Chapter 33
thirty-three
WEST
“All I’m saying is that a couple of exotic dancers might calm everything down. It’ll be impossible for Asher to kill you with all those witnesses around,” Jesse says, grinning because he knows there’s no way we’re having strippers at this meet up or bachelor party or whatever he wants to call it.
Bennett’s ears perk up like an eager puppy. He’s been listening to the conversation ever since Jesse strode into the office.
“What do you think, Ben?” Jesse asks. “Don’t all the best parties have dancers?”
“Actually, I’ve never been to one.”
It’s been three days since we dropped the grenade on Eden’s brothers, and somehow the world hasn’t ended. No screaming matches, no doors slammed in my face. Just a few blissful nights with my wife in our bed, her laughter filling the house, her curls on my pillow when I wake up.
In between, I’ve been working my ass off to get Bennett an interview at a local college, because if he’s sticking around, he needs more than late nights and bad influences.
And I do want him to stick around. And to keep the hell away from his uncle.
“What do you mean you’ve never been to one?” Jesse asks him.
“I don’t know anybody who’s married.”
“Jesus. Stick around here, everybody around here seems to get hitched.”
Bennett shrugs. “Don’t get me wrong. Plenty of my homies are baby daddies. They just can’t choose which momma they want to spend the rest of their life with.”
Jesse’s eyes meet mine. I shrug. I’m trying to keep him away from that life now.
“So that’s no on the dancers then,” Jesse says, like he’s afraid Bennett could get in trouble with them.
I nod. “Probably for the best. Now don’t you two have a jetty to design?” Because that’s why Jesse’s here. The two of them are working on this project together, and it’s actually quite sweet watching them bond.
Sweet? Jesus, I’m getting soft. I blame Eden.
My phone buzzes on my desk and I glance down at the screen. Unknown Number. It could be the bank. I’ve been waiting on them for the last few days. “I’ll take this in the meeting room,” I tell them, standing up. “Talk to you later.”
“You’re a hard man to get a hold of,” Vin’s voice slides down the line, smooth and cold as soon as I close the door behind me and accept the call.
Every muscle in my body goes tight. I grit my teeth together and stride across the floor to look out of the window. Jesse and Bennett are walking out across the site. At least I’m alone. I can talk freely.
“If this is about the casino,” I say evenly, even though my pulse spikes, “I’ve decided against it. And the bank money comes through next week. You’ll have your first repayment then.”
“It isn’t about that. I wanted to catch you in the Hamptons but you disappeared. We need to talk.”
“I told you, we’re not adding a casino,” I tell him. “There’ll be no gambling on this island.” Especially not after all Eden has been through with her dad. “You’ll still get your money. You don’t have to worry about that.”
He clears his throat. “You see, that’s where you and I differ. I’m not worried about the money, West. I always get paid. But there are other things we need to discuss.”
“What other things?” I ask him. Getting involved with this asshole is the worst thing I’ve ever done. Yes, it was necessary at the time, but I’m absolutely paying the price now.
“Things that we should talk about face to face. I’m free tomorrow.”
“I’m not.” And I’m not dancing to his damn tune. “Send me an email.”
“Either you fly to me or I fly to you,” he says, ignoring me. “Your choice. Of course, I’d love to meet your beautiful wife. Or is she your wife? I hear nobody’s quite sure.”
What the hell? “Leave my wife out of this.”
“I wish I could. But I keep hearing stories. You should be careful who you confide in. What was the word I keep hearing? A sham.”
My jaw locks so hard it hurts. He knows that the wedding wasn’t real? “If you’re trying to bribe me, don’t bother. Her family knows about our marriage. Every last one of them. There’s nothing you can use to hold over me to get your way.”
There’s a pause, then Vin’s laugh slides down the line, low and sharp. “You sound so sure. But do they know everything, West? Or just the version you’ve chosen to sell them?”
Ice slides down my spine.
“Who’s been talking to you?” I ask him.
“Nobody,” he says, but there’s triumph in his voice. “All I’m going to say is beware of trusting people. I always find out in the end. Shame your wife will get hurt in the process.”
“Leave her out of this,” I grit. “You come at me, not her.”
Vin chuckles, soft and cruel. “That’s the problem, West. She is you. You’ve made her your weakness. That makes her my strength.”
The line goes quiet. My pulse pounds so loud I almost miss his next words.
“I’ll see you tomorrow in my New York apartment. Don’t keep me waiting. Or maybe I’ll save us both the trouble and come over there to meet the lucky lady myself.”
The call clicks dead, but the echo of his threat lingers like smoke in my lungs. And I already know I’ll go. Because I can’t let him anywhere near Eden.
I’ll sort this out, pay him off, and come home to my wife. Because I’m tired of being tainted by the ghosts of my past.
EDEN
It’s amazing how as soon as you have a diamond on your finger, the whole world seems to act like it’s 1953. Because right now I’m surrounded by a group of women in the coffee shop, cooing at my held out hand, asking me about carats and clarity and another c-word that I’ve already forgotten.
“What do you think, Mylene?” Autumn asks. “Isn’t it pretty?”
“I think marriage is for chumps,” Mylene replies. “Now are you going to order or what?”
I exchange amused glances with Autumn, who’s delighted I agreed to meet her for coffee. Even though the only reason I’m here is because West had to go to a meeting on the mainland.
“I guess you won’t be coming to the bachelorette party then,” Autumn says to Mylene.
“Is the other person going?” Mylene asks and we all know who she’s talking about, since she refuses to say Eileen’s name.
“She’s invited, just like you are,” Autumn replies. “And we’ll take two iced lattes please.”
Mylene mutters something under her breath and turns to the coffee machine. When she’s done, she hands us our coffees and the pastries Autumn’s ordered, and we head to a booth.
“So,” Autumn says, grinning as she slides in. “I know something you don’t know.”
I sigh and sip my coffee. “Spill it.”
“Zach is coming back for the bachelor party. Asher told him to be here.”
My stomach dips. Three brothers against West isn’t fair. Hudson’s thawing, but Asher is still as furious as ever. And Zach will have questions. “What about Wyatt?” I ask, hoping it won’t be all four that West is up against.
“Sadly he can’t get away. Yet. But this is going to be so much fun.” She actually claps her hands together, just as the bell above the door rings.
Sadie walks in, the breeze from the door lifting her red hair. She grins as soon as she spots me.
“Hey! I hear you got engaged,” she says, walking over. “Congratulations.”
“Married,” Autumn corrects her smoothly. “She has been for months. She just didn’t tell us.”
“Married?” Sadie looks between us, her brows arching. “Then why’d you invite me to her bachelorette? Isn’t that back to front?”
“Because this is Liberty and we never miss the opportunity to have a good party,” Autumn says.
Sadie laughs, shaking her head. “Well this could be interesting. Count me in.” She waves as she heads to the counter, and Autumn leans in, conspiratorial.
“See? It’s going to be perfect. We can get Sadie drunk and find out why she’s really sworn off relationships.”
The bell over the door rings again, and Bennett ambles in, hood up, still looking half-asleep. He spots us and heads right over, swiping one of Autumn’s pastries before she can slap his hand away.
“Hey.” He sits down next to us, and Autumn frowns at him.
“We’re having girl talk,” she tells him.
“Go ahead. My mom used to do it all the time.” He waves at us. “I’ll just listen.”
“Bennett! I’m serious.” Autumn clucks at him.
“West told me to keep an eye on Eden, so I am.” He shrugs, unapologetic, biting into the pastry like it’s his duty snack.
My chest warms and pinches all at once. Of course West did. He’s always worrying about me. And let’s face it, he probably gave Bennett the job to get him off his own back.
“My own personal bodyguard,” I say. “I feel like Whitney Houston.”
“Who’s Whitney Houston?” Bennett asks, his mouth full of croissant.
Autumn groans. “Next you’ll be telling me you don’t know who Kevin Costner is.”
“Of course I do. He’s the cowboy. In that old peoples’ program. My mom thinks he’s hot.”
Autumn stares at him. “Yellowstone is not an old people’s program.”
“Tell that to my mom,” Bennett says, grinning. “She watches it with her wine and tells me she should have married a cowboy. Even though she hates the smell of horse shit in Central Park.”
I laugh, but Autumn tilts her head, curiosity sparking. “Do you miss her?” she asks.
“My mom? Sure.” He takes another bite of croissant.
“And your siblings? Them too?” God, she’s so nosy.
“I don’t have any. It was just me and Mom growing up. She didn’t really talk to my uncle for years, and her only sister died before I was born.”
Autumn blinks. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay.” Bennett shrugs. “Hey, are you eating that other croissant?” he asks me.
“Go ahead.” I push it toward him, remembering I owe him bacon tax.
“Thanks.” He rips off a bit and devours it. “Anyway, I didn’t even know Leona. My mom though, she misses her something terrible.”
I blink. Leona. That name. It’s not a common one. My fingers tighten around my coffee cup.
“Leona was your aunt’s name?” I ask carefully, still trying to work it through in my head.
“Yeah. They used to call her Lennie growing up, but she didn’t like it. Same way I hated Benny, I guess.”
My throat feels tight. “When did you say she died?”
“I dunno. A few years before I was born. Four maybe.” He shrugs, completely oblivious as I do the math. He’s twenty-one. Four more years makes twenty-five.
The air seems to thin around me. West was twelve when she died. Around twenty-five years ago.
It has to be a coincidence. It has to be. But the thought prickles at me anyway, sharp and insistent.
“I could ask Uncle Vin, I guess,” Bennett adds, ripping off another piece of croissant. “Or West could. Because I’m not talking to my uncle right now. Not after the shit he pulled.”
“What shit?” My stomach twists tighter still.
Bennett shifts, his shoulders hunching. Suddenly he looks younger, uneasy. “I just… I’m sorry. I’m really sorry, okay? He made me tell him.”
Autumn leans forward, her brows pinched. “What’s going on? I’m completely lost.”
My pulse kicks hard against my ribs. “Bennett?” My voice cracks. “What happened? What did your uncle do?”
He winces, eyes darting between us. “I let it slip about your marriage. That it started off as a sham. I’m sorry. He has a way of breaking me.” He swallows. “I assume that’s why West went to see him.”
Everything in my body turns cold, my hands tightening around my cup until the ceramic squeaks. “West is in a business meeting,” I say. “On the mainland. He’ll be back tonight.”
Bennett shifts, setting down the last of his croissant like even his stomach can’t take it. “Vin says they’re meeting today. In New York. He has an apartment there.”
I exchange glances with Autumn. My voice is flat as I tell her, “Vin is the money man. The one who gave the resort a bridge loan.”
“And he’s calling it in?” she asks, her eyes narrowing on Bennett. “Is that what he’s doing?”
Bennett shakes his head, guilt etched all over his face.
“I don’t know. He didn’t say. He asked me about the party, and I said that you were upset.
” He glances at me, shame flickering in his eyes.
“Then he pretty much grilled me until I let everything slip. And I’m so sorry, Eden.
I’m sorry because I want to be your friend and I’ve fucked up again. ”
I reach across the table for his hand. “No you haven’t. This isn’t your fault.” My throat tightens. “I’m going to call West and warn him. It’ll be okay.” That’s what I have to believe.
Autumn’s hand brushes mine, her expression taut. “Do you want me to call Hudson?”
“No.” I shake my head quickly. “Not yet.”
I stand, leaving them at the table as I dig my phone from my purse and quickly speed dial West. It goes to voicemail. My pulse hammers as I leave a short, urgent message, then follow it with a text I hope flashes up on his screen.
West, please call me. And do NOT talk to Vin without talking to me first. – Eden x
Next I call his assistant in L.A., who talks me through his schedule – meetings in New York, no location, no names – then promises to tell him to call me the second she hears from him. By the time I hang up, my hands are trembling.
“Where did you say Vin’s apartment is?” I ask Bennett.
He grimaces. “I don’t know. I’ll call my mom, she can find out.”
“Thank you.”
“Honey, you’re worrying me. Why do you look so frightened?” Autumn reaches for me, taking my shaking hand.
“I think West might be in trouble. And it’s my fault. I told Bennett about West marrying me to protect me, and he told Vin and now it’s all gone to hell.”
I’ve barely even finished talking before she’s on her phone, tapping out a message.
“What are you doing?” I ask her.
“I know you hate it, but you have a big family who wants to help. So I’m asking for that.” She looks at me. “You’re not alone. And despite everything that’s happened, we all love West. I’ve called a family meeting at the hotel. Let us help you.”
My throat tightens, as Bennett watches us with open eyes.
“Okay,” I whisper, though it goes against every grain in my being. This is my problem. I should be the one solving it.
“Good. Now let’s go, everyone will be there in ten minutes.”