Virtuous Deception 2

by Leiann B. Wrytes

  Michelle’s mouth dropped in shock. She had never heard Grayson speak that way before. She couldn’t say that she wasn’t enjoying it, though. Too bad she couldn’t see Armand’s face or Grayson’s.

  “I ain’t got to do shit.”

  Michelle felt the situation getting worse. Sticking her hand out of the window, she pushed her fingertips into the small of Grayson’s back and instantly felt his body soften. Turning his body to the side, keeping a watchful eye on Armand, he looked at Michelle. Choosing not to speak, she made a plea to him with her eyes. It was a message he must have received because he gave Armand one last look and hastily made his way around to the driver’s seat. Michelle refused to look at Armand.

  “Michelle! Wait, Michelle!”

  She could hear him calling for her as they drove away. Tears sprang from her eyes, forming a basin near the base of her throat. This transition would be even harder than she had anticipated. She knew she would need to speak with him at some point, but after today, she was not sure when she would be able to. It hurt like hell just being in the room with him. Hearing his voice was literally painful. She had no idea how they would move forward from this.

  “Michelle, are you okay?”

  Michelle looked at Grayson through her tears and attempted to speak. She couldn’t say anything, but managed to shake her head no.

  He ran his hand across the top of his dome. “You don’t have to go back there if you don’t want to. I can help you get new clothes. My couch is pretty comfortable. I prefer to sleep there anyway. Sleeping in that big bed by myself is . . . a little depressing. My room is yours as long as you need it.”

  Michelle could hardly believe what she was hearing. She knew Grayson was a good guy, but what he was offering was above and beyond. She cried even harder. She hadn’t done anything to deserve how well he treated her, the type of friend he was being to her, but she was grateful. She angled herself in the seat, resting her head on his shoulder, a gesture of thanks. They could discuss what would or wouldn’t happen later, but for now, she was headed back to her temporary home, a place where no one could find her. Not her sister, Armand, or her mother. Maybe being separated from them what just what the doctor ordered.

  Chapter 36

  Sophie and Peter sat across from each other in the breakfast nook. Timidity circled around them, squeezing their throats closed. Neither had found a way to begin the conversation. Sweat coated the inside of her palms, her nerves frayed and raw. Fear kept her mute. The moment of truth had arrived. Peter already looked pensive and on edge. This could potentially push him over.

  “This is not awkward at all,” Peter stated, breaking the silence.

  Sophie offered him a half-smile. “I am searching for the perfect way to say what needs to be said.”

  “Luce, this is you and me. We will never have a perfect version of anything, and we don’t need it. I have made my share of mistakes.”

  Sophie smiled genuinely, but she was still nervous about what she needed to share with him. “You just seem tense, and—”

  “I am tense. This has been pretty stressful, Luce. We still have not discussed in detail what happened a couple weeks ago. Haven’t gotten any closure about what really happened twenty years ago, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t love you. I expected the rugged terrain.”

  “I did, too, but I didn’t know it would be all of this,” Sophie confessed.

  “Luce, I can’t stop thinking about you. I don’t want to be away from you. What am I supposed to do with this? I don’t even know what you want.”

  Sophie took deep breath. “I love you, Peter. I do, but I have a lot going on, and I don’t know if bringing you into my mess is fair.”

  “Why won’t you let me make my own decisions? I am a grown man, and I am very capable of making choices. I know I had mommy issues in high school, but I have long since put those to rest. I don’t need you to be her.”

  “I know.”

  “So, why don’t you go ahead and tell me what’s going on, Sophie? For once.”

  Sophie watched his Adam’s apple rise and fall as he spoke, pulling her energy in order to force the words out. “Fine. I will start with what happened that night, twenty years ago.”

  Peter straightened up in the wicker chair, placed both arms in his lap and closed his eyes.

  “Richard did not want me with you. He never did, but earlier that year, he told me that I had to break things off by the end of the summer. It didn’t make sense to me. I had done everything he wanted me to do without any questions. Everything.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “That is not important. I had followed orders, and I didn’t understand why he wanted to take this one thing from me. Like he just didn’t want me to be happy, ever.”

  Scrunching his face, Peter was visibly angry, trading in his tan hue for a redder tone. “Why didn’t you tell me, Luce?” he asked between clenched teeth.

  Sophie smothered her tears, determined to get this out once for and for all. “If I failed, he was not going to let you graduate. He told me he would ruin everything for you.”

  “What?”

  “I knew he could do it. I had seen him do it to others, and I couldn’t let that happen to you.”

  Peter bit his bottom lip, took some deep breaths, and stared out the window, trying to rein in his anger.

  Sophie felt like a child again, helpless and afraid. “I’m sorry, Peter. I just didn’t know what else to do. I had to do what he said. I had to.”

  Peter stood, reached over the table, and grabbed hold of her hands. “Luce, don’t cry. Stop crying.” He slumped into his seat, still holding on to her hands.

  Shame took her words. Sophie waited for Peter to speak again. She couldn’t bring herself to say another word. She was terrified, not because of what she said, but because of what she had left to say. Her confessional was not over. She had more to share, much more.

  “Luce, I don’t like that you didn’t tell me, but I understand. We were young. He’s your father. I have no right to be upset with you for being obedient to him. You were still a child. I forgive you.”

  Sophie saw a calmness color his eyes and knew he was telling the truth. She sighed with relief, glad that part of their past was behind her.

  “Thank you, Peter. I was afraid you wouldn’t understand.”

  “Of course I do. I do have a question, though.”

  Sophie’s breath caught in her chest. Perhaps she had celebrated too soon.

  “You met your husband while we were together?”

  Sophie swallowed the lump in her throat. “Yes, I did. My father arranged it. Political reasons. We only hung out a few times, and nothing ever happened.”

  Peter released her hands and brushed his own against his thighs, drying them of the sweat that had accumulated. “So, how did you end up pregnant so quickly? If nothing happened?” His tone changed again, taking on a more accusatory tone.

  Sophie hesitated before answering him, uncertain of what he would make of her truth. “Letting you go was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do in my life. I still cannot compare anything to that pain. I hated my father for that. I felt that I would never be free, no matter what I did. He would just keep using me, manipulating and controlling me.”

  Peter waited patiently while she spoke.

  “When you left, I saw him on the porch.”

  Peter’s eyes widened in shock. The question lingered on his lips.

  “He had been watching the entire time. I couldn’t believe it. I felt humiliated. I slept outside. Couldn’t even go in the house. Nan came and fetched me early the next morning. There was a function later that night. I remember sitting in front of my vanity, looking at the mirror but seeing his shadow on the porch. I could not shake the image.”

  Sophie shook her head, sorting through her emotions at the time. “Nan was giving one of her pep talks, and I had a thought. I needed to make myself useless. If I did that, then he’d get rid of me, like he did my
sister. I used to think she was crazy, but at that moment, I understood. It was the only way to get away from him.”

  Peter remained silent, listening intently.

  “I knew what I needed to do, and then Nan said something that got my attention.” Peter gave her an inquisitive look. “Watch what happens,” Sophie said, mimicking Nan. “Something clicked when she said that, and I knew exactly how I would get him.”

  “What did you do, Luce?”

  “I slept with Lewis that night.”

  Peter looked like he might collapse, his mouth opened in disbelief. “What?”

  “I had sex with Lewis. My chess move. Found out I was pregnant later. Shared the news with Richard.” Sophie reflected back on the moment with a fondness she could not hide from Peter. “He was so pissed. I wish I could have recorded it. Katherine was so upset she went to bed.”

  “So, you never loved the guy?”

  Sophie looked up at Peter, confused by his question. One had nothing to do with the other. “Eventually, yes, we did grow to love each other, but I think our beginning hurt us.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “He was distant. Aloof. Numerous affairs. I practically raised Michelle alone. Finances were not an issue, but the love between us never fully developed in a healthy way.”

  She could see Peter’s mind moving, working, piecing things together. He had a question but did not pose it. She thought this was as good a time as she was going to get to segue into the rest of what she wanted to get off her chest today.

  “Why did you stay with him if it was that bad?”

  “I didn’t go to college. I forfeited my inheritance. I didn’t know how to function outside the world I had created for myself. I couldn’t go back to the Freemont Estate, so I stayed. It wasn’t very comfortable, but I had Michelle and this home.”

  That pensive look flashed across Peter’s face again. It seemed to happen whenever she mentioned Michelle’s name, but she wasn’t certain. “I dealt with it until . . .”

  “Until what?”

  Sophie slowed down, choosing her words very carefully. “Until Michelle . . .”

  There was that look again; it was Michelle that was bothering him.

  “Michelle had graduated from college, living on her own. I was here by myself. One night, he came home, and we had a really vicious argument. Things got physical.” Sophie watched the change in Peter’s demeanor as she got emotional. “He beat me pretty badly. Michelle called, and I had to lie to her. You know? I didn’t want her to see me that way.”

  Peter’s mouth hung slightly agape while he listened. She knew she had him, but she had to do this just right.

  “He didn’t leave the house for several days after that night. I was so afraid. Every day he tormented me. He said mean, nasty things, and he . . . and he beat me constantly. I thought he was going to kill me.”

  “Luce, why didn’t you call the police?”

  “I couldn’t. He had complete control over me. Plus, I knew that if I got away, he would just find me. He had connections. I was alone.” Sophie burst into tears.

  “I am so sorry you were going through that.” Peter stretched across the table to comfort her, but Sophie raised her hand, stopping him.

  “Oh gawd, Peter, I did something terrible, but you have to understand. I didn’t have a choice! He would have killed me!”

  “Luce, what did you do? What happened?”

  “Oh, Peter, I killed him!” Sophie began wailing uncontrollably, falling onto the table, burying her face in her hands.

  Peter jumped from his seat and quickly wrapped his arms around her. “Luce, I don’t understand.”

  “I killed him, Peter,” she confessed in between sobs. “I put cyanide in his drink and . . . and . . . it all happened so fast. I was just so afraid.” Sophie tried to pull herself out of his hold to look him in the eyes. “He would have killed me, Peter!” Erupting into sobs all over again, Sophie continued to plead her case. “I just know he would have killed me. I had to do it, Peter! I had to!”

  Peter held her while she cried. Sophie curled up, snuggling as close as she could to him. “Please, don’t leave me, Peter. I love you. I never stopped.” Sophie was not sure what would happen, but she was grateful that, at least for the moment, he was still there.

  “It’s okay, Luce. He can’t hurt you anymore. He can’t hurt you anymore.”

  Chapter 37

  Frank and Lisa arrived in New York much later than expected—a week and two days later than expected. After the unexpected visit from Detective Baptiste, they had decided to hang around and see if the officers came across information relevant to the case. Even if the investigators did not find it helpful, it could be of use to the duo in the course of their personal search in the States. The decision proved prudent. Lisa started to feel worse and used those days to improve. Unfortunately, nothing more was acquired, but they did get another week of relaxation, courtesy of the hotel. Lisa could not move very fast, but they got out and enjoyed the beach, even did a little shopping for tax-free jewelry. Frank came to better understand what Lisa loved about the island.

  LaGuardia was busy, noisy, and congested, with people milling about. Frank hated airports. He felt overstimulated, and it made him antsy. He feared the time it would take to get their things, but thirty minutes after their plane landed, they had their luggage and were waiting for the car service Frank’s brother had sent to get them. Frank could not believe he had let Jacob muscle him into doing this. His brother, Griffin, was one of his least favorite people in the world. He had not seen him since he made that fateful trip to Dallas.

  “I think that’s the car there.” Lisa interrupted his thoughts.

  “I’m sorry. What did you say?” Frank asked.

  Pointing to the charcoal Mercedes Benz S550, Lisa reiterated, “I think that may be the car right there.”

  Frank followed her finger and stared at the Mercedes. “Why did you—” Before he could finish the question, he spotted a hand slide through a small opening in the window, beckoning them forward. “I think you’re right. I know we spoke about him briefly, but I just want to remind you. Please follow my lead with him.”

  “I know, Frank. Don’t worry. I’m sure it will be fine, and if not, we can handle it.” Lisa gave Frank a reassuring glance.

  He hoped she was right. He had no idea what to expect from his brother. He was like night and day. Growing up, they had been pretty close. They shared the same hatred for their father, and they pitied their mother. Everything Frank knew about the art of finances, he had learned it from his big brother. Their father probably knew about the money they “borrowed,” but he didn’t seem very bothered by it. In fact, Frank thought he was proud of them. But one day, his brother suddenly had a change of heart.

  Frank had accepted an invitation to join his brother for lunch. Curiosity had persuaded him to agree to join his brother at his Manhattan apartment, but Frank felt uneasy about it. Griffin had been horrible to him over the last several months, and Frank took a chance to receive an unlikely apology.

  His instincts were correct. His brother had not contacted him to apologize, nor was he interested in rekindling their broken bond. He cornered Frank in the living room, trapping him between the fireplace and a window overlooking Central Park, demanding that Frank repay every penny he had taken from their father, spouting some nonsense about morality and birthrights. Frank dismissed Griffin, punched him in the face, and ran out of the apartment. It was the first time he could remember fearing his brother. The look in his eyes that day sent Frank on plane to the South. He booked a flight that night to Dallas and had not spoken with his brother since.

  The car was not very far away, but the passenger pickup area was so crowded that it still took several minutes to slither through the crowd. Frank braced himself for what awaited.

  “Here we go.”

  The doorman nodded, acknowledging Frank, and smiled at Lisa. “Afternoon, sir, ma’am.” He opened the door, and F
rank’s mouth dropped open. He could not believe his eyes.

  “Hello, Franklin.”

  Frank looked to Lisa, incredulous over what he saw once he stared back into the car. The muscles in his face froze in complete shock.

  “Griffin?” Frank was not sure what to think or what was going on.

  Lisa hit his arm with her hand, pushing him away, before gripping him hard enough to break his skin. He could feel her body grow rigid as she stood beside him. Tapping her arm in reassurance, he ushered her into the car, never taking his eyes off his brother. Frank did not know what to think as he climbed into the car behind Lisa, but one thing he knew for certain: Jacob had some serious explaining to do.

  “Franklin, as I am sure you can guess, there are a few things I think we need to discuss.”

  Frank rode in silence, holding tightly to Lisa’s hand, staring in bewilderment. His brother was right. A conversation was definitely needed, but Frank wasn’t sure if he wanted to be a part of it. He glanced at the gentlemen seated beside his brother, his eyes finding Lisa again. She refused to look at either of them, noticeably bothered by the situation. Frank wasn’t too keen on it, either, but it was too late to retreat.

  Squeezing Lisa’s hand, managing to get a quick glance from her, he gave her a peck on her cheek and smiled. She returned a half-smile, he could see the unease in her eyes. He needed some answers.

  Clearing his throat, he turned to his brother and inquired, “Griffin, what in the hell is going on here?”

  “All of your questions will be answered soon enough. Hold tight.” It was not his brother who answered his question, but the familiar stranger seated beside him.

  Frank looked at him, trying to decide if, and how, he should address him. Something felt wrong about his presence there. Frank could not put his finger on what it was, but something was definitely off with this guy.

  “Who are you?”

  Ruffling the hem of his long pea coat, the gentleman tilted his head slightly forward, giving Frank an obstructed view of his face. “My friends call me Henry.”