Total pages in book: 120
Estimated words: 112850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
“Is this the Sutton clan?” Tommy asked, coming inside from the patio.
“Yeah,” I managed.
“I’m Jilly Sutton. My husband just left. And you’re Tommy. We spoke today.” She was brimming with happiness. “I’m gonna make sure you have a home-cooked meal.”
“They go by Mom and Dad,” I explained to Tommy. “They call each other that too, but they aren’t blood related, no matter how it might appear otherwise.”
“Son,” my mom warned, sticking out her hand. “Sit down and get used to this. We’re here. Pretend like you’re enjoyin’ yourself.”
“Mace, take a look at this for me,” Tommy said.
He took the seat behind his laptop and tugged another chair closer to him, motioning me there. Instagram was open to what appeared to be Slade’s profile. The picture used was one of him laughing, dressed impeccably, at a photoshoot. The first sentence read.
I’m gay.
Shit. When Slade left early this afternoon, he assured me that he was getting ahead of this, and apparently, that meant he planned to tell his own story. Whatever happened between Tommy and my mom was lost as I tapped the screen to open the post, and retook my barstool, reading the few lines he prepared.
My sexuality never defined me until recently when I was extorted in a blackmail attempt. I’m proud of who I am as a person.
Okay. I sat back in my seat, rereading the words. Short and simple and what?
From where Tommy sat beside me, he reached a finger to point at the screen. “Breezy has a statement out too. You’ll like her when you meet her.” He swept a fingertip over the touchscreen until her post appeared. She had a candid shot of her and Slade, arm in arm. They also grinned broadly at some unknown focus.
Slade will always be one of the most special people in my life. His truth has never been a secret to those who know him. Much love, Slade. You deserve all the happiness the world has to give.
Of course I’d seen Breezy’s picture with Slade before, but I didn’t know her. Slade barely spoke of her, but her post was receiving hundreds of likes a second, the ticker changing rapidly. Probably like Slade’s was doing too, but I hadn’t thought to check.
“So, it’s good?” I asked Tommy. “We’re done?”
“Not by a long shot. He’s doing his best to get in front of this and keep you out of it. I don’t think it’ll happen that way,” Tommy said, turning to face the room.
“So, what’s next?” my mom asked from behind me. I hadn’t known she was there.
“Slade’s shaken everything up. He’s released most of his team—his words, not mine. They were never on his side. He’s let them go and hired a new PR company. It’s Breezy’s firm. They were willing to jump right in and tackle this same day. We also have Stuart Intelligence starting tomorrow. They have a tremendous success rate of finding answers others can’t. They’ll track down who’s behind this,” he continued to explain to me, going back to Slade’s post. “Slade doesn’t want you to read the comments. He’s also cleared Nico.” Tommy shook his head. “I should have said that in the beginning, but Nico’s pissed off that he was left here and isn’t with Slade.”
“Who’s with Slade?” I asked.
“No one until Nico talked to Stuart. They’ve sent a bodyguard,” Tommy explained.
“Where’s Slade at? Is this why he missed callin’ me?” I asked. All that Tommy shared was a lot for any single day. How Slade had managed to accomplish all this was amazing.
“Slade’s in overdrive making up for what he’s missed.” Tommy nodded definitively as if that were a good thing. It all sounded great to me, and I felt like I was finally hearing the truth. Not a fluffy explanation designed to keep me at a distance or protected, as Slade claimed.
“I like that Nico’s here with Mace,” my mom said. She’d moved to my side with a bowl and spoon in hand, absently stirring as she listened to us.
“Nico’s putting his staff through the ringer. Whoever’s behind this will be flushed out soon even without Stuart’s help.” Tommy stood to his full height, the chair legs scraping the hard floor. He stretched, lifting his hands to the ceiling, doing his best to stifle a yawn. “Nico’s been with Slade longer than anyone. He’ll watch out for Mace.”
“So, it’s out. We give it a few days then start livin’ our lives again?” I asked.
“That would be an ideal outcome. The concern for me that complicates all this is the people behind the blackmail attempt and what they actually have in their arsenal? They wanted a million in Bitcoin to stay quiet. The pictures we saw are tame. It still doesn’t make sense.” A million in Bitcoin? Maybe keeping myself out of the information loop wasn’t my best plan.