“I’ve got to catch a flight tomorrow. My mom wants me to put in an appearance for the start of polo season in South Africa, some retailer they want me to schmooze. I’m going to call you in a few days, and you better have at least one account set up.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Cara laughed.
“Ugh! My mother is giving me death eyes through the glass, so I better go. I wonder if she realizes she could make much scarier faces if she didn’t have so much stuff injected?”
Why had she waited so long? It was nice to hear Amara’s voice, but she didn’t miss the fake social whirl and all that came with it. Maybe sheshouldstart opening herself up again.It can’t get any worse…
CHAPTERSIX
New York
Ten Months Earlier
“Damn it!”Declan’s fist slammed against his desk, toppling the Guinness pint glass, and scattering the pens he kept inside across the slick surface. Cara trembled and bit her tongue trying not to cry. She wanted to throw up. Declan had seen the pictures.
His back was to her, muscles heaving under his dress shirt as he bent forward slightly. He braced his palms on the desk, his arms fully extended, as he struggled to control himself. She’d never seen him this angry. Not even a few weeks before when they found out their father had essentially cut them all out of his will, and Courtney forced him out of Bloom Communications.
She had done this. Her brothers were already arguing about Courtney, and Cara added this to the pile of shit they dealt with.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, Dec—”
She heard him drag in a ragged breath, and then he pivoted to face her. His eyes shone with unshed tears.
“Don’t youdaresay that.” His eyes burned, and one tear slipped free sliding silently down his cheek, which only made her feel worse. Her brothers never cried, and the thought that she was the one who caused Declan to, destroyed her.
In two strides, he reached her, enveloping her in his arms. “You have nothing to be sorry for, mo chroi.” He kissed the side of her head the way he had when she was little. Declan hugged her hard and then let go, clearing his throat.
Steely-faced, unemotional Declan, she knew. It was reassuring. Declan crying? That must be a harbinger of the apocalypse.
“Your hair was pink?” He framed it as a question, but it was clear he knew the answer and was only verifying.
“Yeah.” Cara’s cheeks felt like they were on fire.
Declan’s throat worked as he swallowed. “So, you were what? Fifteen?” His voice was controlled, but his violet eyes were almost black with fury.
“I don’t know. Something like that. I did a lot of dumb stuff back then. I mean we all did. But, I’m not stupid. I didn’t send them to anyone… It was just a silly night with my floormates. When you’re snowed in at boarding school, there’s only so many ways to entertain yourself.”
Cara was babbling. She remembered the night the photos were taken—sort of. Someone had a bottle of peach schnapps, and they had all played strip poker. There was a vague memory of dancing—it was just one night of many that she had long forgotten. Until she had gotten a phone call from Amara, letting her know that the nude pictures they had taken that night were suddenly everywhere.
It was devastating. The comments on some of the sites had been brutal, stabbing at every insecurity she’d ever had about her body. She didn’t even know it was possible to have ugly ears! Everyone she knew had seen them—her brothers, strangers. It was almost unbearable.
“Who was there that night?”
“I don’t remember exactly. Amara—she reminded me where they were from. So probably Lisel, Tamar, maybe Kerstin?” She shook her head. “I’m sorry. I just don’t remember. It was over ten years ago. It was supposed to be something silly, for just us girls. I thought we all agreed to delete them.”
“Whoever sent them has been holding onto them.” The muscle in Declan’s jaw ticked. “They waited until our father was gone before they leaked them. The fucker wouldn’t have dared while Dad was alive! They must think that our father’s will neutered me, and the bastards thought they could get away with it. I’m the one who should be sorry. It’s my fault.”
“Declan!” Cara gasped, but he ignored her, pacing behind his desk and keying his computer to life. He seemed to have forgotten she was there. “Declan!” Her sharp tone got his attention, but she was taken aback by the light in his dark eyes.
“I failed you, mo chroi. It won’t happen again. Our father may not be here anymore, but that doesn’t mean people should forget how dangerous the Blooms can be!
* * *
Cara fixedherself a plate of the food and then put an identical plate in the oven to keep it warm for Wes.
“Your food is in the oven,” she called out when the door opened, not looking up from her phone.
“Thanks.”
