Lia appears pensive. “Little is known about Victor, considering the amount of wealth he amassed. I asked Luc once to look into it for me, but he refused. I mean I know that he checked out my dad when he found the link to him in my background, but he’s very vague about the extent of what he learned. I think he wants to protect me, but he also doesn’t want to influence my opinion of my father one way or the other—which I find strangely touching. And of course, like you, I’ve heard plenty of rumors. There’s no way you can live in Asheville and not. Lee Jacks is practically a legend here. The shadowy figure who resides in the ivory tower. I’m guessing they came up with that catchy name from the color of the Falco building.”
“I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that he is single, rich, and refuses to hang out with his peers at the country club. Jealousy breeds pettiness.”
Sounding wise beyond her years, Lia says, “No truer words were ever spoken. Don’t get me wrong. I know that he hasn’t lived a… normal life. There are things he doesn’t want me to know. But considering the shit I went through growing up, I’m the last one to judge. I understand better than most the things that are sometimes necessary to survive. Life isn’t always pretty and whitewashed. Sometimes, it dark and ugly.”
“It is,” I murmur as we both become lost in our thoughts. I’m surprised when the car comes to a stop, and I see that we’re outside Falco. I turn to face her, saying sincerely, “Thanks so much for the ride and the talk.” Looking at my hands, I admit, “I don’t really have many friends, so it’s nice having someone to talk to.”
“You know what?” she says excitedly. “We’re going to have a girls’ night. I’ll get Luc to stay with Lara, and Rose is always up for an evening out. I’ll talk to her when I get back to work and see what we can put together. You’re in, right?”
“Absolutely.” I nod enthusiastically. I feel like the ugly kid being asked to sit with the cheerleaders. I lean over before I can think better of it and hug her before quickly exiting the car. I probably lost major cool points for that, but fuck it. I wave as she pulls away and walk in the doors of Falco with a smile on my face. This has certainly been a day to remember. Lee wrote me a dirty message during a meeting, and I have an evening out to look forward to. In my boring world, that’s some dear diary shit right there.
The rest of the day passes by quickly with Lee in business mode. He leaves while I’m on a call with nothing more than a wave of his hand. So much for some after-hours sex on his desk. I’m beginning to think he’s either a tease or in the midst of an identity crisis.
It’s after six when I reach a stopping point for the day. I am in the process of clearing my desk when my cell phone sounds with an incoming text. I finally locate it under a file and groan as I see my sister’s name on the screen. I debate ignoring her, then figure she’ll probably call next if I don’t respond. Dad wants to see you. Come by the house at seven. I pick up a nearby paperclip and stare at it longingly. I’d rather shove it under every single fingernail than see my family tonight—or most any night, for that matter. I’m pondering a valid excuse to get out of it when my phone sounds again. This is mandatory.
I release a frustrated sigh before flipping my middle finger in the air. It’s childish, I know, given Jacey isn’t here to see the gesture, but it does make me feel the tiniest bit better. What kind of family uses words like mandatory when they issue an invitation? My father is more like Tony Soprano than Lee could ever be.
A quick look at my watch shows that fifteen minutes have passed. I know better than to be late, so I race out the door at a near jog and hop into the elevator. I wave at the security guard who looks confused as I run past him. Luckily, I have a reserved parking spot near the building, and within moments, I’m in my car and driving toward the outskirts of Asheville. My father’s home is in the prestigious Briar Cliff area. The sprawling mansion is a mixture of stucco and glass. It’s well over ten thousand square feet with six bedrooms and eight bathrooms. There is also a tennis court, an indoor and outdoor pool, and a large guesthouse where my sister lives. One of the best things about working with Falco was that it had been my ticket out of my father’s house. I couldn’t very well have Lee find out that I lived with Hunter Wrenn. Until then, I had worked in one of my father’s companies as the head of accounting. Of course, that hadn’t been listed on my résumé. My father and Jacey had invented my background and money had passed hands to ensure my true identity wasn’t discovered.
I arrive at the tall iron gates and smile at the guard posted there. We’ve had twenty-four-hour security for as long as I can remember. I’ve never really questioned it, because even at a young age, I knew that my father had enemies. He’s such a sweetheart; how could anyone not love him? My lips curl at that sarcastic thought as the gates open and I pull around the circular drive. Two visits in less than a month. Lucky me. I brace myself as I step out of my car and approach the large front door. My finger is inches away from the bell when the door opens, and my sister stands there looking as if a stiff wind could blow her over. I automatically feel fat and sloppy but refuse to grant her the satisfaction of smoothing my clothes. She gives her watch a pointed look before saying, “Nothing like waiting until the last minute.”
I make a production of rolling my eyes, not wanting her to miss the sarcastic gesture. “Do you mind?” I ask as I wedge past her and into the foyer. The double staircase and the marble floors look even more impressive with the light of the chandelier gleaming upon them. I lay a hand on my stomach as it growls. I had a sandwich at my desk for lunch, but that was hours ago. “What’s for dinner? I’m starving.”
“Aren’t you always?” she says snidely. “But unfortunately for you, we’ve already eaten. I realize you aren’t used to depriving yourself, but surely you can make it a little longer without food.”
I refuse to let her insults get to me. So I simply shrug, saying, “You mean you don’t have a leaf of lettuce you could spare? You must have really pigged out.” Smacking my lips, I tease, “I bet you even used some of the dreaded ranch dressing, didn’t you?”
“Certainly not.” She shudders. “That stuff is loaded with fat and calories. I wouldn’t even consider it.”
I bet she has nightmares about it tonight. Unfortunately, my humor is short-lived as I hear footsteps to the right a minute before my father appears. He’s still a handsome man who could pass for someone much younger than his years. His blond hair shows just a hint of gray if you look closely, and like Lee, he’s also devoted to working out and staying in shape. He probably had a salad along with Jacey. He gives me a smile that, as usual, doesn’t reach his eyes. “I’m glad you could make it,” he says as if it were an invitation instead of an order. “Let’s talk in my office.” Without waiting for a reply, he turns on his heel, and Jacey immediately follows behind him, leaving me to bring up the rear.
If not for the sheer size and the large windows, the mahogany walls would make the space feel like a cave. In the first surprise of the evening, my father takes a seat on the leather sofa instead of behind his desk. Jacey settles in a nearby chair, which leaves me hovering before them uncertainly. My father gives an impatient sigh before waving to the space beside of him. Oh, shit. There is nothing informal about my family, so the fact that they’re doing something out of the ordinary has warning bells going off in my head. Against my better judgment, I perch on the end of the sofa and wait for the other shoe to drop—because it always does. My sister makes a production of crossing her legs before saying, “We’d like an update on the situation at Falco. Have you regained Lee’s trust?”
How did I not see this coming? They’re nothing if not predictable so I must be slipping. “Er… I’m not sure I ever lost it.” You can’t lose something you most likely never had. “It’s pretty much business as usual. Just—you know, doing the assistant thing.”
My father snorts. I swear the man actually does something as undignified as snort. Maybe it was an accident. “I really couldn’t give a damn a
bout your work there. Have you been able to find anything useful? You’ve been with him for over two years, yet you’ve turned up nothing. I know you have knowledge and access to much more than you’re admitting.”
I roll my eyes. “Trust me, Lee’s not an idiot. He doesn’t leave incriminating evidence lying around for anyone to find. Nor does he issue invitations to his staff to drop by his home and go through his things. I’ve told both of you before that I’ll never be able to get anything on him. He’s too smart for that. Plus, have you ever thought that maybe he doesn’t have anything major to hide? Not everyone is like you,” I finish in disgust.
My father moves faster than my eyes or my brain can track him. One moment, he’s sitting beside me, and the next, he’s in front of me with his hands around my neck. I hear what I think is a gasp from Jacey—or maybe it’s from me. I claw at his fingers as they tighten their hold until I see stars. His breath is hot on my face as he leans closer. “You’ll watch your fucking mouth around me. I will not tolerate this type of disrespect from my own blood. You’ve been a disappointment since the day you were born. You were supposed to be a son to carry on the family name and not a spineless halfwit for me to support.”
My vision begins to blur as he continues his rant. I wonder fleetingly why no one is helping me. Where is my sister? I have my answer a few seconds later when his hold loosens as she says impatiently, “For God’s sake, Dad, don’t kill her. The last thing we need right now is someone else on the payroll. You know how greedy the local police are around here.” The last thing we need is someone else on the payroll? What the hell?
I sag back weakly, coughing as he releases me. I take large gulps of air as I attempt to calm the burning in my lungs. Tears roll down my cheeks as I process the horror of what just happened. I want out of here so badly, but I’m too weak to flee. I know without a doubt that my knees will buckle the moment I attempt to stand. I cower as my father once again leans near. He runs a finger idly through one of my tears, then looks almost curiously at the moisture there. He shrugs and straightens to his full height, smoothing down his dress shirt. “I have a late meeting to attend, Jacey. I’ll see you at the office tomorrow.” He doesn’t so much as glance my way as he leaves the room whistling under his breath. What the fuck just happened?
I turn my head and stare at my sister, attempting to convey my shock. She heaves a sigh before saying, “How did you see that going exactly? You’ve been around him for over thirty years. You should know by now that if you push him far enough, he’ll explode.” Her voice lowers as she stares off into the distance. “And you never have any warning that it’s coming. So you learn to only say what he wants to hear.” She appears to snap out of whatever trance she’s fallen into and gets to her feet. She stares at me with what appears to be almost hatred on her face. “Whether you realize it or not, I did you a favor. Working for Lee got you away from here. Thanks to me, you have very little interaction with our father, while I am on the front lines every single fucking day of my life.”
“You argued against me being the one to work for Lee,” I point out hoarsely as I raise a hand and touch my neck to soothe the pain there.
“Of course, I did,” she yells. “Why should you be given the chance for a life while I remain here?” Putting her hands on her hips, she snarls, “I would have done a better job, and when it was over, I’d have taken off. He’d have been so happy about bringing Lee to his knees that I doubt he’d have worried about trying to bring me back. But now—years have passed, and I’m still stuck in this purgatory while you play the dumb-blonde card for all it’s worth.”
“Lee isn’t responsible for what happened to our mother,” I say—knowing in my heart that my words are true. “He may have inadvertently started the chain of events that eventually led to it, but there’s no way he went after our family with the intention of destroying her. I think our father did that all on his own.”
“Possibly so.” Jacey shrugs as if we’re discussing the weather. “But that doesn’t really matter anymore. I’m not sure it ever did. This is about a grudge that Dad has against him, and whether it involves Mom is of little importance.”
“We have to stop him,” I say urgently as I stagger to my feet. “You know this can’t end well for anyone involved.”
She gives me a pitying look. “It was too late before this started. The wheels were set in motion before you and I even knew Lee Jacks existed. This hate has festered for years, and it’s out of control now.” She laughs, shaking her head. “Lee may have taken Dad’s parking space when they were teenagers. Anything could have set the old man off. I really don’t need the particulars because they change with our father’s mood. And that has gotten a lot worse in the past year. All I do know is that while he’s obsessed with the man you love, he has less time to focus on the rest of us—which, as you’ve probably guessed, is a very good thing. So unless you want to be the center of his attention, you’d better find something for him to use.”
“I won’t do it,” I say stubbornly. “If he wants Lee, then he can damn well go after him on his own.”
Jacey’s eyes widen for a moment before she gives me a look of reproach. “After what just happened, you’re still protecting Lee? He may not be guilty of everything Father accuses him of, but make no mistake about it, he’s far from innocent. Do you think he’d walk across the street to save you if it came to it?”
“Absolutely,” I say without hesitation. Somehow, I know with a certainty. If possible, he’d come to my aid without question. Not out of love, but because that’s the type of man he is. He’d never let an innocent woman be hurt on his watch. But you betrayed him. I shake that sobering thought off, desperate to believe that it wouldn’t matter. A part of him feels something for me. I think.
“You’re a fool,” she says quietly and then leaves the room. I hear the front door shut a moment later, and I panic. I don’t want to be left alone in this house. I’m in no condition mentally or physically to face my father again tonight. I need to get home and attempt to process what happened.
I reach for my purse on the floor near the sofa and fumble through the contents until I locate my car keys. With one hand on my throat, I make my way out of my childhood home quickly. My legs feel like rubber, but somehow, I reach my car. I hate him. I hate that he can invoke such fear in me. My hands are shaking so badly it takes three attempts until I get the key in the ignition. I shift the car into drive and take a deep breath as I approach the front gate. I wave at the guard and feel a moment of panic that he won’t let me pass. Thank God that fear is unfounded, and I’m soon on the road headed toward home.
The trip passes in a blur of tears and disbelief. I pull into my garage and cut the engine. How could he do that to me? His own flesh and blood? And Jacey just sat there. I stay seated for a moment, hating the tears falling because of that man. I’m almost to the side entrance of my home when a voice sounds behind me. “Where have you been? I’ve been trying to reach you for an hour.” I whirl around, then realize my mistake a moment too late. Lee’s eyes flare as his gaze moves over my wet face and then downward. His harsh inhale tells me that the light of the garage has revealed more to him than I want to. “What in the fuck happened to you?” He moves closer and places a hand lightly on the side of my jaw. When I flinch, his mouth tightens, but his hold remains gentle as he tips my head back. “Are those handprints?” he asks stiffly.
I want to deny it, but how can I? “It’s nothing.” I attempt to shrug his hold off, but only end up hurting myself with the movement. When I grimace, he curses under his breath, but immediately releases me. My throat is so sore that swallowing is torture. There’s no hiding the hoarseness of my voice as I ask, “What did you need?” Even though I’m intrigued that he’s paying me yet another house call, I don’t have the energy to deal with it tonight. I just want him to leave until I’m feeling stronger and less likely to sob at any moment.
The shaking returns to my hands as I attempt to unlock my door. Witho
ut a word, he takes the keys from me and makes short work of the task. He’s not going anywhere, so with a sigh of resignation, I walk into my kitchen with him close behind me. He shuts the door and flips the deadbolt, before leaning back against the kitchen counter. With his feet crossed at the ankles, he appears completely relaxed—but I know he’s anything but. He’s waiting for me to explain what happened, and I’m desperately trying to avoid it. I have no idea what will happen if he finds out the truth—and I don’t want to know. One thing I am sure of, though, is it will lead to a lot more questions, and I can’t answer them without giving myself away. I’m still trying to decide on the best course of action when he says, “I’ve got all night, Liza, and I’m not remotely tired. So take your time. But mark my words, you will tell me who dared to lay hands on you.” He sounds so calm, as if he’s discussing nothing of importance—yet I hear the steely undertone. He’s beyond furious—but it’s not directed at me. Thank God. But how can it not be? He knows who I am, so why isn’t he calling me on it? Why isn’t he demanding I tell him whatever it is he already knows? When will his game conclude and he throws me away as well? That thought is harder to deal with than anything my father could do to me.
LEE
I put my hands in my pockets, so she can’t see me clenching and releasing them. I make a concentrated effort to calm myself—but it’s not easy. And as I stare at the marks against her white skin, I feel the rage building inside me. I’m so close to losing it, yet outwardly, I give nothing away. I long ago learned to never show my hand too early, and that skill has served me well. Liza is making it harder and harder to maintain my impassive exterior, though. I feel like a kid around her who has no self-control, and I fucking hate it. A smart remark is on the tip of my tongue when I notice her slim shoulders shaking. She’s crying—again. I didn’t miss the wetness on her cheeks when I found her in the garage. I put aside my impatience for answers and move to her side. Without a word, I pull her into my arms and sigh as she wraps her arms around my waist and begins sobbing in earnest. “Shhh, amore mio, you’re safe now,” I whisper against the crown of her head as I drop a kiss there. I rub her back soothingly as the floodgates open. I hate the feeling of the wetness from her tears against my skin, but I don’t pull away. Regardless of the reason, holding her close feels strangely right. When her sobs quiet and she’s leaning limply against me, I murmur, “Who did this to you?” She stiffens and attempts to pull away, but I hold her firmly as I scold her gently. “Stop struggling. You’re going to hurt yourself further.”
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