“I’m sure.”
“It will not take long. We will still have time to catch the dragonflight.”
My lips twitched. “Let’s call that plan B.” Apparently, plan B was always murder.
Bart’s voice echoed through the atrium, coming from the sidewalk outside. “Hi, Gordon! Hi, Delilah! Fancy seeing you here. If you two vultures came to pick over the rest of Susan’s carcass, you might have missed your window. The phoenix has risen from the flames.”
I looked. Cecil had pulled the limo up right outside; Bart hung out the back window, grinning happily at Vincent’s parents.
“Bart Montgomery-Litchenstien,” Gordon growled. “Your mother would—”
“You fucked up, Gordy.” Bart waved at him. “She’s outgrown you. Come on, Susan. We’ve got a flight to catch.”
Delilah waved her hand, trying to get Bart’s attention. “Who is that… that scoundrel she is with?”
“That’s Susan’s new boyfriend.” Bart smiled smugly. “He’s a prince.”
Oh, God.
It wouldn’t do me any favors to contradict him, and since Cress was staying out of sight, I kept my mouth shut. Donovan pulled my hand, leading me gently down the steps. I kept my eyes on him as we walked past Delilah and Gordon and ignored them completely.
Donovan opened the limo door and held my hand until I climbed into the blissfully dark back seat.
“You’ve been served,” Delilah screeched as Donovan shut the door firmly. “You’re not going to get away with ruining our son, you bitch. They should have never let you out of jail! We’re going to take this building from you, Susan Moore. Mark my words, you’ll be locked back in the hospital before you know it!”
Chapter
Six
Iwas still unsettled as we waited in line at the TSA. My belly flipped every time I thought about Vincent’s parents.
I knew they despised me, but for the first time, I wondered if there was something else fueling their hatred. If it was just about me being the breadwinner or enabling Vincent to live out his dreams, I would have figured they’d be over it now that he was so successful. Especially now, since he’d ditched me and knocked up Seraphina, who would be a lovely submissive wife for him.
They really had it in for me. This was war, and I wasn’t sure if I was ready for war. I felt like there was something missing, a piece of the puzzle I hadn’t picked up yet.
I called my lawyer, Courtney, and left a message for her to get back to me, my gut churning the whole time. I’d known Courtney for years; we’d been friends for a long time. She had stepped in to help when I went to prison, offering her services when I was so drugged up I could barely think straight, and represented me pro-bono since the Andresanos froze our accounts.
But I’d lost everything in the court case. My whole life vanished in the blink of an eye, and I was left with nothing. I felt so guilty thinking that Courtney had failed me, especially since she stepped up to help me for free.
Gordon and Delilah weren’t above fabricating evidence; I already knew that. Something told me that this lawsuit wasn’t going to be a walk in the park.
I wasn’t the only one who was unsettled, though. Cress’s patience was dissolving rapidly at being herded through the airport security.
The line snaked around the cavernous space, inching forward at a snail’s pace.
“This is demeaning,” Cress thundered, stalking around, glaring at everyone. “What do you mean, I will need to remove my boots to go through? How do you put up with this, Chosen?”
“It’s the price we pay to fly, Cress. It’s for security purposes.”
“Security for what? These are not dragons we are flying; they are machines. Nobody will be hunting us in the sky.” Suddenly, an eager light flashed in her eyes. “Or is there? Will there be someone hunting us?”
“No.”
Her expression darkened again. “So, all this irritation, with no reward.” She turned around again, crossing her arms and tapping her foot impatiently.
Bart stood next to her. Cress was under the impression that she was guarding him, but in reality, he was supposed to be babysitting her through the indignities of the TSA so she wouldn’t punch someone. I caught his eye. Do your job, I mouthed at him.
She’s insane, he mouthed back, shaking his head. I’m terrified.
I pressed my lips together. It would be a miracle if we got through security at this stage. I would have offered to mind her myself, but Donovan insisted we travel together for safety reasons. He stood, as usual, just behind me.
We joined the long line for the x-ray machine. Cress tapped her foot impatiently, oblivious to the awed stares of all the everyday passengers around her.
Bart turned again and tugged on my sleeve. “You okay?”
“No.” I shook my head, trying to rid myself of the feeling of impending doom. “I can handle Jessica gunning for me because it’s my fault Audrina is missing. I can even understand Juliette teaming up with her. It sounds like those two are in cahoots.”
“Juliette never got over you and Vincent turning down her offer for a threesome. It must have been horribly humiliating for her, especially when people started gossiping about it.”
“Well, that would be your fault, Bart. I told you to keep it to yourself.” I blew out a breath. “Vincent’s parents are something else. I just don’t understand the vitriol. I keep thinking there’s got to be something else to it, something bigger than me.”
“I think I know. They’re the same as my parents. Conservative, old, and set in their ways.”
“That doesn’t explain their hatred.”
“It does, really. Most of their problem is that they felt like they had to give up their hopes and dreams to meet the expectations of their own parents.”
Donovan, brooding just behind me, gave a grunt. “As they should. Duty and family are everything.”
