Chapter 31
Chad rubbed a tired hand across his face.
"You think I'm a bastard, too, don't you?" Ethan groaned. Hiding his face behind his hands. "You don't have to say it. It's written all over your face."
"Whitney, Man? You cheated on your wife with her best friend? Whitn."
Ethan glared at him, but the angry expression quickly gave way to misery. "She's never going to forgive me."
Unconsciously, Chad nodded his head. "Talk about double-edged sword," he released a heavy sigh.
Ethan's blue eyes widened when Kay trudged tiredly through the living room. Plopping down in an undignified heap beside Chad and curling her legs beneath her.
"What?" Kay rolled her eyes at her half-brother's incredulous expression. Pulling her wild dark hair into a messy ponytail and adjusting the silk pajama top that was swimming on her small frame.
Ethan's mouth hung open dumbly. "Are you.is there.do you want to tell me something?" he stammered uncomfortably.
Chad's lips twisted in a smirk as he glanced at the young woman beside him.
"That just proves it," Kay threw her arms up in the air. The silk slipping down her shoulders again. "Do you think we should tell him?" she asked Chad without looking at him.
"Tell me what?" Ethan said in a low whisper.
"Don't look so horrified, Ethan. You slept with Chad's sister. He slept with me. Big deal. It happens."
Chad resisted the urge to laugh out loud.
"You and Chad.you."
"God, Ethan. Why don't you go ask the Wizard for a brain? No. Make you feel better? We didn't sleep together. But so what if we had? Like it's any of your damn business," Kay muttered. "Worry about your own. Chad," she said. Abruptly shifting her attention from one man to the other. "Do you have any aspirin? Figuring out HOW dumbass over there even got into Harvard is making my head hurt," she said snidely.
"Try the medicine cabinet in the bathroom," he offered with a tiny smile of amusement.
She left their company just as silently as she had joined it.
"You two have an interesting relationship," he said. Quirking a brow at his worried friend.
"What else is new?" Ethan grumbled. "I'm beginning to realize I don't have a 'normal' relationship with any of the women in my life."
Chad gave him a brotherly pat on the back on his way to the kitchen. "Things will work out.somehow, they will. I'm thinking of delivery. What's your poison, Man? Pizza? Chinese?" Chad continued as he disappeared from view.
Ethan shrugged his shoulders. "I wish I could believe that," he whispered. Turning the doorknob noiselessly. "I really wish I could."
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"Ivy! Wait!"
Ivy's hand fell from the door as she turned slowly. A sigh escaping her lips. "What is it, Sam? I realize now it might not have been the best thing, but I love that little girl in there, too. I've watched her grow up."
Sam's blue eyes filled with contrition. "No," he shook his head. "There's nothing wrong with you visiting Tessa, Ivy. Nothing," he assured her. Reaching out to her unconsciously.
Ivy's blue green eyes locked in on his hand resting on her arm. "Sam?"
Sam let his hand linger a moment before pulling it back. "Sorry," he muttered. Stepping closer as a woman squeezed past them. The sound of her footfall echoing in the stairwell.
Ivy breathed in sharply at his proximity.
A door slammed shut above them. Making them both jump.
"I miss you, Ivy."
Ivy's eyes closed. Hiding the pain. Until she felt his touch.
Sam brushed at tears she didn't even know she was crying.
"Don't," she shook her head. "Don't. You're only making it worse, Sam. You're only making it worse. Grace."
The realization rippled through him, and very slowly, he stepped back from her. "I'm."
"There's nothing to be sorry about," she smiled tearfully. "She's waiting for you, Sam." Her heart twisted at his gentle kiss on the cheek.
The door creaked shut behind him.
And suddenly she felt so cold. So very cold.
A blur of color, and a very strange smell filled her senses.
"What on earth?" she wondered aloud. Whirling on her heels. Finding herself alone. Completely and utterly alone. She'd have to fix that, she thought. Shrugging the strange feeling off. Lauren. She'd call her.
Blue eyes gleamed in the shadows, and arms tightened around a slender waist.
Ivy's hands searched her handbag for her cell phone as she pushed the door to the parking garage open.
A door slammed shut above.
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Clear blue eyes connected with hazel in the reflection of the mirror, and Amanda tamped down the desire to smile at Lauren's heated rantings.
"That jerk had the nerve to take HER side. HER side, Amanda. Against his own brother. Our brother. And you know what I think?"
"Wh." Amanda didn't even get the chance to respond before her sister cut her off.
"I think," Lauren declared. "I think he did it just to piss me off."
Amanda did smile this time. At the ridiculous notion. And at the blond whirlwind wearing a hole in her bedroom carpet as she stalked back and forth. Hands and arms moving rapidly as she 'told' her side of the now infamous movie incident.
".he's such a smartass. Really works on your last nerve. Don't you hate people like that?"
"Lauren, I hardly think."
Lauren's hazel eyes flashed as she detailed each and every encounter she'd ever had with the 'smartass.'
Amanda bit her lip to hold back the laugh that was bubbling up within her. Demanding to be let out. No one wasted this much energy on 'the person I hate, detest, abhor, shudder to see, and makes me physically sick when his ugly face can't be avoided.'
".and can you believe the idiot actually has friends? Pretty, nice, intelligent friends? The very idea is inconceivable to me. What does she see in him?" Lauren huffed. Throwing herself back against Amanda's mattress.
Amanda threw back her head and laughed.
Lauren propped herself up on her elbows. "Amanda!" she gasped. "Are you laughing at me?"
Amanda's laughter came fast and furious then.
Lauren's hazel eyes blazed, and her pink lips turned downward in a frown. "I can't believe you!" she yelled. Grabbing a pillow from the head of the bed and covering her face.
"Lauren," Amanda laughed. Pulling at the pillow. Laughing harder when Lauren refused to let go.
"Stop it!" came Lauren's muffled voice.
Amanda knelt beside her side on all fours and tugged harder.
Lauren's eyes glittered angrily as she tugged back just as hard when Amanda yanked the pillow from her face. "Stop it, Amanda," she warned.
"Or what?" Amanda panted. Blue eyes sparkling at her. "You going to clobber me over the head with a pillow?" she teased. "That's okay. My hair's ruined anyway," she shrugged her shoulders.
Lauren snickered at her sister's hairdo disaster. Blond strands loose everywhere. Falling in her face. Across her brow. Trailing down her back. "I'm sorry," she said between giggles.
"No, you're not," Amanda grinned down at her. Giving the pillow a playful tug. "Come on. Admit it. You like him."
Lauren's jaw dropped. "Smartass? Are you kidding?" she asked. Aghast at the very intimation. "Me? Like him? Seriously, Amanda. I have better taste than that. Give me some credit."
"Uh huh," Amanda rolled her eyes. "You keep telling yourself that," she muttered. "Denial," she singsonged. Making the dastardly mistake of turning her back on her very irate little sister.
Lauren bounced on the mattress. Bringing the fluffy pillow down over her older sister's head. "Take it back, Amanda. Take it back."
Amanda grabbed the other pillow and held it over her head in defense.
The sisters shrieked with laughter as they fought a pillow fight that put their childhood fights to shame.
Adam scowled in disgust as he strode past the partially open door.
"Amanda!" Lauren whined. Her ash blond hair wild. Her hazel eyes pleading. "I don't like him, okay?"
"Sure you don't," Amanda teased. Diving off the bed and racing toward her armoire. Where Lauren's cell rang insistently. "Lauren's phone," she answered breathlessly. "Noah?! We were just talking about you," Amanda revealed with a dangerous twinkle in her blue eyes. "No! I can't tell you that."
"Give me the phone, Amanda!" Lauren demanded. "Give it," she whined when Amanda held it up above her head. "No fair. You've got a good two inches on me, you cheat."
"Admit it," Amanda arched a golden brow at her. "Admit it, and the phone is yours."
Lauren crossed her arms over her chest with an angry glare. Her hazel eyes bright. "Okay.I.he's attractive, okay. There. I said it. Give me the phone."
Amanda handed the cell to her with a smirk on her face and strolled toward the bathroom.
"Mother?" Lauren said in confusion when her mother's voice sounded over the line. "AMANDA!"
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Julian turned from the wall of monitors. Hiding his smile from his father.
"The women in this family are too 'soft'. Weaklings. All of them," Adam announced. Securing the lock behind him as he strode over to join them.
"True," Alistair agreed.
Adam's brown eyes narrowed at his father's failure to agree. "Honestly, Grandfather. I don't know why you persist in making Amanda head of Crane Industries." His suspicions and words were forgotten when something on one of the monitors captured his attention. "Grandfather.Monitor 4. Something's wrong."
Alistair's cold blue eyes sought out Monitor 4. And his mouth set in a grim line at the black void on the screen.
Julian listened intently as his father lifted the phone from its cradle and spoke. Issuing orders and further instructions.
"Do you think Gwen did something to the cameras?" Adam asked curiously. His interest piqued. A woman with enough will to act out against his family. Him. Stupid, yes. But he admired anyone that tried.
"No," Alistair shot him down. His cold blue eyes growing colder when, with one press of a button, the blackness on the monitor soon gave way to blurred images. Rebecca in her stupor. And the dark profile of a mysterious man.
Julian's heart lurched in recognition. The familiar features.
"What does HE want with that old fool?" Adam spoke contemptuously. Nodding at the monitor when the images suddenly disappeared.
"Ask your father," Alistair instructed.
And Julian was met with the scrutiny of his son's darkening brown eyes.
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Gwen sighed as she trudged tiredly down the hall. Waving absently at familiar faces. People she'd grown to know over the years her mother had been a patient here.
A man with a crazed look in his green eyes leered at her as she passed.
She shuddered. Hugging her arms tightly about her waist. If mother weren't here.this place made the hair on the back of her neck stand on end.
A movement.a flash of color.
Her mouth fell open in recognition. "Hey! You! What do you think you're doing in my mother's room?" she shouted. Hurrying her steps.
The stranger from earlier sped up. Rounding the corner.
She gasped for air as her blue eyes searched the halls.
No sign of him.
Nurses looked at her oddly. As if she belonged behind one of the locked doors. Inside the spartan padded rooms.
A flash of red caught her eye. The stairs.
Hesitantly, she pushed the fire door open.
More bravely than she felt, she spoke. "You can't hide. I know you're in here. I saw you. And if you don't explain to me WHY you were in my mother's room without permission.I'm going to call the police."
The stairwell was silent but for her own footfall as she descended the steps warily.
"I'm not kidding. I have a photographic memory," she lied. "I'll be able to describe every detail of your face. Your eyes. Your."
Her scream was muffled almost before it began as she was pulled into the shadows. A hand clamped over her mouth.
Amber eyes gleamed down at her.
Who was he? And what the hell had she gotten herself into this time?
Chad rubbed a tired hand across his face.
"You think I'm a bastard, too, don't you?" Ethan groaned. Hiding his face behind his hands. "You don't have to say it. It's written all over your face."
"Whitney, Man? You cheated on your wife with her best friend? Whitn."
Ethan glared at him, but the angry expression quickly gave way to misery. "She's never going to forgive me."
Unconsciously, Chad nodded his head. "Talk about double-edged sword," he released a heavy sigh.
Ethan's blue eyes widened when Kay trudged tiredly through the living room. Plopping down in an undignified heap beside Chad and curling her legs beneath her.
"What?" Kay rolled her eyes at her half-brother's incredulous expression. Pulling her wild dark hair into a messy ponytail and adjusting the silk pajama top that was swimming on her small frame.
Ethan's mouth hung open dumbly. "Are you.is there.do you want to tell me something?" he stammered uncomfortably.
Chad's lips twisted in a smirk as he glanced at the young woman beside him.
"That just proves it," Kay threw her arms up in the air. The silk slipping down her shoulders again. "Do you think we should tell him?" she asked Chad without looking at him.
"Tell me what?" Ethan said in a low whisper.
"Don't look so horrified, Ethan. You slept with Chad's sister. He slept with me. Big deal. It happens."
Chad resisted the urge to laugh out loud.
"You and Chad.you."
"God, Ethan. Why don't you go ask the Wizard for a brain? No. Make you feel better? We didn't sleep together. But so what if we had? Like it's any of your damn business," Kay muttered. "Worry about your own. Chad," she said. Abruptly shifting her attention from one man to the other. "Do you have any aspirin? Figuring out HOW dumbass over there even got into Harvard is making my head hurt," she said snidely.
"Try the medicine cabinet in the bathroom," he offered with a tiny smile of amusement.
She left their company just as silently as she had joined it.
"You two have an interesting relationship," he said. Quirking a brow at his worried friend.
"What else is new?" Ethan grumbled. "I'm beginning to realize I don't have a 'normal' relationship with any of the women in my life."
Chad gave him a brotherly pat on the back on his way to the kitchen. "Things will work out.somehow, they will. I'm thinking of delivery. What's your poison, Man? Pizza? Chinese?" Chad continued as he disappeared from view.
Ethan shrugged his shoulders. "I wish I could believe that," he whispered. Turning the doorknob noiselessly. "I really wish I could."
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"Ivy! Wait!"
Ivy's hand fell from the door as she turned slowly. A sigh escaping her lips. "What is it, Sam? I realize now it might not have been the best thing, but I love that little girl in there, too. I've watched her grow up."
Sam's blue eyes filled with contrition. "No," he shook his head. "There's nothing wrong with you visiting Tessa, Ivy. Nothing," he assured her. Reaching out to her unconsciously.
Ivy's blue green eyes locked in on his hand resting on her arm. "Sam?"
Sam let his hand linger a moment before pulling it back. "Sorry," he muttered. Stepping closer as a woman squeezed past them. The sound of her footfall echoing in the stairwell.
Ivy breathed in sharply at his proximity.
A door slammed shut above them. Making them both jump.
"I miss you, Ivy."
Ivy's eyes closed. Hiding the pain. Until she felt his touch.
Sam brushed at tears she didn't even know she was crying.
"Don't," she shook her head. "Don't. You're only making it worse, Sam. You're only making it worse. Grace."
The realization rippled through him, and very slowly, he stepped back from her. "I'm."
"There's nothing to be sorry about," she smiled tearfully. "She's waiting for you, Sam." Her heart twisted at his gentle kiss on the cheek.
The door creaked shut behind him.
And suddenly she felt so cold. So very cold.
A blur of color, and a very strange smell filled her senses.
"What on earth?" she wondered aloud. Whirling on her heels. Finding herself alone. Completely and utterly alone. She'd have to fix that, she thought. Shrugging the strange feeling off. Lauren. She'd call her.
Blue eyes gleamed in the shadows, and arms tightened around a slender waist.
Ivy's hands searched her handbag for her cell phone as she pushed the door to the parking garage open.
A door slammed shut above.
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Clear blue eyes connected with hazel in the reflection of the mirror, and Amanda tamped down the desire to smile at Lauren's heated rantings.
"That jerk had the nerve to take HER side. HER side, Amanda. Against his own brother. Our brother. And you know what I think?"
"Wh." Amanda didn't even get the chance to respond before her sister cut her off.
"I think," Lauren declared. "I think he did it just to piss me off."
Amanda did smile this time. At the ridiculous notion. And at the blond whirlwind wearing a hole in her bedroom carpet as she stalked back and forth. Hands and arms moving rapidly as she 'told' her side of the now infamous movie incident.
".he's such a smartass. Really works on your last nerve. Don't you hate people like that?"
"Lauren, I hardly think."
Lauren's hazel eyes flashed as she detailed each and every encounter she'd ever had with the 'smartass.'
Amanda bit her lip to hold back the laugh that was bubbling up within her. Demanding to be let out. No one wasted this much energy on 'the person I hate, detest, abhor, shudder to see, and makes me physically sick when his ugly face can't be avoided.'
".and can you believe the idiot actually has friends? Pretty, nice, intelligent friends? The very idea is inconceivable to me. What does she see in him?" Lauren huffed. Throwing herself back against Amanda's mattress.
Amanda threw back her head and laughed.
Lauren propped herself up on her elbows. "Amanda!" she gasped. "Are you laughing at me?"
Amanda's laughter came fast and furious then.
Lauren's hazel eyes blazed, and her pink lips turned downward in a frown. "I can't believe you!" she yelled. Grabbing a pillow from the head of the bed and covering her face.
"Lauren," Amanda laughed. Pulling at the pillow. Laughing harder when Lauren refused to let go.
"Stop it!" came Lauren's muffled voice.
Amanda knelt beside her side on all fours and tugged harder.
Lauren's eyes glittered angrily as she tugged back just as hard when Amanda yanked the pillow from her face. "Stop it, Amanda," she warned.
"Or what?" Amanda panted. Blue eyes sparkling at her. "You going to clobber me over the head with a pillow?" she teased. "That's okay. My hair's ruined anyway," she shrugged her shoulders.
Lauren snickered at her sister's hairdo disaster. Blond strands loose everywhere. Falling in her face. Across her brow. Trailing down her back. "I'm sorry," she said between giggles.
"No, you're not," Amanda grinned down at her. Giving the pillow a playful tug. "Come on. Admit it. You like him."
Lauren's jaw dropped. "Smartass? Are you kidding?" she asked. Aghast at the very intimation. "Me? Like him? Seriously, Amanda. I have better taste than that. Give me some credit."
"Uh huh," Amanda rolled her eyes. "You keep telling yourself that," she muttered. "Denial," she singsonged. Making the dastardly mistake of turning her back on her very irate little sister.
Lauren bounced on the mattress. Bringing the fluffy pillow down over her older sister's head. "Take it back, Amanda. Take it back."
Amanda grabbed the other pillow and held it over her head in defense.
The sisters shrieked with laughter as they fought a pillow fight that put their childhood fights to shame.
Adam scowled in disgust as he strode past the partially open door.
"Amanda!" Lauren whined. Her ash blond hair wild. Her hazel eyes pleading. "I don't like him, okay?"
"Sure you don't," Amanda teased. Diving off the bed and racing toward her armoire. Where Lauren's cell rang insistently. "Lauren's phone," she answered breathlessly. "Noah?! We were just talking about you," Amanda revealed with a dangerous twinkle in her blue eyes. "No! I can't tell you that."
"Give me the phone, Amanda!" Lauren demanded. "Give it," she whined when Amanda held it up above her head. "No fair. You've got a good two inches on me, you cheat."
"Admit it," Amanda arched a golden brow at her. "Admit it, and the phone is yours."
Lauren crossed her arms over her chest with an angry glare. Her hazel eyes bright. "Okay.I.he's attractive, okay. There. I said it. Give me the phone."
Amanda handed the cell to her with a smirk on her face and strolled toward the bathroom.
"Mother?" Lauren said in confusion when her mother's voice sounded over the line. "AMANDA!"
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Julian turned from the wall of monitors. Hiding his smile from his father.
"The women in this family are too 'soft'. Weaklings. All of them," Adam announced. Securing the lock behind him as he strode over to join them.
"True," Alistair agreed.
Adam's brown eyes narrowed at his father's failure to agree. "Honestly, Grandfather. I don't know why you persist in making Amanda head of Crane Industries." His suspicions and words were forgotten when something on one of the monitors captured his attention. "Grandfather.Monitor 4. Something's wrong."
Alistair's cold blue eyes sought out Monitor 4. And his mouth set in a grim line at the black void on the screen.
Julian listened intently as his father lifted the phone from its cradle and spoke. Issuing orders and further instructions.
"Do you think Gwen did something to the cameras?" Adam asked curiously. His interest piqued. A woman with enough will to act out against his family. Him. Stupid, yes. But he admired anyone that tried.
"No," Alistair shot him down. His cold blue eyes growing colder when, with one press of a button, the blackness on the monitor soon gave way to blurred images. Rebecca in her stupor. And the dark profile of a mysterious man.
Julian's heart lurched in recognition. The familiar features.
"What does HE want with that old fool?" Adam spoke contemptuously. Nodding at the monitor when the images suddenly disappeared.
"Ask your father," Alistair instructed.
And Julian was met with the scrutiny of his son's darkening brown eyes.
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Gwen sighed as she trudged tiredly down the hall. Waving absently at familiar faces. People she'd grown to know over the years her mother had been a patient here.
A man with a crazed look in his green eyes leered at her as she passed.
She shuddered. Hugging her arms tightly about her waist. If mother weren't here.this place made the hair on the back of her neck stand on end.
A movement.a flash of color.
Her mouth fell open in recognition. "Hey! You! What do you think you're doing in my mother's room?" she shouted. Hurrying her steps.
The stranger from earlier sped up. Rounding the corner.
She gasped for air as her blue eyes searched the halls.
No sign of him.
Nurses looked at her oddly. As if she belonged behind one of the locked doors. Inside the spartan padded rooms.
A flash of red caught her eye. The stairs.
Hesitantly, she pushed the fire door open.
More bravely than she felt, she spoke. "You can't hide. I know you're in here. I saw you. And if you don't explain to me WHY you were in my mother's room without permission.I'm going to call the police."
The stairwell was silent but for her own footfall as she descended the steps warily.
"I'm not kidding. I have a photographic memory," she lied. "I'll be able to describe every detail of your face. Your eyes. Your."
Her scream was muffled almost before it began as she was pulled into the shadows. A hand clamped over her mouth.
Amber eyes gleamed down at her.
Who was he? And what the hell had she gotten herself into this time?