by Jillian Dodd
“Yes, that sounds fine. I’m sorry I snapped at you earlier.”
“It’s okay, Cooper. It’s been a pretty crazy day. Maybe I’ll send you down for a massage once we’re all settled.”
“Now that sounds like the best idea you’ve had in a while.”
Vincent doesn’t see the article with the photo until later. He doesn’t even bother sending someone to watch the place. He considered going there, but he’s too busy.
Besides, he doesn’t need to go get her.
Soon, she’ll be coming to him.
Willingly.
Aiden says flatly, “You went a little crazy shopping today.”
I look at my purchases littered across the bedroom floor. “Yeah, I did. I was supposed to be celebrating, having a great day.”
“Did you have a great day? I mean, before we had to move.”
“Shopping was fun—well, parts of it—but I was sort of going through the motions.”
“That's because you're trying to live a pretend life. There's no joy in it.”
He takes the garment bag out of my arms and unzips it to take a look. “Another rainy day dress?”
“Um, no. I'm going to a gala Saturday night.”
“With Knox? “
“Yes.”
Aiden pushes his hand roughly through his hair. “I don't understand this. Remind me again why it’s okay for you to be seen with Knox but not me? I’m okay with the danger too.”
“I know you are,” I say quietly.
“Tell me why,” Aiden says adamantly. I can tell he’s pissed.
“Because with Vincent I'm not that good of an actress.”
“What do you mean?”
“He followed me for months, Aiden. In that time, I hung out and partied with a ton of guys, the main ones being Sander, Cush, Damian, Troy, and Brooklyn. Vincent took photos of me and Cush together. He saw us at soccer, at the club, at the boardwalk, and at a party. I think I even told him I was in love with Cush.”
“But I thought you loved Brooklyn?”
“I did. And Vincent knew it even though I didn’t. He’s always focused on B.”
“What's that got to do with me?”
“There's no way I could hide my feelings for you. Damian says when I'm with you love is written all over my face. If Vincent were to see us together, you'd become target number one.”
“I don’t care. We’d be together. I could help keep you safe.”
“Aiden,” I choke out, my eyes filling with tears at the thought of Vincent discovering him. “Please, no.”
“So, if you stop seeing Knox publicly, I should worry you've fallen in love with him?” he says, trying to joke about it but failing. I can see the jealously raging behind his eyes. I hate that I’m putting him through this.
“I hate this as much as you do, Aiden. I know you don’t understand. I don’t even really understand. But it’s in my gut. It’s something I’m being driven to do. I don’t have a choice.”
“You always have a choice about how to live your life.”
“I agree wholeheartedly. My situation is just different right now. Vincent and I have been on this path for a while. I can’t avoid the collision. It’s just a question of when and where it will happen.”
He walks across the room and reaches into the small bag he brought with him from the loft and pulls out something I cherish.
“Here,” he says, handing me my book of Keats poetry. “I knew you’d want this.”
I hold it in my hand, staring at it. Thinking about what it means to me. All the feelings I have wrapped up in the pages of an old book. I gently open it, read B’s inscription and then turn to the center of the book to see that, thankfully, Aiden’s lucky four-leaf clover is still pressed inside.
I cover my mouth, trying to stop myself from crying, but I can’t. I just mutter out, “Thank you.”
Vincent wakes up with a start. He fell asleep early this morning on the mattress he brought into the safe room. The bombs are ready. The safe room is ready. The booms will be delivered today along with some other production equipment that is technically still his. He may not be in charge, but he still owns a large portion of the company.
And it’s not like anyone knows what happened yet.
And even if they did, he’s not the one answering the door. The old man who owns the place is enjoying all the excitement going on in his normally boring home.
His phone beeps with an email notification—Google telling him about an article. He clicks the link and reads.
Keatyn Douglas Takes Over the World.
Okay, not quite. But rumor has it that none other than our new favorite It Girl, Keatyn Douglas, has become the chairman of the board of A Breath Behind You Films in a hostile takeover from none other than movie futures golden boy, Vincent Sharpe, grandson of the late Viviane Sharpe. Below is a still shot from her video conference with the board. Looks like Keatyn took our advice about starring in the remake of her mom’s movie seriously and just bought the whole damn company.
P.S. Just how much do you inherit from an underwear model?
P.P.S. Because, seriously.
P.P.P.S. Love your suit, Keatyn. Oscar?
What do you do after you take over a multi-million-dollar production company?
An intimate celebratory lunch with your hot co-star, Knox Daniels?
Check.
Shopping at Bergdorf’s with your hottieguard—I mean, bodyguard—in tow?
Check.
Dinner with your Mom’s longtime beau, Tommy Stevens?
Check.
We love you Keatyn!
P.S. And your taste in shoes and handbags. Celine, Alaïa, Chanel, Louboutin. Yes, please.
P.P.S. Take us shopping with you!
P.P.P.S. Call me!
Vincent smiles. He shouldn’t be smiling about the fact that he’s lost his company. People who know him might say he’s losing it.
But that’s not how he feels.
Throughout this whole ordeal, he’s felt out of control. But now, finally, he feels in complete control.
Because it’s time to put his plan into motion.
It’s the perfect plan. One that starts slow and builds, adding tension to the script.
He closes his eyes for a moment and considers the ramifications of what he’s about to do. The lives he’s about to change.
His.
Hers.
Theirs.
A feeling of peace overcomes him, signaling to him that he’s chosen the correct path.
He looks up at the photos on the wall. Abby. Keatyn. Lacy.
His holy trinity.
He gets out his cell, sets up a charter, then calls his man in New York and gives him a set of very specific instructions.
Keatyn prepares for her trip to Malibu.
“Remember, I have to go to California late this afternoon.”
The smile slides off his face. “Where you and Brooklyn are going to see how you feel?”
“Where we’re going to see his mom and then I’m going to convince him to get the hell out of Malibu. As for the how we feel part, I don’t know what will happen.”
“I don’t want you to go, Boots.”
“Aiden, I’m sorry. I know this has been rough for you. My spending time with Knox. Fake kissing Damian at midnight. I’m trying so hard to get my life back.”
“But at what price?”
“I wish I knew. Just promise me that whatever happens, you won’t hate me.”
“I could never hate you.”
“Depending on how it all ends, Aiden, you might,” I say, already envisioning my plan for tonight. If I’m going to have to be in Malibu anyway, I might as well use the trip to piss Vincent off some more.
Aiden shakes his head then kisses me. Kisses my lips. Kisses my neck. Kisses slowly down my body.
My body responds like it always does, but my head—well, my head just isn’t into it. My brain is on overdrive. Trying to figure out how to get Damian here safely
. Deciding where Cooper and I are going to live. Wondering if I should go with my original plan of renting a yacht and a helicopter.
Aiden pushes his hand between my legs, spreading them apart to allow his mouth access.
Oh, wow.
Wait. What was I thinking about?
As his tongue—that godly tongue—works it’s magic on me, my brain ceases to function.
Okay, it’s functioning but it’s got just one train of thought.
Do me.
Make me forget everything.
Run away with me.
Marry me.
Have babies with me.
We can live in a shack on the beach.
I don’t care if I ever see my family or friends again.
Just please don’t stop.
Ever.
As I’m about to climax, my brain awakens harshly and a memory stops me from thoroughly enjoying myself.
I’m lying in bed with B. We’re in France. It’s the morning after our first time.
“I’ve been thinking about not going home. About living here. Or traveling the world.”
“You kinda need to finish school first, don't you think?” he says.
“I’ll do it like you did. Like, online or something. I don't want to go back home.”
“You can’t run away from your problems, Keats, because eventually they’ll come and find you.”
And I know without a doubt that he was right. My problems are coming to find me.
“We’re so good together,” he says, gazing into my eyes. “I’m not sure how I’m going to survive without you. Remember what I told you on the beach? How you have my heart?”
“I remember, Aiden. And I don’t know where I’ll be exactly, but I’ll text you, I promise. Whenever I can.”
“You better. It’s all that will keep me going. Are you sure you can’t come back to school?”
“I accidentally led someone to my loft. I’d die if I led Vincent to Eastbrooke. I don’t think he’d care who he hurt in the process of getting to me.”
“Do you have any idea how you’ve changed my life? What you mean to me?” He looks teary. “I’m going to miss you.”
“Aiden, I can’t do this.”
“Do what, baby?”
“This whole goodbye thing.”
“I’m sorry. I just want to make sure you know how I feel before you go.”
I jump out of bed. I can’t take this any more. It’s killing me.
Cooper and I are getting ready to head to the airport when I get a call from Tommy.
“Keatyn!” he says frantically. “Where are you?”
“At the hotel, getting ready to leave for the airport.”
“You can’t go. Kiki was kidnapped. The dog sitter was hit on the head and knocked out. They took her to the hospital. There was a note in her backpack.”
“What did it say?”
“It said, My dearest, K. Lying. Flying. Plane goes down. Boom, splat, on the ground. Woof. Ruff. Dogs do say. Rounds two and three go my way.”
“Ohmigawd.”
“What? I don’t get it, do you?”
“I think he had something to do with my dad’s death, Tommy.”
“Are you serious?”
“Does Mom know? Did she ever suspect that? Was there ever any question?”
“Not that I’m aware of. I just remember hearing there had been some kind of mechanical failure. Holy shit. Do you think his obsession goes that far back?”
“Maybe it does. Maybe Vincent thought he was like Matt and didn’t support Mom’s dreams.”
“Your mom has never mentioned anything about your dad not being supportive.”
“His career was going well and he wanted mom to slow down. He thought she should quit for a while so I could have a normal childhood. I remember them fighting about it.”
“Wait, are you talking about Matt Moran?”
“No, Matt. Mom’s boyfriend in A Day at the Lake. He didn’t support Lacy’s dreams. That’s why Vince wanted to kill him.”
“This is from the movie?”
“Yes, Vincent is obsessed with it. Reread the last part again.”
“Woof. Ruff. Dogs do say. Rounds two and three go my way,” he recites. “What do you think rounds two and three are? And why do they go his way?”
“I’m assuming round one was the takeover. I won that round. Round two. He took Kiki.”
“So, what’s round three?”
“I don’t know. Did you look everywhere for Kiki? All over the park?”
“Yeah, both Matt and I went and looked for her everywhere. We called for her. And she walks that path every day, she’d know her way home. I’m actually sitting outside right now hoping she’ll show up. I’ve called Animal Control three times. She has a chip, so they’ll contact me if they find her. As much as that dog drives me nuts, I love her. The girls will be so upset.”
“Don’t tell them yet, Tommy. I’ll find her.”
I hang up the phone and yell, “Cooper!”
He comes rushing out of his bedroom in just a pair of sweat shorts. “What?!” he says, as Aiden comes running out of our room, both of them on edge.
“I’m going out. I’ll be back in a few minutes. I have something I need to do.”
“You can’t just leave. I’m coming with you,” Cooper says.
“Fine,” I say, throwing on Aiden’s ball cap in an attempt at a partial disguise.
Cooper runs back to his room, returning fully dressed, and says, “Where to?”
“A department store.”
We walk at a brisk pace to the nearest large department store, where I go to their customer service area and use their house phone to call B’s old cell number collect.
Vincent answers with, “Good to see I have your attention.”
“Give me back the dog.”
“You took away something I love, I’ll take away everything you love.”
Click.
I slam my head against the wall in frustration.
I’ll take away everything you love echoes in my head.
I have to figure out what round three is.
Everything I love.
Everything I love.
My family. Safe.
Tommy. Mostly safe.
Brooklyn.
Shit!
I pull my cell phone out of my pocket and call him.
“B, you absolutely can’t go tonight. Move it to tomorrow. Move it to a different location.”
“This is going to be a defining moment in my life, Keats. I can’t change it. We’ll meet my mom at Buddy’s and then, later, we’ll tell my dad that you’re sponsoring me. Then it will be just you and me. We can figure us out. See how we feel. Are you on your way to the airport?”
“Listen to me. I need you to reschedule and leave Malibu, now. Go to Australia with your dad.”
“I just told you, we’re meeting my dad tonight. He’s in town for some business meeting. We’re going to Australia together later in the week. What happened? Why do you sound so panicked?”
“Bad Kiki was kidnapped by Vincent.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, B, I’m sure. He left a note in the dog walker’s backpack. It’s exactly like the note he left in Avery’s backpack. It even—um . . .”
“Um, what?”
“Mentioned a plane crash.”
“You think he’s going to crash my plane to Australia? He’s a stalker, Keats, not a terrorist.”
“No, I don’t think that. I think he had something to do with my dad’s death.”
“Oh . . .”
“Yeah. And I just talked to him. He told me he’d take away everything I love.”
“So, if he’s in New York, wouldn’t it be better for you to be here?”
“He’s not here. He didn’t kidnap the dog himself. I’m sure he hired someone to do it. He’s still in L.A. I have people keeping an eye on him. He seems to hire people to do most of his dirty work.”
“So, sam
e thing. If someone is watching him, they’d know if he came after me, right? I’m fine. I’m going to see her, Keats. I have to. I promised. You promised.”
“Please, please, reschedule. I went ahead and did the hostile takeover without your help. Yesterday, I fired Vincent from his own company.”
“You did all that on your own?”
“My grandpa took care of it, but the end result is the same: I now own the majority of the production company. I’m the chairman of the freaking board.”
“That’s crazy.”
“I know.”
“I’m proud of you for fighting back, Keats.”
“I want our lives back.”
“I want my mom back. That’s why I’m doing this with or without you.”
“I hate to even suggest this, but what if Vincent found her and got her to contact you? To lure you in? You could be walking into a trap.”
“That’s a pretty shitty thing for you to suggest.”
“Your dad kept you apart all these years for a reason.”
“I had this discussion with my dad. I’m not having it with you! I’m going to see her and no one is going to stop me. Not my dad, not you, and certainly not fucking Vincent!”
He hangs up on me.
When I call back, he doesn’t answer.
Cooper, who’s been standing next to me the whole time, wraps a strong arm around me.
“You need to fill me in on the details of what just happened.”
“Vincent is in L.A., right? Wouldn’t they have called you if he left town?”
“Yes, they would have.”
“Tommy called me. Kiki was stolen. The dog sitter got knocked out and a note was left in her backpack.” I tell him what it said. “I called B’s old cell number collect and Vincent answered. He reiterated the note. Said he’s going to take everything I love and hung up on me. Then you heard me call B. He hung up on me too.”
