Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 70320 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 352(@200wpm)___ 281(@250wpm)___ 234(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70320 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 352(@200wpm)___ 281(@250wpm)___ 234(@300wpm)
I close my eyes and steady myself before opening them again.
“I hate to disappoint you, but that money isn’t mine, if that’s what you’re curious about.”
She laughs and leans back to light another cigarette. She blows the smoke out the corner of her mouth and shakes her head slowly, still smiling. “Darling, I have more money than I could ever spend. I couldn’t care less about what you have. But I do think I should warn you that my husband and his friends might not feel the same.”
“Are you saying I need to be worried?”
“I’m saying, if I know who you are, and I’m aware of the money, then I can promise there are others in Greece that know as well. And many of them care much more about money than I do.”
I lean back to let that sink in.
It’s been years since I’ve had to deal with something like this. When my parents first died, there were dozens of people that appeared out of nowhere like wasps crawling from beneath the floorboards, buzzing around and begging for handouts—cousins, uncles, some fake and some real, business associates, friends and coworkers and more, all of them looking for a piece of the money my parents left me after they passed. But back then, I couldn’t access the trust, not for another couple years, and over those years I learned that most people only cared about what I can do for them. When they learned I didn’t actually have anything to give, they inevitably disappeared.
That’s what drew me to Kacia in college. She didn’t know anything about my former life or about my parents or my money, and she didn’t seem to care about any of it. All she wanted was to be normal, and that suited me just fine.
Now it’s like the past I’ve been running from for so long is finally catching up with me.
“Peter doesn’t know,” I say finally and put my coffee cup down, straightening it out and staring at the porcelain. “At least, I don’t think he does. He hasn’t mentioned it yet.”
“Peter knows,” she says, taking a drag. “Don’t give me that surprised look, of course he knows. I suspect he simply doesn’t care.”
“Right,” I say, sinking deeper into my chair.
“Don’t look so defeated,” she says sharply and that makes me sit up again. “Good, better. Back straight, chin up. Why do you think Peter is trying to keep you hidden? He showed you off at the party because you’re young and beautiful and it’s nice to have a pretty young thing around, but he made it clear to my husband that you’re off-limits.”
“But not to you?”
“Nobody tells me what I do with my friends, darling.” She raises an eyebrow. “I assume we are friends now?”
“I hope so.” Although I’m not sure that’s true. I’m afraid being friends with a woman like Katarin is as deadly as Peter thinks.
“Good, I hope so too. Which is why I’m giving you this advice. Listen to Peter. And when he comes asking for a favor, you run the other direction.”
I let that sink in. “He’s going to ask for money?”
“No, not money, a favor. And I think he’ll ask soon.”
“What does he want?”
“I have my suspicions, but you’ll find out.” She looks away toward the cafe with a far-off look. “One other thing, perhaps related. Does the name Reina mean anything to you?”
I blink at her. “That’s my half-sister’s name.”
“I thought as much. Reina Courbet.” She sucks on her teeth. “What a small world,” she murmurs. “Though perhaps not so small.”
“I’ve never met her, I only know she was born a few years before my mother met my father and had me. Mom never talked about her.”
“I can’t tell you anything about that, but I can tell you this. Peter’s meeting with a woman named Reina Courbet right now.”
I have to lean back in my chair and stare at her for a few moments to keep myself from freaking out. There are too many coincidences and connections falling into place right now, and I feel like there’s something important she’s not telling me, but she’s trying to come at it sideways instead. Like she can’t say it directly, but she’s trying to warn me anyway.
“Why are you telling me this? Why is my half-sister meeting with Peter? I don’t understand.”
“I don’t understand myself, if I’m honest.” She seems distracted and uncomfortable. “I wasn’t going to tell you about Reina, but now I think you deserve to know. You’ve kept your distance from your family, haven’t you?”
“I’ve tried. That’s why I haven’t touched the money my parents left. I wanted a fresh start. I wanted to be my own person. Maybe that’s stupid.” That and I know exactly where the money came from, and I’m not sure I could live with myself knowing my lifestyle is funded by blood.