Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 77016 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 385(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77016 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 385(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
“We didn’t hurt her,” Beau says.
“You threatened her. You disabled the elevator so she couldn’t get away from you. Believe me. I’ll make charges stick.”
“Fuck you,” Peter says.
“Shut up, Peter,” his father commands. “We’ll just forget this happened.”
“I’m afraid not,” I say. “The cops are already on their way. You’re both going to be arrested.”
“We didn’t hurt anyone,” Peter says.
“You scared Skye. You threatened my doorman, and you held Skye and me at gunpoint. Plus, you’ve been drugging women for years.”
“You can’t prove that.”
“I can. Ms. Logan and Ms. Davis are both willing to press charges against you”—I eye Peter—“and Mr. Ramirez. But Mr. Ramirez will walk. You want to know why?”
Peter looks like he’s about to hurl, but Beau remains calm.
On the outside, at least.
“Probably because he hasn’t done anything,” Beau says.
“To the contrary. I approached him after Ms. Logan was hospitalized. All it took was a little prodding and he sang like a coloratura soprano. How he and your son drugged Ms. Logan and Ms. Davis with substances you provided them. How you’ve been drugging clients for years to get them to sign contracts with your firm.”
Does he know I’m lying? I haven’t talked to Garrett. If I’d been anywhere within a five-mile radius of him, I’d have pummeled him into next week.
“You can’t prove any of that.”
“I can,” I say, “and I will.”
“What do you even care?” Peter demands. “You have everything. Why don’t you just stay out of our lives!”
He hits me where it hurts.
For so many years, I knew what Beau Reardon and his firm were up to, how they did business. I never had concrete proof, but even without it, I could have done something.
But I turned a blind eye. I minded my own business.
But when I saw Skye at that Gala with Peter Reardon…
“I did, for many years,” I say. “I shouldn’t have, but I did. Until it hit close to home. Tessa Logan and Betsy Davis are Skye’s friends, and consequently they’re important to me.” I look down at Skye. “I’m sorry it took me so long to put a stop to this. If I’d done it when I first suspected, Tessa and Betsy wouldn’t have been in any position to be taken advantage of.”
“It’s not your fault,” she tells me. “No one asked you to save the world.”
“That’s what I’ve always told myself. But I was wrong. What good is my fortune if I don’t use it to help others?”
Peter drops to the floor. “Please. It’s all my dad. I never wanted to do any of this. But he—”
“Get up, you sniveling piece of shit.” Beau scoffs. “I’m embarrassed to have you for a son.”
As angry as I am, I can’t help feeling sorry for Peter in that moment. Being raised by Beau Reardon couldn’t have been any kind of picnic.
Sirens blare in the distance, and two patrol cars pull up to the building. Five blues enter, and Beau and Peter are cuffed and charged, their Miranda rights read.
Everything passes in a blur as the cops take both Beau and Peter away.
Finally, when they’re gone, Skye steps out of my arms but then nearly falls. I steady her quickly.
“You okay?”
“No,” she says. “Not even a little bit.”
“You seemed so calm.”
“It was an act, Braden. They had me cornered. I didn’t know what to do. I’m so glad you showed up.”
“I had a feeling Beau wouldn’t take this lying down. But I underestimated him. I figured he’d come directly to me.”
“Why? He’s obviously been exploiting women for years.”
“Not just women. He uses the drugs to get what he wants in business as well.”
“He’s a coward.”
“You’re absolutely right,” I say. “I won’t make this mistake again. He found my Achilles’ heel. I’m so sorry to put you through this, Skye.”
“I’ll be okay.”
“I know you will. You’re strong. The strongest woman I’ve ever known. Well, you’re tied, anyway.”
“Oh? Tied with whom?”
I exhale slowly. “With my mother, Skye. You’re tied with my mother.”
Chapter Fifty
Back at my place, I pour a bourbon for each of us.
I take a sip, letting the smoky liquor burn my throat. It’s a good burn. A burn I need at the moment.
My heart is still racing from having a gun pointed at me.
But more from seeing it pointed at Skye.
I felt terror at the prospect of losing her—so much so that I lost control for a few precious seconds.
Control.
What my life is all about.
And seeing Skye, the gun…
That was my fear turned into matter. Fear with its ugly black-and-red head, laughing at me in a satanic, mocking way.
But I steadied myself. Got back to basics. Cold plunge. Forced meditation.
It saved me.
It saved Skye.
And I’ll do it all over again if I must.
But damn it, I’ll do everything in my power to make sure Skye is never put in harm’s way again.
“I’ll always protect you,” I say.