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She shook her head “This shouldn’t have happened Never should have happened It’s not right”

“I’ to take et it Please don't worry about me”

Her eyebrows rose “It’s only been two days and you haven’t made it home before 10 o'clock This is too e”

I put a hand on her shoulder to try to calm her She had been worked up ever since Granddad’s death She was constantly agitated and annoyed Everything irritated her I hadn’t seen her shed a single tear Her grief seeer

“I have to do this Who else is going to run the Warriors?”

I looked to her for an answer If she had one, I’d take it Just one suggestion One idea One way to get me out of that damn office There was a reason I wasn't a business major I’d trade the spreadsheets for a brush in an instant if I could But we had been round and round with the legal team The as explicit I was listed as the sole heir of the Warriors Sothe little sister

She stood on her tip toes to kiss me on the cheek, as her frail hands wrapped around my shoulders “Don’t work too hard And don’t stay in that office this late to to call and check on you”

“I’ll try better tomorrow,” I promised “Sleep well I'm headed home”

“Vanessa?”

I stopped on the staircase “What is it?”

“Have you tried to call Danny?”

I knew that was the last shred of hope she was holding out for As if ive a shit about anything related to the McCades He hadn’t bothered in five years

“No, Grae about the funeral He didn’t co back to Texas, and certainly not back to Austin” I didn’t mean to sound so harsh

“Fine But I ht try him myself”

I exhaled I didn’t want her to keep getting her hopes up He was only going to disappoint her Hurt herOne of these days she would let go of the anger and show us how vulnerable she ithout randfather