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“I see you found your Willow Girl. All healed up, are you?” Lucinda asks me.
Sebastian doesn’t waste any time after turning a circle around the place. He flashes a smile, one I know, one that sends a chill along my spine.
He takes Lucinda by the arms. Gives her a shake.
“Know that the only reason you’re not dead is Ethan.”
“How dare you threaten me? In my own house.”
“Your house? I think Ethan’s paid for the remodeling.” He releases her, takes a seat on one of the chairs. “I’m glad to see you used high end materials, at least. I’ll be taking it over.”
“Like hell you will.”
“You stole from your own son.”
She does that thing where her left eye twitches, but she sits down and, oddly, lights up a cigarette she takes from a box on the side table. I’ve never seen her smoke or smelled it on her. I didn’t know she did.
“You shouldn’t smoke in the house. It’s not good for the paint,” Sebastian says.
“What do you want?” Lucinda asks. “You here to punish me? For what I did to her or what I did to you?”
“No, punishments are finished. You’re finished.”
“What do you want then?”
“I want you to disappear. I want you gone, out of Ethan’s life, out for good.”
She snorts. “So, when you out him he’s left with nothing? I don’t know how he can be a threat to you after what you did. You took care of that, didn’t you?”
Sebastian’s eyes narrow, but he takes it, even though it takes him a moment to reply.
“I’m not outing him. This is just a variation of the deal I offered you before. Except this time, you’re going to accept it and you’re going to do exactly as I say.”
“Or what?”
“Or I will kill you, Ethan or not.”
Lucinda looks at me, then back at Sebastian like she can’t believe what she’s hearing. I see how her hand trembles as she brings that cigarette to her mouth and draws in breath.
“Ethan will never be the wiser as far as his parentage. I, quite frankly, don’t care who his father is. I’ll be sure he’s cared for properly. I’ll be sure he has his rightful place as a Scafoni son.”
“What does that mean?” she asks, a sideways glance at me.
“This has nothing to do with the Willow Girl. That’s still off the table and, quite frankly, none of your concern.”
“What do I get?”
“Money. The only thing you want. You’ll have a monthly allowance. A generous one. But you will never have contact with my brother again.”
She taps ash into an ashtray, then smudges out the half-smoked cigarette altogether.
“You have no options, Lucinda. You’re not welcome back on the island or in any Scafoni home. I’m making you this offer exactly once. You decide here and now. You take it, you say your goodbyes to Ethan, tell him whatever you want to tell him, and by tomorrow, you’re gone. You don’t take it, well, you’re still gone.”
His threat makes me shudder. I wonder if he’s capable of that. Wonder how far he’s willing to go.
“Ethan will take care of me.”
“His accounts are managed by me now. He’s not fit, as you know, and you’ve been taking advantage.”
“He’s my son, Sebastian.”
“So is Gregory. I don’t hear you crying over him.”
She studies Sebastian, her watery eyes looking, for the first time since I’ve known her, afraid.
Sebastian stands.
“Helena,” he says, holding out his hand to me.
I take it, get to my feet, but stop a few steps later.
“Why did you do it?” I can’t help but ask. “Why kidnap me and leave me in that room like that? What do you get out of hurting me?”
Lucinda drags her gaze to mine.
“I’ve seen the destruction the Willow Girls leave behind. You think I like living it twice?” She rises slowly, never taking her eyes from me. “I hate you, all of you,” she pauses. “I. Hate. You.”
“Come on,” Sebastian says to me, dragging me toward the door. “Let’s go. You’re not going to get anything of value out of her.”
I shudder when we leave the library. It’s literally like I’m shedding a cold, dead skin.
“You okay?” he asks.
“She’s so full of hate. I’ve never known anyone like that.” I lean against the banister, not realizing I was holding my breath. Downstairs a pianist plays classical music and guests mingle and drink champagne and eat canapés, blissfully unaware.
“Forget Lucinda,” he says.
“A little underdressed, aren’t you?”
I jump when I turn to find Gregory standing against the wall. I wonder how long he’s been there. I wonder if he was listening at the library door.
He holds up his glass as if in greeting, then drinks.
Sebastian takes a step toward him. “What the hell are you doing here?”
“Visiting mommy dearest,” he answers Sebastian but his eyes rest on me.
“Did you know she was here all along?”
