Page 59 of Captivated By You
Because you’re falling for her, asshole.
Yeah, that was probably true. I wiped a hand across my mouth and tossed back the rest of my drink.
“Thanks for the drink.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I’ll wait for my dad to get back with my phone and then head to the airport.”
When I’d thrown my phone, my dad had instantly jumped into action. Personally, I think he needed something to do to get his mind off Sophie and everything in the press conference. They were proud of all I’d accomplished but hated being thrust in front of cameras occasionally. Especially with this drama.
But there was nothing else to do here. The public opinion would flood social media and gossip sites and television shows if they weren’t slammed already, but I’d long since quit following them. There had barely been a dry eye in the house when my sister shared her story. Just like she’d done on the witness stand at her own trial, she recounted the events of the night of her rape with utter, disgusting clarity, and it was only then I realized how much this had cost her. Almost a decade later and she still remembered every moment of hell in vivid color. Several of the reporters had tears running down their cheeks while they held their microphones.
Afterward, I’d pulled Sophie into my arms, hugging her in front of everyone. Not for the photo op, not because there were reporters shouting questions at me trying to get more info I wouldn’t give them, but because she was my damn big sister, and she was the bravest woman I’ve met.
Unlike the little minx who skipped out.
“Not sure the airport’s the best place for you to be unless you take Dustin and David with you.”
“Yeah. Because they’re good at security.”
We’d already talked to them. I still wanted to punch Dustin when he said what had happened. I’d have tried it too if I thought I had a shot but even at my size, the man had an extra fifty pounds on me. Plus there were two of them.
I’d still barely restrained myself.
“Just wait,” Jordan said, his heavy sigh telling me how tired he was of my bitching. I’d been in his office for too damn long. “Anne will call. Or Claudia’s aunt will. You can’t just show up at Kansas City Airport and not expect a mob.”
I had to do something, though. I’d left out how I knew Karen when I was talking about Claudia. Thankfully my filter had kicked in. All my family and Jordan knew was that we met through a business associate. Karen.
I swiped my hands down the thighs of my jeans. They were hot, sweaty. And trembling.
Shit. I had to get a grip. I was probably panicking for no good reason.
Claudia would call me. She had to. Even if I hated the contract as much as her, I still technically owned her.
Fuck that contract. It was probably why she ran.
Damn it. A year with a woman to restore my social image and somehow, my sister had done it for me, and I was falling in love with a woman in a matter of weeks.
“I’ll head to my room. If Anne or Karen call before I get my new phone, send the call up to me.”
“You sure? You look like you could still use another drink.”
“Fuck off, Marx.”
I left his office with his laughter still ringing out behind me.
“Hey,” he shouted at me when I was already through his door. “Don’t be a stranger, Allistor. Some of us still remember you being a scrawny pain in our ass and we miss you.”
Damn. Good people. Easy people. Friends I’d had for life.
“I’ll keep in touch, Marx.”
We shared grins and I headed to the elevators. I was just pushing the button to call the one that would take me to the top floor when my dad rushed into the hotel lobby.
“Liam!” he shouted. For a man just over fifty, he was still in impeccable shape. I’d blame all the farm work he did with our cattle and goats, but he’d installed a full weight room in one corner of a spare barn when I was in high school. He still woke up before five in the morning every day and worked out. “I have your phone. And once it was set up, texts messages came through. Thought you’d want to see them immediately.”
I took the sleek, silver phone out of his hand and typed in my code.
