He wiped her face. “Stop crying. Whatever happened to make you believe such a thing? I’m going to make right.” He wrapped his arms around her back and lifted her up onto him. Looking into her eyes, he said, “Listen to me. I love you. I love you.”
This was all wrong. So wrong, yet it felt right. She didn’t know why she so easily believed him. It must have been his eyes. They weren’t dilated like Brandon’s always were when he lied about his love for her. What had begun as frenzied bodies flailing about, fighting against one another, had slowed to a soft, peaceful kind of love that she only knew with Fox. She quietly conceded, accepting the love she once knew.
And never wanted to forget.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
The kaleidoscope of light shining through the skylight above Fox’s bed was amazing. His bed was amazing. So comfortable, more so than the bed at Hypnotic. Lea never thought she’d see the inside of his home. Especially after she’d found out that Fox had been alone with Jill. She was sure he’d been cheating. In her anxious state, she hadn’t heard Karrigan say that Erickson was in there too. Now she got it.
Fox stroked her arm with the back of his hand. “What are you thinking about?”
“About last night. I feel like such a fool to accuse you like I did. Talk about jumping to conclusions.”
“It’s okay. Sorry you had to see me so tore up. If I’d known you were coming, I wouldn’t have had so many drinks. I wouldn’t have needed a drink at all.” He pushed back the covers, sat up. “Want breakfast?”
“I’d love some.”
“Let’s go downstairs.”
Fox’s home was stunning. The staircase curved beautifully along one wall. The expansive ceiling seemed to never end. So much open space, yet still so warm and welcoming. She could easily see herself becoming the lady of the house.
In the kitchen, Fox asked, “Pancakes and bacon sound good?” as he pulled some pans from an overhead hanger.
“Sounds great. You gonna cook for me?”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.” Fox turned on the gas stove and started mixed the batter.
Sitting at the kitchen table, Lea put one leg beneath her. A few minutes passed as Fox cooked, and Lea could tell he was deep in thought.
“Listen,” she said, “I want to apologize for accusing you of cheating. I’m just an insecure biddy, I guess.”
Fox put a pancake and strip of bacon on a plate and set it in front of her. “Don’t worry about it. After all you’ve been through with your ex–husband, it’s only natural for you to have doubts about relationships.”
“I know, but still I was wrong,” Lea said, and picked at her food with her fork. She was still in Fox’s T–shirt from last night. The smell of him was more potent than the food in front of her. When Fox came back to the table, he set his own plate down and walked to her side to hand her a glass of orange juice. As he began to walk away, she grabbed him by the wrist. “What can I do for you to help with this situation with your dad? I know it’s eating you up.”
Fox pulled a chair in front of her. “I’m okay. I’ll handle it.”
“You’re not okay. You talked more during our sex last night than you have after. I can tell he’s never far from your mind.”
“You know me well, Lea. I swear you’re my soul mate. I’m mad as hell that all this shit with my dad is happening now when I’d rather dedicate my time and attention to you.”
“So, let me help you take care of the situation. Let’s see… You said Jill is your sister, and her mother, you think, gave your dad the poison to kill your mother. Right?”
“Right.”
“But you can’t be sure of that because there is no solid proof, right?”
“Yep. My hands are tied. I may never know the truth.”
“But there has to be somebody who knows. What about the butler at the mansion? He can’t tell you for certain that Roman is responsible for your mother’s death.”
“No, he never saw anything. He only overheard him on the phone with Bobbie the night of Mom’s death saying some very incriminating things.”
“Is there someone else who was close with your father or your family who may know? I mean, if your father had a butler and a gardener, surely there were others who worked at the mansion.”
“Oh my God, there is one more person now that you mention it. Our housekeeper Britta. She prepared the meals. But there’s no way she would have purposely gone along with a plan to kill mother.”
“Why didn’t you ask her when you were there?”
“She’s in the hospital. She has cancer. I need to pay her a visit. Britta’s a good woman and she was like a mother to me.”
“Then let’s do it. I’ll go with you.”
“Really? You want to get thrown into the fire right along with me?”
“I want to, Fox, yeah. I want to be part of your life whether it be good or bad. That’s what people who love each other do.”
Fox stroked her cheek. “I love you, Lea. You’ve changed my game, given me a reason to settle down into a more suitable lifestyle. I promise, after I get all this shit squared away with Roman, I’m going to make you my wife.”
Lea gulped, tears fill her eyes. She didn’t know what to say. But she hoped that what he said hadn’t been a slip of the tongue. If he really meant that, she would happily give marriage another go.
Lea heard Fox’s cell phone buzz. Fox stood and answered the call.
“Foxworth Kemp.”
“Yeah.” A long pause. “Now’s really a bad time. Can I call you later?” He paused a beat. “Yeah, I promise. Bye.”
“Who was that?” Lea asked.
“Jill.”
“Oh.” That name didn’t arouse her suspicions anymore. Fox had explained everything to Lea last night. She still couldn’t believe that Jill was his long lost sister and she had simply wanted to get to know him. Lea felt foolish for the way she’d confronted him at the bar. Fox had learned from Jill even more incriminating news about Roman, and that’s why Fox was drinking to begin with. His suspicions that Roman had something to do with Frances’s death had been validated by Jill.
“What’d she want? She find out more about her mother?”
“No, I think we’ll never know more about Bobbie than we already do. Especially since she too is dead now.”
“Well, what then?” Lea looked past Fox’s shoulder at the clock on the wall. “It’s early.”
“She said she has something to talk to me about—that she might have uncovered more damning evidence on Roman’s involvement.”
“Why did you tell her you’d call her back later? Don’t you want to know that information?”
“Lea, she may be my sister and all, and I’m sorry she got pulled into this predicament, but still, I knew her as a business associate before I knew she was my sister, and let’s just say, I never thought she was the brightest bulb. You get my drift?”
“So, you think she’s an airhead?”
“Uh, yeah. But let’s just keep that between you and me.” Fox laughed.
“All right. Your secret’s safe. But do me a favor, huh?”
“Name it.”
“Call her back later. Give her a chance. She may know something.”
“All right, babe.” He leaned in a gave Lea a kiss. “For you, anything.”
—Fox
On the ride to the hospital, Lea reminded Fox that he was supposed to return Jill’s call. The things we do for love, he thought, as he dialed her number on his cell. He looked over at Lea and gave her a wink.
Jill answered on the first ring. “I think I’m on to something,” she said.
“What’s up?” Fox asked.
“I’ve done a little internet research about your mother’s case. Do you recall hearing the name Earl Branson?”
Fox thought for a moment. “Doesn’t ring a bell.”
“He was a witness called by the prosecution during your father’s trial.”
One more witness that Roman had
paid off, Fox thought. A lot of good he or any other witness did for the prosecution. Roman got acquitted.
“What’s the story about him, Jill, and hurry and get to the point, because it eats me up to even think about that monkey trial.”
“Earl Branson ran a pet cemetery.”
“So?”
Fox looked over at Lea and rolled his eyes. Lea mouthed, be nice.
“Pet cemeteries have incinerators, right?”
“I suppose they do.” Fox could see now where Jill was headed with this and he was surprised. She was headed in the right direction.
“Fox, I’m not as educated as you are, obviously, but I’d be willing to bet that Earl was somehow connected to your mother’s disappearance. Her body was never found, and he had an incinerator. You get what I’m saying?”
A smile tugged at Fox’s lips. Fox got it from the word incinerator. Jill’s determination and passion, Fox thought was… cute. He reminded her of Karrigan. This whole thing with Jill may turn out for the best. Karrigan never had a mother, but now she had gained a sister.
Roman was soon going to pay for all the hurt he’d caused his sisters, his brother, himself, and his mother.
And the time would come before the sun set on the horizon.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Britta wasn’t doing well. At least, that’s what the head nurse told Fox before she let him go to her room for a strictly five–minute visit. Any longer, and she promised to come kick him out. Fox opened the heavy door to her room and slowly peeked in. Britta was barely recognizable. The once plump woman was now a feeble, elderly form. Fox remembered her big, boisterous laugh and the way she would hug him so tight as a young boy that he’d almost feel like vomiting.
He inched closer to the side of her bed. Gently took her cold, bony hand in his. She opened her eyes slowly. It took her a moment to bring him into focus, but as soon as she recognized who he was, her eyes widened. “Fox,” she said, smiling as tears pooled in her eyes.
“Yes, Ms. Britta, it’s me,” he said, and felt her hand tighten around his.
“You’re so…” her voice trailed off and she choked. “Handsome.”
“Thank you.” Fox felt so sorry he’d let himself become disconnected from her and Fred. Without the two of them, he’d have had no childhood at all. No love at all. Fox wondered who had been there for her while she’d been sick. How often did she get visitors? She never had any children of her own. Fox figured, sadly, Britta had suffered alone.
“How’ve you been?” she asked.
“I’m well.” He didn’t know what to say to someone who was suffering so. He wasn’t raised to be in tune with empathy or sympathy, although he certainly felt it. He just wasn’t sure how to express it. He did know, however, that if Ms. Britta got well, he’d be certain to look after her from now on, be there for her like she’d been there for him, Erickson, and Karrigan.
“Ms. Britta, I’ve learned a lot about Roman as of late. Fred told me how he got his limp.”
“I see.” Her brows lowered, her lips curved down. She moved her gaze away from Fox’s.
Still holding one hand underneath Britta’s, he covered her hand with his free hand. “Please, don’t be afraid of Roman. He can’t hurt you or Fred anymore. I won’t let him. But you have to tell me what you know.”
She stared at the ceiling.
“Please,” Fox said on a desperate whisper.
“Roman told me to put the poison in Frances’s drink, but I refused,” Britta said. “Later that evening, I heard Frances screaming…”
Fox heard it too. He’d never forget the sounds of shock, the gasping of breath that came from the direction of their spacious bedroom situated at the opposite end of the hall from Fox’s bedroom. Sounds Roman had said was due to Frances’s illness. Bull. Those were sounds of someone who was being struck physically, he always thought.
“I looked in through the keyhole,” Britta said. “I could see Frances on the floor in a fetal position crying hysterically. I stayed by the door until her crying slowed to quiet sobs. I looked again through the tiny peephole. Roman was kneeled down beside Frances and I heard him say to her that Monte—the gardener—wouldn’t be the only love she would lose if she didn’t drink the wine. You did know about your mother and Monte, didn’t you?”
“Yes, recently I learned about her affair.”
“Roman had him killed. And I understood what he was saying to Frances—he was threatening to kill the only other people she loved in her life—you and the twins. I watched in horror as Frances took the goblet of wine from the stainless steel serving plate and drank it all down. You cried out at the same moment she took her last swallow. There was nothing I could do for Frances, I realized, so I came to your room and held you until you fell asleep.”
“I remember.” He’d forgotten about Britta coming to console him, but now it was as clear as if it’d happened yesterday. “Mother lost her lover and she wasn’t about to call Roman’s bluff when it came to her children,” Fox said thinking aloud.
“Yes, she sacrificed her life for yours,” Britta acknowledged. She rubbed her thumb against the back of Fox’s hand. “Don’t cry,” she said, noticing the tear fall from his cheek.
Fox let out a laugh. “Britta, you’re crying.” He wiped her face. “How are you gonna tell me not to do the same thing?”
A tiny laugh erupted from her. “I’m really sorry about your mother.”
“Not your fault, Britta. Not at all. And by you telling me what you know, you’ve only solidified what I already knew.”
“There’s more.” She seemed to come alive, even sat up in the bed on her own will.
“What?”
“There’s a note your father wrote. It will incriminate him more than anything else. I found it not long after Frances’s death when I was cleaning Roman’s office. I saved it inside the Kemp family bible.”
“All right. I’ve been by the mansion a couple of times recently so Frederic won’t be surprised to see me again. Do you know where the family bible is kept nowadays?”
“Last I checked it was in a box up in the attic. The box is labeled cross–stitch materials.” Fox’s mother had done many crafts.
“I labeled it like that,” Britta said, “because I knew Roman would never look in a box of cross–stitch patterns and threads.”
Fox leaned down and kissed Britta on the forehead. “I have to go there now. Thank you so much for everything.” He rubbed her head. “Get well soon, so I can have you over to my place for dinner, okay?”
“I’m trying, I can promise you that.”
Fox turned and looked at Britta one last time before he walked out the door. She looked more alive than she had when he walked in. Like a weight had been lifted from her fragile body. Fox was positive that she’d wanted to get that off her chest for a long time.
Lea set down the magazine she’d been reading when she saw Fox approaching. “How was she?”
“I think she’s going to make it.” He grabbed her by the hand and started toward the elevator. “When she gets out, I’m going to ask her if she wants to come stay with me, with us, if that’s all right with you.”
“That’s fine. You said she was like a mom to you, so I’d love to meet her and spend some time with her.”
“Good, and since Frederic was like my dad, I’m going to have him come live with me too. I owe that much to both of them.”
“Absolutely no objections here,” Lea said, and Fox loved her even more for going along with his plan. The people who were important to him were automatically important to her and that was the foundation of a great love.
When they got in Fox’s car and he began driving out the parking lot of the hospital, he told Lea, “I’m going to drop you off at my house while I pay Roman a vi—”
“Let me go with you,” she said before he could finish his sentence.
“No way, Lea. I don’t want you anywhere around Roman. He’s a dangerous man.”
“But I’m wor
ried about you. I don’t want anything bad to happen.”
Fox put his hand over Lea’s. “Don’t worry. The only person who’s going to be hurting is Roman when I toss his ass out of my hotel for good.”
Fox walked Lea inside his house and took off. He may have told her a lie about Roman being the only one who got hurt. Roman was unpredictable and there was no telling what could happen to Fox. After all, he had killed his mother. It was something that had to be done though, if Fox ever wanted a life of his own without the restraints of a domineering, evil man calling the shots.
Fox had no problem locating the family bible at the mansion. It was right where she said it would be. Before he left, he told Frederic to pack his bags and that he was coming to live with him. He told him he was finally free from the reigns of Roman Kemp.
***
His heart was racing as he went up the elevator to Roman’s office. This was nothing new; it always did. However, this time was different; this time it was the last time. Fox prayed that Roman didn’t keep a handgun in his desk drawer, or he may never walk out.
So many times, Fox had crept up to Roman’s office, afraid to disturb him. He recalled times as a child he’d crept into Roman’s bedroom at night when he’d had a bad dream. Roman always rejected him with a deep, menacing, Get back to bed, you little, brat. Now it was Fox’s turn to reject Roman.
Fox swung open the double doors into Roman’s office. The handles on the back of both doors slammed into the wall busting through sheetrock. Always the cool sadist, Roman slowly removed his cigar from his lips and asked in an even tone, “Can I help you with something?”
“No, there’s not a single thing you can do to help me, Father. But I’m about to help myself to something that’s a long time overdue.”
Roman put out his cigar, leaned back in his chair. He put his elbows on armrests and began twirling a pen between his fingers lengthwise as he studied Fox with a menacing glare in his eyes. “What’s this about?”
Fox crossed his arms and stood in front of Roman’s desk. “Well, let’s see, where should I begin? Maybe with the fact that Jill’s my sister.”
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