by Rowe, Ruby
“Why are you so angry?”
“Are you serious right now?”
“You already love that kid. I figured you’d be thrilled to know he’s yours, and Sasha said Camilla didn’t know, so you can’t be pissed at her over that.”
“She should’ve told me what Tony did a hell of a lot sooner.”
“Maybe, but it sounds like she was a victim, too. It had to suck to find out the man she was dating drugged her and didn’t care if she spent time with his brother.”
“None of it changes that our relationship started from a bunch of lies and deceit. I’m not entirely innocent. I hurt her, too, threatening to take Liam after Tony died, but we can’t keep starting over. There’s too much baggage between us.”
“Maybe your stupid move is why she kept shit from you. Did you ever consider that?”
I glare at him. “This isn’t my fault.”
“No. Your brother definitely gets the credit for that. What was on the flash drive?”
“All I can tell you is it was something that could’ve destroyed the U.S. if it landed in the wrong hands. I suspect he planned to sell the information.
“It was always about money with him, and he was willing to risk everyone’s lives for more of it. I’m sure he would’ve moved to some island afterward, knowing him.”
“He wasn’t always law-abiding. Maybe he got himself into some trouble and was forced to get the information.”
“There’s no proof of that.”
“No, but I can’t see your brother doing something that could harm you or Camilla, either. Hell, maybe he even suspected Liam wasn’t his. That could explain why he never saw him and didn’t leave him anything from his estate.”
“Trying to make him out to be a saint doesn’t change the fact that he drugged Camilla and me. It doesn’t change that she kept it from me for as long as possible.”
“Was she regretful?”
“Yes. She was a mess.”
“Do you love her?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Cuz, you told me she was different from any other woman you’d met. The way you looked at her last night … damn, man. Unlike me, you get to choose the life you want, and you can either stay bitter all your life, living alone and seeing your son only part-time, or you can forgive her and have the family I know you’ve always wanted.”
“Rehab made you such a fucking girl.”
“Shut up, dickwad. This isn’t comfortable for me, either, but I’m trying to save you from your self-destructive ways.”
“I don’t know if I can forgive her that easily. I couldn’t even look at Liam this morning. He’s not my nephew, and I don’t know how I’ll react once I see him as my son.”
“You react however you need to, but you step up and do it. I can’t believe you sent them away.” He shakes his head, making me more ashamed.
“I told her she could come back tomorrow. I’m leaving town for a while to think.”
“No, you’re going to stay here and be a father to Liam, and while you’re doing that, you can work on repairing your relationship with Camilla.”
I scrub my face with my hands. “Life was so much easier before Tony died.”
“Your life was depressing as fuck, cuz. Just sayin’.”
“Yeah, and now I’m overrun with house guests. Sasha will be living here next. I had their apartment emptied out last week, and I doubt she knows it.”
“Let’s worry about one thing at a time. Rest up today, and tomorrow … meet your son.”
Sasha
After I shower and dress in jeans and a black t-shirt that has a cute rainbow and unicorn on the front, I leave my hair down and straighten my brown waves.
Thinking about Camilla, I decide to call her one more time before I head downstairs. I’m nervous about facing Greyson and Ellis. I just want to be with my sister.
I press the button on my phone and pray she answers this time.
“Hello,” she says on the third ring.
“Sis, I’ve been trying to reach you.”
“I’m sorry. I had a lot going on this morning and didn’t take my phone out of my purse.”
“Uh, I have some news; I’m at Ellis’s.”
“Sasha! What are doing out of rehab?”
“I know, and I’m sorry, but I couldn’t stay at that place another day. It was helping, but I didn’t fit in. Do you know the kind of money the other patients, or whatever they call them, have or were raised with?”
“I can guess, but it’s about the treatment. You had a chance to stay for as long as you needed.”
“But I can’t relate to them. We might all share the same issues as addicts, but our lives are too different in every other way.
“On top of that, word got to me about what the place costs, so I went to their office and found out Greyson was paying instead of Ellis. I totally flipped and left. There was no way in hell I was staying and running up a bill like that.”
“What now? How are you going to stay clean?”
“I swear I’ll go to NA. I’ll find a sponsor, and I won’t hang around any of the lowlifes I used to associate with. I won’t tell them I’m back at the apartment.”
“Sis, we closed out the apartment last week. I didn’t want you living there again.”
“Then where am I supposed to go?”
“I don’t know. I thought we had time to figure that out, and now I’m unsure if I even have a place to live since Ellis is furious with me. He knows everything. Did he talk to you about it?”
“He was so trashed when I got here. Greyson’s downstairs trying to sober him up.”
“He doesn’t drink.”
“Well, he’s drinking today. He was rude to me, too, but Greyson put him in his place.”
“If he’s drunk, then he’s more upset with me than I thought.”
“Where are you staying? I’ll have Greyson give me a ride there, and we’ll figure everything out.”
“Embassy Suites. If Ellis talks to you, please tell him I’m sorry.”
“I will, sis. I love you.”
“I love you, too, but I’m still mad at you. I just want you well, Sasha.”
“I know, and I promise to do good this time.”
Ending the call, I put on my red converse tennis shoes and walk down the quiet hallway. I hope Ellis doesn’t yell at me, and I hope Greyson doesn’t come across any sexier or kinder than he already has today.
The last thing I need is a crush on a guy I can’t have. I might as well join a nunnery since I can only be with a man when I’m under the influence, and I’m staying clean this time.
Halfway down the stairs, I smell food. Having not eaten since yesterday, my stomach growls in an instant. I pad to the kitchen and stop at the doorway, unsure about where I’m welcome.
I see a spread of Chinese take-out on the island, but no one is around, so I walk down a wide hallway, looking in rooms. I find a dining room, a formal living room, and then a family room toward the back of the home, where Greyson is sitting on the couch, watching sports.
He’s holding chopsticks over one of the take-out boxes and has changed into shorts and a t-shirt. His blond hair looks shiny and soft, and as soon as I eat, I need him to take me to Camilla’s hotel so I can get far away from him.
“Hi,” I say meekly. Looking my way, he sits up straight.
“Hi. Feel better?”
“Yeah, I do.”
“Are you hungry? I ordered plenty of food.”
“I’m starving, actually.”
His brow furrows for a second, but then he smiles.
“I set a plate out for you, so help yourself.”
“Thank you.” I stroll back to the kitchen, and once I’ve made my plate, I sit at the dinette set next to some windows. I stare out at Ellis’s neatly kept property that seemingly goes on forever.
“I did shower, so it was safe to sit by me,” Greyson says. I look at him, and he’s giving me a charming smile as he stands by the island.
“Sorry. I worried I’d make a mess sitting in there.” I can’t tell him it’s because I’m nervous to be around him since he’s so smokin’ hot. “Where’s Ellis?”
“Upstairs. He’s probably in his office or showering.”
“Could you give me a ride to Camilla’s hotel? I’m going to stay with her until I can get out on my own.”
He’s silent as he refills his plate. He strolls over and sits across from me. Ugh, I don’t want to eat in front of him.
“About that … I have a proposition for you.”
What?
“Um, OK…”
“I was thinking you could come stay at my house temporarily. I’m the only one living there, and although it’s not as spacious as this pad, I have a couple extra bedrooms. I have a housekeeper, too, so the place is tidy.” That dashing smile returns, and my heart begins to pound in my chest.
“Why would I do that? I mean, why would you offer?”
“I know it seems weird when you don’t know me, but I think I might’ve convinced Ellis to talk to Camilla. She’s coming back tomorrow, and I believe they need time alone to work on their relationship.”
“So, what you’re saying is I’m a burden they don’t need.” Laying my fork down, I look at my plate.
“I’m sure neither of them sees you as a burden. It’s just that Ellis gets overwhelmed when a lot of people are around, which in turn makes him grumpy. Also, since Irene is here through the week, Christopher and the nanny, too, I figured you’d like my quiet place better.”
I rub my sweaty hands on my jeans.
“I can’t let you do that. I should talk to Camilla and see what she suggests.”
“If you don’t want to go back to California, then inpatient treatment locally would be the next best thing.”
“I can’t afford that, and I won’t let you or Ellis pay for it.”
“I figured you’d say that, so live with me, and go to NA meetings. It’s the perfect setup. You’ll have space while Ellis and Camilla work out their shit. I have an extra car you can drive. I wouldn’t offer if it was an inconvenience.”
“Camilla says I’m a terrible roommate. If she and Ellis stay together, then you and I will be around each other the rest of our lives. It’s a bridge I don’t want to burn.”
“If you’re living a sober life, then I doubt it’ll be terrible to have you as a guest. Look, I’ll sweeten the deal. Stay with me, and I’ll give you a job, too. Do you feel you’re above filing paperwork?” He rolls his eyes. “My paralegal sure thinks she is.”
“You can give me a job just like that?”
“I have my own law office and real estate company, so yeah, I can hire you if I please.”
Having lost my appetite from the knot in my stomach, I start to get up, but he stretches over and grabs my wrist. “Please sit. Don’t dismiss this because you think it’s too generous or because of the self-loathing shit that’s going through that pretty head of yours.”
Pretty?
“Look, I got messed up with drugs in college, and my family helped me get clean. We all need support from time to time, so take this opportunity. You can pay it forward once you get your life together.”
“Wow, you have a lot of faith in me.”
Giving a half shrug, he looks out the window.
“Camilla seems great, so I figure you can’t be all that bad.” He braves a look at me, and if the sight of dimples could kill, I’d be struck dead by his and that smile that accompanies them.
I’m going to regret this, but I’m beginning to think he’ll never let me out of this room without a yes. I twirl the ends of my long hair and stare at the table.
“You’re coming around. I feel it. The Burke men always get their way.”
I smile. Dammit, why am I smiling?
“OK, I’ll stay with you.” I shake my head. “This is crazy, but I guess my sister deserves a longer break from me, and I don’t want Ellis angry before he even gets a chance to know me.”
“Awesome, and thank you. I get more help at the office, and you get a place to crash. It’s a win-win.”
“No, thank you, and I’ll do my best not to let you down.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Ellis
While I’m examining the large painting Christopher was so hell-bent on winning, Greyson pokes his head inside my office.
“Got a minute?”
“Sure. I’m trying to figure out why Christopher was determined to take home this painting. He was up to something, and it’s the reason I had you bid against him.”
Turning the artwork over, I lay it across my desk and survey the mounting board on the back. “This frame is deep. Do you think there could be something hidden inside?”
“I guess it’s possible. Let’s open it. You can always have it repaired.”
“Maybe I’m reading more into this.”
“I’m sure he has a nest egg from working for both you and Tony, but I doubt he’d blow it on a painting for only the sentimental value.”
Greyson helps me remove the mounting board with minimal damage, and the second I see inside, I swallow.
“Holy shit, how much money is that?” he asks. Picking up one of the many bundles of one hundred dollar bills attached to the back of the mat, I fan them with my fingers.
“There are a hundred bills to a band, so there’s ten grand in each one.”
Greyson adds them up. “Two rows of ten... There are twenty bundles here. No wonder he wanted the damn painting. He thought he was going to profit almost two hundred thousand, especially if I hadn’t pushed the bidding up.”
“He said Tony wanted him to have the painting, but I wouldn’t give it to him. I felt like a dick at the time, but Tony didn’t leave it to him in the trust, and I figured those benefiting from my mother’s literacy program deserved it more.”
“What’s this?” Greyson peels off a white envelope that’s below the bills and tears it open. Inside is a slip of paper, along with a key he hands me. “There’s only an address on here. It’s in Isla Mujeres.”
“I think that’s an island in the Caribbean. I wonder if he owns it.”
“He never listed the asset in his trust.”
Sitting at my desk, I open Google Earth on my laptop and type in the address, bringing up a virtual view of the property.
“Damn, it’s a home, and from the looks of it, it’s an expensive one. Do you think he left it to Christopher?”
“I don’t know, but I believe the fucker knew all this was here. Maybe Tony did tell him he could have it, but like you said; there’s no proof of that.”
“I don’t trust him, Greyson. I’ve been keeping him around to see if he comes up with any information about Tony’s death, but his so-called friendship with Camilla is pissing me off. I can’t stand seeing them together, especially knowing he’s in love with her.”
“Does this mean you’re forgiving Camilla?”
I start removing the bundles of cash taped to the back of the mounting board.
“I don’t know. I need time to think about it.”
“At least that’s not a no. Uh, I came up to tell you something. Sasha’s going to come live with me temporarily so you can work on things with Camilla without having another distraction in the house.”
“She agreed to this?”
“It took some persuading, but she finally caved. I’ll make sure she works and goes to NA meetings.”
I stare at him and consider his motives.
“Whitney’s going to lose her shit when she finds out. Is that the angle you’re working here? Are you hoping she’ll dump you over it?”
“Give me some credit. I have no ulterior motives here.”
“Maybe not consciously.”
“I’m helping her out–helping you out, man.”
“I don’t know how Camilla will feel about it.”
“Sasha’s an adult. She can make her own decisions.”
“True, and I’d like to see that happ
en. She’s relied on Camilla way too much over the years.” I give him a look of warning. “All right, but don’t think about touching her.”
“I’m only being a friend. Sasha and I couldn’t possibly have a thing in common.”
“When has that ever stopped you from sleeping with someone?”
He flashes a sly grin. “Point taken, but she’s different. She’s Camilla’s sister, and I know she’s fragile right now. I won’t mess with her head.”
I hand Greyson six of the bundles of money.
“Here … for the painting.”
“Hey, now, I bought that painting. I think I’m entitled to it and all the money stashed inside.”
Smiling, I pick up the rest. “Fine, here.”
“Cuz, I was joking.” He shoves them back toward me, so I set all of them down but one.
“Here, put this in an account for Sasha. She has nothing. She’s even borrowing Camilla’s clothing.”
He laughs. “I think she’s wearing her own shirt today. It has a bright fucking unicorn and rainbow on it.”
“That means you checked out her tits.” I smile since I’m only messing with him.
“I couldn’t help it. Her shirt was glowing with all these neon colors.” His sly grin returns. “OK, and she has an amazing rack for her petite body. I might’ve noticed.”
I point at him. “Don’t touch her.”
“I know, I know.” He holds up the extra ten grand. “She’ll probably refuse this.”
“Then I guess you’ll have to use your persuasion skills yet again. Oh, and thank you for helping me out earlier.”
“Same here for last night.” He strolls out of my office with ten grand for Sasha and sixty for the painting. What’s a few extra thousand? It was all worth it to confirm what a slimy worm Christopher is.
It’s time I find out everything about him. I figured if Tony trusted him enough to call him a close friend, then I could, too, but that’s not the case.
After finding out he lied to Camilla for years, ignored my demands to stay away from her and now tried to undermine me with the painting, I’m doing a thorough check on him. I’ll call my FBI friend and set up a meeting for tomorrow.
