She gently traced the bruises on my throat. “I made her promise me not to tell anyone else. I also made her believe the interaction between Colette and I was the final one, and that we haven’t been in contact since then. I didn’t want her to worry about me because she has to take care of Uncle Bruce.”

  “Colette isn’t going to stop harassing us.”

  She nodded. “That’s why I want you to leave town so I can take care of her.”

  “But how?” I asked, frustrated I’d failed in my attempt to take down Colette.

  She brushed my swollen cheek. “I could kill her for what she’s done to you.” My heart jumped in my throat.

  “If it came down to that, would you find a way to…” I swallowed hard. As much as I despised Colette, murdering her was too drastic.

  A somber smile flashed across Victoria’s face. “I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I did. Instead, I have another way of putting her in her place. She’ll be punished harshly when I tell Benjamin what she did to you.”

  I didn’t like the idea she would go back to him for help. “How is this different from the last time you asked him for help?”

  She dropped a gentle kiss on my mouth, which was at odds with the rage building up in her body, which was so thick, I could choke on it. “Last time was because of a disruption in his business and a major loss of revenue for him. Now it’s much more personal. Once he realizes Colette abused someone very special to me, he’ll take care of her.”

  Her possessive statement should have made me uneasy. But I would have been lying if I said it did. It thrilled me. Plus, it was too late to run away now. I was too invested in helping her defeat her demons, no matter how dangerous it had become for both of us.

  ***

  I woke up to Victoria sitting on the side of the bed. Instead of having me sleep in the spare bedroom like before, she’d offered me her bed. I hadn’t realized how tired I was until she recommended I take a nap. I should have felt more awake, but I was groggy, and my cheeks were stiff. My throat was still sore and scratchy.

  “What time is it?” I sat up slowly and blinked the sleep from my eyes.

  “It’s almost five.” She ran a finger over my bruised cheek and frowned. “I would have let you sleep longer, but we have some guests.”

  “Guests?” I asked through a yawn.

  “While you slept, I made some phone calls. One was to Benjamin. He wants to see us now,” she said. “Oliver and Maia are here to take us to him.”

  I sat up, ignoring the vertigo. Victoria must have noticed my reaction. She massaged my neck, helping ease my dizziness.

  “Why does he want to see me? I look horrible,” I spoke through swollen lips, my sore throat making it difficult for me to talk normally.

  “That’s why he wants to see you. I want to show him the damage his sister has done. I was very persistent over the phone. I told him I was sick of her bullshit, and she had gone too far this time.” She lowered her cheek to mine. “It’s a good sign he sent Maia here.”

  “Why?” I asked.

  “He doesn’t let Maia out of his sight for too long. If he does, she’s always with Oliver. The one thing he despises is physical abuse toward women. Maia was a victim of abuse before she met him, so he thought you would feel safer if she came with Oliver to escort us to his home.”

  “Do I have time to shower?” I threw back the covers.

  She stood. “It’s better if he sees Colette’s damage unaltered.” She caressed the side of my neck.

  I clutched her hand. “How bad do I look?”

  “A little banged up but nothing permanent.” She kissed me lightly on the mouth. “You still look beautiful.”

  I blushed and dropped my gaze to my lap. “I’ve been considered pretty but never beautiful.”

  “You’re more than just pretty.” She helped me rise from the bed and gave me a deeper kiss, which I welcomed even though my cut lip stung from the pressure. I didn’t care.

  I had enough time to use the bathroom to pee and clip back my hair. Once I flushed the toilet, Victoria entered the room without an invitation. I quickly washed my hands. She then hurried me out in what I had slept in—black stretch pants and matching hoodie with a white tank top underneath.

  When we entered the main sitting room, Oliver and Maia rose from the couch. Oliver was all smiles, looking handsome as ever in a black leather jacket over a gray button-down shirt and tight jeans. Maia had a polite expression, but she wouldn’t look Victoria or me in the eye. She wore almost the same type of dress as before but with longer sleeves.

  “Benjamin is going to kill Colette.” Oliver lost his smile.

  “It would make things much easier if he did,” Maia said in a soft but steady voice, anger flashing in her eyes as she met my gaze.

  “You don’t like her, either?” I asked her.

  “She can be a nuisance.” Oliver motioned to the door. “Shall we go, ladies?”

  “Let’s go.” Victoria pulled on her jacket and grabbed my hand, leading the way.

  We took the elevator down to the garage in silence. Oliver directed us to a black luxury sedan. Victoria and I sat in the back while he drove and Maia in the front passenger seat.

  “Where are we going?” I asked Victoria.

  She set our linked fingers on her knee. “To Benjamin’s house in Brooklyn.”

  “He lives on the waterfront,” Oliver inserted as he drove out of the garage and onto the street. “Victoria’s been there a few times.”

  “Just once,” she said.

  “Before England, right?” he asked in what sounded like a jab.

  “Oliver, stop.” Maia poked him in the arm.

  “I’ll behave.” He tweaked her chin.

  I couldn’t help but wonder about the step-siblings’ affection for one another. I got a strange vibe from both of them that made me believe there was more to their closeness. I would have even assumed they were lovers, but Benjamin’s possessiveness with Maia told me otherwise.

  I glanced at Victoria to see if she had any reaction to the duo, but she stared out her window, keeping her hand around mine.

  The drive took under an hour. Familiar skyscrapers and buildings were replaced by residential neighborhoods. The houses soon became much larger, set on sprawling properties. Oliver drove down a street that ended at a large gate. From inside the car, he pressed a remote and the gates opened to another street leading to a mansion surrounded by an abundance of trees and bushes to keep away unwanted spectators.

  “This is where Benjamin lives? It looks like a museum,” I said, astonished by the enormous building.

  “If he had a choice, he’d own the entire waterfront. Three floors with twelve bedrooms at sixty thousand square feet just isn’t enough for one man.” Victoria sounded unimpressed by the splendor.

  “He doesn’t live alone.” Oliver drove into a four-car garage.

  “How could I forget you and Maia keep him company.” Victoria opened her door when Oliver shut off the ignition. “Or are you still living in the guesthouse while your sister stays with Benjamin in the main house?”

  He snorted and smirked. “Why not ask him yourself if you’re so curious?”

  With my hand in Victoria’s, I followed her out of the car. She didn’t respond to his question while he helped Maia out. With his arm around her waist, he guided her to another door. Victoria and I trailed behind.

  We walked up a flight of stairs and then entered a sunroom facing one of the pools. Maia broke away and hurried on while Oliver motioned us ahead. We entered a large, airy kitchen and then moved down a hall and past some other rooms until we reached the foyer.

  “Benjamin is in here.” Oliver indicated a half-open door. Voices emerged from within.

  Victoria pushed open the door, and we entered. Unlike Benjamin’s office at his club, this room was used to entertain. One side had a pool table and a huge stereo system, and a television taking up almost the entire wall, bracketed by massive speakers. There were many comfortable-looking chairs and couches and two bars along the walls with mirrors behind them and many bottles lining shelves.

  A dark-skinned man in a navy-blue suit rose when we entered. A few feet away from him stood Benjamin with Maia. Benjamin was dressed in a casual white button-down shirt and tan trousers. He hugged Maia to him, bending low near her ear.

  He moved back and mouthed, “Good job, love,” and rested his palm on her ruined cheek. He then gazed in my direction.

  “Welcome, Miss Pinke. I wish I could have invited you under better circumstances.” He inspected my face and then gave his attention to Victoria. “You aren’t sleeping well.”

  “I haven’t slept well in almost twenty years.” She pointed to the well-dressed stranger. “This is your lawyer?”

  Benjamin released Maia and walked toward us. “This is Emery, my trusted attorney of thirty years.”

  Emery nodded at me and Victoria but didn’t offer his hand. “I’m here tonight at Benjamin’s request.”

  “As a witness,” Victoria pointed out.

  Benjamin clapped Emery on the shoulder. “Yes, so nothing can be misconstrued. Maia and Oliver will remain as well.”

  “That works for me.” Victoria nodded in approval.

  He rubbed his palms together. “Before I ask Colette to grace us with her presence—”

  “Wait a minute. She’s here?” I scanned the room, expecting her to emerge from behind a curtain.

  He tilted his head, his laser-sharp gaze landing on me in amusement. “After Victoria and I talked on the phone, I had Colette brought here. She has the right to face her accusers. But you can trust me, I won’t let her—”

  “I don’t trust any of you!” I pointed my finger at him.

  Victoria turned me around and seized my arms. “Calm down. She won’t attack you here. You’re protected.”

  “But what about you?” My voice cracked. My emotions were getting the best of me.

  “I’ll be safe. Benjamin promised me.” She took my hands, tugging us toward the side of the room near Maia.

  “Tell me what’s going on?” I demanded with as much calm as I could muster.

  Benjamin sat on the arm of the couch where Emery had reclaimed his seat and was busy taking papers out of a briefcase. “I’m fully aware of your visit with Colette. I don’t agree with how she treated you, and I accept how you defended yourself. I’ve had enough of my sister’s childish antics. Her tantrums are taking me away from important matters that need my complete attention. I’m treating this gathering like a business meeting, complete with paperwork and contracts to be signed.”

  “I don’t understand,” I said to Victoria.

  “It’s better if you wait until Colette is here so we don’t have to explain it twice.” She patted my back but stared at Benjamin. “It will turn out for the best.”

  “If we’re ready, I’ll send for her,” he said.

  “Go ahead,” Victoria replied.

  He nodded at Oliver who held his phone to his ear. He told the person on the other end of the line to bring Colette in. The double doors then swung open, and Colette entered, flanked by two men dressed in dark suits.

  She crossed her arms in a defensive stance. Her face was splotchy with red, and there was a huge black-and-blue bruise near the corner of her mouth.

  “Nice shot,” Victoria whispered in satisfaction.

  Benjamin waved at the vacant seat next to Emery. “Sister dear, please take a—”

  “Fuck you, Benjamin.” She lifted her chin in defiance.

  He squeezed the bridge of his nose. “Why are you being difficult?”

  “I’m difficult?” She shot me a glare of pure loathing. “The little cunt attacked…”

  Victoria moved forward and stopped a foot away from Colette. Benjamin rose, but Victoria waved him back.

  “Don’t even try and play the victim here. It’s obvious to all of us what you did to Lindsay. You didn’t expect her to fight back?” She crossed her arms. “You didn’t expect me to fight back?”

  “Why should you care what happens to her? She’s not important in what we share together.” Colette lifted her wrist, showing off her bracelet. “Do you remember the day you gave this to me, and what you said to me?”

  A dismayed look came to Victoria’s eyes. “I was young and stupid.”

  Colette rushed toward her. “You said you loved me!”

  Benjamin blocked her. One of the men forced her into a chair. She held a fist to her mouth, cutting off her words. Benjamin laid his hand on Victoria’s arm, but she waved him away and went over to the window with her back to the room.

  “I lied to you. Get over it,” she announced in a hoarse voice.

  Maia gave me a sympathetic smile I didn’t return.

  Benjamin remained standing, staring at Colette and then at Victoria. He looked irritated.

  “I am sick and tired of being dragged into this drama between you two. It stops now.” He cracked his head from side to side and moved toward Colette. He knelt on one knee and set his hands on the arms of her chair. She didn’t look at him but at Victoria, who still kept her back turned.

  “I thought I solved this issue with both of you once already, but I was wrong. I’ve given you too much freedom for too long.” He curled his long fingers around Colette’s chin, forcing her to look at him. “A separation for you both is in order. Tomorrow, you’ll announce your resignation as executive editor of Virago, effective immediately. During your sabbatical, you’ll see a therapist of my choosing, which I should have forced you to do years ago. If you don’t obey me, I’ll cut off your funds and use the resources and contacts at my disposal to have you admitted to a hospital for some sort of emotional distress that makes you suicidal.” He brought her face close to his, and their noses bumped. “Do I make myself clear?”

  “You’re a bastard.” She thrust him away.

  He fell back on his heels. “You should be grateful our mother isn’t alive, and I’m the one giving your punishment.”

  “Punishment for what? Because of how I love and who I love? Why should I suffer and she doesn’t?” She waved at Victoria.

  Victoria flinched but didn’t speak. She continued staring out the window.

  Benjamin rose. “I’ve written the resignation letter you’ll sign tonight. Tomorrow, I’ll go to the office with you to be the supportive brother during your time of need. Then we’ll discuss how your therapy will be conducted and where.”

  “You’re making me leave New York?” she asked in alarm.

  “A change of scenery will be beneficial, perhaps the West Coast.” He drew Colette out of her seat and hugged her. She kept her arms loose at her sides, staring at Victoria with a pained expression.

  “Oliver, escort my sister to the guesthouse.” Benjamin crooked a finger at Maia. She moved to his side. With one arm around Colette, and the other around Maia, he directed the two women to the exit. “Maia, you’ll keep Colette company until I’m finished with our guests.”

  “Certainly,” Maia said in a congenial way and smiled politely at Colette.

  Colette ignored Maia but didn’t struggle when Oliver guided her out the door. She glanced back at Victoria and then at me. Her fury made me take a step back. She left the room with Oliver and Maia as well as the two men she’d arrived with.

  Benjamin tugged on his cuffs and walked over to Victoria. “Now it’s time to discuss what I should do about you and Miss Pinke.”

  If he was upset by Colette’s outburst, he hid it well. Any other man wouldn’t, but then again, Benjamin wasn’t like any other man I knew. Everything rolled off his shoulders, including the way Colette had acted in front of us.

  Victoria turned and stared at me with such sadness, I wanted to take her in my arms and hug her tight. Benjamin beat me to it and drew his arm around her shoulders, leading her over to his lawyer.

  “Should I tell Miss Pinke, or would you prefer to?” he asked Victoria.

  “Don’t talk about me like I’m not here.” I walked toward her.

  He motioned to a vacant love seat. “Sit there, and we’ll explain everything to you.”

  “Who’s we?” I remained standing, mainly to defy this man who thumbed his nose at everyone around him.

  “Lindsay, sit down for me. Please.” Victoria sounded exhausted, and it showed by the way she had settled back into the corner of the couch with her eyes half closed and her forehead pinched with deep lines.

  “Okay.” I wouldn’t argue with her. I sat, crossing one leg over the other.

  Benjamin sat on the arm of the couch next to Emery, who handed him a folder filled with papers. “Until I can find someone to take over for Colette while she’s on leave, I’ll be temporarily in charge of the day-to-day operations of Virago. Under present circumstances, I feel it’s in your best interests to leave the publication.”

  When I opened my mouth, he lifted his hand. “I know it’s not fair since you’ve been a valued employee. As restitution, I’m giving you a year’s salary with benefits, including a bonus to keep you on your feet until you can find employment elsewhere.” He held out the folder. “You’ll be very pleased with the compensation I’m offering.”

  “Look at his offer,” Victoria said in a commanding tone.

  I snatched the folder from his hand. Opening it, I scanned the front page. When I spotted the bonus amount, my jaw dropped.

  “Fi-five hundred thousand dollars?” I gasped, shaking my head in disbelief.

  “You’ll also be given impeccable references and the contact information of one of the best head hunters in Manhattan who will work with you to find you another position, if and when you decide to work again.” He beamed at me, as if I’d accepted.

  Shutting the folder, I tossed it to the side. “This is your way of buying my silence.”

  The satisfied air around him diminished, but his grin widened, cold and brittle. “You’ll sign a confidentiality agreement. You won’t discuss with anyone why you left Virago or how much you received in compensation. You won’t tell anyone, including the police, how you received the bruises on your face or what you witnessed here tonight. Emery will go over any questions you may have.”