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I swallowed. How could she have known? Her eyes lit up as she tilted her head and took a long sip from her glass. "That surprises you," she stated. "Did you really think I wouldn't keep tabs onyou?"
"You've got someone watching me?" I snapped, furyrising.
She rolled her eyes. "Of course. He's quite good too. Very attentive. Perhaps one of the best I've had yet..." Her finger circled the rim of her glass. She smiled my way. "It doesn't hurt that he's good at his job,too."
My lips curled back in disgust, but she kept talking. "And when he told me you had met a girl, I knew it would only be a matter oftime."
There it was. The bad feeling. The rocks in my stomach. Her eyes met mine and her lips pulled back once more in a predatory way. "She's a young and beautiful girl, Grayson. I see why you like her." Teddi's eyes turned to the table between the lounges, as did mine. There she flipped open a plain manila folder and, with a shove, pictures rained down over the floor. Pictures of Harlow. Harlow in high school. Harlow getting into my old mustang. Harlow when she worked at the diner. Harlow in a beautiful lavender dress, standing amidst cops as Knix and Marv led her down a street. Harlow sitting in a hospital room. Harlow walking across the campus we had just left. Harlow with her hair blowing back from her face as she sat in the passenger seat of a dark SUV next to...I couldn't make out who she was with this time, but it didn't matter. The message was sent andreceived.
"You're threatening someone you don't even know?" I bent down and picked up the picture of Harlow I had never seen before. She was gorgeous. Her hair swept into a messy bun with just a few tendrils of light brown hair falling around her face. Her neck looked long and slender as she walked along the sidewalk with Knix at her side. I had no clue when this had been taken or where they had been heading, but the red sundress she wore looked stunning as it cinched around her waist and flowed around her legs—legs that I wanted around me as I drove my fingers into her hair and kissed the shit out ofher.
I knew things were complicated. She wasn't exactly available, but neither were things set in stone. She was dating four guys. I just wanted a piece of her. I understood their need to have some part of her. She was an amazing girl—a woman, really. She was soft as well as strong. Mouthy. Loving. And warm. So goddamn warm. I needed some warmth in mylife.
I lifted my eyes to Teddi's. "As you can see," she said, taking another long sip, "I've been keeping tabs on more than just you,darling."
I clenched the photo in my fist. "What. Do. You.Want?"
Like a cat that ate the canary, Teddi stood and finished the rest of her drink before she sauntered over to me. "You're mine, Grayson," she said. "You're my son and I don't even care if you're supporting your good for nothing brother on the side. You can't leave this life. Once you're in, you'rein."
"And whatexactlydoes that entail?" Idemanded.
Those long, sharp nails of her scraped across my jaw as she patted my cheek. "In due time, dear, but I would suggest you be forewarned and not get that little slut knocked up before you find out all that I require of you. Besides, if she does get pregnant, how can you even know if it’s yours—looks like she’s interested in a lot ofsuitors."
With those parting words, Theodora Vandersen-Caruso left me in the study with the smell of brandy andsex.
Feeling suddenly exhausted and hollowed out inside, I stumbled to the decanters and drained one before throwing it across the room where it shattered against the wall. Teddi must have warned the servants away—a rare kindness—because no one came running as I slid down the wall. In my pocket, my phone buzzed. I didn't realize I was still gripping the picture of Harlow in the red dress until I went for it with that hand. I paused, uncurling my fingers, and let the paper fall to the floor. My breath caught in my throat as I fished out my cell. Marv's name flashed across the screen, probably to let me know that they were back inCharleston.
The phone continued to ring. I couldn't do this again. I had to tell him. I had to tell him everything.
