They walked around with Solo cups, talking and laughing, and some even tried to call out to me to say hi, but I just ignored them.
I stormed through the house, going in and out of rooms, trying to find Michael. The finished basement and media room were packed full of people I barely recognized, and I couldn’t find any of the guys in the kitchen or on the patio, either.
I spotted Alex chatting with a couple of guys by the pool, but I didn’t have time to wonder how she’d gotten here so fast.
Where the hell was Michael?
The court.
I charged for the other end of the house, already hearing the pounding of a basketball coming from Michael’s huge indoor basketball court.
Swinging open the large double doors, I heard the squeaks of tennis shoes running across the polished wooden court floor as the echo of a basketball drifted up to the rafters. Several guys raced on the court with their shirts off, and I recognized a few of them. They were seniors now at Thunder Bay Prep.
Looking to my left, I spotted the carpeted hangout area, complete with couches and a refrigerator. Michael and Will sat on the large sofa, a sea of bottles and cups on the table before them, while Kai sat in a cushioned chair, looking anything but relaxed. His elbows rested on his knees, and he held the rim of a red cup between his fingers.
Stalking over to them, I stared disbelieving at the sight before me.
A party? They were fucking drinking?
“This isn’t seriously happening right now, is it?” I snapped, stopping in front of the table and looking over at Michael.
He raised his eyes but kept quiet.
“You kidnap my mother,” I started, “burn down my house, steal my money, lure me here, and then attack me.”
“We’re really sorry,” Will spoke up right away, sounding sincere.
What?
I opened my mouth to retort, but I was too stunned. I almost wanted to laugh. They were sorry? That was supposed to fix everything?
Will leaned forward and poured some alcohol into a rocks glass and held it up to me.
“Do you want ice in your tequila?” he asked in a gentle voice.
But I darted forward, slapping the glass out of his grasp and sending it flying to the ground. The tequila splashed across the carpet, making a couple of the girls standing nearby scurry away.
Breathing hard, I tipped my chin down and glared at Michael. “Tomorrow you’re going to put me on the phone with my mother,” I ordered. “You’re going to give me back every cent and schedule a contractor to start restoration on my house, which you will pay for! Do you understand?”
“We were going to anyway,” he replied and then looked at me curiously. “But I’m curious. What happens if we don’t?”
I stood up straight, folding my arms over my chest and curling my lips.
“Did you ever find the phone?” I asked. “There are a lot more videos on there, huh?”
Michael’s face slowly fell at my insinuation, and he sat up, resting his forearms on his knees. “You’re lying.”
I held up my hand, inspecting my nails. “Maybe.” I shrugged. “Or maybe I know where Trevor hides everything important to him. And maybe I know what the combination is, and maybe I’m willing to bet that, if he hasn’t destroyed the phone, then it’s in his special hiding place.” I looked straight at him, unable to hide the amusement I felt. “And maybe if I don’t get what I want, I won’t be nice and open up the safe for you.”
Anger crossed his face, and I could tell he was thrown for a loop. They’d assumed the phone was gone. They’d assumed they were safe.
But from the look in his eyes, there was more on that phone that could hurt them.
Kai and Will sat frozen, their ease now apparently sucked away.
“You’re threatening us?” Michael menacing tone made my stomach flip.
“No,” I answered. “That’s what you did to me. I’m simply playing your game.”
He inhaled a long breath and sat back. “Fine,” he bit out. “Mom, house, money. Easy enough.”
Then he snapped his fingers to a group a group of girls to his left, calling one over. A blonde in a tight blue dress, falling just a few inches below her ass, sauntered over and bit her bottom lip, trying to hide a smile, as Michael pulled her into his lap.
My heart sunk.
His hand snaked around her waist and held her close to him as he looked at me the same way he did growing up. As if I were in the way.
“Now go to bed,” he ordered. “It’s late.”
I tensed, half-expecting to hear Will laugh at the remark, but both he and Kai sat silently, looking at the floor.
Refusing to let him see me falter, I raised my chin and turned, walking out of the court as the pain and anger dropped like an anchor into my stomach. It sat there like a brick, and the weight was too much. I couldn’t feel anything anymore.
Too much.
I’d been terrorized tonight for no reason, and not only had he not apologized, he was doing everything he could to hurt me more.
Did he feel anything?
I passed partiers and crossed into the foyer, racing up the stairs and into the solitude of my bedroom.
Keeping the lights off, I closed the door and locked it before walking over to my bed and sitting down. I dropped my head and closed my eyes.
I wanted to leave.
I didn’t care about the money or the house. They should be coming to me, begging to make it right.
A knock sounded on the door. “Rika?”