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“Summer and Alyssa were occasionally lovers … though very discreetly.”
Alyssa pushed into the office just in time to hear her father inform her lovers of a small tidbit of information they really hadn’t needed. Info
rmation she was certain no one but she and Summer were aware of. God, how much worse could this day get, anyway?
“Really, Father?” she demanded, outraged. “Why don’t I just go find the widow and see what interesting little details of your private life she’s unaware of?”
This was completely outrageous and the looks of surprise on Shane’s and Sebastian’s faces were offensive. Since when was this any of Shane’s and Sebastian’s business?
Propping one hand on her hip, she glared at her parent, unable to believe he’d tell such a private part of her life.
Hell, she hadn’t even been aware her father had known such a private thing.
“So tell me,” she demanded. “Do I get a list of every lover they’ve had in the past eight years? I believe that would only be fair at this point.”
“Alyssa.” Her father stared at her, a frown brewing between his brows. “I taught you to knock before entering a room.”
Oh, she just bet he wished she would knock. Of all the scenarios she could have envisioned walking in on, this wasn’t one of them. And since when did her life before they came to D.C. become any of their business?
“Is that really the best you can do?” she questioned him, disgusted by the attempt to distract her. A rather feeble one at that.
“It’s not what you think,” her father growled, throwing Shane and Sebastian a desperate look.
As though that were going to do any good. They couldn’t exactly make her forget what she’d overheard, now could they?
“Oh, Daddy.” She shook her head mockingly. “They can’t help you. How many other secrets did I reveal while I was out of my mind with fever and pain?” She turned to her lovers. “I guess Summer neglected to give you that little tidbit of information when you showed up here?”
Because Alyssa sure as hell hadn’t told her father about that element sometimes added to her and Summer’s friendship. He could have only learned it while she was half out of her mind and pumped up on painkillers after having that knife shoved into her side. Or Summer told him. She hoped not, she’d have to kill her friend then.
“None. Hell, damn it, Alyssa, I was just trying to help,” her father protested.
“You want to help?” she asked with mocking sweetness. “I just sent Summer, along with Falcone and Gia, packing. Please inform me before you invite any more of my so-called acquaintances to help protect me. I really don’t need the aggravation and I sure as hell don’t want to deal with it.”
“The hell you did!” Shane was staring at her with an expression akin to horror.
“Yes, I damn well did!” she snapped. “I refuse to have security that I know will help the two of you lie to me for whatever reason. And while you’re at it—”
“No, Alyssa.” Sebastian shook his head as though dazed. “You and Summer? Good God. Were you crazy?”
Crazy?
No, she’d been out of her mind with grief and drowning in the tears she couldn’t shed. If it hadn’t been for Summer, she might have lain in that bed and drifted away after losing not just Shane and Sebastian but the baby she’d carried as well.
“What do you think, Sebastian?” She smiled sweetly. “Did you believe I’d be too fucking dead inside to need to be touched? To need a lover? Remember that little bit of recklessness I warned you I was known for.” Her lips curled mockingly. “There’s further proof of it.”
“But Summer?” he asked again, clearly trying to deny it. “Alyssa, that is—”
“A friend I’m quite fond of,” she broke in before he could say anything ignorant. “Should I protest your friendship with Courtney Sinclair? After all, you were her first lover, weren’t you?”
A grimace pulled at his expression before he pushed the fingers of both hands through his hair.
“Courtney has a big mouth,” Sebastian muttered.
Courtney was simply unable to lie to her friends, and she considered Alyssa a friend now.
“So does my father.”
“We need to keep Falcone from leaving,” Shane broke in. “If he makes it out the gates he won’t come back.”
