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Ryan’s expression reflected ho
rrified amazement. “So what did you do?”
“We decided to each go after one of you. We were strangers at a cocktail party. The idea being that whatever bad thing we made happen, it couldn’t be traced back to the one who bore a grudge against you. Everly broke up Linc and his housekeeper for London. London secured some documents from Tristan that proved he has money hidden offshore for me.”
“And you were supposed to come after me for Everly,” Ryan said. “Only you didn’t. You went after Susannah.”
Zoe wanted to remind him that she hadn’t actually done anything to harm his sister, but recognized it was pointless to defend herself.
“Everly suggested that since you’d hurt her sister,” Zoe said. “I should hurt yours.”
Ryan stared at her in silence for so long Zoe wondered if he ever intended to speak. His eyes were chips of gray ice, reflecting his mood, and when he next spoke, his tone chilled her to the bone.
“What are you planning to do with the video?”
Zoe gave her head an emphatic shake. “Nothing. Don’t you get it? I didn’t shoot this. I couldn’t do anything to hurt Susannah or you. I lov—” She bit her lip as Ryan threw up a hand, preventing her from finishing. “No,” she cried. “I’m going to say it. I love you and I’m sorry about everything. My involvement in this has been eating me up.”
“You love me?” he demanded, voice rising in outrage. “I’m supposed to believe that when this whole time you’ve been lying to me?”
“Only about why I volunteered for Susannah’s campaign. You have to believe me.” Zoe put her hand on his arm and flinched when he jerked away. “I’ve been honest about everything else.”
“Honest.” He growled the word. “Why tell me any of this? You could’ve just kept quiet and I’d never have known you were involved.”
“Everly told Tristan the truth,” Zoe admitted, knowing this was the thing that would sink any chance of saving their relationship. If she’d told him the truth before circumstances forced her hand, she might’ve been able to make him understand. Instead she’d pledged her loyalty to the wrong cause. “He’s threatened to tell you.”
Ryan rubbed his hands over his face. “That’s what he meant at the fund-raiser.”
“I did try to back out,” Zoe said, doubting he’d believe her. “After getting to know you and Susannah, I couldn’t go through with what we’d planned. But Everly was determined to make you pay and she wouldn’t listen to reason.”
“Do you know what your scheme is going to do to my sister?” Pain filled his voice. “Forget her campaign for state senate, this video will ruin her marriage. Did you stop for one second to think about the potential damage to her family when you started your little game?”
“I’m sorry,” she whispered, recognizing mere words could not atone for her mistakes.
Ryan cursed. “I have to warn Susannah.” He took several steps in the direction of the hallway before pausing. Without turning around, he delivered his final words. “You need to be gone before I get back.”
* * *
Ryan grabbed his keys on the way out the back door and headed for the garage. A volatile mix of emotions raged in him, from fury at his brother-in-law’s betrayal to despair over the devastation this would cause his sister. Anything related to Zoe he banished to the furthest reaches of his mind.
I love you.
Damn her.
His chest tightened as her declaration reverberated in his mind. Pain and longing battled for dominance. How was it possible that only an hour earlier he’d been reflecting on the mind-blowing sex he’d been having with her and worried that she might want to end things? Ryan bottled up all emotion related to Zoe. She was a distraction he couldn’t afford.
He needed to focus his energy on Susannah and to support her as she learned what her husband had been up to.
Before heading to his sister’s campaign headquarters, Ryan sent a copy of the video to Paul. He’d forwarded it to himself from Zoe’s phone once he’d finished watching it. Now, as he threw his car into reverse and started backing out of the garage, his phone rang.
“What the hell is up with this video you sent me?” Paul demanded, his ferocity feeding Ryan’s own ire. “Has Susannah seen it?”
“Not yet. I’m on my way to tell her about it right now.”
Paul swore. “Where did it come from?”
“Zoe showed it to me.” Ryan clenched the steering wheel until his fingers cramped, but it wasn’t enough to overpower the ache in his chest. “It was taken by Everly Briggs.”
“Kelly’s sister?” Paul sounded as confused as Ryan had been moments earlier. “Why? What’s going on?”
