“I didn’t hear anything,” Goldman answers, leaning against the bricked cell wall, with his eyes focused through the bars and on the door at the end of the hall.
I look back to my father, staring into his eyes that reflect disbelief and something else. Disappointment. Never in my life have I seen him look at me like that. I have to tear my eyes away from him. Shame seeping into my blood. My father’s done a lot of wrongs in his life.
But I murdered a man.
“He hit her,” I say the words and my bastard emotions come through, making my voice crack. “He beat her so hard, so violently, she couldn’t even move. There was so much blood.”
“Zander…” my father’s voice is nearly a whisper.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t take it back.” My eyes close tight as I sit back on the bench, the image of her on the floor refusing to leave me.
I jump back at the feel of a strong hand on my shoulder. My eyes fly up to meet my father’s. His eyes are glazed as he nods my head. “I can understand that.”
He starts to sit next to me, but stands tall instead, running a hand down his face. “I just,” he takes in a deep breath, looking at the wall and lowering his head. “I don’t want to believe it,” he says in a low voice.
“I couldn’t help myself,” I tell him as I stare at my hands, feeling the anger pouring out of me as I killed him. Stealing the life from him and making sure he’d never strike her again.
“You’ll never speak of this.” My father turns to face me again, his voice coming in stronger. “Ever. To anyone.”
I stare at him, not understanding. “I can’t lie on the stand,” I tell him.
His brow furrows for a moment and then he shakes his head before he says, “There won’t be a trial.”
I’m dumbfounded, still not understanding. “You aren’t the only one who didn’t like Daniel Brooks. And your Arianna wasn’t the first woman he struck.” My father shares a look with Goldman before continuing. “If you’d just been quiet, she would have gotten off.” Anger flashes in his eyes for a moment as he continues, “If you’d just listened to me and kept quiet-”
I rise from my seat, meeting my father eye to eye. “I couldn’t risk her,” my voice comes out firm and barely hiding a threat. I’ll never risk her. I won’t ever let her pay for my sins.
It’s quiet for a long moment. My chest rises and falls with sporadic breaths, remembering how she took the fall for me. I wish she hadn’t. I wish she’d never said a word.
“It doesn’t matter. You’re still my son. I’m not letting you sit behind bars.”
“It’ll be out in the papers.”
My father scoffs. “It’s already out!”
I lower my head, my blood heating. My reputation is ruined.
“Payments have been sent,” Goldman says softly from the far side of the cell.
“Right, right,” my father says, pacing the room. “We can romanticize it?” my father asks Goldman.
The lawyer nods once, his eyes flickering to my father’s before turning back to outside the cell.
“So what’s going to happen?” I ask, for the first time feeling as though there’s hope.
“You’ll be free from charges based on inconsistent evidence. And the papers will paint it as if it’s a tragedy and Daniel Brooks was a monster-”
“It’s the truth,” my voice is hard as I cut him off. “What he did to her,” I say and my hands shake as they clench into fists.
“What’s important is the fact that you’ll be fine,” my father says with a hard edge as he walks to the far wall, the wheels turning in his head. A bit of a breath leaves me, and I nearly fall forward.
“It’s done then?” I ask with disbelief.
My father turns sharply toward me and says, “So long as you fucking listen.” I stare into his eyes, but I don’t see a hint of anger, only fear. I nod my head once, swallowing the lump in my throat. I’m stunned; I’ve only ever felt a sense of competition between the two of us. But all I have for him in this moment is gratitude. He’s sending me back to her. The thought makes me close my eyes, and her beautiful smile comes back to me.
“You love her?” my father asks, taking me by surprise. I don’t answer him. I know with everything in me that I do. But a man like him wouldn’t understand.
“I loved your mother,” he says as if reading my mind.
My father motions toward Goldman.
“Just make sure she loves you back, Zander.” My father’s voice wavers as he starts to leave the cell.
“She does,” I answer him quickly, making him halt in his steps. I may be a fool in many ways. But there’s no doubt in my mind that she loves me as much as I love her.
My father turns to look at me, a genuine concern in his eyes.
“I know she does,” I tell him before he can say whatever’s on his mind. “I know she does,” I repeat and my voice is low, but the conviction is there. I don’t need to prove anything to anyone, but for whatever fucked up reason, I need my father to know that she does.
He nods his head once, his eyes on the floor of the cell. His lips part again, but no words come out. He pats his hand against the bars and Goldman gestures to whoever’s waiting. The sound of heavy boots coming closer down the cement hall echoes off the walls.
“I hope you’re right, son,” my father says in a low voice. A small bit of doubt creeps into the back of my mind. She’s never said the words. And neither have I. She has no idea. She’s never known.
“You’ll be out within the hour. Just don’t say anything,” Goldman tells me as the warden opens the cell and the two of them leave me alone. My thoughts are consumed with what will happen to Arianna now that Brooks is dead.
I have a contract to keep her, but she doesn’t have to stay.
I’ll do anything I can to keep her.
Chapter 36
Arianna
They look so happy. Standing in the hallway of Zander’s estate, I grip the picture frame in my hands, a solo tear rolling down my right cheek. They look like the perfect family. Zander, with his gorgeous smile. And his two parents looking on as if they’re so proud of their son.
My heart aches as I stare at the portrait, my eyes on Zander’s mother. She’s gone now. And if she knew what was going to happen to her son, she’d probably be devastated. Guilt presses down on my chest as another tear rolls down my cheek.
This is all my fault.
I wish I could tell him that I’m sorry. That I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. That I wish I could take it all back. I wish I could go back to the very beginning. When all of this started. I wish I’d killed Danny myself.
A huge lump forms in my throat as try to hold back the tide of tears that threaten to fall from my eyes.
The guilt is almost enough to choke on.
It wasn’t supposed to end up this way.
I squeeze the picture frame against my chest, despair and anger coursing through me.
“You okay, sweetheart?” asks a deep, sexy voice.
I look up and cover my mouth with my hand, nearly collapsing on the floor.