Betrayed (The New Yorker)

by M. O. Kenyan

  “Bear with me, Reno,” Dennis said then went on. “We were in love. I will spare you the details and get to the point. We had two children, a boy and a girl.”

  “Where are they now?” DJ’s tone was like a whisper and Reno was surprised at how calm he was.

  He waited for Dennis to say the word. Instead Dennis focused a steady glance at Reno. DJ followed his eyes to him. Reno could feel his heart do flips as his stomach cringed, threatening to release his lunch. Reno watched DJ, his trembling hands gripping the arms of the chair for dear life. He expected DJ to be angry, he was ready to bear the brunt of the anger, but nothing came.

  “Reno is my brother,” DJ said as he nodded his head as if trying to convince himself. “Where is the girl? I mean his…my sister?”

  Reno cleared his throat, but even then his voice was just a struggled whisper. “She disappeared when she was two. She is the same age as you.”

  “Two weeks?” Reno saw the calmness slip off DJ. “I thought you said this was before you and mom got serious.”

  “I’d rather not divulge what happened at the time you were conceived. Your mother’s pregnancy and your grandfather pressuring me is what led me to leave Kono and our children and marry your mother.”

  “So what you are saying is that I robbed Reno of a father. That’s not my fault.”

  “Nobody blames you.” Reno stepped in. “Dennis did what he did. There is no use trying to make sense of what he did. I doubt he can reconcile it himself. His actions have given me a brother and another sister and I can’t fault him for that. I suppose I could thank him, especially since Rhyne has disappeared.”

  Reno watched as DJ stared into space in silence. It seemed like his mind was trying to make the ends of the puzzle meet but kept on missing. “Are you trying to find her?”

  “Yes.”

  DJ was silent again before he said. “I suppose as per grandfather’s will Reno is going to take over the empire. I bet the old goat is rolling in his grave.”

  “That doesn’t bother you?” Reno was expecting DJ’s calm façade to crack. He’d thought DJ losing his birthright would do that, but he didn’t seem to care.

  “I don’t want the old goat’s company. I guess it’s a good thing our father couldn’t keep it in his pants.” DJ let out a short sardonic laugh. “I guess I’m the one who ruined your life and not the other way around.”

  “You didn’t run my life,” Reno assured him.

  “How did you grow up?” When Reno didn’t answer DJ went on. “I knew it. I guess Daniela got her wish. She wanted you for a big brother.”

  “I couldn’t replace you in her life.”

  “No, but that doesn’t mean I can’t relinquish that responsibility to you. You are the first born after all.” DJ gifted Reno with a smile that he was all too happy to accept. “But what about Lisette?”

  “Her father thought it would be best that we didn’t see each other until this was resolved.”

  “She’s going to have all your heads. I’m not the one you should be worried about.” DJ smiled, trying to cover up the turmoil of emotions brewing deep within him.

  Reno felt the tension seep out of his body. If he had known DJ would be this agreeable to having an older brother he would have told him the first time they met. He had a brother now.

  “I don’t think you should tell Daniela just yet. She won’t understand.”

  “We agree on that,” Dennis piped in.

  Reno couldn’t remember feeling this nervous. “If you want to hang out sometime—”

  “Sure, I’ll call you. I guess I should leave now.”

  “You don’t have to leave,” Dennis said.

  “Actually I do. I might not be angry with Reno, because none of this is his fault. But you are to blame, and I am definitely angry at you.”

  “He takes after his mother,” Dennis said once DJ had left. “Silent anger—he’s not going to forgive me any time soon.”

  “That makes two of us.”

  * * * *

  Reno turned over in bed. He covered his head with his pillow, willing the ringing of his phone to stop invading his dreams. He had finally managed to get the picture of Lisette’s smiling face in his dreams. When the insistent ringing wouldn’t stop, he answered the phone. The sound of DJ’s slurred tone had Reno sitting up. It took a while to finally get DJ to tell him where he was. As soon as he did he was out of the house. Reno arrived at the club downtown. He looked over the crowds and at first he couldn’t see DJ. But Lisette was there. Her shoes were off, her hair free, and her business suit still buttoned up. She was on top of the bar dancing, as DJ threw dollar bills at her.

  Reno pierced through the crowd cheering Lisette on. He stood close enough to see her fleshy thighs as she hiked her skirt up. “Whoa! That’s enough Lisette.”

  Lisette stared at him, too drunk to connect with him. She stuck her tongue out and walked down the bar away from him. Reno grabbed DJ’s wallet and the cash in his hands. He forced him on a bar stool. “You stay here.”

  “Big bro!” DJ exclaimed as he hugged Reno, his head buried in his chest DJ begun to mumble. “I always wanted a brother. Who knew that bastard was keeping one away from me. You’ll never leave me right? I’ll be good, I promise.”

  As Reno stared into DJ’s eyes he got a flash back. He was again a little boy, his hands scissor-locked around Dennis’ leg, begging not to be left behind. He shook his head, trying to shake off the memory and clear his head of the resentment. “I’ll never leave you, but you need to sit here.” Reno looked up and saw as a man tried to ease Lisette off the bar and into his arms. “You need to sit here so that I can get Lisette.”

  “Let…let ‘sette get her own big brother. She’s got one you know. He’s big…big…and scary.” DJ whispered the last word as if he was terrified of AJ.

  Reno didn’t think it was a bad idea. He took out his phone to call AJ, sure that his friend would first give him an ear full about dumping his sister. As soon as AJ picked up, Reno didn’t give him a chance to speak. “You need to get down here.”

  Reno sat next to DJ after he had successfully convinced Lisette to remain in front of him. Reno held on to her leg as she danced, pulling her back each time she tried to stray away from him.

  “You are not my keeper,” Lisette said as she sniffed. “I will not cry because of you anymore.”

  Reno was surprised how eloquent she was when she was drunk. If Lisette wasn’t trying to strip, there wouldn’t be a difference between drunk Lisette and office Lisette.

  “I love you.” She stuck out her bottom lip. “You hurt me.”

  “I’m sorry,” Reno mumbled.

  “What the hell!” The roar behind him told him AJ was here.

  “Oh! Oh!” Lisette’s eyes were wide like saucers as her mouth made a big ‘O’. She tried to run to the other end of the bar, but Reno tugged at her foot, pulling her off the bar and into his arms. “Whoa! Let’s do that again.”

  “Now that her brother is here, maybe I can have mine back,” DJ mumbled.

  “What?” AJ steadied DJ back on the stool.

  “I don’t think there is a chance you are going to disregard what DJ just said.” Reno could hear the blood rushing in his ears, as his heart beat hard. Here was someone else he had to convince that he wasn’t using Lisette to get to Dennis.

  “No, there is no way,” AJ ground out. “They aren’t going anywhere, why don’t you tell me what’s going on.”

  “Not in here.” Reno looked around as if he expected someone to be eavesdropping.

  “I brought my car,” AJ said as he reached for Lisette.

  Reno thought about letting her go, but he couldn’t. He didn’t know the next time he would have her in his arms like this. When Lisette snuggled closer, her hot breath scorching his neck, bringing every nerve in his body to life, he tightened his grip. “I’ve got your sister, you get my brother.”

  AJ’s eyes narrowed in challenge. After a couple of minutes he reached for a ramb
ling DJ and helped him out of the club.

  “We are here, tell me what’s going on,” AJ roared out.

  “My name is Reno Kanaloa Kent. Dennis Kent is my father. He abandoned us when I was six. I came to New York to get even. I met your sister, but by the time I found out who she was, it was too late.” He looked down at Lisette who was still in his arms. A gentle smile touched his lips and he couldn’t resist the urge to kiss her.

  “Save that for later,” AJ cut in. “What do you mean too late?”

  “I fell in love with your sister at that bonfire, the second I laid eyes on her,” Reno mumbled as if he was in a trance. “I wanted to stay away from her, trust me I tried, but your sister started stalking me. I couldn’t say no to her. She’s so cute and stubborn and determined.”

  “Yeah, I wonder how you managed to turn her down this time.” From the look AJ was giving him Reno knew that he didn’t believe him entirely.

  “Your father managed to convince me.”

  “Are you serious? He knows about you and Uncle Dennis?”

  “Apparently they have known for a while.” Reno chuckled. “I was the idiot who thought I could catch them unprepared. They were waiting for me. They probably knew when I boarded my flight in Hawaii.”

  “What’s the leverage?”

  “What?” Reno asked confused.

  “What’s the leverage they are using against you?”

  Reno began to speak but choked on his words. How could he tell AJ about his sister, without feeling so ashamed?

  “I see the way you look at my sister, the way you kiss her. It’s not perverted; it’s so innocent. Totally contrary to what I would be thinking if I had a beautiful girl in my arms.”

  “They are going to help me find my sister. I traded your sister for my own.” Reno shook his head in disgust. When Lisette started to stir, he mumbled soothing word into her ears.

  “Why don’t you tell her that?”

  “Tell her what?” How could he tell Lisette he was so intoxicated with guilt, hate and spite against Dennis and himself that he couldn’t see reason? It would have been easy to tell her the truth, but he was ashamed. “I know what Lisette did to protect you. She was barely five years old and she was brave enough to save her whole family. I’m a coward. I did nothing when they took little Rhyne away.”

  “You feel ashamed?” AJ looked at him as if what he said was bizarre. “You were just a child.”

  “I’ll tell her once I find my sister.”

  “You sacrificed your love. Don’t get me wrong, I think Cupid is just an unfortunate baby in a diaper. You gave Lisette up for a promise our fathers made you.” AJ chuckled. “You are an idiot. I thought my sister’s negotiating skills would have rubbed off on you.”

  “What would you do if Lisette and Catalella were suddenly taken away from you?” Reno bit back a snarl.

  “I would do anything to get them back. I would also think that if I were not able to find them, they would understand and they would want me to be happy.”

  “Do you really think that?”

  “Hell, no! I’m just telling you what you need to hear. I wouldn’t rest until I had them with me again.”

  “That’s how I feel.” Reno buried his nose in Lisette’s hair and inhaled. He wanted to bathe in her scent. He needed her to protect him from the inadequacy he felt engulfing him. Maybe he should tell her the truth.

  “Now what?” AJ mumbled as he dug into his pockets for his phone. “Hi, Mama, I have Lisette… no…why? Reno and I are on our way.”

  Reno could see how rigid AJ’s body had gotten. The worried scowl canvassed his face, as the hand that held the phone to his ear trembled. “What’s wrong?”

  “They can’t find Catalella.”

  * * * *

  Reno felt a pinch of jealousy as he watched Rosalinda go crazy for her missing daughter. The only thing Kono had afforded Rhyne was a frown that was quickly forgotten when she got her fix. Reno always thought that Kono blamed Rhyne for Dennis leaving. But Rosalinda was distraught, practically pulling her hair out of her head.

  “I’ll take her.” Adrian Ross stood over him.

  Reno felt so natural with Lisette in his arms that he had almost forgotten she was there. He stood up from the couch, Lisette still cradled to his chest, and gave the old man a defiant gaze. If his daughter wasn’t missing Reno would have told him a thing or two about his ultimatum.

  “I’ll take her upstairs. You stay here with Mrs. Ross.”

  “Don’t even try,” AJ piped in. “He won’t give her up.”

  Just then the door flew open Dennis rushed in with a protesting Daniela behind him. “Tell them what you told me.”

  Reno laid Lisette on the couch and covered her with an afghan. He stepped closer to Daniela, his eyes fixed on Dennis’s fingers shackled around the little girl’s wrist. “Maybe you should let her go.”

  “I know her better than you do. I know you just want to protect her. But now is not the time to be sweet about it.” Dennis turned his attention to Adrian. “Catalella ran away to Vegas. She’s going to marry Michael Mathews.”

  “That snake!”

  “Bastard!” Reno noted he and AJ had spoken at the same time. All it took was a glance and they were both on the same wave length. “Maybe we can catch them.”

  “Let’s go.” AJ grabbed his leather jacket and led the way out.

  Reno paused for a second and glanced at Daniela. Closing the distance between them with three long strides he pulled her into his arms and hugged her. “You and I are going to have a chat when I come back.” Daniela nodded, her tear-streaked face reminding him of Rhyne.

  * * * *

  Lisette groaned as last night’s excesses sent shards of pain, like glass splinters, into her skull. Her head felt too heavy to lift. She turned her face away from the sunlight streaming into her room, and felt someone move around her room. She opened her eyes out of curiosity more than necessity.

  “Mother-f—” She groaned when the light proved to be too much for her booze-soaked eyes.

  “You better not finish that.” She heard Adrian growl.

  “I wouldn’t have to curse if I didn’t have to open my eyes. And I wouldn’t have to open my eyes if you weren’t pacing around my room like a hungry bear.”

  Adrian growled again, and Lisette realized that he was more of an angry bear than a hungry one. She was in trouble and she could feel it. Adrian didn’t say anything else. He took a seat in a chair in the far corner of the room. She watched as her father buried his face in his hands, an exhausted sigh filling the room.

  “Papa.” Lisette bit back an oath as she rose from the bed. “I’m sorry I quit and got drunk last night. I just wanted to numb all the hurt that I feel. I’m sorry if I disappointed you.”

  “It’s not you, sweetheart. Catalella is missing.”

  Lisette let out a chuckle. So her sister had reached the age of sneaking out. How come their father hadn’t found her yet? It usually took Adrian five minutes to find Lisette. The excitement was taken out of it, to the point that Lisette started leaving through the front door, and asking permission. “She’ll be back. You’ll see.”

  “She went to Vegas, to marry Michael Mathews.”

  Lisette fell back on her bed. It took everything inside her not to succumb to the panic that filled her. She knew that boy was trouble. But she was the one who brought him into their lives. If she had told her father about what he tried at the bonfire, he wouldn’t have hired the rat. “He’s just after her money.”

  “I know that, sweetheart.” His gaze swept over her as a sly smile claimed his lips. “What he doesn’t know is that Catalella isn’t eligible to get her trust fund.”

  “You won’t let her live with him. He won’t be able to provide for the life style she’s used to.” She worried.

  “If she insists on staying with him, she’ll just have to learn how to be an adult.”

  “Adrian!” Her mother called.

  “They are back,” h
er father said as he got up to leave the room.

  Lisette looked at herself for the first time that morning. She was in her pajamas and thought her mother had changed her. How the hell did she get back home anyway? If she hadn’t been out drinking and had been at home Catalella wouldn’t have taken off. But who was back, and from where? She rushed to the living room where everyone seemed to have gathered.

  She frowned as she stared at the man towering over the rest. Reno, what was he doing here? Reno’s gaze turned to her. His eyes swept her from head to toe, a burning trail touching her like warm flesh. She stared in surprise at the immediate and absolute boldness in his gaze. Lisette tried to look past him and at everyone else in the room, but her eyes were drawn to his each time. She took a step back and he walked toward her. Soon she was backed up against the wall and trying to hide the fear, desire, and panic she knew he would see in her eyes. She opened her mouth to say something, but her words were swallowed by Reno, as his lips covered hers.

  Lisette’s hands dangled at her sides as her body tried to absorb the shock his lips had caused to her body. As the kiss drew deeper, her body grew bolder. Lisette locked her arms behind his neck. A gasp of surprise sounded in her chest when Reno lifted her off her feet, his strong hands, shackled behind her back and holding her firmly against his body.

  “Can we save that for later?” Lisette heard her father bark.

  She felt her feet touch the ground, and when she opened her eyes, she was staring back at Reno’s dark lust-filled eyes. A chill ran through her body, as she took a step back to create a much needed space between them.

  “What did you find out?” she asked.

  “They were gone by the time we got there.” Reno stepped back, releasing her from the caged corner he had backed her into. Soon she could see the whole room, and AJ and Reno recounted their story. “She sent AJ a text.”

  “I’ll be back home. Don’t worry. I’m happy.” AJ said in disgust. “What does she know about being happy? When I get my hands on that guy, I swear I’ll kill him.”