I paused in the doorway, slowly slipping off my heels and placing my purse on the table with deliberate care. "What? Why would they do that?"
"I don’t know!" Daniel exclaimed, running a hand through his hair in sheer disbelief. "It was supposed to be finalized. I trusted them, Tracie."
I moved closer, instinctively placing a hand on his arm in an attempt to calm him. "It might not be as bad as it sounds," I said, trying to offer comfort. "You’ve always managed to get through these things before. You’ll find a way."
His eyes darkened, and his voice dropped. "No, I won’t," he muttered bitterly, a vulnerability I rarely saw creeping into his tone. "It’s all gone."
"All gone?" I repeated, confusion lining my words.
"The money," he said quietly, his gaze sinking to the floor. "I gambled away the funds from the insurance company. I thought I could double it, but..." His voice trailed off, and he collapsed onto the couch, his hands covering his face in defeat. "I was counting on Whitaker to pull us out, but now they’re gone. It’s over. My father is going to kill me if he finds out. He won’t trust me again."
I blinked, holding back a sharp laugh. Of course, he had no idea. How could he?