Page 15 of Devious Lies (Cruel Crown)
I stared into his eyes, trying to figure out what he was trying to tell me with them. In front of him, my parents fought, but I focused on the Prescott brothers, my fingers finding purchase on Reed’s arm and Nash’s words.
“Why a tiger?” I asked.
We had one in the foyer, but I’d never thought much about it. It had a gaudy silver-skinned version of Dionysus riding it and Dionysus’ cult tattooed on its hind legs, none of which I identified with.
“It’s a saying,” Reed offered, still refusing to stare at either of us. He trained his eyes on Betty and Hank. His rage hadn’t lessened, but at the very least, I knew it wasn’t directed at me.
Nash shook his head. “You’re the tiger.”
I waited for him to explain. He didn’t.
“When you say it to me, I can’t figure out if you’re being nice or making fun of me.”
He shook his head, laughter on his breath. The amusement in his eyes carried levity I clung to. “Why can’t it be both?”
“Gideon!” Mother shouted. Her shrill voice broke the Prescott spell. “We are not jeopardizing our relationship with the Cartwrights over this!”
“And you’re okay with jeopardizing your relationship with your daughter?!” he called out to her retreating back, but she’d already left the room toward the office.
Finally, Dad turned to me, Reed, and Nash. “Are you okay? Did Able…” he started, then stopped as if realizing the company.
I bit my lip to stop it from quivering. Winthrops were strong.
“Nothing happened, Dad. He tried, but…” I trailed off, feeling silly because I was still hiding behind the Prescott brothers when I’d done nothing wrong. I stepped to the side and stared Dad in the eyes, my chin tilted up and voice steady. “I’m fine. I swear. And if Able is in the hospital, he got what he deserved, though I think I did a pretty good job kneeing him in the balls if I do say so myself. Twice.” I leaned against Reed, who wrapped an arm around my shoulder. “For the record, Dad, these shirts are accurate. Able Cartwright has a small dick, and now he has a gazillion broken body parts to go with it.” I squeezed Reed’s hand on my shoulder, a silent thank you.
Dad scanned me, examining my face for any signs of lying. “That’s my girl, but it ain’t enough for me.” He shook his head. Someone cared. Warmth blossomed across my chest. “He deserves jail.”
“No.”
“Em?”
“If I press charges, he’ll press charges against Reed. You know this.”
Dad and Nash cursed at the same time. Dad swiped a palm down his face and shifted his weight onto his back foot.
“Please, Dad, do this for me,” I added.
Silence trickled between us. He finally relented and shifted his eyes to Nash, like he was the leader of our little trio. “I want the three of you in Emery’s room. I don’t want Cartwright to catch sight of y’all when he shows up. Okay? It’ll only make it worse. I’ll do my best to fix this.”
“Yes, Dad.”
“Hank. Betty. Join me in my office, please?”
As soon as the room emptied, Reed had his forearm pressed against Nash’s throat. “What the fuck, man?!”
I caught the flash of remorse in Nash’s eyes before it fled, and he couldn’t have looked calmer even if he had a cigarette dangling from the corner of his lips. “I’m sorry.”
Two softly spoken words.
An apology I didn’t understand.
Still, I bore witness to the scene, an interloper they didn’t bother acknowledging.
Reed pressed harder against his brother’s throat before letting go. “Fuck you.” He shook his head. “Fuck Mom. Fuck Dad.” He strode off and out of the back door, ignoring my dad’s demands to hide.
Ignoring me.
“Re
