Brianna all but danced with happiness at gathering her family on the ranch, so they were near. It was all she had ever dreamed of.
Ms. Williams was more a mother to Brianna than her own. When she had a nightmare, it was Ms. Williams who soothed her with a cup of hot cocoa. When she needed help with her homework, Ms. Williams had the patience to guide Brianna to the answer or find someone who could explain the concept. And when Briony or her parents did something that upset Brianna, it was Ms. Williams who listened and counseled her to focus on the life she wanted outside of that house. It was Ms. Williams who had helped her plan her escape. And it was Ms. Williams she had sobbed to after signing the contract.
"I can't wait. How much of a notice do you need to give?"
"My contract says a month. I'll hand it in later this week."
Raising her head, Brianna's gaze bounced around the now empty waiting room, and she realized her celebration wasn't appropriate here. "I need to head back to Grandmother's room in case Mother and Father show up."
"If I might make a suggestion … " Ms. Williams trailed off.
"Of course."
"Leave before they get there. Bianca doesn't know about Briony yet because your father wasn't able to get the appointment for the specialist until Thursday. So I would suggest leaving and finding Mr. Willoughby to make sure everything is settled."
"Thursday?" Brianna thought she would be able to talk to her mother before leaving for Chicago. But if she hadn't been receiving therapy, Brianna wouldn't be able to speak with her for a while.
"Yes. Now take care. I have to go the staff is getting curious, and I don't want your father or mother to know where I'm moving to until things have calmed down."
"Okay. Call me when you have a free day, and I'll show you the house."
"Take care, Brianna, and know that I love you." With that, Ms. Williams disconnected the call.
The words warmed Brianna as she drew them into her heart. This woman had always been there for her, and for that, Brianna was thankful. Without Ms. Williams, Brianna didn't think she would have survived her parents' house.
Just froze at the entrance of the waiting room. Sheriff Brigston stood next to Callie. Jake's daughter-in-law and grandson were there as well with a panicked look about them.
"What's going on?" Brianna passed Callie the cell phone.
Norah flew toward Brianna and wrapped her arms around her.
"Oomph." Brianna stumbled back at the impact before hugging the woman back. "How's Jake?"
She sniffled. "Not so good. They had to take one of his legs. He's on his way to ICU." A shudder wracked Norah's body. "They lost him briefly on the operating table."
"Jesus." Brianna's gaze jumped to her grandmother's room before bouncing to the sheriff. "What happened?"
Norah clung tighter to Brianna.
"Sabotage."
"How can you know that so quickly?"
"Because the other cars were tampered with," Norah whispered. "Don't tell Luke."
Brianna's gaze landed on Norah's son. And she saw Callie had dragged him to the other side of the room, asking about the game on her cell phone and not being able to pass the level. Brianna mouthed a 'thank you' to her friend for distracting the ten-year-old.
"Let's step into the stairway, and you can tell me everything," Brianna said, motioning the path she had just traveled.
When the door was firmly shut, she arched a brow at Norah. "What do you mean the other cars were tampered with?"
Norah dragged both hands through her brown hair and tugged at the ends. The strands looked half-wild as if she had been running her fingers through them for hours. Brianna finally took a good look at Norah and winced. She had never seen her in such a disarray. The light blue sweater that covered a bright yellow shirt with dancing ice cream cones was paired with a ragged, dirt-stained pair of jeans and flip flops.
The slap of her flip flops as Norah paced the small landing bounced off the walls. "I mean tampered with. I took the car Jake uses for errands, and we were at the end of the drive about to turn onto the main road. Luke hopped from the car, yelling about getting his handheld game and raced back to the house. I knew we would be a while, so I flipped the car in reverse and gunned it back up the drive. When I went to hit the brakes…" she trailed off as she froze before releasing an overall shudder.
"The brakes failed," Sheriff Brigston finished. "Norah called me, and I rushed over with Andy to check them, and they'd been cut."
"Okay—"
"No!" Norah swung toward Brianna, a manic look in her eye as she gripped Brianna by the arms and shook. "You don't get it. Jake had serviced that car last week. Everything was fine."
"She's right, there was a log of what all he did to the car and a checklist." Sheriff Brigston rubbed at the bristles on his jaw. "I was curious, so I had Andy check Evelynn's other cars. And all of them had the brake lines cut."
Brianna staggered back as all the air left her. "Cut?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
Sheriff Brigston squinted at her. "We think Reginald might have had something to do with it since he and Evelynn had a screaming match last Wednesday."
"Last Wednesday? But… That can't be if they argued Ms. Williams—"
"He came to Evelynn's house," Norah said. "I heard him threaten her for interfering in some business deal between him and Christopher." Norah's eyes shifted between Brianna and Sheriff Brigston.
"He said something else, didn't he," Brianna said her gut clenching. She knew her father. Knew how he operated when he felt as if Bianca was being threatened, but he had always doted on his mother.
"Yes." Norah leaned close to Brianna's ear. "He was furious about your grandmother, helping you wiggle out of your contract."
She stepped back. "His words not mine, and he said if she didn't butt out of his business willingly, he would make it to where she never bothered him again."
But that didn't make any sense. "Father loves Grandmother—"
Norah scoffed. "Maybe, but he loves Bianca more."
* * * *
The sun jabbed into Brianna's eyes, making her groan in pain. Now, she knew why she always took the other guest room in Callie's house. But Norah had taken it.
Heading for the shower, Brianna checked the time. Two hours before Willoughby's office opened and Brianna planned to be there right when the doors unlock. She needed to know the contract was in the past. And the second she was home, she would call Jackson.
She released a frustrated huff as she thought about the short text he'd sent 'Ray's in surgery for a stent.' She flipped on the water to heat up.
"No, idea why he couldn't have apologized in the text," she muttered.
Brushing her teeth, she growled. Not that she would have been happy with that kind of apology either, but dammit. She needed to know he was sorry, she needed to know he was doing okay being back in Chicago. Slamming the toothbrush in the holder, she rinsed her mouth out a hiccupped sob passed her lips before she could catch it. She hurried into the shower and pretended the wetness on her face came from the showerhead.
She just wanted to hear his voice.
After seeing her grandmother helpless and alone, and then finding out someone had hurt her deliberately… Brianna needed Jackson's strength to lean on. She needed to hear him say, 'I'm here. It'll be all right.' Not that it would be, but just for a second to hear those words would have helped her. She could have borrowed his iron will until she found her own again. Instead, she was left floundering.
Stepping from the shower, Brianna dried and slipped into her jeans and t-shirt. Nothing fancy since Willoughby wouldn't expect it. That was one of the reasons Brianna continued to use him as her attorney. He was all about the law and only donned the trappings when he had to go to court.
"Holy freaking crap!" Callie's screech traveled the entire length of the house.
Brianna jumped when the bathroom door was slung open, and Callie appeared pale, shaky, and gasping for breath as if she ha
d run a mile.
Glad she was dressed, as Norah and Derrick filled the hallway behind Callie, Brianna tugged the brush through her hair. Callie would tell her the news when she was ready. But it seemed like drama was the first order of business, so Brianna continued to untangle the knots from her hair.
With shaking hands, Callie slapped a torn page from the newspaper between Brianna and the mirror. At first, Brianna didn't understand. It was wedding announcements. But when she reached the bottom, she froze, the brush fell to the floor with a clatter as her numb fingers released it to poke at the black and white picture.
"What the ever-loving fuck?" Brianna whispered.
She moved closer, but the image didn't change. A picture of her and Christopher at an event last week was above an announcement of their engagement. Only Brianna's name was nowhere in print. No, in its place was Briony.
She touched the paper. "Briony has a death certificate. How did they get a marriage license without proof—"
Callie ripped the paper down and tore it to shreds. "Freaking, Christopher."
"Mom, are you cursing?"
"No, Son, she's not. How about we get you two ready for school. Looks like you and your brother are riding with me today."
"Cool." Running footsteps descended as one of the boys called to the other about the change in plans.
Brianna gathered the paper and threw it in the garbage. "We don't know it's Christopher. But it's another piece I'm bringing up to Willoughby." She edged around the others. "Now, I'm getting food and—"
"And I'm coming with you to the meeting," Callie stated, her arms crossed and a steely expression in her gaze. "Between the sabotage to Evelynn's cars and now this bullcrap engagement piece, you need someone with you until we get this sorted."
"Fine." Brianna stomped down the stairs hating that she was dragging Callie and Derrick into this mess. "But this screams my mother and not Christopher."
"Even so, your mother in a rage is something I refuse to let you deal with alone. Remember what happened last time she went off the rails." Callie jerked Brianna to a stop outside the kitchen and ran her finger across the scar Bianca had left after slicing Brianna's throat. "That happened. With Evelynn out of commission and Jackson in Chicago, I'm stepping in. I would rather be overkill than allow your psycho mom to try to kill you again."
Brianna met her friend's gaze and flinched at the terror that shimmered in the green depths. "I'm not arguing, Callie. I'd rather be safe than sorry… or dead. Especially, since I still need to kick Jackson's ass before we have any makeup sex."
"Ew!" came a cry from the kitchen.
Brianna's face heated in embarrassment. "Sorry," she said to the boys as she stepped into the kitchen.
"No worries. Mom and Dad kiss a lot." Daniel pulled a 'what can you do?' face before slipping on his backpack.
To prove the boys' points, Derrick snatched Callie and bent her backward, laying a loud smacking kiss on her before setting her back on her feet and pointing to the boys. "Let's go, you three."
Luke was the first through the door with Callie's kids dogging his heels as they traded tips for a game they were all playing.
An hour later, Brianna and Callie were in Mr. Willoughby's office. A full head of silvery-white hair was parted on the side and combed in the same business style he'd worn as long as Brianna knew him. The red bow tie paired with a light tan suit that had become his signature look as he calmly tapped his steepled fingers to his chin.
Brianna shifted in the chair as his sharp brown eyes nailed her to the seat.
"Your grandmother changed her will a few days after the garden party Christopher was escorted from. Do you remember that?"
"Yes." How could she ever forget? That day was forever etched into her memory. It was the first time Jackson had ever gone into the lion's den with her playing the role of Briony. That was also the first time they made love. However, none of that explained what that had to do with the contract. "But what does that—"
"She made you her executor." He was blunt with his delivery. No lead-up, no cushion, just rip the band-aid off, and don't worry about if some of the wound under it gets caught and torn along with it. He held out a crisp white envelope as if it held all the answers. "Your grandmother explains why in this letter."
Brianna's hand trembled as she took it. It felt heavy in her hand as if it held the weight of her world within its folds. She opened the flap and withdrew the pages. Her grandmother's name was emblazoned across the top, and Brianna traced the golden indentions. "Her personal stationery."
"Yes."
She tried to read her grandmother's elegant scrawl, but the words blurred and shifted across the page.
"I can't read it." Turning, she shoved the sheets to Callie.
Brianna felt like a failure as Callie's eyes moved over the paper, but she just couldn't deal with one more thing on top of all the other crap that kept piling on. With impatient swipes, she cleared the tears from her eyes and waited.
"Okay, so apparently when you went to end the contract with your grandmother, and she saw how untrustworthy your father was, that's when she thought about changing her will." Callie tossed the pages on the edge of Mr. Willoughby's desk and gripped Brianna's hand. "Not just her will but her medical power of attorney."
Brianna flinched. "Father will not be—"
"It doesn't matter. Like I said, she just thought about the will piece, but the day at the garden party when you and her confronted your father, and then you left. Apparently, a lot of things were dragged into the light."
"More?" Brianna traced the scar at her neck. Could she handle more secrets?
"Yes. Did you know about your mother's miscarriages?"
Confused, Brianna tried to keep up with the subject change. "I only found out about them the same day as the Christopher incident."
"Well, after each one, your mother needed to be admitted into a special hospital—"
"Like a psych ward?"
Callie turned to Mr. Willoughby with an arched brow.
He plucked the rimless glasses from his nose and wiped them with a handkerchief. "No, a hospital, but yes, it had psychiatrists and psychologists and troubled people." He placed the newly cleaned glasses back on his face and tucked the handkerchief inside the front pocket of his jacket. "It doesn't matter. What matters is your father focused solely on her, never the company. And not the disaster he was bringing to the company when he was signing contracts and documents willy-nilly with no input from anyone." Another sigh. "He almost lost everything your grandfather had built. It was your grandmother cutting in that kept it from happening. From there, your grandmother took over and hasn't relinquished control until Royston."
"And he's taking over still, right?" Brianna crossed her fingers because she did not want to be responsible for any kind of business.
"Yes, Royston will continue handling the business end, you will be the executor of your grandmother's estate should something happen to her."
"Holy donkey balls," Callie's whispered words more than expressed Brianna's absolute shock.
"However, there is an issue that I need to point out. Your mother has not been to any of her psychiatrists' appointments since the ultimatum occurred."
"None?" She squeaked. That couldn't be possible. Could it? What was her father thinking? "I thought she was at least seeing a therapist when I handed in the notice of the contract ending."
"None." Mr. Willoughby's tone was severe. "Your grandmother has access to every aspect of your mother's health. It was one of the stipulations I had your father sign back during the miscarriages. He probably forgot that it was still active. And your grandmother used it to make sure your mother was getting the care she needed."
"And she's not." This would be bad. Brianna felt it down to her soul. She had a death grip on Callie's hand as her other hand rubbed the skin of her neck. "But the contract is over, right? Ms. Williams said Grandmother passed—"
"Yes, officially, your father has terminated t
he contract. I have papers I need you to sign to terminate your end." He slid a file folder across to her. "I need you to sign at the back and initial at the places marked. This in no way ends the Non-Disclosure Agreement."
"Which means I'm still not allowed to discuss the contract with those who do not know about it, correct?" Brianna needed that clarification. Jackson now knew about the contract through Grandmother and Callie, so Brianna should be able to discuss it with him if it came up.
"Right. But the person has to know some of the details and not from you. Then you can answer questions."
"There's one other thing," Brianna said. "In this morning's paper…" she trailed off unsure how to explain. "Have you seen it?"
"The paper?"
"Yes."
"No, I have it here." Mr. Willoughby spun and took the newspaper from his credenza and handed it to Brianna.
She flipped through it and then pointed. "This."
He took it from her and growled. "I'll call the newspaper immediately. This shouldn't be possible since Briony is officially dead; there is no way the County Clerk would assign a marriage certificate. Which means someone jumped the gun before having their ducks in a row."
"You can fix it, though, right?"
"Yes." He made a note on his ever-present legal pad. "Now, I need you to sign those papers, and we'll be done."
Brianna took the pen he passed her in a trembling hand and began to take her life back. It felt wrong not having Jackson here since he was the biggest reason she could rip out of the web the contract trapped her in, but as soon as she could, she would give him the news.
Pride filled Brianna. She hadn't failed. She hadn't faltered. Instead, she had hunkered down and built a new dream and thrived. With more determination, she hurried through the documents wanting to share the moment with Jackson. The second she finished, Willoughby was there as a witness with Callie as the secondary. Then Brianna was done.
"You never have to answer to your sister's name again." Mr. Willoughby slapped the folder closed and ushered them to the door. After patting both of them on the shoulder, he told them he would call him the second he had contacted the newspaper.
The Twin Contract (The Contract Series Book 1) Page 28
