includes a little violence now. Fighting in the ring awakened something primitive in me that never went away. “But no, I’m not mega-rich, yet.” I explain what has to happen for me to receive the rest of the fortune. I have a bit of an allowance, something livable.
Ace sips his wine, shaking his head, probably thinking similar things about Uncle Jasper as Tate does. “Where do you and the wilderness stand now? Um, because, well, I can’t play hockey in the wilderness, Luke.”
“Don’t worry, princess. Daddy’ll only drag you to his wilderness lair during the off-season.” I shine my teeth at himenough to pull a delicious shiver. I’m gonna need dessert after this, and I know just the ass I’m gonna eat.
“Whatever happened to the illegal underground fighting racket?”
“Someone sent an anonymous tip to the FBI.”
“Someone, eh?”
“Yeah. Someone.”
We eat in silence for a bit, digesting the past. “I’ll admit, I probably don’t want to know more than you told me, but I’m curious about your uncle. I don’t like what he did to you, but he still raised you. He must have been interesting.”
“He was definitely interesting and oddly prone to good bits of life advice. However hard I had it, he had it ten times harder when he was younger. But I’m glad he’s no longer around, too.”
I wouldn’t want him anywhere near Ace.
“Eat up, Daddy has a special dessert planned for you, baby.”
“Awesome. I hope it’s something with sweet peaches. Fuck do I love sweet peach nectar.”
“Something like that.” One, I think he’ll like even better.
25
MID-NOVEMBER
Ace
We’re in the meat of hockey season. There’s no time for relationship drama, just fighting our way to the top of our conference, getting grades good enough to appease Luke, and frat house shit. We still have our parties after home games and manage to find time for house fundraisers, which are separate from the hockey fundraisers. They’re events I’ve organized but haven’t been able to partake in this year.
Because of Luke.
“Run that by me again, princess.”
I’m at his place, trying to sell him on some of the events we’ve done since I took office.
“Naked hockey calendars. We sell them every Christmas.”
“Absolutely fucking not. Doesn’t this university watch you hooligans at all? That’s got to be against some law.”
“What the fuck, Luke? You don’t care about the university.” I roll my eyes. “You’re being a jealous asshole.”
