Fall Into You (Morally Gray, #2)(75)

“You just did. Who is she?”

“Kiyoko, don’t do this.”

There’s a long silence on her end. In the background, I hear calliope music.

She’s at Granville Island again, at the park overlooking the water where she used to take her daughter on walks in her stroller.

Her tone harder than before, she says, “You know what your problem is, Coleton? You have a hero complex.”

A sense of fatigue descends on me, weighing down my body. “So this is what the call is really about. You want to fight.”

“I don’t want to fight. I want you to tell me about your new girlfriend.”

“I don’t have a girlfriend.”

She scoffs. “Who do you think you’re talking to? I know you. I know every inflection in your voice. We’ve known each other for sixteen years and were together for four.”

“Five.”

“Yeah, but who’s counting, right? None of it matters anymore. Nothing matters.”

“Arguing with me isn’t going to help you feel better. And you’re only torturing yourself by going to that park. Go home, Ki. Go home and take care of yourself.”

“I’d take that advice, but I don’t have to listen to you anymore.”

“What if I said please?”

“You never say please. The only thing you’re good at saying is goodbye. I hope your new girlfriend enjoys disappointment.”

She disconnects.

“Fuck.”

I jab my finger against the display to clear it, then drive for another ten minutes before I’m calm enough to make another call. Carter doesn’t pick up his cell phone, so I call the office.

“McCord Media, how may I help you?”

“Hello, Marnie. This is Cole. Is Carter in his office?”

“Yes, sir. Would you like me to put you through?”

“Yes.”

“Certainly, sir. Please hold a moment.”

I listen to classical music for thirty seconds while I’m on hold. Then Marnie comes back on the line.

“I’m sorry, sir, but Carter is in a meeting.”

That dodgy little fuckwit. “Tell him that if he doesn’t take my call, I’m getting on the phone with TriCast next.”

“Yes, sir. Please hold.”

Ten seconds later, Carter picks up. “Cole.”

I growl, “Hello, traitor.”

His sigh is heavy and melodramatic. “You see? This is why I don’t tell you things. You overreact.”

“I react in accordance with the situation. Which you know. You also know the reason you’ve avoided my calls the past few days is because you did something wrong. Now tell me what the fuck you were thinking by meeting with TriCast.”

“I’m not telling you anything if you’re going to continue using that rude tone of voice with me.”

“It’s not my tone you should be worried about, you dumb prick. It’s how long the surgery to reconstruct your nose will to take.”

“Why does everything with you have to be a threat of violence?”

“Because that’s the only thing stupid people understand.”

Another melodramatic sigh. “You know I’m smarter than you are, right?”

That makes me chuckle. “In your dreams.”

“You’re forgetting about the aptitude tests Dad made us take when we were teenagers. My IQ is higher than yours by two points.”

“Let’s see how much you care about the difference between our IQs when you’re missing your front teeth, genius.”

“You’re unbelievable.”

“You’re lucky I haven’t told Callum about your meeting, or what would be unbelievable is how hard you’d flap your arms to try to fly after he threw you off the roof of the building.”

His voice turns sour. “Yes, you two are peas in a violent little pod, aren’t you?”

I know we could go back and forth like this all day, so I redirect the conversation. “TriCast. They’re our enemies. You took a meeting with the board to discuss a buyout. What the fuck?”

“First tell me how you know.”

“I have friends in low places. Talk. Why the hell would you meet with them?”

“Because Sophia Bianco just joined the firm as their new COO.”

I wait for more explanation. When it doesn’t come, I say, “Get to the point before I die of old age.”

“Do you know who she is?”

“No idea.”

“Never seen a picture of her?”

“What did I just fucking say? I don’t know the woman!”

“I don’t know her either, which is why I took the meeting.”

“If you don’t get to the point in five seconds, I’ll smash all the windows in your Hummer.”

“I don’t even like that thing. I only got it to piss off Dad.”

“Very mature of you. Fine, I’ll smash all the windows in your Ferrari.”

“Which one?”

“Jesus fucking Christ. How are we even related?”

“I don’t know, but I think Mom must’ve had an affair with Paul Newman. It would explain my good looks. You and Callum look like Neanderthals. As I was saying, Sophia Bianco. She’s the new COO at TriCast, and the most beautiful woman in the world.”