Chapter 54
CHAPTER 54
I stood in the bride’s room at the back, my chest heaving.
Emily stood beside me. “Oh my goodness.”
I paced the length of the room. “My dad paid Porter.”
Bewilderment traced her voice. “How did he even know Porter?”
I tried to think of our beginning. “When I was arrested, what did Jackson do?”
“I called my lawyer. Jackson called Porter.”
The door opened, and Dad stepped in. “Beth, please. Let me explain.”
Rage nearly blinded me. “When are you going to stop meddling in my life?”
“I thought I did what was best for you.”
“Best for me.” I stopped in my tracks. “You thought that paying someone to love me was the best thing for me? Everything about you is about control. This is my life. My happiness!”
“It’s not like that.”
“When did you met him?”
“Beth, listen to me.”
“WHEN DID YOU MEET PORTER?! ”
“The night you brought him to Bayswater for dinner.”
I covered my face with my hands. “You took him for an after-dinner drink.”
“Yes. I used that chance to talk to him.”
That night on the balcony of Bayswater. I tried to remember what Porter had said to me. He’d asked me what I wanted, and I told him I wanted space from Yates. And to pretend that we were dating.
“How much did you pay him?”
“Is that important?”
“How much am I worth? Tell me how much your daughter’s happiness is worth.”
“Five hundred thousand.”
That sucker punched me. “You paid him half a million dollars to what? To date me? To marry me? Sleep with me?”
“He gave me the money back.”
“I don’t care,” I cried.
“Please let me explain.”
“How can I believe anything that comes out of your mouth?”
The door burst open, and Yates stood with a pleased expression on his stupid face. “Beth.”
“Get out,” I gritted at him.
“I love you. I want to marry you. We can still do this. Today.”
“That’s enough,” Dad yelled at him. “Get out of here!”
Yates waltzed up to Dad and pointed his finger in his face. “I’ve done everything you’ve asked. I’m basically your slave. You have no idea what I did for you. You don’t appreciate me.”
“You were in on this too?” I asked in disbelief.
“No,” they both said at the same time.
“I would never hurt you, never betray you the way these two men did,” Yates boasted.
My dad punched Yates in the chin. As far as punches went, it wasn’t very effective, but Yates still crumpled to his knees.
My dad seethed. “Yates, my daughter doesn’t want to have anything to do with you. Neither do I. You need to leave. ”
The door flew open, and Porter wrestled with two of his brothers. They fought him, but he was a crazy person, trying to get into the room.
“I’m going to kill him,” he grunted. “Give me five seconds.”
Yates crab crawled backwards across the floor. “Don’t let him near me.”
Miles, or maybe it was Calvin, shouted over his shoulder. “Can we get some help here?”
Emily pressed against the wall beside me. Our eyes met. Jackson stepped into the mess and put his arm around Porter's neck. It was a cross between a hug and a choke hold. He spoke to Porter, but no one could hear what he said.
“Fine,” Porter ground out, “Get off me.”
Jackson turned and spoke to his brothers, “Let him go.”
With extremely reluctance, they let go of Porter, who straightened. For the first time in my life, I saw fear on his face. Grey stormy eyes found mine. “Beth, I need you to listen to me.”
“I think I’ve heard enough of your lies,” I shot back.
“You really should hear him out. This is all my fault,” Dad added.
“Be quiet. Just stop. I can’t take any of this anymore.”
“What is going on here?” Detective Christensen appeared in the doorway, surveying the scene.
“Nothing,” four of us said at once.
Two officers crowded the room.
“Michael Renner woke up,” she said. “And he told me what happened last night. Yates Bennet, you’re under arrest for the attempted murder of Michael Renner. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to speak to an attorney, and to have an attorney present during any questioning.”
In shock, we stood and watched as the officers hauled Yates to his feet and handcuffed him behind his back.
“This is a mistake,” Yates yelled. “I didn’t do anything. ”
Dad stepped forward. “Yates! Shut up. Don’t say a word until your lawyer is present.”
“This isn’t my fault,” he begged, looking at me. “Beth. You have to save me. Please. Tell them we were together last night. Tell them the truth.”
I remained silent and watched as Yates was half-carried, half-dragged out of the room. “Everyone get out,” I said, my voice low.
The men assessed me. Jackson. Porter. My father. The brothers.
Emily spoke this time, her voice ringing clear and fierce. “You heard her. All of you need to clear out of this room right now.”