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"I bet if we think hard enough, we could see he has done it with all of us," I say to Jasmine. I can almost see the cogs turning in her brain as she tries to work it all out. Her eyes are watery, and I know how upset she's getting, but she needs to hear the truth. We all do. This madness can't go on any longer.
"But we’re all in relationships now." She looks at me like she would one of her patients. I knew she would be the hardest to convince, always wanting to see the good in people, especially when it comes to her family and her beloved Daddy. Last year when this was happening to Cassandra, I was the same. I couldn't work out why Dad hated Brandon so much but kept thinking he must have a good reason. He loves us and wouldn't cause such a fuss otherwise, but maybe I was wrong.
I give her a hard look so she knows how deadly serious I am about this. "Yeah, with guys he thinks will take care of you. He hardly has to worry about you with Axel. I bet he is pleased, actually. That worked out well for him.”
“Yeah, he has said that," she admits. "He also said something strange when he found out we were pregnant, something about strengthening our families’ bonds. I laughed it off because I didn't understand what he meant. But now that sounds suspicious, right?"
I point at her. "Yes, right there, what the fuck does that mean?"
She shrugs, but I can see her working it all over.
"And Andy, you were never going to conform to anything anyone else told you to."
"That's true." She nods.
"And I'm pretty sure he still hates Brandon with a passion," Cassie chimes in.
"After he tried everything he could to break you guys up. He told me he did the same with me and Heath, but every time he tried, we found our way back to each other. His reason is because he is only going to get me killed. Apparently, I would be better off in Paris with a wealthy fashion designer. Where I'm safe." I look at the three of them, still confused by his words.
"This is bizarre, even for our family. I thought the shit I went through when I met Brad was messed up, but you lot make me look normal." Andy laughs.
"Not funny, Andy." I glare at her.
She shrugs. "I know, I don't really think it is, I just can't believe it. We can't just let this slide; we have to get to the bottom of it. What can we do to help?"
"I need you guys to back me up. I'm not moving to Paris."
"I guess lots of dads worry about who their girls will end up with. He just cares about our safety." Jasmine’s face is sheepish, like she doesn't even believe her own words. Why is she still trying to defend him?
"Too much, though. Why does anyone need their lives protected so much, unless they are involved in something that could get their loved ones killed?"
Brandon comes into view on Cassandra's screen and waves to us. "I'm going to talk to Brandon about this, see if we can't get a lead from the Rivera brothers. They know just about everything that's going on in Palm Springs. They’re practically running the town now. I'll call you if I find out anything." She blows us a kiss.
"Good idea," I agree. Cassie disconnects the call, and I turn to Jasmine, hoping she is up for the same with her connections.
She sighs heavily, rubbing her belly like this is all too much for her in her current state. And I feel bad because I'm sure it is, but I didn't do this. He did. "Maybe Axel or Hendrix might be able to come up with something that makes sense as well. But what are you going to do about the marriage contract?"
"I need to talk to Heath." I sigh, the truth of my words weighing heavily. We only just started to work things out after the scandal, and now this. How much more can our relationship take before there are too many cracks for us to piece back together?
And right on cue, a key turns in the lock, and he comes into view, with a look of surprise when he sees my sisters. "What's going on here? Some sort of a book club meeting with the Harper sisters?" he jokes, hanging his keys on the little hook by the door.
"Something like that." Andy smirks, and I don't even know why she's joking, this is fucking serious shit, and I already know he's going to flip his lid when I tell him what's going on. He was already jealous as hell over Julian before. And now that he actually has something to be worried about, it's not going to end well.
Jasmine yawns, covering her mouth. "Sorry, girls, it's past my bedtime. I'm going to have to call it a night. Andy, can you drop me at home on your way out?" she says pointedly to Andy, I can only assume trying to give me and Heath the space we’re going to need to get through this.
"Oh, but we haven't even talked about the book yet." She laughs, holding her hands out for Jasmine to hop up off the couch.
"Hi, Heath," Andy calls on her way past.
"Hi, Andy." He pulls me into him, kissing my lips. "Are the kids already in bed?" he asks, looking disappointed. I know how much he loves to tuck them in, but I couldn't wait for him tonight. He will understand why soon enough.
"Yeah, sorry."
"I'm just going to take a shower." He plants one more kiss on my lips then walks through to the bedroom.
I kiss my sisters’ cheeks good night, so appreciative they all came out here to help me tonight. "Bye, girls, keep me in the loop, okay? If you think of anything, call me. I'm scared I'm about to lose everything I have worked so hard for."
"He wouldn't do that to you, would he?" Jasmine gives me a look, and I can see her internal struggle to believe he is capable of blackmailing me.
