Dre handed him a drink. “I doubt that. You didn’t tell her why you were marrying her? I mean you told her your bullshit reason, right?”

“I told her what was happening with my family,” Rene explained. “I didn’t lie to her. She helped me with a couple of business problems I was having.”

“Yes, she’s good at strategy. And you’re real good at lying to yourself. So why are you going to lose your job if you married Sylvie and Roberta is going to vote your way because she wants to breed my mother’s psychic abilities into your family bloodline?” Dre’s eyes widened. “Damn, did Sylvie say she doesn’t want kids? Because I can tell my mom. It might actually be good for me. Deflect attention off the bullet thing. I like the way you think.”

“Andre, I used your sister.” He was ready for a beat-down. Maybe the physical pain could make him forget the emotional ache of losing Sylvie.

“Sure you did.” He moved past Rene. “We need some snacks in here. I feel like this is going to be a long night. You are in full-on woe-is-me mode.”

He was going to have to push the issue. “I slept with Sylvie and I’m going to divorce her.”

Dre stopped. “I doubt she’s going to let you do that. Sylvie tends to get her way when she wants something. Did you tell her someone threatened her and you got all freaked out?”

It was Rene’s turn to be surprised. “How did you know that?”

“It’s not a big leap. There’s only one reason you go this loony tunes. You’ve been crazy in love with my sister since we were kids. There’s no way you divorce her without giving the marriage a real chance unless you thought she would be better off without you.”

“She will be.” He couldn’t get around that logic.

“You’re looking for a fight from me, but you’re not going to get one.” Dre’s voice had gone soft. “I know who you are. You took a crappy situation your family put you in and used it to try to make the family you actually want. Whoever is challenging you . . .” Dre stopped in front of the sofa and seemed to think for a moment. “Charles?”

Rene nodded.