It's About Time (Blossom Peak #4)(99)

“Nope.” I stand from my chair, needing to move to help the adrenaline course through me. My heart is slamming against my sternum, and I can feel the anger boiling just beneath the surface. “Which would explain why my father has been so hell-bent on me getting married.”

“But how does that serve him?” Henley asks.

Rhonan clears his throat. “Because the new version of the will that Elliot saw at the reading never mentioned this, which means that his dad could have the money distributed to a private account after providing proof of a marriage license, and Elliot would have never known that he was supposed to be the recipient of it.”

Fletcher blows out a breath. “Holy shit.”

“Why would your dad do something like that?” Henley asks. “I mean, I know you two haven’t always seen eye to eye, but to scam your own son out of money?”

“Not just a little money,” Rhonan interjects. “Millions.” He slides one of the papers across the table toward Henley as I glance down at the paper over his shoulder. “Fifteen million and some change to be exact.”

“That son of a bitch,” I mutter under my breath, picking up the bank statement and studying every digit on the page. My grandfather was smart with his money and had multiple investment accounts. I just assumed he and my grandma cashed them out and used them to travel when they were still alive, but I guess I was wrong. “And I bet that past-due bill I saw in his office is part of why he wants—no, needs this money.”

Rhonan hands me another paper. “Yeah, seems your dear old dad has been mismanaging funds in the practice for years, and now he’s in some hot water.”

“ But where does Tori fit in with all of this?” Fletcher asks. “That’s the part that doesn’t make sense to me.”

“She and my dad probably made a deal that if she could get me to marry her, she’d get a cut,” I say through clenched teeth.

Fletcher shakes his head. “But why would she need money? And more importantly, she ran off with her boss, remember? Where the hell does he fit into all of this?”

Rhonan keeps looking through papers until he lands on one that keeps his attention much longer than the others. “Tori is in debt too, it seems.” He hands me the paper so I can see her financial statements.

“One of her credit cards has over a $100,000 balance on it.” Then my eyes land on a pertinent detail. “And her boss is an authorized user on the account.”

Henley leans back in his chair. “Do you think she was actually in love with him and that’s why she didn’t go through with the wedding? Or, is there something else going on there too?”

“The fuck if I know, but hell…” Blowing out a breath, I push a hand through my hair and start to pace again. “This is all starting to make so much more sense. But the will?” I shake my head. “I remember when my grandpa died, my dad was angry that he wasn’t left more. Maybe this was his way of making sure he got what he felt he was entitled to?”

Rhonan nods. “Makes sense.”

“But for your own dad to be that envious of you,” Henley starts just as Fletcher raises his hand.

“Uh, the idea isn’t that far-fetched, remember?” Pointing to his chest, he says, “My father fucking hit me because he was jealous of my talent and ability to play a game that he couldn’t any longer.”

Henley nods. “Touche.”

Rhonan blows out a breath before peering up at me. “So, what are you going to do, Elliot?”

“ Part of me wants to drive over to his house and give him a piece of my fucking mind right now, but…”

Fletcher clears his throat. “Trust me. Reacting out of anger isn’t going to get you what you want.”

I meet his eyes. “I know. Plus, Dilynne and I leave for Motorlux in two days. I can’t do anything to risk not being there with her.”

Henley and I look at each other at the same time. “Good to know you’re thinking clearly here.”

“Trust me, Henley. My mind is fucking clear for the first time in a long time…about a lot of things.” I didn’t intend on talking to Henley about me and Dilynne quite yet, but after last night in the shop, I would feel wrong pushing her for more without her brother knowing that my intentions are in the right place.

“Such as?” Henley quips.

“I think you know.”

Fletcher clears his throat. “Maybe you two should talk outside?”

Rhonan stands and slaps me on the shoulder. “Definitely. Fletcher and I will just hang out in here until you’re done.”

Henley stands but keeps his eyes locked on mine. “Probably a good idea we talk away from the gossip twins.”

Laughing, I head for the front door of Rhonan’s house, exiting as Henley follows my lead. When I turn around to face him, all I can see on his face is curiosity. “Look, I know you haven’t exactly been a fan of me and your sister pretending to be engaged…”

“That’s right.”

“But I need you to know something.”

“Okay…”

I’ve thought about how to broach this topic with him several times before now, but in this moment, all of the eloquent words I’ve conjured up are escaping me. “I’m uh…sort of in love with your sister. ”