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Page 177 of The Hatesick Diaries (St. Mary's Rebels 5)

“You could start selling it. Create a little nest egg for the future.”

“It’s more work than it’s worth. I just like doing it for myself.”

“And Alana,” Charlie noted with a smirk.

“I should’ve probably helped more,” Alana said. “I made him do all the work.”

“Jayce is good like that. If he ever finds himself a wife, she’ll be the luckiest, most spoiled woman alive.”

Shooting her a glare, I adjusted on the couch. “That just sounds like more to put on my plate. My job already steals fifty hours from me every week.”

Alana scoffed. “I never see you working. Any time I text you, you’re immediately down to hang out.”

“Priorities, Alana.”

“Must be nice. Although, I do get summers off. One day, maybe I’ll have enough money to start taking long vacations.”

“You could take a road trip,” Dad suggested. “You’d be surprised how much of the country you can see on a moderate budget.”

“Not alone,” Mom chided. “You don’t know who’s prowling the highways in search of a woman alone.”

I snorted a laugh, then smothered it with my hand. My mom read too many horror books. Besides, I’d never let Alana drive across the country by herself. There was only one person who was allowed to make her fear for her life.

I was on day three of making her sweat. She was on edge and even since she’d been here, I’d seen her look out the windows countless times. She knew that Erebus was still around but aside from the little gifts, she had nothing to go off of. I didn’t want to wait long enough for her to let down her guard, but I’d give it a little longer.

This weekend. That was when things would start heating up.

“Oh, there was something we needed to talk to you about,” Mom said suddenly. The mirth was gone from her expression, so I leaned forward and motioned for her to go on. “We had a conversation with a probate lawyer today.”

“A probate lawyer?” Alana repeated. I could see the apprehension in her eyes. Reaching over, I took her hand and squeezed it. I wasn’t sure what was going on, but that familiar feeling of dread was rising in my chest.

“Yes. We found out that Jake…” Mom took a deep breath and leaned closer to Dad. “He has a daughter.”

Alana tried to pull away from me, but I held her hand tighter.

“We know,” I said.

“You know?”

“Yeah, we found out because of the life insurance. He gave most of it to the kid.”

Dad nodded. “That’s partially what this is about, actually. We don’t know that much right now, but there have been some issues regarding who should control the money since she’s a minor.”

“Shouldn’t her mom do that?” Alana asked, sounding a little bitter.

“Her mom died recently. Not too long before Jake.”

That was news to me. When I found out about the kid, I didn’t give a shit about the details. Jake told me a little bit, but I only cared about him coming clean to Alana.

“Who has custody?” I asked.

“Her stepfather is her legal guardian. He doesn’t want us to have any contact with her because Jake was never involved.”

“What does this have to do with you guys?”

“Well…” He breathed a laugh and ran a hand through his hair. “In most cases, the living parent would be appointed the custodian of a minor’s funds. Her mother appointed Jake, so upon her death, he had control of the money she left for her daughter. He appointed Alana.”

“What?” she shrieked. “I don’t understand. Why would he do that? How could he do that? I haven’t been told any of this.”