Over the Edge (Bridge #3)(39)

“We have a lock-up period. I have six months to prove myself.”

“That’s not as long as you might think.”

I paced the terrace. The sounds of traffic floated up. This city was chaos sometimes. Thrilling and intoxicating. Crushing and sobering. All I ever knew was that life could turn on a dime.

“Reilly is your problem,” he said.

I turned and met Frank’s stare.

“You can’t just step in front of them and expect people to forget what they did,” he continued. “If you want to instill confidence and keep this together, you need to do something drastic.”

“Like what?”

“Reorganize. Buy your dad’s shares. Cut Reilly out.” The words came quickly, but his advice was anything but simple.

“They’re the only shareholders.”

He shrugged. “If you can’t figure it out, you shouldn’t be running the fund. If you have no stake, why should I trust you with my money?”

I clenched my jaw tight. He made a point, even if it stung. Taking over full ownership was never in the plans, though. My brain was scrambling to come up with a scenario that would work. Even if I was able to oust the owners, my father included, Frank hadn’t exactly given his blessing when it came to my relationship with his daughter.

“What about Olivia?”

He walked toward me, his expression impassive.

“You’ve got thirty days to impress me, Will. And if she suffers from any of this, trust that there will be consequences.”

I wasn’t in the habit of tolerating threats, but threatening someone to protect Olivia wasn’t beneath me either. I didn’t reply as Frank left the terrace. I watched through the sliding doors as he shook my father’s hand and swiftly disappeared. A few minutes later, my father joined me.

“What happened?”

“We need to talk,” I said.

IAN



Darren was checking the engine when I joined him. The stalls were open, and fresh air blew in from the street. Early fall was in the air, cool and dry, promising an imminent change in the seasons. We worked over the truck, checking that everything was stocked and in place for the inevitable emergencies that would call us out over the course of the day.

“Vanessa’s doing an open mic tonight. You want to come? I’ll buy you a beer.”

I shook my head. “Thanks, man. I’ve got plans though.”

“Hot date?” He winked.

I laughed nervously as Darren waited for an answer. “Something like that.”

I hadn’t seen Liv in a few days, and that wasn’t sitting well with me. I’d never cared this much before. The chase and the satisfaction of getting a girl into bed—all of that usually went away as soon as I got what I wanted. Not with Olivia. Every day that went by without seeing her felt a little more perilous, like I could lose her. And I wasn’t ready to lose her.

After our last night together, I figured Will would keep her close, but he’d been scarce too. When he wasn’t putting hours in at the renovation, he was commuting to his father’s office downtown. He’d agreed to take over where his father left off, but he didn’t seem any happier for it. I had no idea where that left things between him and Liv, but I was done waiting. She’d agreed to meet me at the studio after my shift. I’d been counting down the hours until then.

Darren closed down a side compartment and moved to the next one. “You ever going to get serious about someone?”

I shrugged. “Maybe one day.”

I’d f*cked around for so long, though, I had a hard time imagining it. Dad used to ask me when I was going to bring a girl home to meet the family. I’d brushed him off, figuring I had time. Then he died, and something inside me broke. I was angry, and all I wanted to do was bury that anger. I didn’t take women home for the pure fun of it anymore. I took women home to forget, to feel something intense just long enough without needing to open up to anyone. Then I could walk away and try to work the rest of it out on my own.

Will was my insurance policy that made sure nothing serious ever took root. Because once someone shared a bed with the two of us, any potential for a real relationship dissolved. I tried to remember that when the need to see Liv gnawed at me, but being with her wasn’t fitting into any of those neat little boxes.

“Who’ve you got plans with?”

I hesitated, running my palm over my scalp. What the hell could I say to that?

“What’s going on, Savo? You seeing someone?”

“Sort of.” I frowned, because I had no idea how to describe the situation with Liv, even in the vaguest terms. This felt like the most dangerous conversation I’d ever had in my life.

He let out a short laugh. “No shit? Tell me about her.”

“I don’t know. She’s…amazing. Basically f*cking perfect. But I don’t know where it’s going. I’m not really in the right place to be the guy she needs.” Jesus, I was rambling, but Darren’s smile just got wider.

“Sounds pretty familiar, actually.”

I shook my head. “Nah, it’s complicated.”

He had no idea.

Darren had done a complete one-eighty when he met Vanessa. For years he’d been my wingman, my go-to guy long before I’d run into Will. One week on an island with Vanessa, and Darren was a goner. I didn’t recognize him. I’d hated to watch him torture himself through the ups and downs, but he seemed happier now than he ever had doing the bar scene with me.