Page 91 of Fake Dark Vows
I turn around to find Kelly coming out of Harry’s room, and my cheeks flood with heat when I wonder how much of our conversation she overheard.
“My turn.” Damon barely acknowledges his wife as he slips back inside the room, leaving her outside.
“Kelly,” I begin. “I’m so sorry. I saw Damon in Vegas.”
She walks to the coffee machine, and I follow her. “I never thought I’d be that woman, you know, the kind who needs caffeine just to get through the day.” She stares at the mucky brown liquid pouring into the plastic cup and slides it out when it’s ready. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”
She straightens, her expression deliberately neutral.
Deep breath. I don’t want to drag Kelly into this, but I can’t do it alone. “Kelly, I need your help.”
She closes her eyes briefly and rubs the skin between her eyebrows with her free hand. “What do you want me to do, Rose? I don’t understand what’s going on here, but this is between you and Brandon.”
“I know. It isn’t about this.” I cover the diamond with my right hand. “It’s about a business deal that Brandon has set up.”
Her eyes narrow, but she’s listening.
“I can’t explain right now.” I keep my voice low and check that no one else is around. “But I need him to reconsider. It … isn’t going to end well for him if he sees it through to completion.”
“Why don’t you let Brandon be the judge of that?” Her voice is cold. Gone is the woman who devised a treasure hunt with me over a pitcher of lemonade.
“They’ll destroy him, Kelly. They’ve already posted pictures of him all over the Internet. I thought… I hoped that you still cared about him enough to speak to him. He’ll listen to you. I’m scared.”
She watches me for so long that I think she’s going to head back inside Harry’s room without another word. Finally, she says, “Do yourself a favor, Rose. If you want to keep Brandon on your side, don’t interfere in business matters.”
She walks away, and I realize that I’m in this alone.
CHAPTER 29
Brandon
“Brandon, can we talk?”
It’s evening. Darkness is slowly claiming the sky, and the stars are starting to appear above the layer of smog hovering above the city. Rose tried striking up a conversation in the back of the car, and I shut her down. After all the promises this morning that I wouldn’t willingly hurt her, I wouldn’t even let her speak.
My head has been reeling since I got the call from my mother in Vegas. Hard to believe it was only this morning. I should explain how I feel to Rose—I want to explain—but I’m still trying to process what I think is going on here myself.
The doctor said that my father is in no immediate danger of another attack. He wants to discuss his health going forward tomorrow with my mother, but for now, his condition is stable.
Rose looks tired, like a flower closing its petals for the night when the temperature drops.
“Not now.” I relent when her expression crumples. “I’m sorry, Rose. I need to make some calls.”
“Later then?” Her gaze lingers on the Nautilus mirror clock on the living room wall.
“Tomorrow. We’ll talk tomorrow.”
Her eyes grow huge with unshed tears. I pull her against my chest and wrap my arms around her. “This has nothing to do with you, Rose.” My lips move against her hair. “There’s just been a lot to process today.”
“I know.” She seems to curl up against me like a bug protecting itself from danger. “You’re worried about your dad, I know. But please, Brandon, please just let the Ron Valentine deal go?”
I release her and hold her at arm’s length. “What’s this all about, Rose? Has Ron gotten to you on the island? Did he… Did he threaten you?”
It doesn’t sound like the Ron I’ve known all my life, but I can’t believe she’s this distressed about a bunch of photos. Folks have short memories. It’ll pass, and they’ll find a new victim to gossip about in a couple of weeks.
“No.” She shakes her head. “No! It’s not that. I just…”
“Forget about the photographs. I have.”