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The sound exploded all over the front hall, and Solette stared in disbelief at the reddening spot on Bambi’s cheek. Solette’s mouth hung open again. Bambi had landed on her skinny behind and clutched her jaw. Tears spilled over onto her cheeks. She wailed fit to shatter the windows.
“You hit me! You hit me!”
Shakarri towered over her. “I didn’t hit you yet. If I had used all of my strength, you’d be unconscious. I don’t know who you think you are, but I’m here to disabuse you of stupid notions.”
Bambi whimpered and whined, rocking like a child. “What are you talking about? Cason. Cason!”
Solette looked around to find Goro still in the hall. The man didn’t blink an eye or try to stop the argument and fight. She couldn’t tell from his expression if he was for or against the loudmouth Bambi for getting her comeuppance. Then Solette noticed Dean, Shakarri’s bodyguard. He too made no move to get into the middle of the two women. Like a statue, he stood with his arms folded and eyes straight ahead as if he didn’t hear Bambi’s wail and Shakarri’s command for her to shut up.
“Ladies,” Solette began.
Shakarri shook her head. “No, Solette. Don’t dignify this idiot with a comment. Just stay out of it. I’m about to have Dean toss her narrow behind on the street.”
The threat made Bambi cry louder. Dark streaks lined her cheeks, and she hiccupped and sighed, flailing her arms around until her bangles caused a racket of their own. Various members of the household staff began to show up, and Solette wondered where the brothers were. Then she recalled Ezio wouldn’t be in at that time of day. He was probably at his office, and she had left Romy helping Cason after he exhausted himself.
“Can’t a man rest?” Cason boomed from the top of the steps. Solette spun around to find him gripping the railing on the second floor. She wondered how he’d gotten there. His skin had gone seriously pale, and it looked from where she stood that his arms were shaking as he struggled to hold himself up.
“Cason, get back in the room,” Romy ordered. “You’re worn out. You don’t have to prove anything. I’ll handle this.”
Cason ignored his older brother and gazed down at them. He focused on Solette as if he checked to see if she was the one causing trouble. She raised her chin and pressed her lips together. There was no sense in ordering him to sit down before he fell down. He’d only try harder to prove he was getting stronger.
“Honey,” Bambi whined. “Your sister-in-law hit me. I feel my face swelling, and I just know I’m getting a bruise. Do something.”
“You love him so much,” Shakarri snapped, “that you don’t care that your drama is causing him to hurt himself.?
?
Bambi’s eyes rounded. “Hurt himself? But he can walk now.”
“Solette,” Romy called.
She moved swiftly to get to the second floor.
“My chair,” Cason demanded.
“But…” she began.
“My chair.”
“Please,” Romy begged. “He’s stubborn, and I don’t want to force him to do what he doesn’t want to do.”
She nodded and hurried to get the wheelchair. Soon, she had Cason seated and panting. He shut his eyes and pressed fingers to the bridge of his nose. Without looking up, he waved a hand.
“Take me to the elevator.”
She didn’t argue but took him downstairs. Solette expected him to go to Bambi and either straighten her out or pat her up like a child. Instead, he continued to direct her toward the door where there was a ramp leading from the house to the garage.
“What are you doing, Cason?” She followed orders, but she couldn’t figure out what his plans were.
They reached one of several vehicles worth more money than she made in a year. Cason chose the nearest vehicle and opened the passenger side door. To her surprise, he had enough reserve strength to haul himself into the car unassisted.
“You’re driving,” he said, matter-of-factly. “We’re going out for a while.”
Chapter 9
“You’re looking a bit pasty, Cason. I think we should head back.” Solette reached out to touch his forehead, but he caught her hand and pushed it gently away.
“I’m fine.”
