Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 70445 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 352(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70445 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 352(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
My turn to be surprised. I stare at him like he’s gone insane. “War owes him money?”
“In a sense. It’s a long and convoluted story, but the basic version is, War took over his father’s debt. Apparently, War’s father owed a lot of money to Evander and wasn’t paying any of it back, and Evander planned on making an example of him. At least until War stepped in a couple days ago and offered to take over his father’s debts.”
I don’t move, completely stunned. I knew War’s family had no money, but I didn’t realize War’s father was in debt to the Greek mob. “Did War know?” I ask. “All this time?”
“Probably?” Ford shrugs. “I can’t be sure, but Evander says War’s father has owed him money for a while now, so I have to assume War’s been aware of it for months at least. Well before you two ever met.”
I let that sink in. War’s father was going to be murdered by Greek gangsters, which means War needed money and he needed it fast, and suddenly a lot of connections burn bright in my head. I rub my eyes and my hands curl into fists, and I stare up at the ceiling, taking deep breaths to keep myself from screaming.
“That was it the whole time,” I whisper to nobody, but Ford clears his throat.
“Yes, I think so. War probably got involved with your dad, and then with you, because he felt it was his best shot at paying his own father’s debts. I’m actually surprised he didn’t tell you any of this, but I just—I thought you should know.”
“Thank you.” I blink away tears. “I just wish I heard it from him.”
Ford hesitates before he stands. “I don’t want to overstep here, but I will anyway. People do things for all sorts of reasons. They lie and cheat and steal, and usually those reasons are petty and selfish and stupid, but trying to save the life of your father is probably one of the better reasons I’ve ever heard. I know War hurt you. I understand he misled you. I’m not advocating for full forgiveness here. I’m only saying, I think things were more complicated than anyone realized, and maybe War felt like he didn’t want to endanger you by telling you about the Greeks.”
“Right,” I say and wipe my face, feeling stupid and angry. Why the hell didn’t he tell me from the start? I could’ve helped him, worked with him, done anything. I would’ve understood at least when I learned about his deal with my father. “How much influence do you have with Evander?”
“If you’re going to ask me to intervene on War’s behalf, I really shouldn’t. We make it a point not to get involved in each other’s business unless its mutually beneficial. I could ask him for a favor, but you don’t know Evander. Favors don’t come cheap, not even to his best friends.”
“That’s okay,” I say, shaking my head. “Thank you. I’m happy you told me at least.”
“Yeah, I figured you’d want to know. And, Melody, you’re a good person. I know things are complicated right now with your family and War and all that, but you’re a good person. I feel like you should keep that in mind.” He nods and leaves the office.
I sit there and cry into my hands. I sob, feeling stupid and angry, feeling somehow even more betrayed. He tried to seduce me, he lied and fucked me, and he did it for money. But he also did it for a good reason, to try to save his father. That doesn’t change the fact that he broke my heart, but at least I can understand his motivations. At least it wasn’t just for money for money’s sake.
After a few minutes, I get control of myself, wipe my eyes, blow my nose, and make a call. The number rings and rings, and I’m about to give up when Renee answers. She sounds exhausted.
“Hello? Leader Ranch?”
“Renee,” I say and a deep unease blooms in my chest. “How’s everything going?”
“About what you’d expect,” she says and clears her throat, sounding exhausted. “It’s a mess here. Everyone’s stunned even though we knew it was coming. I loved your father, you know, we all did, and we all knew the ranch would never be the same, but now it feels like a piece of my heart’s been scooped out. I’m just grieving, sweetie, that’s all.”
My mouth falls open and a hollow terror settles over my body. “Renee,” I say slowly. “What are you talking about?”
A pause. Then: “Your uncles didn’t call you.”
“Nobody called me. I was calling you to talk about War and to vent and I guess—”
“Sweetie. Oh, god, honey. Your piece of garbage uncles. Oh, god, your piece of freaking trash family.” Real anger burns in her tone.