35
When Bianca still hasn’t returned half an hour later, Damian pulls on a pair of shorts and goes looking for her.
The house is empty but for Sydney snoring softly behind her closed door.
He grabs himself a beer and surveys the property.
No Bianca. No Curtis. He heads out to the van.
Pulling open the panel door, he finds his partner on the bed, curled into the fetal position.
“What’s wrong?” he asks, climbing inside and pulling the door closed behind him.
He perches next to her, lays a hand on her shoulder.
“I ran into Curtis,” she says, and he realizes she’s trembling. “I hate him so fucking much.”
“What did he do?” Damian demands, a rush of protectiveness tensing his muscles, balling his fists.
“He tried to tell me that I’ve got it all wrong. That he hasn’t hurt anyone.”
Damian lies next to her, presses himself against her small body. “He’s gaslighting you, babe. He’s desperate. And afraid.”
“I know what I saw,” she says, more to herself than to Damian. “I know what she told me.”
“If Curtis was innocent, he wouldn’t be trying to get the money.” He strokes her hair. “He wouldn’t even consider paying us if he had nothing to hide.”
She twists in his embrace to face him. “I don’t want to play this fucking game anymore. I just want him to pay for what he did.”
“It’s almost over.” Damian tries to soothe her. He can’t have her going rogue now, talking to Sydney and ruining everything. “I’ll tell Curtis to stay the fuck away from you. I’ll tell him he can only deal with me.”
“He left,” she says. “I heard the car drive off.”
“When he gets back, I’ll talk to him,” Damian assures her. “Hang in there for a few more days. Curtis will get the money, and we can leave. We can have the life we’ve always wanted.”
She looks up at him, her expression stormy. “And then we’ll tell Sydney everything. And Curtis will be left with nothing.”
“Exactly.” He kisses her forehead.
“I’m so tired,” she says. “I haven’t been sleeping.”
“Come inside. I’ll get you one of Syd’s pills to help you rest.”
“I’d rather stay here,” she mumbles, turning away from him again.
“Okay.” He turns on the fan, the gentle breeze cooling Bianca’s skin. “I’ll be back.” He lets himself out of the vehicle.
Inside the silent house, Damian moves straight to the bathroom.
Opening the mirrored medicine cabinet, he sifts through Sydney’s prescriptions.
He finds one that will help Bianca relax and doze off.
He shakes a couple of tiny pills into his palm, slips them into the pocket of his shorts.
As he heads to the kitchen to get his partner a glass of water, he hears the coffee machine.
Sydney. It must be her. They’re alone in the house, and he feels a childish flutter in his belly. He can’t indulge this crush. He needs to keep his eyes on the prize. Calming himself, he strolls into the kitchen.
“How are you feeling?” he asks, resuming his Aussie accent and carefree manner.
“Not so bad now,” she says, smiling weakly. “I drank way too much.”
“It happens.”
Sydney turns toward him, coffee mug in her hand. “I want to apologize to you and Bianca. For my behavior last night.”
“You were fine,” he assures her. “We were all having fun.”
“I wasn’t. I mean… I was.” Her face flushes. “I was really drunk. And confused. But Curtis and I… we’re monogamous. It was wrong for me to betray him like that.”
Damian leans his forearms on the counter across from her. “Bianca said Curtis betrayed you.”
Sydney takes a sip of coffee before she answers. “He did. But we went to therapy, and we agreed to rebuild our relationship. What I did last night was not okay.”
She’s blaming herself, and it makes him sick. She has no idea who she’s married to. “You’re an amazing woman, Sydney. You don’t deserve to be with a liar and a cheat. I don’t know how Curtis could ever have betrayed you like that.”
“He made a mistake, but he came clean, and that means a lot.” She sips her coffee, smiles tightly. “We have history. And we have a future. And that’s worth fighting for.”
“Are you sure you trust him?”
“Is this about Curtis flirting with Bianca?” Her expression darkens. “She told me about that. If you saw something, I’d like to know.”
Well played, Bianca. But Damian breezes past it. “You need to look out for yourself. Emotionally and financially.”
“Financially?” She sets her mug on the counter, crosses her arms. “What are you talking about?”
“You need to protect yourself.” He glances at the door, to ensure they’re still alone. “Your mom left you money, right? Make sure Curtis can’t get to that.”
“We’re using that money for the winery,” she says. “It’s our dream. My mom would have wanted that.”
“Curtis may have other plans. Other obligations. You should put that money somewhere safe.”
“If you know something about his finances, tell me.” She steps toward him, and he sees the confusion on her face, the concern in her eyes. He wants to tell her to run, to take all her money, all her assets, and flee. But saving Sydney would ruin everything.
“Just look out for yourself, that’s all.” He forces a casual tone. “Never trust a cheater, as we say back in Aus.” Do they say that? He has no idea. “If a guy can break his marriage vows, he’s capable of anything.”
He heads to the sink and fills a glass with water. “Bianca’s taking a nap in the van. I should go check on her.”
“Sure,” Syd mumbles, but he can see the wheels turning in her head. He’s planted a seed of suspicion and doubt.
Mission accomplished.