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“You fucking whore. You fucking goddamned whore. You let me think… You fucking asked me to stay!”
Tears stream from her eyes. She looks shocked, deeply wounded. And I don’t care.
“No, it’s not like that. It’s not, Silas. I swear!”
“Is that what you were doing last night? Out prowling for a man? For a fuck? Is that it?”
She shakes her head and tries to weave her fingers with mine.
“Don’t touch me. Don’t fucking touch me!” I step backward, away from her.
“Silas, please, let me explain!”
“You’re a fucking liar and a whore, Ophelia. You’re no better than them. And I’m sorry I laid eyes on you last night.”
“No. No?—”
“I never want to see you again,” I say, crossing the room and hurling the ring at the far wall. “Do you hear me? Never!”
I walk out of the room, slam the door behind me. I gather my coat and wallet and walk out of that house. And I don’t look back.
13
SILAS
Present Day
Nigella and I are in a meeting with business associates in the dining room of The Sinistral when a commotion at the restaurant’s entrance interrupts us. Every head in the room turns to see what’s going on and I watch Ophelia Hart scan the room as the hostess looks nervously in the direction of my table.
“It’s fine. I see him,” Ophelia says. Even from here, I can see the angry gleam in her eye.
I stand, clearing my throat and buttoning my suit jacket. “If you’ll excuse me, Nigella can take care of the rest of the details.”
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Opheliademands when I intercept her a few feet from my table.
I take her by the elbow and lead her through the crowded restaurant and out into the lobby of the boutique hotel.
“I asked you a question,” she repeats, calling the attention of everyone there. Not that I care, but she might.
“Finally visit your father? How is Horatio?”
“As if you don’t know. What were you thinking? Why would you tell him about the engagement?”
I shrug a shoulder, knowing it will irritate the fuck out of her. “I just assumed he knew. I mean, your daughter gets engaged, it’s not normally a secret. It’s been what? A year now?”
“How dare you insert yourself into my business!”
“The Foxes are my business. As long as you’re aligned with them, you’re in the crosshairs, which makesyoumy business. I told you to watch yourself with them.”
“I don’t need your advice. Let me go!”
I don’t. “You’re out of your league.”
“Don’t worry about me.”
“I’m not worried about you.” I hear my own lie but I haven’t forgotten what Ophelia Hart did to me. The night we spent together. The morning after. I will never forget, and I will never forgive.
“Right. Let me go.”
