Chapter 34
Chapter Thirty-Four
“What exactly are you going to say to him?” Victoria whispered the question to Cillian as the Masseys’ maid or housekeeper—whatever she was—closed the door to go find her employer.
Cillian gave her a grin. “These things just come to me in the moment.”
Did she realize how close she was to him as they stood on the top step of the grand pillared entrance to the mansion? Maybe it was the cold or her nerves that made her press so near that her coat sleeve brushed his, but Cillian wasn’t going to miss the opportunity.
He slid his arm behind her waist. “Don’t worry. We’re doing this for Sydney. Somebody has to make this guy take responsibility.”
She nodded, her mouth in a tight line. But she didn’t pull away.
The door swung open, and a man appeared, scanning them with blue eyes.
Lawrence Massey looked exactly like Cillian had expected.
Fifties with thick graying hair cut in a modern style that said he still thought he was attractive to young women.
About five eleven and in decent shape. Dress shirt and navy pants that had likely paired well with his overpriced suit jacket before he’d taken it off to relax at home.
With the wife who had no idea he was playing around with teenage girls.
Or maybe she did know. His money or power could be enough to keep her quiet and locked in to the marriage.
“I remember you.” The player gave Victoria a smooth smile. “Victoria, isn’t it? You look so much like your mother.”
Her frame tensed beneath Cillian’s arm.
Great. The guy had known her mom. Hopefully, that wouldn’t make her want to go soft on him.
“Please, come inside.” Massey stepped back, gesturing with his hand for them to enter.
Cillian let Victoria go in first. This was perfect, coming with someone Massey knew and trusted.
He was already letting his guard down, clearing the way for a strike to his conscience. If he had one left. If he didn’t, Cillian was just as willing to use the leverage of public exposure or legal charges.
“My wife and I were about to sit down to dinner. I don’t think you’ve met her yet, have you?”
Victoria returned his smile, though she shot a quick glance at Cillian. “I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure. But I’m afraid we’re in a bit of a hurry this evening.”
“Oh.” His gaze went to Cillian.
“Forgive me.” She lightly touched Cillian’s arm. “This is Cillian Doherty, a friend of mine. Cillian, this is Lawrence Massey.”
Cillian extended his hand, and Massey took it in a strong handshake. But something flickered in Massey’s eyes as their gazes met. Did he sense Cillian was a threat?
He shifted his attention to Victoria. “What brings you by on this cold night?”
“We need to discuss something rather difficult with you, I’m afraid.” She might be nervous about doing this, but even Cillian couldn’t tell now. Her posture was perfectly straight, as usual, and she looked Massey in the eye as she spoke with a kind but unwavering tone.
“What might that be?” Massey crossed his arms over his chest, like he sensed he wouldn’t like where this was going.
“Sydney Morris has been trying to reach you, and she says you haven’t returned any of her messages.”
Massey froze without changing his posture. Only his eyebrows moved, immediately scrunching toward each other. He stared at Victoria for a few beats.
Cillian would let him sweat it out for a bit.
“I have no idea what you are talking about. Who is this, Sydney, did you say?” His denial would be more convincing if he’d stayed immobile.
But fear battled the eyebrow lift he attempted and pinched the corners of his mouth.
And his eyes widened ever so slightly. He was panicking but trying to think, trying to strategize.
“Like she said, we don’t have much time.” Cillian’s turn. “So let’s cut to the chase and skip through the denials. We know you had an affair with this sixteen-year-old girl and got her pregnant.”
“Will you keep your voice down?” Massey hissed the words as he looked over his shoulder toward the doorway that must lead to wherever his wife was waiting for him.
Good. With any luck, she’d be within earshot.
“I’ll consider it, if you agree to support Sydney and your daughter, at least financially.” Cillian stayed at full volume as he pinned Massey with a stare.
“I already told you,” Massey flipped his focus between Cillian and Victoria, “I don’t know anything about this pregnant girl, and I have nothing to do with it.”
It. Revealing use of language to detach himself from the situation.
“And I told you, we know you have everything to do with this unwed teen mom and her child. Are you seriously going to reject your own daughter? You know Sydney’s pregnant with a girl, right?”
Massey glared at him, dropping any effort to appear friendly or calm. “I don’t know who you are, but you had better think very seriously about what you’re accusing me of. I have the best attorneys money can buy, and I will destroy you.”
Cillian stepped closer to the player. Looked down at him. “I’m shaking in my boots.”
Massey met his glare, then pulled back, aiming his anger at Victoria. “I can’t believe you would be involved in something like this. Trying to smear my name, a friend of your father’s, with malicious lies. He’s going to hear about this.”
She paled a shade but didn’t flinch. “Mr. Massey, I would never attack you or try to ruin your reputation with lies. We’re only asking you to do the right thing.
I’ve been helping Sydney and your unborn child.
They’re staying at my house right now because her mother evicted her.
She and your daughter would be homeless and in danger if not for the kindness of others. Doesn’t that concern you?”
“What concerns me,” Massey’s voice quivered with the fury his eyes shot at Victoria, “is that a Weston would come into my home and accuse me of something so heinous and untrue. What have I ever done to you or your father that you would try to destroy my marriage and my life?”
“Mr. Massey, that’s not—”
“But I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.” Massey’s stance widened, as if he was setting up an attack. A verbal one? “After all, you are suspected of murder.”
She closed her mouth, surprise and dismay tightening her features.
“I assumed you were innocent, since you’re a Weston. But now, I can see why the police would think you have the capacity for cruelty.”
“That’s enough.” Cillian stepped between the jerk and Victoria.
“This isn’t about her, it’s about you. And you don’t have a moral leg to stand on.
You manipulated an innocent teen girl by conning her into believing you loved her, just for your own pleasure.
So you could use her and throw her away.
Her and your own daughter.” Cillian moved closer to the loser, shooting daggers at him with his eyes.
“Only the worst excuse for a human being would stoop that low.”
Massey looked up at Cillian, fear flickering in his eyes as his features clustered like he was trying to hold his position.
But he caved again, backing farther away this time.
“Get out.” He pointed toward the door. “Both of you, get out of my house right now, or I’m calling the police.
” He jerked his gaze to Victoria. “And we all know you don’t want that. ”
“Actually, Victoria has been cleared of all suspicion now that we captured the real murderer.” Cillian gave the jerk a satisfied grin.
“Cillian, let’s go.” The tug on his arm drew his attention to Victoria.
“Not until this guy is ready to man up.”
“No, now.” She switched to pushing, shoving Cillian’s arm to try to move him toward the door. “We’re sorry to have bothered you.” She threw the polite apology over her shoulder to the heartless player.
Anger surged through Cillian. Was she really going to placate a worm like Massey?
“You’d better not tell anyone about this.” Massey delivered the statement as a threat.
Cillian swung around Victoria, facing the jerk. “Oh, I plan to tell everyone. Starting with your country club, your board members, and anyone else I can think of. Maybe a few news outlets.”
“Get out!” Massey’s screech echoed in the foyer.
Cillian grinned. “Bet your wife heard that.”
“Cillian, we’ve done enough. Please.” Victoria grabbed his hand this time. If she’d done that the first time, he might’ve gone along with her.
He let her tug him out the door as he returned the grip. Her hand felt so at home in his, so slim and perfect.
Until she let go and yanked her hand out of his. She marched ahead through the snowflakes that must’ve started while they’d been inside.
He quickly caught up as she hurried to her car, parked in the Masseys’ driveway. “That went great.”
She stopped so quickly, Cillian almost smashed into her. She stared at him. “What?”
“That was great. He may not have agreed to help Sydney yet, but he will. Now that he knows we know all about his dirty secret, he’ll be more willing to play ball next time. Especially if we can get more leverage. Maybe a witness of some of the times he met with Sydney or—”
“Enough.” Victoria’s tone, sharper than he’d ever heard her use, stopped him cold.
She swung her hand toward the mansion. “That was the most humiliating thing I’ve ever done.
It accomplished absolutely nothing except for creating potential embarrassment for my father and the country club and breaking up a marriage. ”
“Now, hold on.” Frustration heated Cillian’s chest. “If any marriage is broken up, Massey’s the one who did that when he started sleeping around with teen girls. And your dad? Really? I know you’ll do whatever he wants, but does he really mean more to you than an unwed teen mom and her baby?”
Her cheeks turned red as she glared at him. “How dare you? How dare you insinuate I don’t care about Sydney and her child?” She pivoted and stalked to the unlocked car, going to the driver’s door.