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Harrison is noticeably irritated when he comes outside. He nods toward the beach, and we walk until we reach a sidewalk table outside a sandwich shop. He takes a seat and glowers at me. “You’ve got ten minutes.” His teeth are clenched, and his hands are twined together, resting on the table. I can feel the anger rolling off of him. This is going to be an intense conversation.
Pulling out the plastic chair, I nod and have a seat. “I didn’t kill Vanessa.”
“I’ve heard this before, so if that’s all you came to say, I have to get back to work.” He starts to rise from his chair, but I hold my hand up, and he sits back down.
“I told Vanessa where the money came from, Harrison.”
“If only she were here to confirm that.” His acerbic tone is not helping things. I can’t blame him for not trusting me. Hell, I wouldn’t believe me, either. If Vanessa had been Liv or Tori on that bike and Harrison had been driving, I’d probably be in jail for murder.
“Come on, Harrison. We’ve known each other since we were kids. Do you honestly think I would kill her?”
He leans over the table, glaring at me. “I don’t know, Brady. You’re not the same person you were when we were kids. The only thing I’m sure of is that my cousin is dead after she asked questions about your sudden influx of wealth, and you paid her family a lot of money to keep them quiet.”
“My mother paid your family,” I remind him.
“It was your money!” he snaps.
“I didn’t kill her!” I realize we’re shouting, and look around to see if anyone has heard us.” No one is staring at us and I politely ask Harrison to keep it down.
Voice quieter now, he says, “I know the steering on your bike stuck and you lost control. I’ve heard the explanation.”
I remain calm, and ignore his cynical tone. “Look, I get that it’s hard to believe. It was hard for me to believe also, but I researched it later, and that make of bike is known to have steering problems. It’s even been recalled since then.”
He throws his hands up and falls back against the chair. “That’s awfully fucking convenient, Brady.”
For Vanessa alone, I decide to tell Harrison everything. As much as he pisses me off, he loved his cousin, and he’s just seeking answers. I start with my birth mother and father, revealing everything to him, right up to where Sheila became CEO and president of Gibson Capital. I let him know that I told Tori everything and she shares Vanessa’s opinion about Sheila. I tell him about how this morning she convinced me to finally take over the company that is rightfully mine, or at least remove Sheila from her position. He laughs and jokes how Tori and Vanessa have a lot of the same traits, how they’re both spunky and tenacious. I agree, and tell him how angry Tori is, and how Sheila better pray Tori doesn’t speak to her before I do. He listens without interrupting, and hangs on to every word. When I finish, his eyes are huge and his mouth is partly open. “So there you have it. That’s the honest, ugly truth, Harrison. I didn’t kill Vanessa. I loved her. The money was offered because Sheila is crazy and obsessed with not allowing anything to damage the reputation of Gibson Capital or take it away from her. The woman would stop at nothing to stay in power. You have to believe me.”
He suddenly scoots his chair back and stands. His anxious manner is unnerving. “Brady, where’s Tori today?”
“She’s at my house.”
“Is Sheila home?”
“She was coming in on a red-eye flight this morning. She landed at eight. I guess she’s back by now. Why?”
“Brady, we need to go to your house right now.” He’s adamant. “Vanessa went to see your mother two days before the accident.”
Chapter 35
Tori
I stroll down the hall toward the kitchen for a cup of coffee, still blushing over my morning with Brady and beaming with pride. He’s finally going to stand up to her. He’s on his way to make nice with Harrison, and I’m proud of him for that too.
Life is good, and nothing can come between us.
I stand in the kitchen doorway, and notice Sheila is home. Her luggage is next to the door, and her back is to me. She’s speaking to someone on her cell, and I stop cold. She doesn’t hear me and continues her conversation.
“No, Nate. I’m not worried. Brady isn’t going to tell her anything… So what, it’s not like he has real feelings for her. He’s thinking with his dick again…I know that’s what I said about the other one…well, if it happens, then I guess Tori will suffer an accident, too.”
I hold my hand over my mouth. Shock and anger course through me, and I gasp loud enough for her to hear me. She spins around and narrows her eyes when she sees me. “Nate, I’m going to have to call you back.” She sets her phone back in her purse. Never taking her eyes off me, she smoothes her palms down the sides of her black pencil skirt. I can tell she’s tryi
ng to intimidate me. It might be working. Man, this bitch is ice cold. She’d have to be to sleep at night after the years of conniving and deceit.
I’ve finally reached an inevitable crossroads with her. Which direction do I choose? Turn and walk away silently, or confront her? I have to make a decision, and I have to do it now. Confronting her is a decision that will impact the lives of all of us. Am I prepared to do what Brady’s avoided for so long? Am I strong enough to do it? Someone needs to be.
“It’s not polite to eavesdrop, Tori.” Her heels click against the tile as she walks to the other side of the island and stops at the sink to wash her hands. She dries them off on a dish towel and then leans on the island, glaring at me. “Is there something you needed?” Her voice is sweet and controlled.
Anger turns to bravery, and I decide to confront her. “You killed Vanessa.” She doesn’t confirm it, and now I’m not sure I heard her correctly.
