by Ford, Lizzy
“Of course. It’s part of my career plan. Daddy wanted me to leave a couple of years ago to follow him into politics. I wanted to wait until I had a little more experience,” Joseph explains. “I broke it off with Arabella. When I heard your news, I figured it’d be a politically smart thing to move back now.”
I roll my eyes. “Now you’ll go into politics?”
“The family biz.”
“We’re not a family,” I muse. “We’re more like a mafia. Don’t you think?”
Joseph laughs. My brother almost seems like a nice guy.
“Mr. Abbott-Renou, your guests are here.”
I turn at the voice and see three men following the butler. One of them has a huge camera while the other is carrying a large bag. The third is clearly the reporter or writer or whoever is here to interview Joseph. He’s got a portfolio under one arm and is dressed in jeans and a blazer.
I straighten and look at Joseph, realizing he’s set me up this morning. He goes into game mode right in front of me and waves at the men. Approaching me, Joseph whispers, “Shea’s plan to make me look like a down-to-earth family man. Big brother playing basketball with his little sis, who happens to be the darling of our party right now.”
“Wait, so was anything you said true about being here to support me?” I demand.
“Of course. Molly and I are both supporting you, in our own ways. But we still have an obligation to what you charmingly call the mafia. Right?” Then he’s off and smiling pretty for the interview team.
Lame. Fuming, I shoot basket after basket as he schmoozes the interview team. I hear the camera snapping pics. I’m not even wearing make-up this morning. He grabs a rebound after half an hour and shoots. I glance over, not surprised to see the photographer moving in for more pics of him in action.
The interviewer standing in the shade of the huge oak nearby looks pleased. I don’t think Molly or Joseph could give a bad interview.
“Can I get a picture of you together?” the photographer asks.
I bite my tongue. Joseph has at least pretended to be nice to me. He approaches and slings his arm around my shoulders, grinning big.
“Smile,” he orders.
I do. Not because I want to, but because suddenly, I’m not angry anymore. If anything, I realize that – for once – my family isn’t trying to hide me away. The idea that I’m the one making Joseph look normal strikes me as funny.
I twist my neck to look up at him. He grins down at me.
“Not too bad, is it?” he asks in a voice low enough for the photographer not to hear.
“You’re freakin’ insane,” I say in the same tone.
“By this time next year, I’ll be Lieutenant Governor of Georgia. I’ll send you peaches.” There’s an ambitious gleam in his eye, one I’ve seen in Daddy’s.
At his bizarre words, I laugh. The camera snaps a series of pictures.
“That’s the money shot. Ms. Abbott-Renou, you and your brother are going on the front cover,” the photographer says.
Joseph planned all of this. I know it. Unlike Molly’s cold calculations or Daddy’s pure power, Joseph has a way about him that makes me not want to hate him, even though he’s using me like everyone else does. Ari always said Joseph was charismatic. I never understood that word until now.
“Good game, sis,” Joseph says.
“Yeah, well, you shoot like a girl!” I snap.
The photographer laughs, and so does Joseph. The butler leads the three away. I turn to glare at Joseph.
“What if I didn’t come down and play?” I ask him.
“My dear little sister,” he says. He slings his arm around my shoulders again and walks me towards the house. “In politics, there are sheep and there are wolves. Sheep are usually pretty predictable. You know which one you are?”
“Jackass?” I ask innocently.
He chuckles. “Both have hooves.”
I roll my eyes at him.
“You know which one I am?” he continues, the arrogance back in his voice.
“Wolf?”
“A wolf in sheep’s clothing.”
Almost two full decades older than me, Joseph is Hollywood handsome, just like Molly is a stunner among women. The corners of his eyes crinkle, and his smile is bright. I know he’s ambitious like Molly, but I don’t know enough about my half-brother to have any clue what he’s gunning for.
“Was anything you said to me the other day true?” I ask, disappointed.
“Yes, Mia. I want more than anything to find the people who hurt you. Would be a political windfall for me, don’t you think?”
“There’s no finding,” I snap. “They sure as hell aren’t lost.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, I know who did this to me. Daddy … you know how he is about politics.” I shrug it off, not wanting to think about what I intend to do tonight.
“Hold on, Mia.” Joseph stops walking and turns me to face him. He looks serious and concerned again, like he did the other day. “You told Daddy, and he did nothing?”
“You know how Daddy is.” My god. I can’t tell if he’s playing me or not. “Especially …” I hesitate.
Joseph waits.
“Because Robert Connor was involved.”
I cringe, expecting Joseph to nod and agree that yes, Daddy is definitely right about me not messing up things for the family.
“Interesting,” he says. He doesn’t look at all surprised.
“How is that interesting?” I ask.
“I think, my sweet little lamb, you just showed me how to get into the pen.”
I don’t know what that means, but it scares me. Joseph is planning something. His gaze goes to the house, towards where Daddy’s office is. I’m beginning to suspect I need to be more cautious about Joseph than Molly.
We walk back to the rear entrance of the house in quiet.
“Thanks, Mia,” he calls as I trot down the hallway.
I wave over my shoulder then go to my room. Shaking my head, I close my door and grab the journal. For the past two days, my entries were about Number Eight and how guilty I feel for going shopping for a dress while she’s stuck in the hospital on life support.
I re-read them and sigh, unable to sort through all my emotions. They physical activity this morning helped me a lot, even if the exchange with Joseph left me feeling … blah.
Dear Diary-
Have I told you how fucked up my family is? I thought Daddy was bad, but Joseph just scared the hell out of me. I’m beginning to like Molly and am thinking that I should stay on Joseph’s good side. Molly’s right – I need to get out soon.
I can’t stop thinking about Number Eight or going to the ball tonight knowing that it’s my fault she’s in the hospital. I’m pregnant and she’s dying.
When will this nightmare end?
The sensation of being overwhelmed is back. It leaves me paralyzed and makes my chest so tight, it hurts. I set down the pen and take a few deep breaths, until I can focus again. I’m sweating and shivering. As bad as my situation is, Number Eight has it much, much worse.
But maybe I can make things better. Somehow.
I’m still not convinced I look decent when I walk down the stairs in my princess gown that evening. Ari’s at the bottom of the stairs, beaming as she watches me. The butler is smiling as well, and Joseph is there.
“Gorgeous, Mia,” Joseph says. “Amazing to think you clean up so well after how nasty you play basketball.”
Ari laughs. “My brothers taught us to play. They can teach you, too, Joseph.”
My half-brother gives a polite smile, but I’m not drawn in this time. He’s playing the nice guy again. I guess it shouldn’t surprise me; everyone in my family has two sides at least. I just wonder what he wants from me.
“Ms. Mia, your father would like a word with you before you leave,” the butler tells me.
I raise my eyebrow at Joseph, who shrugs. Ari purses her lips. I’m not sure what she suspects, but
she’s never really liked Daddy anyway. I walk down the hallway to Daddy’s office and knock.
“Come in,” he calls.
I do. He’s standing by his desk, dressed in a tuxedo while gazing down at his smart phone. He looks up and smiles.
“You look beautiful, Mia.”
I blush. He can’t know I disobeyed Shea by wearing a real dress.
“I’m going to enter the back way a few minutes before you arrive. I’ve instructed the driver to take the long route,” he tells me. “You will be the center of attention and come in the front. You might find you like the attention, like Molly does.”
“Maybe,” I say, knowing the opposite already. “You really like my dress?”
“It matches your eyes.”
I don’t think I’ve ever been as happy as I am that moment.
“Chris warned me the DA is going to be there tonight,” Daddy’s voice takes on a too-casual note. “I’d advise against being alone with him. I’m not sure I trust him.”
“Okay, Daddy,” I say, confused. “I’ll be with you the whole time, won’t I?”
“You’ll be mingling, meeting people like Molly does. There will be some high ranking federal officials and politicians there.”
Ugh. Great.
“Including Keith Connor,” Daddy adds. “I just want to make sure ahead of time that you don’t plan on saying anything … disrespectful to him.”
My breath catches. I stare at him.
“Or anyone else. I don’t have to remind you how important it is for our family to stick together, do I?” he asks. Daddy appears pleasant and smiling, but I know his question is more of an order.
Does he know I intend to talk to Dom tonight about who hurt me? He can’t possibly; only Ari does.
“I’m trusting you to preserve the family name and business,” he adds. “People will be curious about your incident. I don’t want to have to clean up another misunderstanding with Keith Connor. I’ve been very proud of how you’ve handled the situation. Chris tells me that your therapy and community service have gone well.”
Throat tightening, I nod. My resolve to talk to Dom flees as I gaze up at my father. Right now, he really does look proud of me. He has no idea about the abortion I want, no idea that it’s my fault Number Eight is hurt. I’ve never seen this look on his face before, and I don’t want to do anything to screw it up.
“Go on. Make a big entrance and show them how we Abbott-Renous do business,” Daddy says.
I nod again and turn away, leaving his office. In the dark hallway between office and foyer, I stop. The world threatens to smash me again. I’m sick to my stomach and confused where I’d been sure just a few minutes before. I can’t talk to Dom. Maybe those guys who hurt Number Eight were someone else. I mean, the newspaper article said only one rapist.
Hands shaky, I reach for my phone and pull up Dom’s number. I hesitate then text him.
I can’t talk tonight.
I know he’ll be disappointed. But for once, I can almost believe Daddy loves me, in his own way. I try to convince myself of this as I walk down the hallway and rejoin Ari and Joseph in the foyer. Ari looks at me closely, and I force a smile.
I step out of the house to the waiting car without a word to either of them. I freeze up.
It’s dark. I haven’t been out in the dark yet. I don’t like it. I want to go back inside. Any other concern fades as I see how scary the world is at night.
Ari grabs my arm and pulls me to the car.
“Ari – " I object, starting to panic.
“You told Dom you’d meet him. You have to show up your daddy!” she reminds me.
At the mention of Dom, I try to turn around.
“Oh, that’s it. I’m riding with you to make sure you go.” She yanks my arm. I stumble into her, and she pulls us both into the car.
“Where’s my phone?” I demand, starting to panic. I struggle out of her arms and look wildly towards the house. “It’s dark, Ari! What if -”
“Close the door, Fabio!”
A second after the door closes, the car lurches forward, as if the driver has been given orders in advance not to let me back out. I slump, heart flying. Ari fishes around on the floor until she finds my evening purse and phone. She hands them to me.
“Closes your eyes and breathe,” she instructs me. “Repeat your magic spell or whatever it is the shrink gave you.”
I do as she says and imagine myself in the closet. My breathing becomes regular again, my heartbeat no longer erratic.
“You can do this, Mia,” Ari says softly. “You must do this. You have to tell Dom everything. Then dance with him.”
I stare at her, caught off guard by the idea of dancing. I can’t tell her I’m too cowardly to talk to Dom. I hope to have myself under control by the time we get to the hotel where the ball is being held.
The closer we get, the more I think I fell under Daddy’s spell, like everyone else. He’s trusting me not to screw up. I don’t want to let him down. I don’t want to let Ari and Dom down. I have no idea what to do again.
We arrive. Ari hugs me and straightens my hair.
“Call or text me if you need anything,” she orders then pushes me towards the car door. “You can do this, Mia.”
I nod, not at all convinced, and wishing she was going with me.
Fabio opens the door, and I climb out. If the dark freaks me out, the sight of all the men and women in blue eases my mind somewhat.
“Ms. Mia?”
The voice comes from a familiar face.
“Captain Yaeger. We met at the court house.” The older man extends an arm gallantly. “We wanted to make sure you had a proper escort in.”
I smile nervously. I’m clutching my evening purse to my chest and force myself to lower it. Flashbulbs go off. Captain Yaeger stops for the reporters to take their pictures then walks me into the hotel’s glittery, teeming lobby.
“Is my father close?” I ask. I’m getting anxious already.
“I’ll take you to him. You don’t mind if this old man walks slow, so all the young guys see me with a beautiful woman on my arm?”
I look at him and smile. He’s close to sixty with sharp eyes and dozens of medals on his formal uniform. In my four-inch heels, I’m almost his height.
“That sounds great,” I say. “I’ve never been to one of these.”
“In the thirty years I’ve been going to these, they’ve never gotten any more interesting.”
I decide I like him. I can’t remember what I thought of him when we first met; I wasn’t in the mindset to like anyone, though. I want to ask about Dom then reconsider. Ari all but tackled me to get me into the car, and I’m not sure I’m presentable after that.
“We never thanked you for recognizing our officers in your speech,” Captain Yaeger says. He leads me to a grand staircase. We walk up it slowly. The entire first floor of the hotel is crowded.
“It was the least I could do,” I say earnestly. “They saved my life.”
“Their job is a thankless one, especially at the junior levels. People hate you for writing tickets or breaking up parties.”
“I can imagine. I’m just happy Daddy recognized them.”
“You remember the DA Tenet?” he indicates a man in a suit as we reach the top of the stairs. “The men with him are local city and county council members and various civilian members of the departments.”
I tense, not trusting the man who tricked me once already. The DA nods his head, but doesn’t approach. I don’t recognize any of the men in suits, but I do try to avoid politics of any kind. Captain Yaeger leads me into a crowded ballroom. I look around, overwhelmed by the amount of people and the fact I know no one. I don’t even see Daddy.
“Let’s see,” Captain Yaeger stops and looks around. “Your father should be …” He turns around slowly, eyes on the crowd.
I’m looking, too, and disappointed about not seeing Daddy. Or Dom. Or some familiar face. Captain Yaeger turns, taking me with h
im. We turn towards the doors again, and I freeze. I can’t breathe, can’t move.
Standing in the doorway is none other than Robert Connor. Robert Connor, who was supposed to be in Florida. Robert Connor, who destroyed my life. Robert Connor, who’s wearing that cocky smile he does in the newspapers as he talks to a cop.
At least, he’s smiling, until he sees me. Then he stops. The smile is gone, along with the color in his face. He doesn’t move for a very long minute. When he does, he’s striding away quickly, running a hand through his hair.
I close my eyes. This is one of my nightmares, nothing else. He’s not real. He can’t hurt me. This is just a dream. The sounds of people around me warble, and I no longer feel Captain Yaeger’s arm. I’m starting to wake up. My chest is so tight, it hurts.
“Mia.” I hear Dom’s husky voice. Even in a nightmare, he’s there to help me.
His warm touch on my arm is too real. I open my eyes, expecting to be in my closet.
This isn’t a dream.
“You’re safe, okay?” He’s standing directly before me, dressed in his formal uniform, clean-shaven and smelling of earthy cologne. His dark eyes carry an edge in them I haven’t seen before, and he’s tense.
I’m surprised I’m still on my feet. I’m surrounded by cops. Robert can’t get to me here. I’m afraid, but don’t need to be.
“Come with me?”
I nod. I want out of there. He moves away. I cross my arms and follow. My heart is definitely going to explode soon from beating so fast, and my head is spinning. I can barely focus, and direct all my energy on not losing him in the crowd. Another thought enters my shocked mind.
I did it, I think. I faced him and didn’t pass out. I’m not a helpless pile on the floor, and this alone astonishes me. Dr. Thompkins said I’d be stronger than I thought. Though, if I don’t get out of here soon, I’m gonna run out screaming or pass out.
Dom leads us away from the crowds and through a ballroom with fewer people. Two cops stand as if on guard in front of a set of French doors. They open them for Dom and me, and we step onto the balcony beyond.
It’s dark. I’m not sure I care. I don’t realize I’m burning up until I lean against the railing and hear how hard I’m breathing. The cool breeze feels so good on my face. It takes me a few minutes to catch my breath.
