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“There is no trail to lead back to me,” Marina sighed. “I don’t have time for this. Goodbye, Summer.”
“Although that might be tough,” I continued on, “since Helix runs the security at the resort. You do know that any testing of narcotics would surely go throughthemat this time of year. And the CEOs of Helix have enough money to rush a job like that and get the results sent straight to them. Once they see that those drugs are far too rich for Felix’s blood, where do you think they will look next?”
Marina was silent.
“As if the video footage of you both at the bar wasn’t enough, I suppose you could try and bury that too,” I mused. “Sure, maybe you can try and lie about that, but the doubt will linger, won’t it? How is that going to look at the custody trial when you have ties to a known drug dealer—”
“You know nothing,” Marina snapped suddenly. “You’re just a stupid little girl that doesn’t even belong here. Did you forget who I am? I am MarinaHemmingway. I have more money than you will see in several lifetimes. You think you have any power just because John decided to put a ring on your pathetic finger?”
I glanced down at my bare finger as Marina laughed sharply. “And yet he chose me over you.”
“And what did that get him, huh? You brought a poisonous drug dealer right to his front door and endangered his child. He might have been trying to build that perfect family to make himself look good, but you know what he forgot, Summer? I always get what I want.”
“And what’s that?”
“To remind people why I’m on top. I wanted to buy up several stores in New York, and my daddy did it in seconds. I wanted the clothes of royalty? And they’re mine. Did John really think he stood a chance against me, trying to take my daughter?”
“Your accessory you mean?” I scoffed.
“You know nothing of me and my daughter,” Marina snapped. “Iloveher. I didn’t put up with thatdisgustingman slobbering all over me for nothing. He did what I needed him to do; he showed how lax the security is around John and my daughter. Felix might be dumb, but he was useful enough to prove how poor John’s decision-making is when it comes to women. I really didn’t even need the drugs, they were the cherry on top, and now my case is open and shut.”
“You really think it’s going to be that easy? That you can just lie and manipulate your way to sole custody?”
“Darling, when you’re as rich as me, everything is that easy.Merry Christmas.”
With that, the line went dead, and I slowly hung up as my heart hammered. Another tap and my recording of the call ended.
I got her.
Would it be enough? I had no idea, but it was as close to a confession as I was going to get, and it would have to do. My steps were lighter as I headed inside, nervous energy pulsing around me while I searched through the chalet for anyone who could tell me who to send this recording to. Jax and Luke were down at the resort, and Theo was somewhere in the building on call with catering, which left Tabitha.
The moment I entered the game room, Bonnie came flying across the room.
“Summer!” she squealed. I ducked in time to scoop her up into my arms with a laugh, and hugging her began to calm my racing heart.
“Summer, look!” Ava held up her latest painting, colorful streaks decorating her face as Tabitha chased her with a washcloth.
“Ava please, you’re not supposed to wear the paint!” she chuckled, trying to clean the streaks. Kane leaped off the couch, a crepe paper cape trailing behind him.
“Hey Batman,” I called. Kane’s face lit up and he posed with his hands on his hips.
“Gotham is safe,” he declared in a croaky voice. I laughed and gently rocked Bonnie in my arms.
“Tabitha, could I ask you something?”
“Of course, dear.” Tabitha stood, then yelped as Kane’s excited superhero moves had him bumping into the activity table and bottles of paint fell over like dominos.
“Oh, Kane!” Tabitha scolded. “Look what you’ve done!”
“Batman is on the case,” he croaked, grabbing a towel just as the doorbell rang through the chalet. Tabitha threw her hands up, and I laughed softly.
“I’ve got the door,” I chuckled, setting Bonnie down and kissing her head. She whined as I left the room and hurried over to the door, opening it quickly as I didn’t want to leave Tabitha alone for too long.
“Can I help…”
Felix stood on the doorstep, silencing my words the moment I saw him. The strong stink of alcohol wafted off his body as his thin lips pulled into a twisted smirk.
“HeySummer,” he muttered.
