“We needed him out of the picture.”
I glare across the table at the hell she’s inflicted upon Dorothy. Guilt smothers me.
I tug at my collar. My mother was the mastermind behind every moment Dorothy was put in situations with Jamison. Those times brought them closer.
My mother rests back in her chair. “I can see this information isn’t sitting well with you.”
“Not in the slightest. You alone are directly responsible for putting her in the arms of my rival.”
“Is that so bad considering...”
My breathing goes into overdrive. “You single-handedly destroyed my chance of having the woman I love by my side. As you can imagine, I’m having a hard time wanting to help you in any way.”
“Hunter, my prince. If we come to terms today, everyone important to you will live a long, happy life. Isn’t that enough?”
My entire body empties. I have no choice but to play her game. “You must really hate me.”
“No, darling. I love you. I just knew you had it in you to be like me.” She beams with pride.
I lower my head as my world implodes. If I fight, everyone I love is in danger.
And if I ante up and follow her demands, I’ll lose my son, Dorothy, and all the progress the casinos have made to ensure they stay clean and legal.
I’ll ruin all my dad has built. I’ll smear the Efron legacy. My integrity for the company will be nothing but empty words. Any way I look at it, I lose this game today.
CHAPTER 27
JAMISON
My hand shakesas I close the door after saying goodbye to Dori. I have to call Aiden back, and I have no idea what to tell him.
This conversation is going to be brutal.
I go to the kitchen and rummage through my medication, looking for the painkillers. They could help with the hell I’m sure to face.
I twist the lid off the bottle and shake the pills to get an idea of how many I have left. From the looks of it, it’s enough to get me through the next few days.
I tip the bottle and slide my relief into my palm. Sifting through the white tablets, I pick up two pills with my index finger and thumb.
This should hold me over.
I grab my iced tea off the counter and pop the lid, downing my medication with the first drink.
My pulse thuds against my eardrums as I hit Aiden’s number.
It rings once. “Jami, how are you, brother?”
“Could be better, but I’m alive.” I run my sweaty handdown my cheek and over my beard. “How are you able to call? Is your assignment over?”
“Yeah, thank fuck. I hate undercover work.”
“You do?” I walk to the couch and sit.
“I can only be a jailhouse snitch so many times. Besides, I’m close to getting out of the game for good.”
“You are? How?”
“My dad’s planning on retiring this year. I get my trust fund when he does. Once that happens, I can build the PI business I’ve always talked about, and run my own life.”
