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“Yup, it’s amazing,” I lie, trying to sound enthusiastic. “It all played out exactly as I planned. Interpol came to arrest him, right after the article went live. Everyone saw him getting led away in handcuffs.”
Nero chuckles. “I wish I could have been there to see it.”
“I’m sure the footage will be online, soon enough. People had their cellphones out, filming. As a souvenir,” I add bitterly.
“So if you’re all wrapped up there, when can we expect you home?” Nero asks.
I pause. “I don’t know,” I reply slowly. To be honest, I’m not sure where home is anymore. I grew up in New York, with the Barretti family as my own, but with Nero moving on from the family business, starting a new, legit life with Lily, what place do I have there anymore?
A movement behind me makes me whirl around, and I find Richard strolling through the party décor with his trademark smarmy grin on his face. “I’ll talk to you later,” I tell Nero hurriedly. “I have to go.”
I hang up and take a deep breath. “I thought everyone had left by now,” I tell Richard, trying to get my game face on.
“I couldn’t leave without offering you my congratulations.” He says, smiling. “I knew you were a resourceful young lady, but I never imaginedthis.”
“Thank you,” I say coolly. “Now, if you don’t mind, I have to deal with a few things.”
“No time for a celebratory toast?” Richard asks. “I do so appreciate you doing what I couldn’t and exposing him for the true villain he is. Honestly, I never would have guessed you had it in you. How did you know he was driving that night?”
I give a shrug. I’ve nothing to hide anymore.
“I tracked down the detective that investigated the accident, Officer Hardcastle,” I tell him. “The story about what happened just didn’t add up. And you can cut the bullshit innocent act with me,” I add, challenging him directly. “You were the one paying everyone off to bury it. Sebastian was too young, he didn’t have access to that kind of influence or money. But you did. You knew about this all along and covered his tracks. Why?”
Richard gives a sigh. “What else could I do? Trudy was devastated. The family had already lost so much. Subjecting them to a media circus, seeing Sebastian on trial… It would have been too much for her. I thought my nephew had made a tragic mistake, I had to protect them. They are my family, too, after all.”
I narrow my eyes. I’m not buying it, but it’s not my problem anymore.
“I had no idea Sebastian would grow up into a man like this,” Richard continues, still acting like he’s on some morning show. “But now, finally, he’ll see the justice he’s escaped for so long. Thanks to you, my dear.”
“My pleasure,” I reply dryly.
“So, what will you do now?” Richard asks.
I let out a hollow laugh. That’s the question, isn’t it?
“I’m not sure,” I reply, looking out over the dark lake with a sigh. “I don’t even know how I’m getting home from here, or where home even is anymore. I guess I didn’t plan far enough ahead.”
“You can take the jet back,” Richard offers immediately. “It belongs to the company, and I’ll be running Wolfe Capital now. And of course, we own a number of apartments in London you can use. Until you figure things out.”
I pause. I don’t trust him, and I’m pretty sure these oh-so-generous offers will have strings attached.
Richard sees my hesitation. “You needn’t worry,” he says with a smirk. “It’s a bargain, in my books. Since you’ve dealt with my nephew and offered up Wolfe Capital on a platter to me. I have no further business with you.”
Slowly, I exhale. It’s late, and I’m exhausted. I don’t want to spend another moment here—surrounded by the happy memories I shared with Sebastian on our last trip to the house.
“Then, thank you,” I decide. “I will use the flight. Can I leave tonight?”
“Of course, I’ll call the airfield now,” Richard says immediately. “Trudy is recovering back at our hotel, she’s in quite a state, as you can imagine, having everything dredged up again. We’ll probably stay a couple of days more, until she can travel. You’ll have the plane to yourself.”
Good.
I changeinto comfortable travel clothing and pack up my stuff while Richard calls the pilot and arranges a car to take me to the airport. I feel like I’m in a daze as I speed away from the villa, the dark countryside blurring outside the windows.
Was it worth it?
I replay the look in Sebastian’s eyes when he realized I’d betrayed him. And the terrible things he said to me, those awful words about Miles…
“You’re foolish and naïve… That picture you’ve conjured of Miles is a lie… He never loved you… He left you all alone…”
