by Claire Adams
No matter the outcome with Harbor, I was done with Sandra. I’d enabled her for far too long, and it was time to cut the cord and make her responsible for herself.
Luna’s fingers stroked my back. “I’m sorry, Gabriel.”
Her apology caught me off-guard. “What for? You haven’t done anything.”
“I’m sure my being here hasn’t made things easier, and I guess I should have stayed upstairs.”
I shook my head and gave her a swift peck on the cheek. “This has been a long time coming, so don’t think you could have done anything to prevent it. It would have happened sooner or later for one reason or another. They’ve blamed me for my brother’s death since day one, and for a long time, I let them make me think it was my fault. I drowned myself in work and provided for them like they were my own.”
Judy walked to the kitchen door where she stopped and met my eyes. “You’re a good man.” Then she left, taking the shards of my antique vase with her. It had been my mother’s, and I chalked it up to one more thing Sandra had taken. No more.
“My father goes through the same thing, you know, about feeling responsible. In his case, it’s a little worse because he actually was responsible, but he had to learn long ago that it was never his intention and my mother didn’t die by his hand in some malicious way. There’s a difference. He felt guilty that it wasn’t him.”
She straightened my collar and brushed her hands down my arms until we were holding hands. “You’ve beat yourself up long enough, and you’ve done all you can for Sandra. You need to take some time and heal.”
“I think I used Sandra as a way of coping, but she’s only been a bandage on an open wound. I hope once I let her fend for herself, I’ll start to heal.” I shrugged, unsure of what the future held in that regard. “I guess the same way your father found the church, I found you.” The words surprised her, and she fell into my embrace.
“I’m glad you did.” She tucked her face toward my sleeve, and I took her around to the couch.
We lowered ourselves to the soft leather and held each other. It seemed so casual, like a husband and wife should be. “I’m glad I hired you two years ago. That was when I really hit the jackpot.” I kissed her hair and adjusted my arm behind her head. “It’s been a hell of a year. This time last year, I was wrapped up in the lawsuit. Then as soon as that was behind me, we had those layoffs. I’m surprised you didn’t walk out.”
“I love my job.” She met my eyes, and I wondered if she thought I’d let her go.
“And I meant what I said, the job is yours.” I sat in silence a moment more as she told me about her day, until my phone rang.
I sat up and dug my phone from my pocket, and after confirming it was Mason, I answered it. “Tell me something I want to hear.”
“They aren’t keeping him, but the questions are going to take a while. The good detectives here at the LAPD are no faster than our friends at LVPD.” Big surprise there. I didn’t doubt that they were as efficient in other areas, too.
Someone pulled his attention away and I heard him speak to someone in the room with him. “Are we going to have any problems with Sandra?”
“I’ve made her aware that they had a good reason to bring him in and I think she knows better than to start any trouble. After she threw a hissy fit and broke a vase, I told her I’m cutting her off.” Silenced followed that declaration and Mason whistled.
“I bet that went over well. Glad I missed it.” He’d always hated Sandra, and I had a feeling the news had made him smile. “I’d expect him home late, or early, depending on your lifestyle, but I wanted to warn you that the press is already stirring again. I’m sure they’re crowded around your gate now.”
“Thanks for the head’s up. I’ll make sure Joe’s on it.” I hung up the phone and dialed Joe. It would be a long night, and as I looked out the window, I realized I hadn’t eaten.
“Call your friend down, and I’ll get Judy to serve us on the patio. We may as well salvage the rest of the day while we can. Harbor will be a while, and if I know Sandra, she’s not coming out of the room anytime soon.”
“Kim and I already started without you. Sorry, but we couldn’t wait.” I smiled and kissed her hand before I stood and pulled her to her feet.
“I don’t blame you. We’ll have some wine and you can both finish telling me about your tour.” I needed a shot of normal, and Luna and Kim were just the right dose.
Chapter 29
Luna
I’d been asleep for hours when Gabriel’s phone woke me. I’d been jostled awake as he reached for the thing and fought to quiet it. After a minute, he’d gone downstairs, and I figured it was because of Harbor, so I turned over and tried to go back to sleep. I didn’t want to get in the middle of any other drama and hoped things would be worked out come morning.
It was bad enough Kim had heard the whole Sandra thing, but the pleasant retreat I’d hoped to provide was ruined. Thank goodness she was easygoing and we’d had a nice dinner on the patio with Gabriel.
We’d talked his ear off about college and some of the crazy pranks Kim had pulled. I had usually been too scared to join her, but the times I did help were epic. Gabriel laughed and joked and told stories of his brief job as a stuntman in Hollywood. It’s where he met Joe. After a near miss with one stunt, he decided to go into the security business and was a personal bodyguard to the stars. Those were exciting stories, and I’d hoped it would take his mind off Harbor and ease the tension of the day.
Feeling his place grow cold beside me, I tossed and turned, hoping he wouldn’t be long. I’d gotten used to his presence and wasn’t sure if I would ever be comfortable again in my own bed alone. The thought gave me an ache deep in my chest. My own apartment was waiting, but a part of me never wanted to go back.
If you had told me two months ago that I’d be in Gabriel Grant’s home, in his bed, married to him, I’d have laughed. No way would I have bet on us, but here we were, and I found myself enjoying his company more and more despite the troubles, which were plenty.
I sat up in the bed and flicked on the lamp beside it. After letting my eyes adjust, I planted my feet on the floor and stood. I wrapped my robe around me tight as I yawned and found my way to the bathroom. I hoped once I was comfortable again, I could get back to sleep, but on my way back to the bed, I heard a loud scream. Kim.
I took off down the hall and to the stairs where I could see two shadowed figures in the dim light from the hallway. Halfway down, I realized Harbor had Kim’s arm, pulling her as she struggled.
“Let her go!” I dove on him, punching my fist against his shoulder repeatedly. He wasn’t about to hurt my friend and get away with it. She scrambled to get up, but couldn’t seem to.
Harbor spun on me. “Whoa. What the fuck is your problem?” He pushed me back and Kim found her way to her feet and got between us.
“I’m fine, Luna! He was only helping me up. My socks slipped on the damned tile.” I tried to process what she was saying, but the gist was that I’d overreacted. Considering all of the drama that had unfolded over the past day, who could blame me? Kim was my best friend and I’d take on anyone or anything to protect her.
“What the hell is going on out here?” Gabriel came from down the hall as if he’d been on the patio outside. Joe approached behind him, his gun in his hand. He returned it to wherever he’d pulled it from around his back; I don’t know why I’d never realized he was packing heat before.
“I’m sorry. I thought he was hurting Kim.” I kept my voice down but Harbor postured over me.
“What would make you think a thing like that about me? I’ve been down at that damned station all night answering questions for that bunch of assholes at the LAPD, and I come home to get attacked all over again. Real nice.” Harbor brushed off his clothes, and I felt horrible that I’d assumed anything.
I reached out and placed my hand on his arm to apologize, but he pushed me back.
Harbor lashed out. “Keep your fucking
hands off of me you money-hungry psycho bitch.”
Gabriel stepped up to his face, their noses almost touching. “You watch yourself. You don’t put your hands on her and mind your mouth.” He turned to walk away, but spun back on his nephew.
“What the hell were you doing in Las Vegas? Don’t pretend that you weren’t there; I saw you on the video myself.” I wondered if Harbor would ever find out that Gabriel had turned over that evidence to the police himself.
Kim and Joe slipped off down the hall, and I wondered if the two were headed outside. I couldn’t blame them. I wished I could go, too, but I wanted to stick close to Gabriel and hear what Harbor had to say.
“I asked if I could go, and you said no.” He flashed a glare my way and then turned back to his uncle as his face reddened. “All I wanted was to spend a little down time with you, but you said you were going for business only.” He held his hand out toward me. “Is she all business?”
Gabriel groaned and shifted on his feet. “She works for me. That’s why she was there.”
“Right, so you married her. As if you didn’t spend the night in the casino. I wanted to hit some clubs, but you didn’t want to deal with me? No, you wanted to fuck your assistant. Well done. You probably should have held off on the alcohol a bit because she took you good.”
“What I do or don’t do isn’t any of your business. And, if it meant so damned much to you to go, why not say so?” Gabriel hadn’t addressed the personal attacks, and I waited for him to do so.
“I shouldn’t have to say so. You should want me around.” Harbor made a move to go, but stopped and glared at Gabriel. And even though his eyes locked on his uncle’s, his words were for me. “He doesn’t love you, Luna. He’s not capable of such a thing. He’s going to keep you under his thumb until he’s ready to let you go. I doubt it will be too long now. Enjoy it while you can.”
I hated the way Harbor and his mother treated Gabriel and wished he’d turn them both out, but I couldn’t help seeing the damaged side of Harbor.
There was more than rebellion that had him acting out, and I’d guess that he’d hoped Gabriel would love him as his father had. I knew what it was like to lose a parent and to be angry at the world and everyone else in your life so you could project all your issues onto them to make yourself feel better. That’s what he was doing.
And he wasn’t done. He stepped back down level with Gabriel. “What’s funny is she doesn’t care. Do you, Luna? You’re not here for love anyway; you’re here for money. Like all those others before you. I told the cops about seeing Cindy.”
That stopped me in my tracks and I turned around to look down at the two, still waiting to see if Gabriel was going to defend me, but instead he was more interested that Harbor had seen Cindy.
Gabriel narrowed his eyes. “You saw her?”
“Yes, and I told them how she was there to see someone else.”
Gabriel grabbed his arm and I expected Harbor to pull away. “How did you know?” he asked, his voice rough like he’d swallowed sandpaper.
“I saw her down in the lobby and approached her. I asked her if she wanted to come back to my room and party, but she said she had a date. She talked to me for about ten minutes before going to find the man. She never said who he was, and she never mentioned you.”
“Probably because she’d seen me,” said Gabriel, shoving his hands in his pocket. “Did you see Stacey?”
“No, I never saw her. But I did see you and Luna ducking into the bar and later at the casino. I made sure you didn’t see me. After I picked up a woman from the club, I left to go back to my room at the hotel down the street. I didn’t kill anyone, and frankly, the idea of anyone thinking that makes me sick.”
“You should have told me all of this. Your mother was worried.” Gabriel’s voice softened and he slipped a hand free out of his pocket to clap Harbor on the back. I’d heard enough.
“I’m going to bed.” I’d had enough of being called a gold digger for a lifetime. The only thing I’d ever asked Gabriel for was a job, and that was it. I paused for a response, but when I didn’t get one, I hurried up to his room.
His room – not mine, not ours, never ours. No matter what he wanted me to think, I knew better.
I crawled into the big bed and slipped under the covers before burying myself deep down in the sea of pillows that Gabriel kept along the headboard. I pulled them around me like a cocoon and hoped that when he came to bed, he’d have no way to snuggle close to me. It might have seemed childish, but I didn’t care.
I couldn’t keep going on pretending that this was all real. We’d tried to fool the staff, and perhaps even his family, but Harbor knew this marriage was doomed.
Normally, it wasn’t front-page news when a Vegas-style wedding failed. The life expectancy for those types of spur-of-the-moment deals didn’t have the best odds, but when you did it with a billionaire, the front page was inevitable.
Gabriel should have known that when he married me he took a big risk. I had hoped it was proof he’d had some deeper feelings for me, but it didn’t seem so, listening to Harbor speak about me like I was some two-bit whore who’d followed him home to steal his wallet without saying anything in my defense.
I wondered how much longer I’d have to endure. If things didn’t get better, I needed a backup plan. I had to find a safe place in case I needed to go, and I wondered if Kim could take me home with her. I could lie down in the back of the car and not sit up until we made it to her house. Then I could stay there until everything blew over. Or maybe I could take refuge within my father’s church.
There had to be somewhere I could go. I wondered if Gabriel would let me or kick up a fuss in fear that someone would find out.
At least the papers were ready, and hopefully we could get those quietly in motion before anyone noticed, but Mason would be the one to convince on that. Any motion he’d file would be scrutinized, and it was no mystery the media would have someone checking for things under Gabriel’s name. Nope, that would have to wait.
The frustration built deep inside as I tossed and turned. With any luck, I could put everything out of my mind and be asleep when Gabriel came back to join me. I didn’t want to feel his warmth, and I didn’t want to hear his breathing. We’d gotten way too close over the past week and I couldn’t help but feel it was time to rip the band-aid off now rather than later, while I could still take the pain.
Chapter 30
Gabriel
I hated seeing Luna so upset, but I felt it best I didn’t rile Harbor up any more than he already was about her and his opinions of her. I knew she wasn’t what he’d said, but with him wanting to talk, I hadn’t wanted to lead him off topic by telling him if he didn’t stop talking about Luna, I was going to punch him. He’d have clammed up and stormed upstairs – or worse, left the house all together. It wasn’t like I could keep anyone here against their will.
Harbor and I watched Luna until she got to the top of the stairs before I asked him again about Cindy. “What were you doing asking Cindy to your room? She’s too old for you.”
He shrugged and flashed me his sly grin. “I always thought she was hot. Why not live out a fantasy? Besides, sleeping with her would have pissed you off, so what other reason do I need?”
He raked his hand through his hair and his expression turned grim. “I can’t believe what happened to her. I always liked her. Out of the few you actually brought around, she was the best. She never treated me like I was a pathetic little boy whose father was murdered. She treated me like anyone else.”
The kid needed some insight. “Would you like to know why I dumped her?”
“I’ve always wondered. She was great. I figured she dumped your sorry ass. She sure didn’t have a problem turning me down.” I leaned against the rail as he took a seat on the bottom stair and put his back against the wall.
“No, she didn’t dump me. In fact, I told her never to come around me or my family again, which is probably why she turned you
down.”
“Thanks for nothing.” He stared at his shoes and frowned.
I couldn’t help but chuckle at his disappointment. He had no idea what a bullet he’d dodged. “Trust me, I did you a favor. Besides, she knows who controls your money.” He looked up, meeting my eyes with a sideways glance, so I took a deep breath as I prepared to explain.
“After I found myself falling hard for her, I found out I wasn’t the first man she dated for his money. She’d been engaged three times to wealthy men and even took one for a large sum. His lawyer contacted me with a warning.
“At first, I thought it was a scam and that the man was jealous or playing a game, but then I heard it from a more reliable source – you know him as your Uncle Joe. He told me that she was seen uptown with another wealthy prospect not two days before she’d hooked up with me, and that he’d followed her and seen her with that same man again after we were together.”
“You have shitty luck with women. Now look what you’ve gotten into.” He shook his head and tapped the banister with his foot.
Shitty luck was a little harsh. I found Luna, after all. I wished I could say those words aloud to Harbor, but he wasn’t interested in my declarations of feelings, but I had to set him straight on his opinion of her.
“All of the things you’ve said about Luna aren’t true. She’s agreed to sign away any right to my wealth in exchange for an annulment, so I think you owe her an apology.”
“Why would she do that? Is she mental? No offense, but if I’d been able to hook someone, I don’t think I’d let them off that easy.” He shrugged. “Guess she’s not that bad. She’s kind of hot, too.”
Trying to control myself from revealing that Luna had told me all about the little incident at the pool, I cleared my throat. I decided to take another approach. “You do realize she’s your aunt?” That brought things into perspective and he curled his lip in disgust.
His lips spread into wicked grin. “Not for long.”
