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When Alethea didn’t answer, Marc said, “More importantly, it could jeopardize our ability to catch this guy. We need him to think we have no idea who he is. Can I trust you to do the right thing here?”
“Yes,” Alethea said and hung up on him. I probably should have warned him that we might have very different ideas about what that looks like.
Lil was behind her when she turned. “Who are you talking to?”
Don’t . . . don’t do this, Lil. “Marc,” Alethea said dismissively.
“Head of security Marc?” Lil asked, her voice rising an octave with concern.
I miss my old partner in crime. How did we get to a place where we are so outside of each other’s lives that you don’t know about me, Marc, and everything that’s going on? I wouldn’t even know how to start to fill you in. “Yes. ”
Lil threw a frustrated hand up in the air for emphasis. “Because Stephan sent a photo to Abby? You still think he’s out to hurt the family, don’t you?” She shook her head and her eyes flew heavenward as if seeking assistance. “Alethea, if you don’t let this go, everything we achieved today is going to fall apart. All it will take is the mention of a concern about Stephan and Nicole will freak. Marie will jump to her defense. Abby won’t want to, but she’ll end up asking you to leave. You promised me that you wouldn’t do this. ”
Something inside Alethea snapped. She shook with an anger that had been building over the past year—growing larger and larger until it had the power to destroy their friendship. “What did I promise not to do? Be myself? Because that’s a horrible thing? It never used to be. Not before you and Abby made up. As long as I can remember it was you and me against the world. I had your back and you had mine. Now you want to be accepted by them so much that nothing else matters to you. I don’t matter to you. ”
“That’s not true. ” Lil went pale and reached for her, but Alethea stepped away from her with disgust.
Maybe every childhood friendship comes to this place—the awful day when you realize you no longer have anything in common. “Yes, Lil, it is. I didn’t want to see it because I didn’t want to believe that our friendship was ending. But I can’t be who you want me to be. And I’m tired of trying. ”
Alethea pushed past Lil and strode back into the atrium. Just inside the door, she stopped and said, “Abby, Marie, Nicole . . . I have something I need to say. ”
They stood and gathered around her. Lil put a hand on her arm in caution, but Alethea shook her off without even sparing her a glance. She was angry. Angrier than she’d been in a very long time. And scared. Scared this was the last time she’d be welcomed in their home.
None of this matters in the end. Judy and Colby need to be kept safe. That’s what’s important. She looked around and knew she couldn’t lead off her story with Stephan’s involvement. That would end the conversation as soon as it started, and they wouldn’t hear the important part of her message.
She heard Marc’s voice in her head. If they knew you, the real you . . .
Raising her chin, Alethea said, “I don’t see the world the way the rest of you do. I know that. I wish I could, but I can’t. There was a time, when I was very young, that I thought nothing bad could ever happen to me or my family. I learned the truth the hard way. My father never told us that he was involved in something dangerous and, because of that, I failed to protect him the day he died. I let a man walk right into our house and take papers off his desk because I trusted him. I trusted everyone back then. He used that information to have my father killed. I played a role in my father’s death and I’ve had to live with that. ”
Lil gasped.
Abby stepped closer, real sympathy showing in her eyes. “I’m sorry, Alethea. What a horrible thing to happen to you while you were so young. You have to know it wasn’t your fault, though. ”
I don’t want or need her sympathy. There is a very good chance that this is the last time I see any of these people anyway. “What I know is that lies hurt. The truth is all that matters. You can’t protect yourself if you live in an illusion of safety. ”
Marie’s expression became as concerned as Abby’s. “I’m not sure why you’re telling us this now, but it explains a lot. Bad things happen to good people every day, Alethea. You can’t let the past have so much power over you. By holding onto it, you’re not only hurting yourself, you’re hurting everyone who loves you. ”
I’m hurting all of you? Me? Of course, this is still about me and how they think I should change.
Nicole hovered on the outside of the group. “Marie’s right. Letting go is the only way to find happiness. ”
Lil took one of Alethea’s hands in both of hers. “I didn’t know about your father. Are you sure? Is there a chance that you were too young to understand the circumstances?”
Alethea pulled away from Lil in outrage. I’m so done here. “Misunderstood? Oh, there are things I’ve been wrong about in the past. ” She looked pointedly at her friend. “But I read the original 911 transcript. The backup copy they missed during their cover-up. My father was shot. The government did their best to hide how and why, but I know what really happened. Not that any of you care about the truth. ”
She turned to leave, but Abby rushed to block her way. “Why share that story now? Does it have something to do with the photo Stephan sent me? If you know something, tell us. ”
Alethea turned back and looked around. Lil was practically begging her to remain quiet. Nicole was pale and nervous. Marie appeared torn between concern and anger. The moment I open my mouth, I lose. I lose Lil. I lose everyone in this room.
Dominic will be furious.
And then I lose Marc.
But if I say nothing and something happens to one of them because I said nothing, I’d never forgive myself.
I’m sorry, Marc.
You were wrong, no one wants the real me.
Straightening her shoulders, Alethea looked Abby right in the eye and said, “That photo didn’t come from Stephan. Someone has been hacking into his server and, now, apparently his phone. Someone wants to make it look like Stephan is doing this, but he isn’t. ”
Marie put a hand over her heart in shock. “What are you saying?”
“Oh, my God,” Abby said in growing horror, “are the kids in danger?”
Lil rushed closer and stood beside Abby. “If you think they are, why wouldn’t you tell us?”
Alethea glared at her friend. Her voice was cold as ice as she said, “You’re the one who keeps telling me not to say anything. ” The real fear in Abby’s eyes softened her tone a bit. “Don’t worry, I called Marc. Rosella and the kids are safe and on their way back. ”
A heavy silence hung over the group, and Alethea realized they still did not entirely believe her. “Wake up and see what’s going on. You’ve all been kept in the dark from the real danger you’re in. Abby, don’t let anyone close to Judy. Lil, get yourself a bodyguard and don’t let Colby out of your sight. Not until whoever is doing this is caught. When your men come home tonight, demand that they tell you everything they know. It’s the only way you’ll be able to protect yourselves against this guy. ”
“You’re serious,” Abby said, her face losing all color.
Give me strength.
“Always. This is real. And escalating. ”
Wrapping both arms around her waist protectively, Nicole asked quietly, “Why do you know and we don’t?”
With a harshly expelled breath, Alethea growled, “Because I found the problem first. Because I look for problems even when I shouldn’t. That’s who I am. Love me. Hate me. I don’t give a shit. But for God’s sake, protect the kids. ”
Unable to contain her rising temper, Alethea turned and strode out of the house. Lil tried to stop her on the way, but her words were a blur as Alethea brushed her off. As she stepped out onto the stairs, the limo with Rosella and the children pulled up in front of the house.
Another limo pulled u
p and Dominic leapt out of it, rushing toward little Judy. Abby arrived at the vehicle just behind him, flanked by Lil. Jake ran to Lil’s side. Marie hugged Rosella, who looked a bit confused by the commotion surrounding her return.
The normally calm Abby was clutching her baby to her chest and yelling at Dominic. Jake was being similarly cornered by a very angry Lil. Nicole stood off to the side, visibly shivering. Another car pulled up and she rushed into Stephan’s arms. He held her, then walked her over to the others gathered around the children.
Even in a time of turmoil they were a family—one that I’m not part of.
Alethea looked down at the pavement and started walking away. Two black Rockport lace-up shoes blocked her path.
“You told them. ”
Alethea froze at Marc’s cool tone. Instantly defensive, she said, “It was the right thing to do. ”
“That wasn’t your decision to make. We were working on this together. All of us. ”
Still feeling raw, Alethea snapped, “Well, maybe I don’t do teams. Or friendships. ” She stepped to one side, but he stepped with her and blocked her. “Or relationships. Some people are meant to be on their own, and I apparently am one of those people. ”
“Alethea—”
The emotion of the group behind her echoed across the distance, fanning Alethea’s anger. “Don’t ‘Alethea’ me. You say you want me to be myself, but you don’t mean it. You and Lil have this image of who you want me to be, but it’s not me. This is me. ”
Dominic called Marc over. He looked like he had more to say to Alethea, but when Dominic said his name again he took a step in his direction. “I have to talk to them right now, Alethea. But this conversation isn’t over. ”
With a brittle smile, Alethea said, “Yes, it is. It’s as over as we are. Goodbye, Marc. ”
She walked away, head held high, hating that she wished he would follow her, because she knew that he wouldn’t.
Chapter Sixteen
At Marc’s urging, Dominic moved the discussion off the street and into his house. The group gathered in the hearth room. Abby and Lil stood beside each other, holding their children to them even as one squirmed to get down and the other cried loudly from the stress in the room. Dominic and Jake hovered beside their furious women, attempting to explain the unexplainable. Stephan was quietly holding Nicole in his embrace.
Marc used the time to coordinate his men. He increased the number of suited men in the house. He dispersed plainclothes men and women throughout the neighborhood. Autonomy was forgotten. Everyone was to check in on a rotating fifteen-minute schedule. His closest team would filter the information and report hourly.
Marc paused and met Jake’s eyes across the room. He didn’t need to ask the question. Nor did he require more than a nod to implement the same plan at Jake’s house. Stephan shook his head, which made sense. He had his own team, and given the same situation, Marc would have chosen his own people over others’ every time.