“Nope. It’s lying at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean.” I know I got lucky. I believe that someone was looking out for me that day.
Two years ago
I sit at the conference table on the thirteenth floor of Kingdom, drinking Pedialyte out of the bottle. I haven’t even been to bed yet. Partied all night with Cross last night, and just when I was headed home to go to bed my brother messaged me to meet him here.
“Where is everyone?” I ask, looking through my sunglasses. My eyes are sensitive from the partying. And the bright fucking sun beaming in from the floor to ceiling windows are making my head pound.
“It’s just us,” he answers, staring down at his cell while sitting at the head of the table.
I lean my head back and pull my hoodie up and over my face for more eye protection. “Why are we here?”
“Dad wanted to meet us.”
I place my hands on the armrests and push to stand, knocking the hood off my face. “I’m out.”
He jumps to his feet. “Grave …”
“Save it,” I interrupt him. “I don’t give a fuck what Dad wants.” He knows that. That’s why he didn’t tell me that.
I step in front of the glass double doors to exit the conference room right when they open. My father steps in and I stiffen when my eyes go to what’s standing next to him. It’s a woman. My father always has them coming and going. But he never brings them to Kingdom. And he sure as shit makes sure to never be seen with them in public. Too many eyes and ears always watching to look for the next big story.
“Who the fuck is this?” I ask, ripping off my sunglasses.
My father smiles at me and it makes my skin crawl. He’s called me here just to piss me off. “This … is Francesca.” He lifts her left hand and I see a massive fucking ring on her ring finger. “My new wife.” His smile widens, his blue eyes light up with excitement. “And your new mother.”
I had never wanted to fucking kill him more than I did right then. For some stupid reason, Bones stopped me from ramming my fist in his face until he was no longer breathing. I ran out of the conference room, jumped in my car, drove to our private hangar and took off in my jet. I had my pilots license. Now I wish I would have taken the time to hire someone. Maybe I wouldn’t have crashed my seven-million-dollar jet trying to get back home.
My father and Francesca’s marriage was annulled by the time I got back from my two week binge in Canada. Turns out, she found him in bed with her sister and his airtight prenup saved him from having to give her a fucking penny.
“I think that’s enough for today,” Jessie says with that fucking smile on her face.
I can’t figure out if I’m moody because of lack of drugs, or because I feel like a caged animal here in this elite daycare.
“Want to share more?”
“Huh?” I look over to the Playboy Playmate. “What did you say?”
Her blue eyes look around the room. “Everyone left, but you just stayed seated. I thought maybe you had more you wanted to share.” Her eyes come back to mine. “If so, I can listen.”
“Oh, no.” I notice we are the only two left in the room. “No, I’m done.” I hate a lot about this place, but most definitely the group sessions. I don’t need to tell these strangers anything about me. Most they have read in headlines.
I stand and walk out of the room and turn to the right, exiting the side door. I stand out on the patio that overlooks the tennis courts and golf course.
“Want a cigarette?”
I look over to see she’s followed me outside. “No, thanks. I don’t smoke.” Not anymore, anyway.
She gives a soft chuckle. “Yeah, me either.” Lighting the end of the cigarette, she takes in a drag and blows it out. “But when they take everything away, you have to find something to pass the time.”
“How long have you been here?” I ask.
“Five days.” She holds out her right hand to me. “They call me Bex.”
“Grave.” I shake it, wondering if that’s a fake name or not.
She nods quickly. “I would say it’s nice to meet you but not much is nice about this hell hole.”
I laugh. “It could be worse, I guess.” Could be dead.
She snorts. “Speak for yourself.”
“I’m guessing you didn’t check yourself in?”
She shakes her head and tucks her bleach blond hair behind her ear. “My father is getting married to his fifth wife in three months. Walked in on me fucking my soon-to-be stepbrother on his desk. Next thing I knew, he was dragging my ass out of bed the next morning and had a car deliver me here. This is my home for the next five weeks.”