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“That’s not exactly what happened.”
“Save it for your voters. Not one person who loves her has an iota of respect for any of you. She decided long ago to disown her blood family with no idea of what her future held. She walked away with grace. Now you’re dealing with me. I’m not a twenty-one-year-old naïve dreamer that can be pushed around. I’ll fuck your shit up having absolutely no regret blowing the lid off this charade and exposing this entire operation.”
Karen’s color drains again, her shield cracking. Marco’s shoulders sag in defeat and humiliation, but for a snap second, I catch his eyes, signaling something to the man behind him in a suit.
I toss my focus to Tasha. “Whatever intentions or political motivation have brought you here are done. Poppy is not a part of your plans and no longer exists for anyone at this table. You are done. There’s not even a place in Hell for you after the stunt you pulled last night. You better fucking pray Poppy makes a full recovery or your life as you know it is over.”
“I have witnesses to you threatening me.”
“I don’t threaten, I make things happen.”
Her eyes fill with a raw hunger and my stomach revolts, the whiskey from earlier churning.
“I want to see my daughter.” Marco tries to pull his weight and I laugh, loud and cynically.
“Then take a good look to your right.”
I turn, done with them. My eyes go over the other couple who are rising to their feet. Dad is at one side and Isaac on the other.
“You served your purpose, you can disappear now,” I tell him, storming through the restaurant.
He remains quiet, tagging along until we hit my room.
“Man, let me put this out there. I fucked up. I was young, ambitious, horny, and stupid.”
“Okay, you put it out there.” I load our bags near the door.
“Any chance I can see Cait—Poppy before I leave?”
“Not a chance in hell.”
“I live with regret—”
“My fucking purpose in life is laying in a hospital room sleeping off sedatives while I deal with this. There is no telling what happens when she wakes up. Your regrets don’t mean shit to me, and if you’re looking for redemption in her eyes, it’s not the time. That bitch you slipped your dick in has targeted her for years, and you knew that because Poppy shared her strained relationship. You thought with your cock,” I rage.
Isaac stands tall, his body going tense and face hard. “I understand you’re angry, but this situation was not my fault.”
I’m ready to lunge when Dad puts a hand to my chest and stands in between us. “Isaac, I’ll walk you out and get your number. Maybe Poppy can call you.” He sends a look behind him and Dante joins.
When the door shuts, my phone rings with Pierce’s name. I notice the time and my anxiety spikes even further. My first thought is Darby and the baby. “Is Darby okay?”
“Yeah, man, health-wise, she’s fine. Mentally, she’s a wreck. She wants to fly out there tomorrow and be with you,” he clips.
“Don’t let her get on a plane. We have enough to deal with.”
“I understand and it sucks, but I’m about to add more. There’s something you need to know.” There’s a cold bitterness in his tone, and immediately my body is tight.
“What do I need to know?”
“Son,” Dad is back, taking the phone from my hand. “Pierce, you’re on speaker,” he informs him.
“I’ve got Scottie on the line.”
“Not the time for a fucking party,” I snap.
“Evin, I know why Natasha Bindel is there and what her motives are.” Scottie is all business.
“Talk.”
“Rumor has it Marco Bindel is being groomed for a Presidential run.”
“God-fucking-dammit!” I grind my teeth to keep from roaring.
“His party is looking at two candidates to vet out, and he has the lesser of experience. The story that Poppy is still known as Caitlyn and the dancing daughter has held tight. Marco has continued success in swaying any interest away from her, citing her privacy.”
“Do you have any idea if he believed she was in California?”
“He’s stuck with the story of her living in California for years with anyone who asks. But I think he created a smokescreen to keep her hidden.”
“How?”
“The same month Poppy returned from Europe, a Caitlyn Bindel became a resident of California. She has a PO Box registered that receives mail.”
“Un-fucking-believable. He’s known she’s Poppy and in Vegas, but keeping up a ruse?”
“Anyone looking by name would find her in California. But Natasha and Karen definitely knew Poppy was in Vegas.”
“That was all obvious.”
“From what I can tell, the vetting process includes a deep plunge into the Bindel family, and they can’t keep Poppy hidden forever.”
It all clicks into place. Natasha came to drag Poppy back. The rage takes over, and before I can throw my fist into the wall, Dad has a hold on my arm.
