Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 94512 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 378(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94512 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 378(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
“And his stealing from your firm? What do you want to do about it?” Cara treated her to a grim smile.
“I don’t know. What can I say? He’s committed a crime. If he isn’t forced to own up, he’ll keep on doing it, and I’ll always be in potential danger because of him.” Liza swallowed over the lump in her throat, realizing the truth of what she’d just said.
Cara remained silent, obviously recognizing Liza needed time to think.
Her throat hurt from the effort it took not to cry, more over Dare’s awful treatment of her than from anything her parents might do or say.
Liza poured herself some more wine and was about to take a sip when her brother’s face flashed before her eyes. Alcohol had been the vice that destroyed him, she thought, and she placed the long-stemmed glass down on the table. She no longer had the stomach for the wine or the idea of getting drunk.
“Does Dare know about what happened at your office today?” Cara asked.
“I suppose you had to mention him eventually,” Liza muttered. “No, he doesn’t know.”
Cara sighed, her exasperation clear. “We both know he was a major asshole tonight. And I’m not excusing him for one second. But I know him, and he must be kicking himself up and down the hospital corridors right now, regretting everything he said.” She leveled her eyes on Liza.
Liza spread her hands in front of her. “It doesn’t matter. What he said? The way he said it? The fact that those things were bubbling below the surface? It all just proves that he can’t look at me and separate me from my brother. Or from his own past. I had no idea he was that deeply scarred by it.” She’d thought he’d pull away from her eventually. She’d never have believed he’d turn on her so cruelly.
Cara curled her legs beneath her. “You know Nash and Dare went to separate foster homes, right?”
“Dare said it worked out that way.”
Cara let out a harsh laugh. “Not really. Stuart Rossman’s parents took Nash. They offered to take Dare too, but he refused to go. He couldn’t live with them knowing he’d done nothing to save their son. The state could have forced the situation, but a lawyer, Richard Kane, knew the truth and stepped in. Nash went to the Garcias on the low-rent side of town. Nash lived in wealth. And nobody knew it was Dare’s choice until last year.”
Liza opened her mouth, then closed it again. “Oh my God.” Scarred didn’t begin to cover what that party had done to him. “He never told me.”
“He told Sam and me last year during a really low time. I just want you to understand what he said to you today? It wasn’t about you.” Cara shook her head for emphasis. “I’ve never seen him look at anyone the way he looks at you. Honestly.”
Liza didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. The man could very well love her, and it wouldn’t matter. Because his past and her brother’s role in it stood between them. She was a reminder, and that would never change. Dare might be sorry, but they’d find themselves in this position over and over again. So no, it didn’t matter what his rant was about.
They were finished.
She met Cara’s gaze. “Thank you for explaining. It can’t change anything, but maybe it’ll help me forgive what he said. How he said it. Who he said it in front of.” Her voice broke over the last word, and she shook her head. “I’m a mess. I need to get some sleep.”
Cara yawned and covered her mouth with her hand. “Me too. But tomorrow, we need to discuss the money, the meeting, and how you will handle it.” She drew a deep breath. “And I need to tell Dare.”
Liza stiffened. “I have you. He doesn’t need to be part of this anymore.”
Cara eyed her like she was crazy. “Somehow, I think he’d argue the point.” Bracing both hands on her chair, she pushed herself up. “I’m telling him. I have to.”
Liza inclined her head. “Fine. Tell him. Just make sure he stays far away from me from now on.”
Because her heart couldn’t take another beating.
Chapter Eighteen
At six o’clock the following morning, Dare’s cell rang. He rolled over, feeling like he’d just gone to sleep, and grabbed the phone. “Better be good,” he muttered.
“It’s Cara.” She spoke softly.
Dare forced himself awake. “What’s wrong with Liza?”
“Oh, you care?” she asked sarcastically.
He didn’t need this now. “You know damn well I do, or you wouldn’t be calling me at the crack of dawn.”
Cara sighed. “Fine. She had a visitor yesterday,” she said, still talking low.
Dare figured Liza was asleep. “Nash told me.” His gut cramped again at the reminder. “Is she okay?”
“She’s a strong woman. She didn’t even fall apart after you lit into her in front of your entire family,” Cara said, knowing she was torturing him. “Her visitor gave her a deadline. She has until five o’clock Monday to get them the fifty grand her brother owes them.”