Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 103552 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 518(@200wpm)___ 414(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103552 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 518(@200wpm)___ 414(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
“Don’t get too excited, Sterling,” Avery reminded her. “I don’t have a copy of the file they stole, and whoever broke into the brewery isn’t going to give it back.”
Sterling let out a breath, deflating. “Yeah, good point. Too bad you don’t have a photographic memory.”
“Believe me, it would make a lot of things easier,” Avery said, and I knew she was thinking of the recipe. I squeezed her leg again, leaning close to whisper, “The new one will be even better.”
The smile that flashed across her face made my chest tight.
“What was that?” Harvey said. I looked up, expecting to have his attention on us, but he was looking at Sterling.
Sterling flipped her hair off her shoulder. “Nothing, just that we have another lead, so you know, it’s not a complete dead end.”
“What do you mean you have another lead?” Harvey asked. He set down his fork on the edge of his plate with a clang. “You girls need to let this go. Avery and Ford could have been killed, Sterling. For what? Ford’s out of prison, and he doesn’t want you hurt.”
Everyone turned to look at Ford. He set his fork down on the tablecloth with a quiet thunk and swallowed, wiping his mouth before saying, “I’ve made my feelings clear to everyone. We’ve been through enough. I appreciate all the help to get me out of prison, but this is dangerous. I don’t need you to save me. I’m here, I’m free. Let’s just move on.”
The table erupted in protests, Avery and Sterling’s being the loudest. From beside me, Avery said, “You may have given up, Ford, but that doesn’t mean we will. I want to clear your name. You shouldn’t have to live like this.”
“Live like what?” Ford shot back. “In a castle surrounded by my family? Eating Finn’s cooking every day? Believe me, this is heaven compared to where I spent the last year. I’m not complaining. Let it go.”
“Listen to your brother, girls,” Edgar said.
“No,” Avery shouted. “I will not.” She leaned past me to spear Ford with a hard glance. “You don’t want to clear your name, fine. Maybe I want to know who killed our father. Did you ever think about that? I don’t want you living with this for the rest of your life, but you’re an adult. You don’t want to pursue it. I can’t make you. But I want to know who killed Dad.”
“Why, so you can thank them?” Royal asked.
“No,” Avery shook her head, then paused. “If it hadn’t ended up with Ford in prison, then maybe.”
“I can’t believe you would say such a thing about your father,” Edgar said, his words falling like stones in the center of the table.
“Edgar, get real,” Sterling said. “You and Harvey, and West’s dad are pretty much the only people who are sorry Prentice is gone.”
For a second, I thought I saw real grief flash across Edgar’s face before he set his jaw and shook his head. “I’m glad he doesn’t have to hear this disrespect,” Edgar said. As monstrous as Prentice had been, it was easy to forget he’d been someone’s friend.
“Uncle Edgar,” Hope’s clear, strong voice filled the room. She was one of the kindest people I knew, but when she was pissed, watch out. Edgar had rescued her from a tough childhood and brought her up as his own. For most of her life, she’d been an obedient niece until Edgar had figured out a way to marry her off to Griffen. It could have been a disaster, but those two had been in love before they understood what love was. In the end, they were like our own personal fairy tale. And over the last two years, I’d seen Hope grow a strong spine, especially when it came to her uncle. She loved him, but she was done taking his crap.
“This is Griffen’s house now,” she continued. “We’re done with the worship of Prentice Sawyer. I know he was your friend, and I know you miss him, but no one here wants to hear it.”
He pointed a finger at his niece. “Disrespectful,” he said again.
“I don’t really care. Can it or go home.”
They locked eyes for a long moment, then Edgar gave a short nod and took a bite of salad. Harvey picked up the baton, focusing back on Sterling.
“So, what lead will you be following next? Did you finally track down that jewelry designer?”
To her credit, Sterling didn’t give anything away. “Oh, you know, we’ve been asking questions here and there. Losing the file is a blow for sure, but we’ll figure it out.”
“It sounded like you had something specific,” Harvey said. “If you tell me what it is, maybe I can help.”
“Help?” Sterling said, her tone innocent despite the wicked gleam in her eyes. “Like you did when you let the necklace get stolen from your office? No thanks, I don’t think we need that kind of help.”