by It Girls
Wordlessly, Jack slipped a possessive arm around Chloe's waist. "Congratulations on the recovery, Harrison," Jack said, referencing the Governess.
"Thanks." Harrison smiled. "Nice work, Chloe. Here and on the senator."
She smiled warmly. "Thank you."
"What about the original three missing Russian women?"
Chloe let him see her disappointment. "They're not here."
"We've done what we can," Jack said. "Do you have this under control?" Jack asked Harrison, tugging Chloe closer still.
"Yep." Jack's jealousy amused Harrison; it shone in his eyes, and if the twitch at the corner of his mouth was an accurate gauge, it was all he could do not to laugh out loud.
"We're out of here, then," Jack said.
Harrison winked at Chloe. She winked back, and walked with Jack outside and back to the car.
Stepping back from the curb, he opened the door for her. "All in all, we got the job done."
"We got the Duke. That's significant."
"Honey, we got this Duke." Jack got into the car. "But the thing about these snakes is that they're organized. From the moment Ryan and Erik are arrested, another snake will step into Ryan's shoes, and then the hunt for that Duke will begin."
That was what had happened with Caulfield Carouthers. Brit had stepped right in, not missing a beat. Disappointment shafted through Chloe and fell to reality. "It's like that author said," she told Jack. "So long as there are men, there will be greed. And so long as there is greed, there will be corruption."
Jack cranked the engine. "Yeah, but that author left out the most important part."
She plucked a string of lint from his tux sleeve. "What most important part?"
"So long as there is corruption, there will be Rose agents fighting it, and holding men accountable."
Chloe smiled. "I like that."
"Thought you might." He shot her a slow, sexy smile.
Hand in hand, they drove off into the night, and Chloe felt satisfied at rescuing the women, though the three Russians she'd started out seeking hadn't been among them.
That got her down, but Jack making it clear to Harrison that they were a couple lifted her spirits a bit. Still, she dreaded the ball. With Erik's arrest, her mother would be inconsolable and her father devastated forever.
An imperfect success, but what couldn't be changed had to be accepted.
*
Perrini's grand ballroom looked magnificent.
"Lucas," Chloe said. "It's gorgeous!"
"Ah, you like it." He beamed with pride at the lavish decorations. "I went with the Celtic rendition of All Hallows' Eve over an American Halloween. It seemed more appropriate."
"It's beautiful." Sparkles and glitter and real women dressed as statues that, when touched with a magic wand, came to life. "Just beautiful."
The band played music that fit with the theme, and Jack dragged Chloe onto the crowded dance floor. Chloe's parents were dancing, too, and seeing them, and Erik and Chelsea laughing and dancing, had Chloe bittersweet.
"This is the hardest part for you." Jack held her closer.
"It really is." She felt choked up. Overall, the mission had been successful, and she'd learned a lot from it. But Erik… Her parents' hearts would be broken tonight, and Chloe was partly to blame. "I spent too many years covering for him."
"Your mother protected him, too," Jack said. "The women were all wearing your clothes."
Surprised, she asked, "How did you know they were mine?"
He smiled. "They smell like you."
Her Remember Me. She sighed and pressed her cheek against Jack's shoulder. "Mother won't see it that way." This time, when she blamed Chloe for Wonder Boy's fall from grace, she'd be right…
Her parents switched partners, and her mother was dancing with Erik. God, but she looked happy. Chloe wished she could warn her, but she couldn't. She hated that.
Erik twirled their mother and moved closer to Chloe. "Hi, Sis. Didn't see you earlier."
"We just arrived." It was incredibly hard to look at Erik much less to speak to him. "You both know Jack, don't you?"
"Of course." Her mother dismissed him. "Chloe, why do you insist on wearing Vera Wang? That dress looks awful on you."
That was the one. The final blow. "It's Adele's design, not Vera's and it's gorgeous." Chloe let go of Jack and faced her mother head-on. "Come with me." She grabbed her wrist and fairly dragged her off the dance floor and into a little alcove.
"I do not appreciate your manhandling me, Chloe St. John. You are a princess, and this is not acceptable— "
"Stop it now and listen to me," Chloe interrupted her. "I've had enough."
"I beg your pardon."
"You certainly should." Chloe frowned. "I'm tired of your cutting remarks, Mother. I had to listen to them when I was at home, but I have my own home now and I do not have to listen to them anymore. I'm telling you that they hurt me. A lot. And I'm not going to listen to them ever again."
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me, Mother." Chloe took in a deep breath. "While this dress is an Adelphio, I love Vera Wang's designs, and I intend to wear them the rest of my life. You don't have to like it, but you do have to tolerate it without comment. And, Mother, the next time you empty my closet to 'save me from myself,' I'm going to ban you from Eleanor Towers." She hadn't taken them, Erik had, but she had lied for him and taken the blame. Jack was right. Boundary lines were in order. Strong ones.
Her face contorted in fury, but she kept her voice low, discreet. "How dare you talk to me like this?"
"You think I like it?" Chloe spat. "You give me no choice. I'm tired of being the thorn in your side, Mother. Damn sick of the poison, actually. So I'm removing myself. As of right now, you can accept me as I am, warts and all, or not. Your choice."
"Chloe Elizabeth St. John." Her father's furious voice sounded at her back. "I will not tolerate you speaking to your mother like this."
"Then I suggest you teach her some manners, Father. Because she deserves far worse than she's getting— and so do you. You stood by for years and watched her treat me like trash under her feet and did nothing. You're not a damn bit more innocent."
His face contorted in anger, but his voice remained low. "You're no longer my daughter."
The words hit her like a brick wall, knocked the breath out of her. She stilled, dragged in air, then turned and fully faced him. "Be careful, Father." He had no idea what was to come, but she did. Without her or Erik, they'd be alone.
"You will not inherit a cent. Not one," he insisted. "And the way you go through money— "
"I go through money?" She laughed. "I have more money than I could spend in ten lifetimes." She looked from him to her mother. "I have always needed your love, but I was never good enough for you to love. Ever."
She started to walk away, stopped and walked back to them. They stood shoulder to shoulder. "I love you far more than you realize. But I'm tired of you looking at me and seeing only a daughter with flaws and faults. You have no idea who I am or what I do. You've judged me based on assumptions, but you've been wrong. I just wanted you to know that." She looked at her mother. "And, Mother, stay the hell out of my closet."
"I didn't take— " She clasped her hands over her mouth.
But it was too late. Pandora's box had been opened, and Chloe had verified the truth. She struggled to stay calm, controlled. "I know you didn't break into my apartment and steal my clothes."
"I did do it," she insisted. "I swear it."
Chloe's father gaped, darted his gaze from daughter to mother. "You stole her clothes?"
"You're lying, Mother," Chloe insisted. "Erik stole all my Vera Wang dresses and my Rose pin."
"No," she insisted, but her voice lacked conviction.
"I found his ring. The royal crest," Chloe whispered. "I know the truth."
Her mother gasped, horrified.
"What is this about?" Her father's face burned red.
"It's about two
women who love your son," Chloe said softly, locking gazes with her mother. "Both women have lied repeatedly and taken blame for crimes they didn't commit to protect him." Tears slid down Chloe's cheeks. "And both women, I fear, will regret having done so for a very long time to come." She turned to walk away.
Her mother clasped her arm. "Chloe, please."
She looked back over the slope of her shoulder.
Anguish twisted her mother's face. "I only wished for— "
"Me to be the perfect princess," she whispered. Compassion softened her heart, and Chloe pressed a light kiss to her mother's cheek. "I know, Mother." Pulling up her courage, Chloe said what she should have said a long time ago. "But you need to understand that I know exactly who and what I am. I was born a princess, and I'll die one. But I'm a woman with feelings, too. You're my parents, and I love you. And I know that I can't make you love me." She'd spent half her life trying. "But respecting me is enough." She swallowed hard. "I don't want to lose you, but I won't be treated shabbily anymore. So you decide. If and when you can treat me with respect, call me and I'll come to you." She left them and walked into Jack's open arms.
"Oh, God, honey. I know that was hard." He closed his arms around her and pulled her close. "Parents can tie you up in knots like nothing else."
"Yes, they can." Shaking, she held him tighter, took the comfort he offered, and willed herself to not cry.
"You stood up for yourself, and made them think," he said. "You're brave, Chloe. One of the bravest people I know."
"I wish I were, but I'm not. I'm a bigger coward than Wonder Boy," she said and unfortunately meant it.
"Not hardly." Jack laughed. "You dared to love me. That's exceptionally brave."
"That was inevitable. I didn't have a choice at sixteen, and I don't have one now."
"You've always had a choice, Chloe," he corrected her. "You chose me, and you even trusted me after I screwed up."
Sounded like a solid foundation for a relationship to her. "And you?" She dared to look at him. "Did you choose me, Jack? After all that's happened, do you still choose me?"
"Damn right," Frank said, breezing by with the video camera. "He loves you, you love him. That's the best you can get in a relationship, Princess. Now, wave to Miss Emma."
Leave it to Frank. Chloe and Harrison waved. "Miss you!" Chloe yelled out.
Frank moved on and Jack and Chloe returned to their dance. He tipped her chin to look into her eyes. "Frank's right, you know. I do love you. I will for the rest of my life."
Happy from the soul out, she lifted her chin. "Frank's always right." Jack tickled her side, and she snuggled closer to him. "All right, you win." She laughed. "I'll love you forever, too, Jack."
"Damn right." He planted a kiss on her neck, twirled, and continued their dance.
Joy bubbled in Chloe, and she watched Frank working the room with the camera. No more faking it, Emma. I made it.
Chloe had made it. She'd dared to dream and had fought for those too weak to fight for themselves. She'd taken on the assignment from hell that terrified her, and with a lot of help she had handled it. Not perfectly, not totally successfully, but she'd done her best, and isn't that all anyone can do? And she'd put her parents on notice. No more treating her like an unwanted puppy. Respect, or nothing; it was that simple, and that complex.
But she did have one regret that would haunt her.
She'd failed to save the three Russian women…
FBI agents quietly entered the ballroom.
Chloe's breath caught. "They're here." She signaled the other Roses. Porsche and Sam covered the southeast exit, with Marlena perched on Porsche's shoulder. Vanessa and Taye took the southwest door. Becca steered Dane across the dance floor to the northeast. Madison and John were already near the northwest. Alexa and Ross had the entrance the orchestra used covered. If Ryan Greene tried to cut and run, he'd have to go through a Rose or a wall.
Ryan was on the dance floor with Glenda Huntsberger. Four agents walked toward him. The dancers parted, giving them a wide berth, but arrogant as only the Duke could be, Ryan kept dancing.
An agent tapped him on the shoulder. "Excuse me. Ryan Greene, you're under arrest."
Ryan let go of Glenda. Scanned the exits, then headed for the southeast. Porsche stepped near him and suddenly Ryan jumped and fell, sprawled on the ballroom floor.
Porsche leaned down to gather up her seemingly smirking ferret. She smiled down at him. "I'm so sorry, Ryan. Marlena didn't see you coming."
He glared up at her.
Two agents lifted him to his feet, positioned him to put him in handcuffs.
"This is an outrage." He laughed deeply. "I'll be released and back at this ball before you finish the paperwork."
"You might," one agent said. "Let's see, that's thirty years for each charge of human trafficking for the purpose of prostitution and there are forty-two counts, so far." He grunted. "Yes, sir. It could take a while to do all that paperwork."
"Human trafficking?" Ryan feigned shock, but it didn't touch his eyes, and he wasn't laughing anymore. "You're insane."
"And we've got you cold, Greene," the agent said softly. "Save your breath."
"You've got nothing," Ryan spat.
Senator Ellie Richardson stepped forward. Ashley and Rubi flanked her. "I wouldn't count on it."
He turned ashen.
Reading him his rights, the agents hauled Ryan out of the ballroom. Chloe shared a glance with the other Roses. They'd done it. All of them had faced challenges and dangers the Duke had created, and they'd gotten him. This was definitely a time of celebration.
And yet, while the others were definitely bent on doing just that, Chloe couldn't. Not with what lay ahead for her family…
The remaining agents scanned the crowd, no doubt looking for Erik. Chloe's heart beat hard and fast. "Jack, my parents. Where are my— "
"This way." He led her toward the alcove. "Hurry."
Her mother and father stood together, quietly talking. "I wonder what Ryan's done?"
"Or what they think he's done," Chloe's father said. "Ryan has been such a benefactor to the community, it's difficult to believe he's involved in anything scandalous."
Chloe kept her opinions to herself and, with Jack, joined her parents just as the two agents located Erik. He was still dancing with Chelsea in a quiet corner, oblivious to the turmoil going on around him. Vintage Erik.
Chloe wished she could hear what was said as one agent stopped them, his nod respectful and authoritative at once.
Seemingly startled, Erik took one look at his badge and twisted away in fear. The agents moved in, grabbing him.
"Let go of my arm!" Erik's voice rang out, echoing across the ballroom.
The music stopped.
"What are those men doing to Erik?" Chloe's mother turned, started toward her son.
Chloe clasped her arm, held her in place. Standing between her parents, she whispered, "Stay here, Mother."
"But— " Confused, she frowned at Chloe's father, then at Chloe. "I insist on knowing— "
The FBI agent's voice now rang out over the shocked, silent crowd, making what was happening all too clear. "You have the right to remain silent…"
"He's being arrested?" Her mother's face twisted in horror. "Oh, no. This can't be. Why?"
"Be still, my dear," Chloe's father said, moving closer to her mother, sliding his arm around her shoulders, shielding her.
Rubi appeared with a cameraman. He lifted the camera to photograph Chloe's mother. Looking at Chloe, Rubi put her hand over the lens. "No, Rob. Leave it alone. Stick with him."
The photographer shifted focus and snapped photographs of Erik. The flash went off like a strobe.
"Oh, no. Photographs? Now handcuffs?" Her mother darted Chloe a frantic look. "This is what you meant earlier about us protecting him. You knew this was coming."
She had to lie. "I feared it, Mother. I warned him he was keeping bad company and he should stop. He insisted it wa
s business."
"Oh, no. Oh, Chloe. Erik…" Tears coursed down her mother's face. "What have we done?"
Jack passed her a handkerchief. "Don't blame yourself. Erik isn't a child. He's a grown man that you spent a lifetime loving well."
"Thank you, Jack." She took the hanky. "That's very kind," she said, looking regretful. "I haven't always been kind to you."
"Tonight is a good time for fresh starts." Jack smiled, clasped her hand. "I'm sorry for your pain."
"Thank you, Jack."
She gave Chloe an approving nod, then leaned close. "Good man."
"I know." Chloe pressed a kiss to her cheek.
Chelsea stood like a broken statue, torn between shock and shame, too horrified to move, too crushed to weep or utter a sound. She just stared at Erik, clearly not trusting her eyes, as if caught in a nightmare and certain any second she'd awaken and discover none of this was true.
Chloe's eyes stung and bitterness burrowed through the chambers of her heart. "We didn't let him scrape his knees," she whispered, her voice cracking. "We should have let him scrape his knees. Then he'd never have done these things."
The agents led Erik out of the ballroom, probably to join Ryan. Chloe sniffed and looked up at her father. "You'd better take Mother home."
"They're taking him to jail?" Chloe's mother was beside herself, her whole body shaking. "We've got to get in touch with Peterson Stone immediately to represent him," she told Chloe's father.
"I'd better see to Chelsea," Chloe said. The woman still stood in the middle of the dance floor. The music hadn't started playing again. Chloe signaled Renee and she stepped in to return things to normal. Well, as normal as a scandal of these proportions stood a chance of being.
"Chloe."
She turned and looked at her father. "The incident at Harvard," he said. "That was Erik, not you?"
She nodded.
Tears brimmed in his eyes. "I'm so sorry, my dear."
"So am I." She left them and went to Chelsea.
Jack joined her and they led the woman, clearly in shock, out of Perrini's and put her into her car. "Take her home," Chloe instructed her driver. "And make sure someone stays with her for a while."