His gut said she was safe.
He was torn in two, and he didn’t know what the hell to do about it.
As they got into their ride, he didn’t speak.
“You’re on the verge of a breakdown, aren’t you?” Julian asked with humor in his voice.
He didn’t want to talk about it.
At all.
Why?
Because he was.
* * * L i t t l e m o o n * * *
Easton Estate
Tori had finished the tour of the house. It was a really nice place to call home. It screamed of Lennox’s personality. Apparently, she’d made it hers as the family began dying. The whole place was pretty cheery, despite what was creeping in the shadows.
Lennox was trying.
She gave her credit for that. If she knew she was tagged to die, she might not be as cheery.
If she only knew what was in that house.
Along the tour of the house, Tori realized one major thing. The woman was never alone.
They weren’t all dead either.
There were maids.
There was a butler.
Hell!
There was more kitchen staff than she’d ever seen in her entire life. She had no idea what it was like to be that damn rich. It had to be fun and suck at the same time.
She could tell that Lennox was a prisoner in her own home, and that had to be tough to swallow.
Still, the woman was trying.
“What are you thinking about?” Lennox asked as she took a seat on the patio with Tori.
“What it’s like to live like this.”
“Where to even begin?” she asked, laughing about it. “It’s been interesting.”
“I bet,” Tori offered.
“What was your life like growing up?” Lennox asked, genuinely curious about the woman beside her. She was funny, quiet, sarcastic, and apparently tough.
“I was an Army brat. We traveled a lot, and my brother and I were alone while my father deployed.”
“Where was your mother?”
“She left us behind and took her unborn child and ran. She decided it was better to save one of us from an abusive womanizer than all of us. She was a coward.”
A while ago, saying that hurt.
Now it didn’t.
In fact, it only pissed her off. She’d lost thirty years with Beau, and Trey never got to meet him before he died. They’d been robbed, and that was the biggest insult of them all.
Honestly, she was glad her mother had left. They didn’t need that bullshit in their lives.
Yes, their father turned out to be a rapist, abusing women and getting away with it, but their mother was just as horrible. She was a money hungry bitch.
“Wow. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. Life is what you make of it. Her leaving sent me into the Army, it made me fall in love with a man who was killed, and put me in Julian's life. It all worked out. He’s my soulmate, and I had to live it to find him.”
“That’s beautiful.”
It was.
“How about your family?” she asked, changing the focus from her to the woman.
Tori was trying to pay attention, but honestly, she was worried about the entity. She could feel the dead moving around her. They were curious and ready to make their move.
She could feel it.
“My mother was a kept woman. She never worked, she did whatever my father told her to do, and she spent her days putting on makeup and acting like the nineteen fifties were a good thing.”
Tori got it.
The previous generations were very different.
“I’ll see your kept woman, and I’ll raise you a father who was a cheating bastard. If it had a vagina, he wanted to stick his dick in it.”
Lennox smiled. “Oh, yours too? My father liked the staff. The sad part is my mother let him. She never tried to stop it. I don’t get that. How do you not stop your husband from boning every female he meets?”
“Did he try…?”
Tori didn’t know how to phrase it. She could tell from the tone in Lennox’s voice that there was a genuine hate there.
“No. Fortunately, his depravity had a limit. My uncle, he was a letch. He, on the other hand, didn’t have a problem with walking into the bathroom ‘accidentally’, or ‘sleepwalking’ into my room at night. I kicked him in the balls once, and he backed way off.”
Tori laughed. “I’m sorry. I know that’s inappropriate, but in my head, I was cheering you on.”
Lennox smiled. “A girl has to do what a girl has to do.”
“And your brother?”
She got quiet.
“What?”
“He’s the one I miss. I know he was a perv like my dad, but he was my best friend. He made mistakes, and I only wish I could have saved him. To me, he was worth it.”
Tori got that.
She had two brothers, and they were as thick as thieves then and now.
Hell!
Her brother was in her pocket on a phone app. You don’t get much closer than that.
“Grandma?”
She snorted and rolled her eyes. “She was a piece of work. Her kids could do no wrong. She kept their secrets.”
Tori stared at her.
The hairs on the back of her neck stood up. That was the second time that word came out, once from Trey and once from the woman who was likely going to die.
“What kind?”
She shook her head. “I have no idea. Once I booted Uncle Howell in the nuts, the family pretty much ignored me. I wasn’t going to be like my mother. I wasn’t a sheep. They figured I’d go away and they could pretend I didn’t exist.”
Tori liked that about Lennox.
She appreciated a tough woman.
Lennox glanced at her watch. “It’s going to be dinner in a little while. What are you in the mood for?” she asked. “You’re the pregnant one. You get to pick.”
“I kinda want a burger with bacon, mayo, and a small army of crispy fries. Veronica likes them.”
“That’s a pretty name. What does it mean?”
“It means strong.”
She smiled. “Then Veronica gets burgers and crispy fries. That’s the least I can do since you’re going to save my life.”
“How do you know?” Tori asked.
She smiled. “I have faith. I believe in living a good life and good karma. I won’t give up without a fight.”
Tori liked this woman.
There was something about her that reminded her of her best friend, Elizabeth Blackhawk. They had the same disposition, and Tori didn’t mean temper.
Elizabeth was gentle once you got past the hard exterior, and Tori had a feeling that Lennox would be just like that.
“Hey! You won’t hear me ever complaining about burgers,” Tori offered. “They, to a pregnant woman, are the food of the Gods.”
Lennox laughed. “Then let’s go make them.”
“What? You have staff. We’re cooking? Then I would have ordered up a bowl of cereal.”
Lennox laughed.
That amused her.
“I love to grill. I don’t have company often. I think I’m going to enjoy eating with company tonight. Do Julian and Everhart like burgers?” she asked.
“Yes, they do.”
She smiled. “Then let’s make their night.”
Tori knew one thing.
She wasn’t worried about the men.
Her night was right on track.
Chapter Five
Wednesday Night
Julian was starving by the time they returned to the estate. He’d skipped breakfast, trying to keep the engine going with nothing but coffee.
It was an epic fail.
He was dragging ass in a major way, and he wasn’t sure how his wife was holding out. She needed to fuel up way more than he did.
Honestly, he’d screwed up and didn’t plan ahead for this one. That was on him.
It wasn’t as if he didn’t know
better. It never ended well when either of them skipped meals.
He was feeling a little bit cranky, so he imagined Tori wasn’t exactly a happy camper either. He almost stopped to grab his wife some takeout. Today, he’d done a shitty job feeding them both.
If his mother were here, she’d kick his ass for being a slacker, and he wouldn’t blame her. Today’s husband/provider was definitely an F in his book.
Normally, he’d have a granola bar or cookie tucked into his pocket for an emergency snack, but he’d left it in his suitcase.
Crap!
He really hoped his wife had found something to eat.
As they pulled into the estate, and they got out of their ride, Julian could smell it. It was the most amazing smell in the world, and he was ready to celebrate.
“Is that a grill and dead animal?” asked Hart.
“Oh, please let it be!” Julian said, mock praying. He’d give his favorite boots at this point. He was now fantasizing about some grilled animal on a bun.
His fingers were crossed.
As they headed into the large mansion, he followed the scent of cooking meat toward the kitchen, and then out onto a patio. There sat a giant grill and two women behind it.
Two beautiful redheads cooking dead animal over fire—this was stuff dreams were made of in his book. The only thing that could beat it would be an ice-cold beer.
Then Tori held one up for him.
“Thank you, Jesus.”
His wife looked at him as if he was crazy.
Still, he didn’t care. It was the most gorgeous sight of his life. This was a dream come true.
Tori was already eating a burger.
“Is that a burger?” he asked. “Can I have a bite?”
Yes, he was begging food from his pregnant wife. He had no shame whatsoever.
Sue him.
He really was ready to eat anything he could get his hands on at that moment.
“Yeah, it is, babe! Lennox can cook. Veronica wants to move in,” she stated, stuffing the burger into her mouth before he could even get a crumb of bun.
Well, that answered his question.
His wife wasn’t sharing. Obviously, she didn’t eat all day either.
He laughed. “Only if I can come too.”
“You both can. I don’t mind the company,” Lennox offered, smiling at both men.
Hart immediately got cranky.
It was as if her sunny disposition flipped a switch in him, and it made him a stark raving idiot. He could see himself doing it, but he was helpless to stop it.
Her pleasantness set him off.
This little picture, of her barbequing, laughing, and being a good host, reminded him how ‘nice’ she was, and it still worked him into a bitchy, angry mess.
Damn it.
“You can come too,” she offered, knowing he’d never even smile at her, let alone take up that offer.
Hell!
Lennox knew that at this point, he might not even eat her food. He was way too suspicious and the look on his face pretty much said it all.
“I think you need another taste tester,” Julian offered. “Oh look. You have a hungry Native right here.”
Lennox handed him a platter of juicy burgers and smiled. “Fixings are there. Help yourself. I made a lot because Tori’s appetite scares me.”
“I only had two—one for her, and one for me,” she said, pointing down at her baby bump.
Lennox smiled.
Hart got angrier.
“What did you find out?” Tori asked, wiping her mouth on a pretty checkered napkin. “Was the sheriff helpful?”
“Yeah, he was, and so was a specific deputy.”
They all glanced over at Lennox.
She got the hint.
“You met Link, huh?” Lennox offered as she flipped a burger. “He’s the only deputy I know, so by process of elimination, that has to be him.”
Julian bit into the meat. It was juicy, delicious, and you could tell pricy. He just might be moving in after all. It was making concentrating damn hard.
“What do you know about him?” he asked, chewing his mouthful of food.
Tori popped open the beer she’d been teasing him with before handing it to Julian. Her husband had suffered enough.
“Well, we went to school together. He and I used to be in the same grade. We had quite a few good times. Link is a decent guy, and he’s always been a cop at heart. He’s one of those people who were meant to protect and serve. I’m grateful he’s in my life.”
That made everyone happy but Hart. He practically scowled.
“Well, he wants to help. How do you feel about that?” Julian asked.
She hesitated.
They all saw it, so Julian went with the most obvious question.
“Do you trust him?” Julian asked.
“I don’t want to see him get hurt, so I’d prefer he stay as far from this mess as possible. I value him. He stuck, and I owe him that. I didn’t have many friends. I still don’t.”
“It happens when you go to public school and you’re slumming it,” Hart stated.
Shit!
His mouth had overridden his brain.
Again.
“For your information, Mr. Rose, in order to slum it, I’d have to be better than them, and I’m not. I’m just like everyone else. I came into this world naked, and I’ll go out the same way in a box.”
Tori felt like she needed to intervene, but she wasn’t sure what to say. There was definitely some underlying tension between the two of them. Was it sexual or was it so much more?
It didn’t matter.
Lennox defended herself.
“Don’t judge me by this,” she said. “I didn’t ask for the burden of having money. If I could, I’d give it all away and walk away from here. I just don’t have that luxury. This is my prison.”
He didn’t get to speak.
She cut him off.
“I don’t judge you by the way you come across. From the second you saw me, you’ve tried your best to be hurtful to me. Despite that, I don’t judge you for being obnoxious, mean, miserable, and a cranky, uptight asshole. I sincerely hope you treat your child better than this. She’s too sweet to be saddled with a jerk of a father. I know. I had one.”
“I never…”
She cut him off again.
Lennox was angry, and she was going to make him understand that she wasn’t anyone’s verbal punching bag. She’d allowed herself to be abused once in her life, and it wasn’t happening again.
“I never either, but you seem to stand there on your high horse staring down your nose at me. I don’t deserve it. I’m a good person—whether you believe me or not!”
He opened his mouth.
“I tried to be nice. I tried to be civil. I’m done with it. From here on out, if you want to take pot shots, fine. Don’t be shocked when I throw them back.”
He didn’t know what to say.
“I’m trying to be respectful, but you’re making it difficult. Lose that attitude. It’s not attractive on a nice person, and it’s certainly not pretty on some man who is a total asshole!”
“I’m sorry.”
What else could he say?
She was right.
He’d taken a few shitty shots.
“It’s fine. Honestly, in the grand scheme, it doesn’t matter what you think of me. I’ve been honest, and I’ve tried. I’m done with it. Screw you, Everhart Rose. Do us both a huge favor. Stop talking to me.”
She glanced over at Tori.
“I think I’ll go get some wine,” she said softly before handing her the spatula. “I think I need some. I’m sorry to be a horrible host.”
“It’s okay, Lennox,” Tori stated.
She walked past Hart and into her kitchen.
Tori had enough. “Are you out of your damn mind?” she asked. “What the hell has gotten into you?”
He couldn’t believe he’d said it to her.
Yes, he’d been
thinking it, but his mouth outmaneuvered his brain.
“She’s our client. No matter what you think of her, or this situation, you do not get to be rude. Do you hear me, Everhart?” Tori stated, pointing at him.
Julian let his wife deal with it.
She was right.
There was a fine line, and he’d crossed it. Normally, he’d handle this kind of thing, but pissing off a pregnant woman was sometimes a far better punishment.
Tori didn’t tolerate jackassery, and Hart was shoveling a shitload of it today.
“She’s a decent person, and even if she was the biggest asshole we ever were hired by, you do not get to treat anyone like that. We work for her. You don’t get to damage our business reputation with your shitty attitude.”
She was right.
“I’m sorry.”
Hart waited for the dressing down to continue—only it didn’t. Shockingly, he wasn’t fired.
“Don’t tell me that. Tell her that. You hurt her feelings, and I know you’re not that kind of man. Whatever it is that has you this pissed off needs to be addressed. You know what you need to do.”
He sighed and headed into the house to find her.
Once inside, he found her standing at the counter chugging an entire glass of wine.
Every time he saw her, he wanted to do the same, but with something much stronger.
“Can we talk?” he asked.
She turned around, and his heart ached. There were tears in her eyes. They made the almost purple color more vibrant.
He hated seeing a woman cry—especially when he was the cause.
“No!”
“Please?”
It was clear to him that he’d really hurt her. That told him one thing. This woman wasn’t made of callousness and anger. He thought back to the woman who damaged his life and birthed his daughter. She’d laughed in his face and never felt any pain.
Here was a huge difference.
He needed to reevaluate all of this.
Picking up a white linen napkin from the counter, he gently wiped her eyes. She flinched from the contact, and his stomach dropped. He’d seen women wary of a man’s touch, and it was always because of their past.
He had misjudged her.
And he was sorry.
Forbidden Secrets Page 9
