“Let’s go in the dining room,” Grant said. He opened the pastry dish and pulled out a doughnut.
Jules tisked and shook her head. “I’m making you an egg white omelet.”
“Give that tasteless mess to Patricia when she comes down. I’m eating this doughnut and I don’t want to hear a word about it.”
Unfazed, Jules picked and apple from the fruit bowl and placed it next to the doughnut and bacon. “Eat it.”
Grant grinned and winked before going into the dining room. Byron followed. He glanced over his shoulder at Jules, who smiled as she made the omelet. Byron shook his head.
“Isn’t that what got you in trouble one time?” Byron said as he and Grant settled at one end of the dining room table.
“What?” Grant picked up a slice of bacon and bit it in half.
“Flirting with the family chef. You keep it up and Patricia will wonder if she might lose you the same way Mom did.”
Grant froze, his eyes narrowed and his chest puffed out. Byron only slightly regretted the words. Years of not pushing back against his father fought with the words he’d held inside himself for over a decade. He considered apologizing, then remembered Grant ordered Roy around without a consideration to Byron’s wishes.
“Patricia has nothing to worry about,” Grant said confidently.
“Did you say the same thing about Mom?” Byron countered.
Grant dropped the bacon and pointed at Byron. “Now, you listen here—”
“No, Dad, you listen. I’m not saying this to be disrespectful or out of spite. I’m saying it because I’m being honest. Patricia claimed she was Mom’s friend. If she was and you slept with her then how am I supposed to know you won’t sleep with Jules?”
Grant threw up a hand. “What the hell brought this on? This doesn’t really have anything to do with me and Patricia.”
“What, you’re having a hard time believing I’d question you after I’ve gone along with everything you expect of me? You wanted me to go to the University of North Carolina, I did. You wanted me to become a lawyer and work for the company. I did. When you said I could do more if I got into national politics, I jumped into one of the biggest races I could. I’ve accepted so much of what you say and expect of me that even my own campaign manager thinks it’s okay to take orders from you instead of me.”
Understanding flashed in his father’s eyes. He relaxed and resumed eating bacon. “Is this about the pictures?”
The way Grant sounded unfazed made Byron want to snatch the bacon out of his hand and toss it across the room. His dad really didn’t care if Byron was upset, because Byron had never fought back on anything. He was tired of just going along with what his dad thought and believed. Holding back for years was the reason Grant believed he could go to Roy and override Byron’s orders.
Byron pressed a finger on the table. “It’s about more than the pictures. It’s about how you really do think we’re supposed to be okay with everything you say and do for us. No pushback. No questions. When I have to threaten to fire my employee because he listened to you instead of me, and when I see you flirting with our new chef right after you told us to accept your proposal to our previous cook, I think I have a right to ask some damn questions.”
By the time he was finished his breathing was fast. His heart pumped wildly. His voice hadn’t risen, but years of frustration and untapped anger clipped the edges of his words.
Grant meticulously dusted his hands off by wiping them together. Once done with that, he took a long breath and leaned back in his chair. “You don’t have to worry about Jules being an upgrade, because I happen to love Patricia.”
“Does that mean you didn’t love Mom?” Piercing pain punctured Byron’s chest. He scanned his memories of his parents together and couldn’t come up with anything to suggest they weren’t happy. They’d been loving, affectionate and damn formidable when it came to the Robidoux legacy.
“I did love her,” Grant said, sounding sad. “But...”
“But what? When she got sick you couldn’t deal?”
Grant’s back straightened. “I stayed by her side through the entire ordeal. I made sure she had everything she needed.” Grant said the words as if that absolved him of all wrongdoing.
“What if what she needed was a faithful husband?”
“Well, then she wouldn’t have told me to seek comfort in Patricia’s arms.”
Byron drew in a sharp breath. “That doesn’t make it right.”
“I’m not saying that it does. Right or wrong, that’s how it started. Once it started, well, it kept going. The day of your mom’s funeral I knew she was the only person who would understand my grief.”
Byron shook his head. “No, she wasn’t. You lost a wife, but we lost a mother. We needed you here.”
Grant’s face tightened. “I gave you kids everything I could. I’m not good at the nurturing and the emotional stuff. That’s what your mom was for. I’m here to make sure you reach your potential. To give you everything you need to have more than me. You want to get mad about Patricia now, or say I pushed you to do things you didn’t want to do, fine. But look where my pushing got you. You’re this close to winning this election.” He held his thumb and forefinger a few centimeters apart. “This damn close. You know why? Because I released those pictures of you and Zoe. You’re a fool in love with that woman and the public needed to see it. You went up in the polls. After word gets out about you pulling your kid and driver from the wreckage, you’ll get another jump.”
Byron hit the table with the side of his fist. “That’s not how I want to win.”
“How you win doesn’t matter as long as you get what you want,” Grant said easily.
“I don’t know if I want this.” The words burst out of Byron. A truth that shook him like an unexpected hit to the solar plexus. He wasn’t sure if he wanted this life. The constant scrutiny. The questioning of his lifestyle and that of his family. The expectation to be a perfect role model, citizen and man.
“If you don’t want this, quit.”
Byron’s head jerked back. “What?”
“You think I’m pushing you to run for Senate and you don’t want to. Fine. Quit,” Grant said with a wave of his hand. He leaned forward and lowered his voice. “But ask yourself if you’re giving it up because you’re really tired of me pushing you to be great, or if you’re doing it because you think it’ll make being with Zoe easier.”
“She’s got nothing to do with this.”
Grant scoffed. “Son, if you really believe that then you don’t deserve to win.” Grant stood, grabbed the pieces of bacon off his plate and shook his head. “I’m going upstairs to my fiancée. You stay down here in your feelings and figure out what’s really going on in your fool head.”
Byron didn’t look at Grant as he left. What had he wanted to get out of this conversation? Had he thought he’d get an apology from his dad for going behind his back and a promise to never butt into his life again? Now all he had was a stomach full of frustration, and no push in the right direction.
If he quit, what would he do? Be with Zoe and live happily ever after? He’d seen the panic in her face when he’d said he loved her. She hadn’t said it back. He’d let down the people who’d supported him and worked for him on the hopes of Zoe loving him.
Byron clenched his hand around the coffee mug and took a long sip of the liquid. The heat of the coffee burned away any remaining softness. His dad was a cynical man but look where not being ruled by emotions had gotten him. Byron had been too accommodating, too eager to please, and look what he’d gotten? If he was going to win, now was the time to ignore his heart and make logical, not emotional, decisions.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
BYRON RECEIVED DOMINIC’S report on the fire investigation two days later. The official investigation said it was an electrical fire. Something he hadn’t
believed considering Zoe’s home was less than ten years old and had no prior electrical issues. After Zoe mentioned her neighbor’s claim to have seen someone around the house, he’d been anxious to find out what was on her security cameras. Initially, the cameras hadn’t caught any unusual activity, but after Dominic had the file reviewed, they discovered the file had been hacked and tampered with. If there had been someone in Zoe’s home before, the proof had been erased.
He had to tell her. He’d spoken to Wesley after the accident. The car that hit them had done so deliberately. He hadn’t wanted to tell Zoe it wasn’t a random hit and run so he wouldn’t scare her. He wasn’t sure if the intent was to hurt him or to hurt Lilah. Things were heating up and whomever was behind this was increasing the intensity of their attacks. He couldn’t leave Zoe in the dark.
He left the campaign office and went to the estate. He’d texted Zoe earlier and asked if she wanted to go to lunch, but she’d had lunch with Elaina. Now she’d be at home waiting on Lilah to get there.
He went straight to the pool house and knocked on the door. Byron glanced around at the bay windows and the door. It was time for her to move into the main house. The pool house was secure and protected on the grounds, but she and Lilah would be safer if they were closer to the family. Zoe liked her independence and the privacy of the pool house, but her safety was more important than privacy.
Zoe opened the door and blinked against the bright sunlight. Her hair was parted asymmetrical down the middle with two large flat twists that connected to a curly ponytail at the back. Her short-sleeved red button-up blouse opened just above her cleavage and dark patterned pants hugged her hips. After she’d blinked a few times and her eyes adjusted to the light, she grinned. Byron almost forgot what he was about to say, the brightness of her smile stunning him.
He wished he could tamper back his response. He’d said he loved her. She hadn’t said the same. He hadn’t said it again. Just because she looked at him with affection in her eyes didn’t mean he could make assumptions about how she felt. He’d done that before, but damn if her smile didn’t make him want to forget the past and just go with the emotions swirling through him.
“I didn’t expect you until later tonight,” she said, stepping back. “Come in.”
Byron entered and pushed the door closed behind him. She immediately came into his arms. His mouth covered hers and he breathed her in. This was easy between them. He liked the way her curves cradled him, the sweet taste of her lips and the way her fingers curled around the lapel of his suit and pulled him closer as if she needed him just as much as he needed her.
“How is your shoulder?” she asked after pulling back.
He rolled his shoulder, which was still stiff and sore after the accident. “It’s better.”
Her brows drew together. “You frowned when you said that. It’s still bothering you, isn’t it?”
“Nothing I can’t handle.” He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer. “I’m not here to talk about my shoulder.”
She grinned and kissed him again. “Then what are you here for?” Her hips shifted forward. “Lilah won’t be here for another hour.”
His dick stiffened. He wasn’t there for that, either. Yet, his body didn’t want to focus on the bad news he’d come with. His body said lift her up, take her to the bedroom and make damn good use of one of the rare moments they had alone together.
Zoe grinned against his mouth. Her hand lowered to cup the growing hardness between them. “Never mind. I think I figured it out.”
Byron groaned and gently pulled her hand way. His body screamed for more attention. His head tried very hard to silence the scream. “Not that, either. I need to talk to you.”
Zoe pulled back and met his eyes. Slowly, the sexy smile on her face faded away. She took a step back and frowned. “What’s wrong?”
“Let’s sit down.”
“That bad, huh?” She shook her head and went to the couch. “Let me guess. Your dad found out Elaina is trying to purchase his company and now he hates me?”
Byron blinked and tried to process what she said. “Wait...she’s going through with it?” After Zoe’s inspection neither of them had mentioned the purchase again. He’d assumed the plan was off the table.
Zoe’s eyes widened. “Oh, crap! That’s not it?”
Byron pinched the bridge of his nose and settled next to her on the couch. “I actually hoped she’d change her mind.”
“No, she can really turn things around if she does everything she says she will. I’m sorry. Now that she’s getting closer to making the deal, I’m worried Grant’s going to find out and kick me out. Plus, earlier today she was upset. I thought maybe she’d told your dad.”
Byron ran a hand over his chin. “No.” He sighed. Could nothing be easy with his damn family? He couldn’t deal with that right now. “You know what? That’s their fight. We’ve got bigger things to worry about than my dad and Elaina.”
“Are you sure? Once the word gets out don’t you think it’ll look bad on your campaign?”
Just the idea of another media scandal he’d have to navigate made his right eye twitch. The only good thing is they could easily handle Elaina buying their dad’s company as a planned transfer. Elaina’s latest whim was nothing compared to having to face the person who’d doctored the security video at Zoe’s home, and possibly rammed head-on into his car.
“My campaign is about to take a backseat to another problem,” Byron said.
“What could possibly happen now?”
Byron met her eyes. “I don’t think your house fire was an accident.”
Zoe stared at him for several long seconds before her eyes narrowed. “What are you talking about? We got the fire investigation. It was bad wiring.”
“I wanted to be sure, so I asked Dominic and Jeanette to do a separate investigation. Dominic had the surveillance video around your home checked. It looks like someone tampered with the video. He wasn’t sure why someone would delete the footage of that day and replace it with old footage. Unless...”
“Are you saying someone set my house on fire?” Zoe stood up and paced back and forth.
“I can’t say for sure.”
Zoe glanced around the pool house. Her gaze guarded and suspicious. “And you didn’t think to tell me? Byron, why would you keep this a secret?”
“I wanted to be sure.” Faced with the hurt on her face he wished he would have said something sooner.
“Even if you wanted to be sure you should have told me you were suspicious. I thought Lilah and I were safe.”
“You are. I’m keeping you safe.”
She slashed a hand through the air. “No, you’re keeping me in the dark.”
Byron stood and placed his hands on her arms. She stiffened and his stomach twisted. She hadn’t reacted negatively to his touch in weeks. “I didn’t want to worry you. I just found out today and that’s why I’m here telling you.”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “Is there anything else I need to know?”
Byron sighed. “The emails...they haven’t stopped.”
Zoe stretched her arms until his hands fell away. She took three deep breaths and turned away. When she faced him she opened her mouth a few times as if trying to find the right words. “What do you mean? You said they weren’t linked to anything? I haven’t gotten any more.”
Byron ran his hands over his pants and braced himself for her reaction. “That’s because Dominic set it up so any emails from that address would go to another account.”
“Are you kidding me?” Zoe exclaimed. “You broke into my email?”
“We redirected them.” She turned away and pressed a hand to her forehead. Byron kept talking. Hoping she’d understand. “Dominic needed more time to try and track down where they were coming from.”
She spun and pointed an a
ccusing finger. “You told me they were coming from some spammer farm location.”
“I didn’t want you to be afraid.”
She stepped forward. “I’ve been afraid my entire life. I’ve always lived in fear.” Her voice shook. “I was afraid my dad would come home and fight my mom. I was afraid Kendell would slap me because I spent too long at a volunteer event with you. I was afraid he’d find out about Lilah and come back. My life is fear.”
He placed his hands on her shoulders. “Which is why I wanted you to feel safe.”
Zoe jerked out of his touch. “No, you wanted to leave me unprotected. You created a false sense of security, so I’d go along with things and be your perfect political partner.”
Byron staggered back. Her words as much of a shock as a slap to the face. “That’s not true. All I care about is your and Lilah’s safety.”
“No, you don’t. Lilah and I were safe before. I handled things.”
“Your house was set on fire. What if the two of you were in there? I have the resources to track down the threat.”
She crossed her arms. “Have you?” Her voice was an accusation.
“Not yet, but we’re close.”
She scoffed and rolled her eyes. “What did I say. We’re unprotected. I let my guard down because I thought I could trust you. I believed you would keep us safe, but you haven’t done that.”
He’d done everything in his power to try and protect her. How could she not understand that? “I’m telling you now so we can figure out what to do. First, you need to move into the main house.”
“I’m not moving into the house. We’re leaving.” Zoe walked past him to the bedroom.
“Have you lost your mind? You can’t leave.”
She whirled on him. “Yes, we can and we are. I’ll go someplace new. We’ll start over. We did it once, we can do it again.”
“Your face and Lilah’s face are all over the news. You can’t hide anymore. People will know you. You have to stay here. You have to rely on me.” As soon as the words left his mouth he knew they were the absolute wrong thing to say. She didn’t want to rely on him or anyone else.
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