Series: Webs We Weave Series by Krista Ritchie
Total pages in book: 167
Estimated words: 162520 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 813(@200wpm)___ 650(@250wpm)___ 542(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 162520 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 813(@200wpm)___ 650(@250wpm)___ 542(@300wpm)
No RSVP required.
Sincerely,
Varrick Wolfe
Oliver and Nova switch letters, probably to ensure they say the same thing. I’ve already peeked at Phoebe’s and know it’s identical except for it being addressed to Ms. Phoebe Smith.
“It’s a setup?” Oliver asks Hailey.
“It’s a possibility.”
“How?” Jake questions.
“We don’t know if he actually wants to name an heir, or if he’s luring us there for another purpose,” Hailey explains.
“We should accept,” I say, my throat scorched with acid. “At the very least, I’m accepting.”
The only thing I’ve wanted more than revenge is Phoebe, and I doubt I’d lose her by summering at Stonehaven. Considering she also wants to skewer Varrick like he’s a Christmas ham. Being closer to him will give us information. Leverage. We’ve had so few interactions, and I need this to change.
Even if he’s trying to trap us, I know how to walk around one and push someone else in.
Jake rubs his face too many times. He’s wincing.
I shoot him a harsh look. “What is it?”
He sighs out, “This might actually solve a problem.” One he clearly isn’t excited about sharing, and I realize why when he informs us that Trent is getting this fucking loft.
Great.
Oliver rotates his pear. “Looks like we’re all going to be sleeping in the spider’s nest.” He bites out a chunk, and he’s right. There’s no big discussion because it’s just known.
We’re better when we’re all together.
“Rocky, can I talk to you for a sec?” Hailey asks, her eyes glued to her letter.
“Yeah.” Pulling away from Phoebe, I follow my sister into her bedroom, and I shut the door with my shoulder blades while she sinks onto the edge of a checkered quilt.
“What’s going on, Hails?” I ask, thinking this might be about Phebs, but as soon as she starts speaking, I know I’m wrong.
It’s about me.
“I’ve realized the most advantageous position for you to be in when it comes to Varrick, and I hate having to ask you to do this…so you can say no.”
“It can’t be worse than befriending Trent Waterford.”
Her eyes glaze, and that’s all I need to know it’s going to be so much worse.
“I know you hate him. I know he did monstrous things,” Hailey whispers. “But you have to get him to love you like a son.”
The man who ate his way through the foundation of this house.
The man who murdered my siblings. My parents.
The man who stole from me the ability to even know them.
I have to get him to love me. My stomach roils and flips in on itself. I rake two hot hands through my hair. “What if he’s not capable of loving anyone but himself? It’s likely he’s in the dark triad, and he’s also a con man. He’ll be trying to manipulate me while I’m trying to manipulate him.”
“He doesn’t know you though. Not really. He just needs to believe you trust him more than you’ve ever trusted our parents. You have to give him what he wants.”
“Which is?”
“Us.”
I have to play into his hand. “Okay.” I nod a few times. “I can do it.” I can do anything to see this through to the end.
“One more thing,” she says. “And it’s the most important thing…”
“What?” I ask.
“You can’t love him back.”
I start to laugh hard, but her gray eyes contain real fear. The noise dies in my throat. “You’re serious,” I say, pushing off the door with raised brows. “In what world would I love that man, Hails? Huh?”
“We don’t know how good he is. How charismatic. Convincing.”
“He can’t manipulate me. He won’t,” I assure her. “Don’t be afraid of that. Okay? It’s not an outcome. Don’t let it plague you.”
She nods repeatedly, blinking too much. Staring off too much. Chewing her lip too much. Christ. I’m about to ask how much sleep she clocked last night when the door cracks open behind me.
Jake apologizes for interrupting. “I’m about to go.” His phone is in the pit of his hand. “I just wanted to say bye before I head out to deal with this party Trent is throwing.” His eyes veer from me and stay on my sister as she waves a hand at him.
“See you tomorrow?” she asks.
“Yeah…” He trails off, like maybe he wants to ask something.
Let me guess. I roll my eyes. “Is Oliver spending the night with you?” I ask her. “Not that I give a shit.”
“Maybe,” she tells Jake more than me.
Jake nods slowly.
I feel like I’m in a two-mile-an-hour car crash. I just want it to make fucking impact already. “I’ll go with you,” I tell Jake.
“What?” Jake asks.
“To the fucking party,” I snap. “I need to make an appearance anyway. Your brother has been up my ass all night about it. Let me just tell Phoebe first.”
* * *
—
Keys to my McLaren in my hand, I head down the stairwell with Phoebe. “You sure you’re okay?” I ask her. “Because I’m about to leave for fuck knows how long.”