“And Rebecca?” I ask. “What about her? You saw the girl. She’s practically one crack away from completely breaking.”
“A casualty,” Hugo says simply.
“Are you hearing yourself right now?” I ask him. “The girl is already damaged. Don’t damage her anymore.”
“Juliet’s right,” Anika agrees. “Karlie, you should talk to the girl, tell her about your story, and then get the stupid box.”
“I like this way better,” Karlie says coldly.
“Of course, because you are so damn clear-headed,” I say.
“Excuse me?” She steps to me. “This is nothing but good ol karma.”
“Karma? Your rage and hatred and pain have completely made you as mad as the rest of us. This is reckless karma, Karlie. The kind of karma that will destroy you too.” I face Hugo again. “You said you wanted it to be different.”
“And I also said I will be doing something reckless. Something you wouldn’t approve of and you basically said you were all in.”
“All in, but not this. Not to a victim. She’s more of a victim than anyone else in this room. You know I’m right, Hugo.”
“Well, then it’s a good thing I have trouble admitting that.” He leaves out the room. “We should forgive our enemies… but not before they are hanged.”
“Oh don’t quote Heinrich Heine to me. It’s bullshit and Rebecca isn’t your enemy.”
“No, but she is one of the keys to taking the enemy down.”
“Karlie,” Anika says to her sister, “Karlie you are going too far. After everything. You even promised Ma that you—”
“Anika!” Karlie snaps. “I suggest you remember that I’m your sister and when it comes to this, you remember your part.”
“My part?” Anika’s neck rolls back. “My part in this is that I know the truth. And the truth is that you are just as lost as you were before.”
Karlie looks like she wants to slap the mess out of Anika but holds back.
“I guess dinner is off the table. I’ll go.” Karlie grabs her purse and leaves.
SCARLETT
“Scarlett?” I’m applying the finishing touches of my makeup when Rebecca comes in.
“Yeah, tell Patrick I’ll be ready in a minute,” I tell her. She appears in view of the mirror on the vanity.
“Patrick went to the car with mother.”
“You sure you don’t want to go to this boring dinner?” I smile and wink at her, but she doesn’t smile back. “What’s wrong?”
“Hugo was there that night, right?”
My hands still on the lipstick. Slowly I put the cap on and address her. “Yes.” I stand up from the vanity. I take off my robe and she looks away as I slip on my dress. “Why are you asking me that, Rebecca?”
“I just… I just don’t understand how I could forget that he was there and… even if I was drugged… I should still remember when he arrived, right?”
“It was a hazy night for all of us. Zip me.” She walks over to me and her fingers tremble as she zips up my dress. I turn around facing her, rubbing her shoulders.
“Hugo was there.”
I search her eyes and I almost want to laugh. She went to see Hugo and instead of just telling her the truth, the bastard fucked with her head some more. It’s a game and he knows I love games.
“Hugo was there. You remember that… even if you don’t. Probably is best if you leave it be. Move on. Maybe I can introduce you to young, suitable gentlemen that can get your mind off of it.” She stares at me with disbelief but also trust still. She’s so desperate to escape that she’s willing to consider it.
“Just maybe… maybe it will take time and soon I’ll remember.”
I agree, nodding my head and placing a gentle kiss on her forehead.
I’m gonna need to bring some leverage into this one. Get her to shut up if she continues with this. I will play this pawn with Hugo. Good thing I have my little black box.
JULIET
I’m not sleeping in the same bed as Hugo tonight. I figured since Jaz and Poppy are locked away in her pink paradise I could get my room back. I’m angry. I’m worried. I’m fed up with the ridiculous scheme before it has truly even begun. I can’t sleep and a part of me wants to go to his room. I want to see if he can’t sleep either, but instead I head down to the kitchen.
I know we have a carton of Oreo ice cream in the freezer, so I grab a spoon and bowl and replace angry sex with ice cream. It’s a very good substitute.
“Looks like you couldn’t sleep either.” I’m startled by Anika, who enters the kitchen in Cody’s sweatshirt and boxers.
“Yeah.” I gesture towards the seat across from me. “Grab a spoon and join.”
She does and we both eat in silence. Both sneaking glances at one another, hoping for someone to start. Probably her more than me. She wants to break sister code but needs a push, and I want to push but Hugo will kill me and I promised I wouldn’t.
“So I take it you don’t agree with your sister’s methods.” It’s like I’m just prone to punishing myself.
Anika sighs. “I sometimes wish Karlie had never even met Gabriel Mandrake.”
“Moments can lead to great impacts.”
“This impact was nuclear.”
“I guess there hasn’t been anything good to come out of your sister falling in love with a Mandrake.”
“No… there was something good. Amazing, in fact.”
“Then I have hopes for Hugo and I.” I stop and look into Anika’s eyes. Holy shit. “So… Scarlett came to me with another copy of William Fairchild’s will.”
Her eyes give away everything. “How the hell did she get a copy of that?”
“Scarlett is basically the fucking government, if you haven’t noticed.”
“I need to tell Karlie.”
“I already told her. So it’s true. She stole the fortune from his children.”
“It’s not what you think.”
“Well, what I think is Karlie and Hugo are heading for a very dark turn, and it’s not because of Rebecca. It’s because I have the feeling. It’s a horrible feeling in my gut that tells me this is going to shit and that Karlie is keeping something big from Hugo.” Her eyes linger on mine. “Something I think… could change a lot. Something I think you want to bring to light.”
“My… my sister is everything to me.” She frowns. “This whole thing though… I do think it is bigger than all of us. You rich people have some fucked up secrets and… and it’s only fitting that my sister does too. But this… this shouldn’t be a secret any longer.”
The last part comes off as a whisper. She stands up from the chair. I won’t push any further.
“Tomorrow… tell Hugo you’re busy.”
“Why?”
“It’s time to bring the light to us.”
11
GABRIEL
When I step out of the shower, I am startled by Scarlett. She actually scared me. I was so busy thinking about Karlie and the way she felt beneath me hours ago that I didn’t notice Scarlett come in.
“Did I scare you?” She holds out my towel.
“A little.” I grab it and wrap it around my waist.
“I have known you to never be scared of anything.”
“Well, I still tend to shock.”
“Yes, you do.”
She kisses me. I feel nothing but guilt and annoyance. Her hands grab on to my face and her touch repulses me. I grab her by the wrists, forcing her to stop.
Her grey eyes are hurt and colored with anger.
“We haven’t fucked in a month.”
It kills me to have had sex with Scarlett while pursuing Karlie, but once we took that step and slept together, I have done everything in my power to avoid falling into bed with Scarlett.
“I’m not in the mood.”
I let go of her and head over to the walk in closet. She watches like a hawk as I put lotion on and as I throw on jeans and a shirt. She states the obvious.
&nbs
p; “You haven’t slept with anyone else in months.”
“They bore me.”
“You haven’t even wreaked havoc in months. You’re gone all the time.”
“Maybe I’m wreaking havoc then. I don’t need to tell you everything.”
“Yes, you do!”
I’ve never heard Scarlett yell before.
“I don’t belong to you, Scarlett. I don’t have to tell you anything.”
“Are you in love with someone? Are you seeing someone? A certain… virgin? Or is she not a virgin anymore, Gabriel?”
I laugh. I put on my best performance. “Are you serious, Scarlett?” I walk over to her. “I could care less about anyone. I’m not in love with anyone… but you. I’m just going through some things. That’s it. I’m tired. So let me work my shit out… okay?” My hand cups her chin and my eyes soften. “I would never betray you. You and me… forever.”
I kiss her.
“In life and death?” she whispers and it catches me off guard.
Why would she say that?
“Yes.” I give her the answer she wants anyway.
She doesn’t give me any more trouble and when I go meet Karlie the next day on the steps of the Met, I am relived to find her still happy. I need her to be happy. If she’s not happy, then I don’t know what I am anymore.
As I hug and kiss her, I feel the weight of the cruel world crumbling beneath me. No longer does it carry on my shoulders. But it will return again when we part.
“I don’t think I can do this any longer.” Her face falls in fear and I hurry to correct her worry. “I can’t keep you in the dark anymore.” She smiles. “I’ll move out of Ms. Eleanor’s. I can stay with my father. He won’t care and you just stay away from them. I’ll protect you. We’ll be okay.”
“Okay,” she says with joy and no worry.
I hug her. Everything will be okay.
HUGO
The Hoxley Gentlemen’s Club smells of pure cigars and cologne. It is where the gods of America come and mix. Located thirty minutes from the city. Best golf courses a Callaway driver could come across. Best place to plan ways to continue ruling this country through creating young Republican politicians that won’t question you as long you donate to their campaigns. This is where the real rulers are.
“In the eighties a neighborhood was torn down to build the course, wasn’t it?” I ask Dr. Steven Rodman.
“I suppose so,” he says and his nose does this real weird wiggle thing. Like he’s sniffing his thick black mustache.
I sigh. “Always tearing down things to make room for wasted space.”
He clears his throat. “So what brings you here? I’ve seen your father, but never you.”
“Not my scene.”
“The hostess brought you to me, so I suppose you have something important to discuss. Maybe a personal situation? My office hours are very tight.”
I chuckle. “A well-known psychoanalyst and bestselling author of dozens of books on the minds and souls of people. Critics have said you have revolutionized psychoanalysis and are basically today’s Freud.”
The smug grin on his face leaves this ill taste in my mouth, so I wash it down with a glass of Crown Black.
“Personally,” I continue, “I think you’re just good with words. There is no revolution with psychoanalysis. No deep study of the soul and mind needed. It’s simple. We’re just all fucked up.”
His reserve diminishes once he laughs. He takes another sip of his drink and slaps his hand on the brown oak table.
“You are a funny boy.”
“And you are a funny man. But, yes, there is a reason I wanted to see you, but I don’t need therapy. Well, I do, but according to my last one, I’m a lost cause, so I will just have to settle for getting inducted into the Black Card Club.”
His smile fades. “The club has been disbanded.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Come on, Steven. My uncle was the one that started the club. It is only right that I may be accepted.”
“There is no more club.” His tone is harsher.
“Then why are the club members paying Scarlett Brayson four million dollars every year?”
It’s the exact same look on each person’s face when Scarlett’s name is mentioned. A look of fear as if they have been to hell and back. So this look on Steven’s face says one thing.
“What the hell were you doing in that club of yours? Whatever it was, it must have a trail of carnage in an almighty form.”
He leans in closer, huffing like a bull. “Trust me, boy. When it comes to that girl, she is not someone you want to cross. She is capable of very vile things.”
“Oh, I know. The real question is: what are the vile things you are so capable of that she has you this terrified?” My head tilts in wonder. “I do hope it is as horrible as I think it is.”
And it could be anything. Anything could be it. I stand up and he sits back sneering at me.
“Don’t cross fire where the devil bathes, boy.”
“Haven’t you heard? I am the devil.”
I leave him with his cigar and fear. Fear that also resides in me. It’s not about the club. It’s not about Scarlett. It’s about what gave birth to the club. Who gave birth to the club. It was my blood.
JULIET
It didn’t take much to avoid Hugo. He had a meeting with a member of the Black Card Club. He just told me. We didn’t talk much about anything else. The tension is still clear even when I’m apart from him, but I’m hoping that maybe what Anika has to show me will clear it… or worse, it could escalate it.
We’re at JFK Airport where the arrival passengers are being let out.
“Why are we here?” I ask.
“Picking up my mom.”
“She has the answers to this big secret?”
“You will see in a minute.”
“Are you sure about this?” Cody asks her. “I understand that you wanted to protect your sister, not betray her trust.”
“I am protecting her. She’s gonna be pissed but… I gotta do this.” She grabs Cody’s hand. “And I definitely want you to be here.”
He smiles at her and I can’t help but to appreciate the evidence of love in front of me. Even though they both don’t know it yet.
Anika’s eyes begin to light up as the crowd from the Monaco flight appear. Cody and I both try to search for a woman that resembles Karlie and Anika. Many faces in the crowd of people makes it hard. But a smile equal to Anika’s peaks interest. Her skin is the same shade as Karlie’s and her hair is cut short with grey peeking out of the front. I smile myself at her. She is either that magnetic or it’s just me being anxious to know the secret. A secret I sort of already had an idea about, but as she gets closer, I am not prepared for the baggage she has with her.
“Is that what I think it is?” Cody asks and all I can say is,
“Oh my God.”
GABRIEL
I walk in the house. The lights are off inside. Everyone must be gone. I look around and I am relieved. Ms. Eleanor is out of town and I suppose everyone isn’t around. I could use the peace and quiet. With Scarlett getting mad at me for avoiding her and keeping Karlie a secret, my head is starting to persuade me into a panic attack. I just want to press pause for a minute.
I get to my room but pause. I don’t remember closing my door.
I open my door and enter. I can’t pull my hand away from the knob. It squeezes tight. The cold metal being pressed on causes a warm and painful sensation in the palm of my hand. Noel can barely stand as he rushes to put on his clothes and Chad gleams in his naked glory, his body hovering over an equally naked passed out Karlie. I think I’m spraining my wrist as I squeeze tighter.
He gets out of the bed and also puts his clothes on.
“She sure is sweet, Gabriel.” The sound of his voice goes in and out like a knife making my ears bleed with unbearable pain.
Noel looks strung out and in pain himself as he finally
stands up.
“She’s better than I’d thought,” Scarlett’s voice comes from behind me. She steps past me and comes in view with a smirk on her face.
She shrugs and grins. “I got tired of waiting.”
It takes everything in me not to kill the people that stand before me gloating, or in Noel’s case looking oblivious to the act he has committed.
“Well,” I clear my throat, “had I known this was an option, I wouldn’t have wasted all that time romancing her.”
I am cold in my tone. I am hard in my stance and can’t blink. If I do, a tear will fall. A tear I have not shed for anyone since my mother.
Chad grabs Noel, who is stumbling still in a daze. They walk past me and before Scarlett leaves me to clean up the mess, she leans into my ear and softly whispers,
“You know what’s good about being a great liar? It’s that all that pain inside… it just grows and grows until it finally breaks. And when it breaks, it will just make it more worthwhile for the ones that caused it. And I forgive you. Heinrich Heine said it best. We should forgive our enemies… but not before they are hanged. ”
She leaves and I finally let go of the door knob.
I slowly walk over to my bed. The bed I sleep in. The bed I fucked in. The bed where I dream every night about Karlie. The bed we made love in a few days ago. She’s sprawled out. Her eyes low and staring up at me. A tear rolls down her cheek and I quickly wipe the one coming down mine. My bottom lip trembles and I kneel down, grabbing hold of the sheet and pressing my forehead against the cushion of the bed. Hearing her breathing and smelling the foulness. I think I’m going to be sick. I press my mouth against the mattress and a cry escapes my mouth, vibrating the bed I may burn after this. I may burn the whole fucking house down.
HUGO
“So he wouldn’t give you any information?” Karlie asks me from across the table. She drinks her glass of lemonade and vodka with lime while I drink Crown straight. I set my drink down on the glass table before answering, draping my arm over the couch.
Reckless Karma (Sinners & Saints #2) Page 13