Deloris had Charli’s phone, the one Fitzgerald had given to her. Everyone already knew she was in Savannah; it wouldn’t be that difficult to pinpoint her location. Other than her clandestine rendezvous with Jane and our legal meetings, we’d been imprisoned as much as Spencer. It wasn’t only the press that was hounding both Charli and also Chelsea, but also their concern over meeting Fitzgerald or Spencer.
Charli huffed as she settled on the sofa with her laptop. “I want to leave too, but Daryl said that if Chelsea left before giving the police a chance to question her again, it could look suspicious.”
“She has Isaac. We can even leave Deloris. I could whisk you back to New York.”
“I want that too.” Her golden eyes lit with happiness. “My mom sounds… good. I’d like to see her.”
“Did she really say she was going to call Daryl about a divorce?”
“Yes.” Charli looked down at her screen. “It’s after seven. She may have already done it.”
I sat beside her, the sofa bowing to my weight as I let out a long breath and fell against the soft cushioned back. “Come on, princess, let’s go back to New York.” I reached for her sock covered feet as her toes burrowed against my leg. “Not even Rye. Let’s go back to our place. We won’t tell anyone and…” I pulled her feet until her legs were straightened over my lap. “…I’ll show you my cape.”
A stunning smile widened across her lips as I rubbed the arches of her feet.
“That feels so good,” she cooed. “You better stop or I may fall asleep.”
“That’s not exactly what I had in mind.”
“Your cape?” she asked. “Really? I was beginning to think it didn’t exist.”
“It’s all part of the myth, the legend. If I’d shown it to you too soon, you wouldn’t have truly appreciated it.”
Charli laughed. “There isn’t anything you’ve shown me so far that I haven’t appreciated.”
“I like the sound of that.”
She shook her head and looked back at the laptop. “I know I should be working on schoolwork, but I’m trying to see what I can find. I mean, the state has charged Bryce. They can’t charge Chelsea too, unless it’s as an accessory.”
I laid my head back and closed my eyes. “She has a solid alibi. She was out, all over Savannah, all day.”
“And she was alone.”
“But Deloris has obtained more than a few of the stores’ surveillance. Chelsea was on the footage. It’s all dated and time stamped. Deloris is working on the timetable. Traffic, distance, time spent in each establishment.”
Charli nodded again. “I know it’s her. You know it’s her, but with the big sunglasses she was wearing, it’s not exactly conclusive. In the pictures, in all honesty, it could be me.” She shook her head. “Daryl said Ralph could just be blowing smoke, but I think establishing an ironclad alibi is her best defense. She signed for some of the merchandise. Deloris is securing all the transactions.”
I lifted my head. “Why would he show his hand?”
“What do you mean?”
“He could have had Chelsea on the stand and taken that line of questioning. If he had, he could have, at the very least, established a shred of doubt in the prosecution’s case, made the jury question her alibi, especially with the sunglasses. Instead, he showed his hand. He’s giving us time to refute him long before this thing goes to trial. It doesn’t make sense.”
Sighing, Charli closed the laptop and sat it on the carpet near the sofa. “Shit. He has another angle, doesn’t he?”
“I don’t know what it is, but I think he does.”
“I want to leave too,” she said wishfully. “How about if I meet with Ralph one last time tomorrow about the will and then we can go?”
I sat up. “No. Why do you need to go back to that snake’s office?”
“Because I’m not coming back. I don’t want to… until I’m subpoenaed. I might as well get this over with, especially if my mother is really going to talk to Daryl and leave Alton. It’s not going away. Their divorce is a stipulation of the will.”
“You’re not leaving my sight.”
Charli pulled her feet from my lap and climbed up on her knees. Leaning over me, she kissed my cheek. “I like the sound of that.” Her kisses rained lower over my ear and my chin. Each contact created a chill that ignited a flame. “What is it… exactly… that you… want to see?” she asked between kisses.
I shook my head. “Oh, princess, you’re playing with the wrong kind of fire right now.”
Her long, untethered hair flowed over her shoulders, tickling my nose as she continued to pepper my neck with soft kisses. Her petite hands moved over my shirt to the buttons. “I think you’re… the exact fire… I need to forget… this shitty day.”
I lifted the platinum diamond-dusted cage hanging near her collar. “Did you hear that, Deloris… or is it Isaac… Clayton?”
“Fuck!” Her cheeks glowed red. The crimson was bright enough to rival her hair as she reached behind her neck and undid the clasp.
As she laid the necklace beside her laptop, I seized her wrist. In one quick move, she was flattened and pinned between the couch and me. “What did I tell you about taking that off? Are you planning a swim?”
“No,” she giggled. “If you’ll let me up, I’ll go get the other one. It’s in the safe.”
“The same place as your wedding rings?”
It took her a minute—during that time visible questions swirled in her golden gaze. And then, all at once her lips parted and laugh filled the room. “Yes. Right where I left them, dear.” She shrugged. “But that time, I was planning a swim.”
In the living room of a Savannah hotel suite, we were transported back to Del Mar. “You were the most beautiful woman I’d seen. I came out of the water and there you were. So sexy and sophisticated.” I ran my finger over her lips. “And your mouth. Witty and smart. Yet young and innocent.
“My cock is getting hard just thinking about that bathing suit.”
Charli wiggled beneath me, her round curves and hard planes rubbing against all the right places.
“Hmm. You were very sexy and mysterious. All tough and protective.”
“I was? I’m not anymore?”
“I’ve seen under the mask.”
“Only what I’ve let you see.”
“What are you hiding from me, Mr. Demetri?”
“If I told you, I wouldn’t be mysterious.”
“You’ll always be…” Charli’s words faded as her cell phone chimed from the table across the room.
“It can wait,” I said.
She pushed against my shoulders. “Not if it’s my momma.”
Sighing, I sat up. “I remember when you used to avoid her calls.”
She shot me a grin over her shoulder as she hurried toward the phone. “I remember when you wouldn’t talk to your dad. Look how things have changed.”
“Momma,” she said into her phone. “Is everything all right?”
Standing, I bent down and lifted the pearl necklace from the floor. Giving Charli a moment of privacy, I carried it into the bedroom. Inside the large closet was the standard-issue hotel safe. I exchanged the audible necklace for the other one, closed the safe, and carried it back to the living room. Charli was still talking as I draped the chain around her neck and secured the clasp.
Though she shook her head, she didn’t try to stop me. There was no way she was getting out of my sight. Not her or her blue dot.
“I’m so proud of you,” she said into the phone. “Really. It’ll be all right. Nox said the Demetri Enterprise legal staff is looking into Montague Corporation. Nothing will happen overnight. They’re corporate attorneys. They’ll help… Not in person? You’re not coming here, are you?”
The panic in her tone made me stop and stare, as if by standing still I could hear Adelaide’s response.
Charli let out a deep breath. “Good. We’re hoping soon. Probably tomorrow… I love you too.”
She swiped the phone and laid it back on the table. “I can’t believe it. She’s really going to do it.”
“Did she talk to Daryl?”
“Yes. He’s agreed to represent her in the divorce.”
“I hope she’s letting him tell your stepfather.”
“No.”
“No?” I asked.
“She wants to do it. She says she needs to do it.”
“Not in person?”
Charli shook her head. “No, thank goodness.”
“When?” I asked as my phone buzzed with a text.
Deloris: “ADELAIDE JUST CALLED MR. FITZGERALD IF YOU WANT TO LISTEN.”
My eyes grew wide. “This may be inappropriate.”
Charli’s cheeks rose. “Oh, I’m intrigued.”
“No. The text.”
She placed her fist against her hip. “Who’s sending you inappropriate text messages?”
“No…” I shook my head with a grin. “Deloris is listening to everyone. She has your stepfather’s phone tapped. I can tell her to stop listening, but she wanted you to know that your mom just called his number. They’re talking right now.”
“Can she hear what they’re saying?”
I nodded. “And you can too if you want.”
Indecision washed across her features, a cloud of morality. Right versus wrong. Curiosity versus privacy. And just like a gust of winter wind, the hesitancy was gone. “Hell yes.” She rushed toward the door. “Let’s go. I can’t wait to finally hear her tell that bastard off.”
I hurried to keep up as Charli ran down the corridor toward Deloris’s room.
She may have been quick, but my strides were longer. I reached her just as she slid through Deloris’s slightly ajar door. She came to a dead stop, her heartbeat quickened against mine as I pulled her toward my chest. The room vibrated with the thunder of Alton Fitzgerald’s voice.
“…after nearly four days! Four days!”
Her body trembled, the joy from moments earlier was gone as her eyes filled with scenes Deloris and I couldn’t see.
“Princess, let’s go. Deloris will let us—”
She covered my lips with trembling fingers as her head moved back and forth.
Adelaide was speaking. “Stop and be glad I called you now.”
“Be glad? I’d ask where in the hell you are or who you’re with, but I know.”
“I know you know.”
“If that criminal thinks he can come between us…”
“Us, Alton? There’s never been an us. There’s been a you and a me. That doesn’t make an us.”
“Come home and we’ll work this out. Surely you’ve seen the mess—”
“The mess your son has created?”
“What?” Charli gasped as she stumbled, reaching for her stomach.
Her complexion paled as I wrapped my arms tighter around her, also trying to make sense of what had just been said. Did Adelaide just admit that Bryce was actually Fitzgerald’s son?
“Come on—”
“No,” Charli said. “I need to hear this.”
“…I’ve seen it,” Adelaide continued. “Not that you wanted me to. While in that awful place, I couldn’t see anything or anyone—”
“Because you were drunk. You always have been. We put you in that hospital, a very respected facility, for your own good. Do you have any idea how much that place cost?”
“I’m better. I’m calling to let you know that I’ve contacted an attorney. Expect to be served with divorce papers.”
“Have another glass of wine, dear. You’re delusional.”
“And leave my house.”
“How dare you! I’ve built this house, this fortune…” he continued to bellow.
Charli pulled away and sank to the edge of the sofa. “Can you turn that down?”
Deloris nodded as she adjusted the volume.
“…your father expected this out of you,” Fitzgerald continued to bellow. “He knew you’d ruin another marriage. He knew you were never going to keep any man satisfied—”
“Was that why you killed him?” Adelaide’s calm tone resonated as even Fitzgerald had difficulty finding the right words.
“Delusional. I have medical records. I have proof. The doctors will all testify to your incompetence.”
“That’s wonderful. I have doctors, too. I have proof, too. They ran tests. I won’t say more because I won’t waste my breath. Just know that I’ve seen the entire will, including the part you didn’t want me to see.
“You knew that though,” she continued. “That’s why you drugged me, poisoned me. You’re not as untouchable as you think. Push me on the divorce, Alton. Please.
“Because when you do, I’ll enjoy watching you fall. The codicil says everything goes to the rightful heirs. Guess what? That’s not you.”
“We had a prenuptial agreement. The wealth I added to this company, this family…”
“Maybe you and Bryce can share a cell. From Chelsea’s bruised face, it’s easy to see that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Or because of that, maybe you would rather room with someone else. That boy has quite the temper. Maybe you could find out what it’s like to be on the receiving end.”
“There’s no way I’ll allow—”
“Goodbye, Alton. Let me give you some parting advice, the same you gave me: remember to swallow and grin and bear it.”
Though Fitzgerald continued to speak, the line had obviously been disconnected.
I reached for Charli’s hand. The trembling had stopped, but her cheeks were wet.
“Princess?”
She took a deep breath and stood. “What did she mean about Alton’s son?”
Deloris’s eyes widened. “I really don’t know. I can try to find out.”
“Eww,” Charli said, turning a small circle. “His son. Suzanna and Alton’s affair has been going on for nearly thirty years?” She took a deep breath. “I think I feel ill.”
“You didn’t marry him. Even Porter isn’t claiming you did.”
Her head moved back and forth. “B-but he wanted me to. Alton was pushing me to.”
“So Spencer would have access to everything Montague.”
Charli sat back on the edge of the sofa. “That would make sense, but did my grandfather know? Is that why he stipulated Bryce in the will?”
“We’re jumping to conclusions,” Deloris said.
“And… my grandfather? Did Momma accuse Alton of killing him? What the hell?”
“It’s because of the date on the codicil,” I volunteered. “The law student who used to work for Hamilton and Porter and now works with Daryl told us about it last week. Your grandfather approved the codicil the day he died. Stephen thought it was weird.”
Charli’s eyes opened wide. “My whole family is fucked up.”
A grin came to my lips. “And I thought I had the market cornered on that family trait.”
She stood again and reached for my hand. “Tell me we’ll go back home soon. My mom deserves a hug.”
“Your stepfather is going to fight her,” Deloris said. “He’s calling Ralph Porter right now.”
Charli shrugged. “She knows that, but did you hear her? No matter what he says or does, she’ll always have that.” Her smile returned. “I’ll always have it.” She tugged my hand, pulling herself toward me and looked up. “Hi, I’m Alexandria Collins. I’m twenty-four years old and I just met my mother. She’s kind of kick-ass.”
I kissed Charli’s forehead. “I think I know how you feel. And I’d say her daughter is even more kick-ass.”
“I hate to be the one to break up this tender moment,” Deloris said. “But go back to your room and let me monitor…” Her eyes widened and nose scrunched as she lifted the earphones now replacing the speakers toward her ears. “…this tirade.”
Even through earphones the tenor of Fitzgerald’s voice could be heard.
“You might want to adjust that volume again,” Charli said.
“B
atplane? Our apartment?” I asked, hoping for an earlier exit.
She shook her head. “Our suite for tonight. The dust hasn’t settled for Chelsea.”
My gut twisted with the apprehension Savannah induced in me. “Twenty-four hours.”
“Yes, Mr. Demetri.”
THE CLICK OF the old-fashioned elevator slowly moving upward was replaced by loud voices arguing as we ascended to the second floor of Hamilton and Porter.
I reached for Nox’s hand, recognizing the loudest voice. Nox didn’t ask. He knew the voice too. He’d heard it last night in Deloris’s suite. I envied his limited exposure. I’d heard it most of my life.
“What the hell?” Nox said. “You asked her to be here, set up this appointment knowing that he’d be here?”
“No, sir,” Natalie said, “Miss Collin’s appointment was set first.” She opened the cage-like door. “I didn’t know they’d be so loud. Let me take you to another room. He won’t know you’re here.”
“The entire will, Ralph. You told me she knew about the codicil, but not the entire will!”
I stood taller, my feet unwilling to move as Alton’s voice echoed down the corridor.
“Alton, she’s lying. I have the records from when she was here. They concentrated on the codicil.”
“Fix it! She wants a divorce. It’s not happening. She agreed to no divorce. We’ll fight her at every turn.”
“Calm down.”
“Calm down? You want me to calm down as everything I’ve worked for vanishes? It’s not just me. You’ve helped. You know what you’ve done. I’m not losing everything without…”
Nox tugged my hand, pulling me toward Natalie and Mr. Owen as Isaac stayed by our sides. The voices faded as we turned a corner and entered the conference room.
No one spoke as Natalie shut the door.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “Mr. Fitzgerald wasn’t on Mr. Porter’s schedule. He just showed up.”
“Showed up?” Nox asked. “You’re sure he doesn’t know that Alex is here?”
“No, sir. If you’d prefer to reschedule?”
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