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“I just don’t understand why she’d do it.” I shook my head, shoulders sagging. “Why the hell would she kill everyone?”
“No idea.”
I couldn’t think of any reason, but I was still sure we were on the right track with our overall discussion. The recent bullying, Michaela’s ongoing affair with my father, the Forrester murders... they were all tied up in a complex knot of secrets, lies, and sin. I could feel it in my bones.
“We need more information about the affair,” Paxton said. “Exactly when it started, how it started, and so on.”
“But we can’t ask Michaela about it,” Tate said. “Based on everything else she’s done recently, she’d just lie.”
Paxton’s lips thinned. “So we’ll confront Greg.”
“He’s barely speaking to me at the moment, and as soon as we bring up the affair, he’ll run away and refuse to speak at all,” I said. “So we’ll need to get him somewhere he can’t do that.”
“I have an idea.” Paxton sat up straight. “My team has a black-tie fundraising event coming up this Friday. Your dad is a Worthington donor, right?”
“Yup. It’s his alma mater.”
“Well, he’s desperately trying to rehab his public image right now, after all the scandals involving you. So being seen at a charity event could be good for him,” he said. “If we confront him there, right in front of all the cameras and journalists, he can’t run away and cause a scene.”
“That’s a good idea,” Tate said, rubbing his chin. “But how can we get him to the event in the first place? I don’t think he really likes hockey all that much.”
“Could you get your mom to invite him and convince him to go?” I suggested. “They run in the same circles, and she’s a huge hockey fan like you, so she’s definitely going, right?”
He nodded. “Yeah, she’s going.”
“You could tell her you really want him there so you can push us together to talk about our issues. Say that we’re both being very stubborn and need a helping hand to patch up our relationship.”
“That could work. I’ll call her in a minute.”
“What about me?” I asked. “Is it invite-only?”
Paxton’s brows furrowed. “I’m pretty sure you can go as long as you buy a ticket. But just in case…” He paused and stuck his hand out. “I’m taking you as my official date.”
Sienna
The Blades had really pulled out all the stops for the Friday fundraiser.
Hosted in a swanky hotel ballroom in downtown DC, it was nothing short of breathtaking. Tables adorned with crisp white linens, glistening silverware, and gorgeous floral centerpieces were carefully arranged around a spacious dance floor, where team members, staff, donors, and their partners were mingling, dressed in sharp tuxedos and elegant gowns. A grand chandelier cast a golden glow over the gleaming marble floors, and a live band filled the space with the sound of jazz music.
The main focus of the evening was a silent auction, featuring an array of exclusive items and experiences. All of the proceeds would go to a charity that helped support the athletic ambitions of young girls and boys who were growing up in vulnerable situations.
Paxton smiled at me and took my hand. “You ready for this?” he murmured, eyes lingering on the silver hockey-stick-shaped pin on my dress before skating back up to my lips and eyes.
My heart practically skipped a beat from the admiring look on his face. He’d given me the same look earlier when he picked me up for the event—slightly widened eyes with a clear hunger in them. A hunger that was only for me.
I nodded. “Yes. I just saw Dad.”
“Where?”
“Over there.” I pointed. “Dancing with some woman.”
Paxton frowned in the direction I was pointing. “All right. Let’s do this.”
We cut our way through the crowd and headed onto the dance floor. When my father wasn’t looking, we sidled up to him and his partner. Paxton stuck his hand out and tapped her on the shoulder. “Sorry to cut in like this,” he said, flashing her a heart-melting grin. “But someone told me you wanted to dance with one of the hockey players.”
The woman stopped and smiled back at him. My father stopped too, eyes narrowing when he spotted me.
“I think you have me confused with someone else,” the woman said.
