Total pages in book: 225
Estimated words: 218500 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1093(@200wpm)___ 874(@250wpm)___ 728(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 218500 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1093(@200wpm)___ 874(@250wpm)___ 728(@300wpm)
I gasp.
“Oh, whoops,” Derek’s mother says with a lopsided grin. “Marcie!”
Staff descend to deal with the rug.
“We should get back, shouldn’t we?” Naomi asks.
“I’ll meet you all there,” Mrs. Steele says. “Chloe and I can talk about all this later. For now, I must powder my nose.”
She disappears into a room adjoining the room we’re in.
I’m standing out of the way of the puddle on the rug and Grace links arms with me and moves us out of the room.
I’m reeling. They’re all in denial. Or they don’t care.
“Grace,” I whisper. “What the fuck?”
She shakes her head. “I can’t get involved in that way. But I’m here if you want to talk. I can give you pointers for dealing with him.”
I look over my shoulder.
Naomi shakes her head. She heard.
I stop and look at them both beseechingly. “He’s making threats. He’s threatening to harm people I care about if I don’t do what he wants me to do. He’s had me followed. Slipped into my bedroom while I was asleep and I’m sure I don’t need to spell out what he did when he got in there. He’s got cameras in my house. He had some guy hold me and my fiancé at gunpoint so my fiancé and I couldn’t have sex. Is he capable of doing violent things? Seriously? I need to know. Because I think he is.”
“Yeah,” Naomi says as if the word yeah is an understatement.
My heart plummets.
“I need help,” I whisper.
“Girlfriend,” Grace says, “I know this sounds odd, but you could be really good for him.”
“What?”
Grace shrugs. “He’s aloof. He’s unemotional. He’s never displayed an interest in love or affection. He’s like a different person with you. I can’t get over the smiles. The laughing.”
“He’s probably had a psychotic break,” I volley. “I don’t want this.”
Neither say anything. My face flames and I’m so angry I could spit.
“If you don’t help me, you’re both aiding and abetting,” I snap.
Grace sighs. “It’s not like he’s not a catch. He’s my brother and even I can see it. And believe me, many women would love to be in your place.”
“I…” I start.
“Use your hold over him to your advantage,” Naomi suggests.
“An attractive, rich, handsome husband who wants to dote on you? Why wouldn’t you?” Grace shrugs.
“She’s right. Things could be much worse,” Naomi offers. “I can’t do anything to help.”
And I’m stunned at their reaction.
“You’d be lucky to wind up with any of our living brothers,” Grace goes on, “They’re good-looking men of means who will go to extremes to provide for and protect those they care about. But yeah, Derek is unusual, dangerous, but he’s also absolutely smitten with you.”
“For how long though? If I don’t get out of this, do I end up like one of your brother Thad’s wives? Did they ask you for help and you ignore them, too?”
The Steele sisters exchange alarmed glances. We’re back to the entrance to the solarium, so I stop talking. But I wasn’t exactly whispering so might have been heard. But good! Someone needs to pay attention here. Intervene.
“I wouldn’t wish Thad on anyone,” Naomi says softly. “He was disturbed. As for Derek, you could be good for him. I’m sure I speak for all my siblings when I say that we’ll all be hopeful that this works out well.”
“Hopeful?” I ask.
“Derek’s been through a lot,” Naomi elaborates. “Him wanting to get married, bringing you here? That’s the first mentally healthy sign he’s shown anyone in years.”
I give my head a shake. “It’s healthy to blackmail a woman into sex? To destroy her relationship? He’s threatened people I care about. If you’re all going to talk this over after this, please talk about getting him some help so I can get away from him before he does more damage.”
“We’re allies, Chloe,” Naomi says, “But there are rules in this family. Some are unwritten but might as well be carved in stone. And we all know them. We can give you advice, pointers for being part of this family, but we can’t go against Derek on this. Anyone getting involved by going against what he wants? No. Not a good idea.” Naomi holds the door and gestures for me to go ahead.
The fact that they refuse to get involved sets off major alarms about being afraid of him retaliating.
I’m thinking I should walk out. I should walk out of here and go straight to the police, but I see that Derek is looking over his shoulder at me. And fear grips me at the notion of what he might do if I do that, so I walk back to him. As soon as we sit, his mom comes in and sits down. As soon as her behind is in her chair, servers move in and begin to serve everyone small plate towers with three levels of tarts and chocolate-dipped fruit.