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Chapter 9

ISAAC

Isaaccouldn’tbelievehewas going through with this when Andrew had royally screwed him. Dalton’s name—hisname—had been in the papers right beside theirs, speculating about how they all knew each other. There was no way that would go over the heads of all of Isaac’s enemies. Someone would connect the dots, and knowing where Dalton worked, they’d know exactly how to find him.

It was a wonder Olivia hadn’t come right out and printed that Andrew was Isaac’s arresting officer, but this was worse, because it put even more of a target on Dalton’s back.

The only reason Isaac had agreed to still attend dinner was because Andrew had called him the second he read the paper. Bythen, Isaac had read it twice, steaming mad and eager to rant. But Andrew assured him he’d fix this.

He was going to have to do a hell of a lot to accomplish that.

“Hi!” Andrew greeted at the door, a little overly zealous, Isaac thought, to counter how much he knew he was in the doghouse. They’d both gone to Avalon earlier to install the changes they’d recommended to Vallancourt, but Isaac had made a point of always being one room away from Andrew. “You made brownies?”

“Dad made brownies.” Dalton wiggled the pan in his hands. “He’s a really good baker.”

“Of course, he is.” Andrew scratched the back of his neck, hesitant to look Isaac in the eyes.Good. “Listen, both of you, I am so sorry about Olivia—”

“Stop. I don’t want to hear another word about that article.” Dalton pushed inside beside him to hover in the doorway, like a bridge between him and Isaac. “For all we know, this will still push the thief to act sooner, which is what we want. Everything’s in place, and I am fine. Perfectly safe. I have you two to look out for me, right?”

If nothing else, Isaac did believe that Andrew would stop at nothing to keep Dalton safe.

“It’s still unfortunate,” Isaac said, eyeing Andrew coldly, and then turning his ice to Dalton, “especially whensomeonekeeps showing up where he doesn’t belong.”

“Don’t start that again either,” Dalton groaned, continuing the rest of the way inside to take off his shoes and coat, leaving Andrew looking nervous and fidgety as he gestured Isaac across the threshold too.

Isaac did so but didn’t soften his stare.

“Olivia is the worst,” Andrew tried again, pointing to the coatrack for them to hang their things, which already had several jackets. “I wish I’d realized that two years ago.”

“Still have the same bad taste as college?” Dalton teased. “Present company excluded.”

Isaac was not in the mood, but the comment made Andrew rub his neck again.

“Look who’s talking?” he threw back. “Riley?”

“We haven’t even gone out! And what’s so bad about Riley?”

“He works for a snake.” Candace appeared from the dining room, casual as she pleased, having set a few things on the table, with clatter coming from the kitchen, and then the reveal of Kevin and Steven setting the table as well.

Isaac tensed.

“Candace,” Dalton rebuked, passing the pan of brownies to Andrew so he could hug her, “be nice. He’s my dad.”

“I know. I was nice the other day, wasn’t I?” Her smile could have sliced through concrete. “Pleasure seeing you again, Ford.”

“Likewise,” he said just as unbelievably. He noticed Andrew peeking under the tinfoil and yanked the brownie pan away from him. “No dessert before dinner.”

“Really taking this dad thing seriously, huh?” He pouted.

“Or there are certain manners everyone should abide by.”

“If they’re as delicious as they smell, I’m making you repay me for all those coffees in baked goods.”

Isaac snorted, struggling to not give in to Andrew’s charms as easily as usual.

Then Kevin and Steven were heading over, and Andrew straightened like a soldier being lectured by a drill sergeant. Isaac had only ever seen Steven Wen in passing other than their one prime encounter—when he helped Isaac avoid added prison time. That didn’t mean they were friendly.

He looked out of place in a domestic setting, having carried salad to the table, while Kevin brought bread, and now stood before Isaac in a simple T-shirt and jeans, positively smoldering as he sized Isaac up, and then Dalton.