The Billionaires: The Stepbrothers: A Lover's Triangle Novel

by Calista Fox

  Karina told them, “My parents had given me some money when they’d thrown me out and I moved us to New York. I knew it’d be expensive, but I also knew there’d be more job opportunities here. Longer shifts I could work to earn extra money and accommodate a babysitter. I also had some theatrical aspirations and performed in small playhouses from time to time. Those stints came with paychecks. I got by. Not well, but we always had a roof over our heads and something on the table, even if it was just ramen and a couple slices of bread sometimes.”

  Scarlet’s heart wrenched. She’d had no idea Sam’s upbringing had been quite so bleak. Apparently, Michael hadn’t either.

  Across the room, he muttered, “Fuck.”

  Sam said, “Get over it. I survived.”

  “Yeah.” Michael is expression turned intense. Remorseful, even. “And I lived here, with limos and country club memberships and Sunday brunch.”

  “And no college tuition or a trust fund until you’re forty,” Sam pointed out, “so you weren’t exactly Bill Gates from the get-go. You had to make that happen.”

  The two men stared at each other. Scarlet sensed their camaraderie, their solid connection with each other that had nothing to do with blood and everything to do with the fact that they’d chosen to be friends when thrown together. That they’d bonded at a difficult time in their lives. And that bond clearly could not be broken.

  Scarlet found a measure of relief in that, particularly because everything was unraveling in this house.

  She asked Karina, “It was your idea to stage the theft?”

  “It was the only thing I could think of. The only way to get the money without having to explain anything to Mitcham, without having to reveal my past to him or his friends. His son. And of course, I couldn’t allow Michael and Sam to be in any sort of danger. You yourself have suffered Wyatt’s cruelty. I didn’t doubt for a second that he’d go through with his plan to terrorize my new family.”

  “Yes, I can attest to his diligence.”

  “Mitcham told me when he gifted me with the collection that it was mine. Hang the pieces where I wanted, exchange anything that didn’t suit me, whatever. It was all mine. He took out the policy but said that if anything ever happened to the paintings—he was thinking in terms of a fire, mostly—I’d have the funds to replace them. So in my mind, I really did consider the collection mine to do with as I pleased. Having it ‘stolen’ wasn’t what pleased me, but I didn’t feel I had an alternative. I worked with Wyatt to get the paintings out of the house. In the exact fashion you detailed, Miss Drake.”

  Damn. At the moment, it was hideously painful to be right.

  Karina said, “I made sure no one was in this wing when they boxed up the paintings. Mitcham filed the claim and you know the rest of the story.”

  “Not entirely,” Scarlet told her. “I don’t know where that collection is and the curiosity has been driving me mad.”

  “In a warehouse,” Karina said on a heavy sigh. “Perfectly safe and sound.”

  “Tucked away until the statutes run out,” Sam added.

  “Yes,” his mother said. More tears spilled as she told Scarlet, “I may not be an ethical person in your eyes, but I’ve always been a good mother and wife. I can’t let someone hurt my family if there’s something I can do about it. Yes, I was willing to lie, cheat, and steal to protect them. I’m sorry to say that I would do it all over again. Because it was worth the try to keep Wyatt and Dylan away from us and to safeguard Mitcham’s reputation, his image. I did struggle; I still do. I never thought it was fair for him to take on the burden of my insecurities. He’s given me and Sam so much. I felt I owed him.”

  “You never owed me anything.”

  At Mitcham’s deep, distinguished voice, Scarlet’s head whipped in the direction of the archway. Not a smooth move on her part, because that spot above her right eye started to throb again. She winced from the pain and Michael was instantly by her side.

  “You need to sit down,” he insisted, and helped her to the sofa.

  Karina was on her feet in the next instant, but she didn’t go to her husband. She poured a glass of water for Scarlet and handed it over.

  Gingerly lowering herself to the cushion next to Scarlet, she said, “I am so sorry you got caught in the cross fire. I never dreamed things would go this far.” She sniffled, then added, “I thought it was over. I put Wyatt and Dylan behind me. Focused all my energy on being a wife, being a volunteer in the community, being someone respectable. Not so … shady. And I’ve worked hard, for my own company. I’m making back the insurance money. I’ve had every intention of returning it. Unfortunately, it takes quite a bit of time to earn that sort of cash, even when business is booming.”

  “I’ll pay it back,” Sam told her.

  “No,” she was quick to say. “It’s my debt. I’m sure the insurance carrier will set up some sort of payment plan after I make a good-faith payment.”

  “I’ll look into it when I notify them,” Scarlet assured her.

  “I’ll take care of the restitution,” Mitcham said.

  “It’s not your responsibility,” Karina maintained.

  “You’re my wife.”

  They stared at each other across the room.

  Scarlet knew she wasn’t helping to ease the tension when she said, “I have to report all of this, Karina. And it’ll make the papers, have no doubt. It’s eighteen million dollars’ worth of artwork we’re talking about.”

  Karina dragged her gaze from her husband and nodded at Scarlet. “Yes, I understand. And I’ll do whatever’s asked of me. If there’s any criminal recourse at this point, past the statute of limitations, community service, whatever … I will do anything to make up for this.” Her attention returned to Mitcham. “I never meant to hurt you. Everything I did was for the direct opposite result. I made a huge mistake. I can’t apologize enough, but please know that I did it because I love this family. Because I love you.”

  “We’ll talk,” was all Mitcham Vandenberg said. He held his hand out and Karina went to him.

  At the archway, she turned back to Scarlet, Sam, and Michael. “I really am so very sorry.”

  More tears fell as Karina left with her husband.

  For once in her life, Scarlet did not want to be a fly on the wall. Lord only knew how that discussion would go.

  Besides, she had her own cross to bear. A heavy, painful one.

  Gazing at Michael and Sam, she said, “I have to turn her in.”

  “Yes.” Michael eased onto the seat next to her and put an arm around her shoulders.

  Sam paced again.

  Scarlet felt shredded to the core. She’d cracked the case—and this family. She’d revealed Sam’s mother as the villain. Not an intentional one, because Scarlet considered Karina a victim of circumstance. But Karina Reed Vandenberg had, indeed, committed a crime.

  It was in Scarlet’s nature to want to see justice served. Yet she could also empathize with Karina, could understand her motive. Could accept she was a woman who would go to any length to protect the people she loved. And perhaps she really had saved this family six years ago. Unfortunately, she’d torn it apart today.

  With Scarlet’s help.

  The backs of her eyes burned. Emotion swelled in her throat. How did relationships bounce back from something like this? Karina’s or Scarlet’s?

  Scarlet was going to hand over Sam and Michael’s mother as the mastermind of the theft. She’d be committing romance homicide. Had no choice but to do so.

  Michael told her, “You look wiped out. Let’s get you to my apartment so you can rest.”

  She didn’t currently have the wherewithal to protest or provide another suggestion. She certainly wasn’t in any shape to wait around JFK for a flight home.

  So Scarlet let Michael help her up. The trio left the mansion just as silently as they’d entered, each of them engrossed in their own dismal thoughts.

  Scarlet mostly fearing that the end for the threesome was ver
y, very close at hand …

  TWENTY-TWO

  This time, it was Michael’s shoulder Scarlet slept against. She hadn’t thought she could curb all of her rampant ruminations and concerns in order to rest, but she was mentally and physically fatigued and was out almost immediately. She woke briefly when the helicopter landed and they filed into the limo. Then she cozied up next to Michael once more and dozed all the way to his apartment.

  Sam cooked them a late dinner and awkward silence ensued. Scarlet only picked at her food, her stomach too twisted in knots to take on the mahi-mahi Sam had prepared. Both men quietly urged her to eat, though they knew the reason for her lack of appetite. While they cleared the table, Scarlet poured herself a glass of scotch and sipped as she stood at the tall windows, gazing out at the glittery Manhattan skyline.

  Eventually, Michael joined her. He slid his arms around her waist from behind and said, “Sam and I both know you’re in a bad position.”

  “It’s a horrific position,” she corrected. Then sipped.

  “It’s not your doing, Scarlet. You’re not the one who committed the crime.”

  She cringed. “But I am the one who brought it to light. In front of all of you. I hurt your stepmother and your father. I hurt you and Sam.” She wiggled out of Michael’s embrace and turned to face him. “I damaged your family.”

  “No.” His hands gingerly cupped her face. “Wyatt Hill and Dylan Reed damaged our family.”

  Scarlet’s gaze narrowed. “You don’t blame Karina?”

  He blew out a soft breath. “It’s complicated. I don’t condone her actions. Of course not. But I can respect how fiercely she tried to protect everyone. She was resourceful and even courageous in fending off her adversaries. In truth, I’m mostly relieved that this didn’t turn out to be a case of her insinuating herself into my father’s life with the intention of robbing him. I still believe that she’s deeply in love with him and that everything she did was because of that love. And to keep any threat away from her son. And me. Now it’s all over.”

  “Hardly,” Scarlet scoffed. She stepped away from Michael, out of his reach. Drained her cocktail. The liquid burning down her throat was actually a welcomed sensation to the pain and uncertainty slicing through her. She set the glass aside and said, “I will forever be known as the woman who turned Sam’s mother in. Your stepmother. Mitcham Vandenberg’s wife. Sam’s not going to forgive me. I’m not even sure you’ll be able to forgive me. And, Jesus, your father … That man will gladly squash me like a bug the first chance he gets.”

  Her heart hurt. This really was the beginning of the end.

  But Michael didn’t exacerbate her worries. Instead, he gently gripped her upper arms and stared deep into her eyes. “Sweetheart, you did what you had to do by investigating and pressing Karina until she told the truth. And it was the right thing to do. Not to mention, I’m fairly sure she can breathe easier now that her darkest deed has been revealed and she no longer has to fear discovery. In fact, chances are damn good she’s glad to be free of all the secrecy.”

  Michael pulled Scarlet to him and held her tight. Tears stung her eyes and she wanted to give in to them and have a really good cry. But she still had work to do.

  “I need to talk to Sam,” she said. “Doesn’t have to be alone. In actuality, I’d prefer it if you were with me.”

  “He’s in the den.”

  Michael released her and followed her through the apartment. They found Sam sprawled in an oversized leather chair, scotch in hand. He was staring out the windows as Scarlet had done when Michael had comforted her. Her hand slid over Sam’s shoulder as she rounded the chair.

  “Mind if I sit?” she asked.

  “No.”

  She eased into his lap. Bold of her, but she needed to be close to him. And he didn’t balk.

  He did, however, inquire, “Make your phone call?”

  “Not yet. It can wait until the morning. Give Karina some time to adjust. Talk to Mitcham. Figure out how she’s going to pay back the money if she chooses to do it on her own, or if she’ll let him help her.”

  “He won’t turn his back on her,” Michael said. “Money’s not the issue. What’ll be most difficult for him to digest is that she didn’t immediately turn to him when Wyatt first showed up. That she would take on something this huge by herself. He’ll understand why she felt it was necessary, but he’ll still be upset about it. That’s one thing I noted when it came to my mother’s cancer. They went through it together and he wouldn’t have had it any other way. He was the one with the connections to get her the best care and he wouldn’t leave it in anyone else’s hands, not even hers.”

  “Karina was too vulnerable from the beginning,” Scarlet mused. “Too conflicted by her past and her bleak present to deal with an attack of this magnitude. Yet she did her best. And I can appreciate that. Makes it all the more difficult to hand her over to the insurance company.” Scarlet’s fingertips grazed Sam’s furrowed brow. “I’m not really sure how I’m going to bring myself to do it.”

  “You have no choice,” Sam said. Not at all accusatory. He simply stated a fact.

  Tears welled in her eyes and crested the rims.

  Sam whisked them away, saying, “Don’t cry. This isn’t your fault. You didn’t create this problem; you solved it.”

  “Yet I feel villainous,” she admitted. “For what I’ve done to all of you.”

  “Scarlet.” Sam gathered her close. Held her to him. His warm breath teased strands of her hair at her temple as he told her, “No one’s blaming you for anything.”

  “It changes everything between the three of us.”

  “No.”

  She pulled slightly away and she stared into his sky-blue eyes. “I—”

  “It changes nothing, Scarlet,” he said with conviction.

  Her pulse hitched. She gazed at him a few seconds more, then turned to Michael.

  He gave a half grin. “Told you.”

  “You’ll really forgive me?” she asked.

  “Nothing to forgive,” Michael said. “Again … this wasn’t your doing.”

  Her attention returned to Sam. “And you?”

  “He’s right.” Sam kissed her softly and added, “I’ve been to hell, remember? And what did I learn?”

  She stared quizzically at him.

  He said, “You can come back. That’s what I learned.”

  Her fingers swept through his hair. She gave a shaky smile. “You are the real deal, Sam Reed.” She kissed him. Then she looked over at Michael again. “And you are so much more than a silver-tongued devil.”

  “Shh,” he said as he pressed a finger to his lips. “Don’t tell anyone.”

  Scarlet laughed quietly. “That’s one secret I’ll keep, if you insist.”

  “Better for business.”

  “Ah, yes,” she teased. “The Wolf of Wall Street.”

  Michael leaned in and whisked his lips over hers, murmuring, “A much better image to perpetuate outside these walls.”

  He straightened.

  Scarlet gazed into Sam’s eyes and said, “And my huntsman?”

  “Happy to be all manly for you, darlin’.”

  Her toes curled. “Then why don’t you take me to the bedroom?”

  “To sleep,” Michael insisted. “You need to take it easy, sweetheart. Your body can’t be feeling all that refreshed.”

  “I’m sore as hell,” she confessed. “And I need more ibuprofen for my head.”

  Michael carefully lifted her into his arms. “Bed it is.”

  She glanced back at Sam. “And you’ll join us?”

  He hauled himself up. Kissed her, then said, “Yes.”

  Scarlet had no delusions that all was well. That they were cured of all that ailed them.

  Because she still had that damn phone call to make in the morning.

  Scarlet slept soundly enough, nestled between Michael and Sam. The second day following her accident was pretty much equivalent to the two-day pai
n of a really hard workout. Her neck ached, her head still throbbed, and her legs were toast. She limped to the bathroom and soaked in the tub while Michael and Sam went about their business. Eventually, she smelled food, her stomach grumbled, and she finished up and joined the men at the breakfast table.

  Michael’s apartment was opulent, with endless black marble and modern artwork and sculptures. Panoramic views.

  Scarlet literally dragged out the meal as long as possible, dreading the task that lay ahead.

  She was in no particular hurry to destroy Karina’s reputation. Or taint the rest of the family’s.

  It kind of surprised Scarlet that Michael hadn’t made a plea for her to turn a blind eye to all she’d learned. After all, it wasn’t the FBI she was reporting to. And Michael had been so sensitive from the get-go about anyone poking around in family business. Then she recalled what he’d told her that night in the near-impossible-to-locate club. That her ethics would be his undoing.

  An interesting premonition to have come true.

  Sam wasn’t making any appeals to her, either. That perplexed Scarlet in that Sam was incredibly protective and his emotions ran deep. He had to be reeling from the recent events. From knowing all the lies his mother had told and the secrets she’d kept.

  Conversely, he was a straight shooter and stalwart. So Scarlet really couldn’t imagine him asking her to bend the truth or make blatant omissions—not even for his mother’s sake. Apparently, he wouldn’t put Scarlet in that position any more than Michael would.

  In addition, she surmised that both men likely felt it was all best left in Mitcham’s care. He was Karina’s husband. It appeared he intended to stand by her, so probably the greatest defense she could have in surviving all of this was for him to help her through.

  That did not free Michael and Sam from their own guilt. Scarlet could see that quite clearly, could sense it as the grave undertone permeated the apartment. Karina had taken it upon herself to protect her children. Her household. And Scarlet suspected two strong men such as Michael and Sam would have sympathy for Karina for that ever having to be the case. That she had to go to such drastic measures to thwart whatever Wyatt might have planned for the family.