“Damien was loving at first,” Kara was saying, “but once he was sure he had me, the mask fell away, and he became this demon of a guy. I couldn’t believe that he’d changed so much.”
“Dude. What the fuck,” Seth said.
“It’s not Hazel. It’s Kara.” This had my father’s hand all over it. A move that was aimed at destroying my business opportunities. He knew that this wouldn’t stand up, and I couldn’t be charged for abuse because Kara couldn’t press those charges as her sister.
The truth would come out almost immediately, and Kara would look like a lying fool. Her life would be ruined, but she would get her money. “He must have paid her a packet for this,” I said.
“How are you so calm?” Seth asked. “This is a fucking disaster.”
“No,” I said. “It’s not. That’s not Hazel, and I’d bet my ass that the truth will come out the minute she sees what her sister’s done. This is a last-ditch attempt to show me how far Mortimer can reach, but he’s gone too far this time.”
“What are you going to do?”
“What I should’ve done from the start,” I said and switched off the TV. What was the point in listening to salacious lies? They wouldn’t change anything. “Can you call Hazel?”
“Why?”
“Check she’s all right. I can’t do it, at the moment. She doesn’t want to hear from me, but I need to know she’s OK. If it’s coming from you…”
“Yeah, OK. I get it.”
“Thanks, brother.”
“Dude, are you sure you’re OK? This is a step too far,” Seth said.
“I’m fine. But what about you?” I asked, shamed by how selfish I’d been the last time I’d seen him. He was yet another person trapped in my father’s snare. “What are you going to do?”
“I’m supposed to have a meeting with the directors today,” Seth said, sighing. “And obviously I’m going to tell them I have no interest in being the CEO.”
“For real.”
“For real,” he said. “You might not realize it, Damien, but you’re the inspiration for that. Fuck, I’ve always tried to see the best in our father, but I’m not sure there’s anything good left in him. Look at this shit.” The news was playing in the background at his place. “If he can do this, what the fuck else is he capable of? Do I even want to know? I’m not associating myself with that. I didn’t work my ass off, study for years to become a pilot, only to throw it away for a man who clearly cares for himself and no one else.”
“I’m proud of you,” I said.
“Ditto. I’ll call Hazel.” He hung up.
Seth had hit on something in that conversation. If my father was capable of what he’d done this morning, then what else had he done? I was damn sure I’d find out.
My phone buzzed with another call from a number I didn’t recognize, and I silenced it. I turned off all notifications then dialed the number I’d been holding onto for years. The one that’d been given to me by the only person I’d ever trusted. My mother.
I hadn’t used this resource out of a sense of responsibility to my brothers, even to Mortimer, and out of fear that I would lose everything. But now? I had nothing left to lose, and the time was finally right.
“Hello,” the rasping voice answered.
“Mr. Kuznetsov?”
“Yes.” A hint of a Russian accent.
“I have a job for you. I need it taken care of by the end of the week.”
“The end of this week? Hmm. This is a very big thing to ask of me. You will pay extra for this, yes?”
“Yeah. Whatever you want.”
A gravelly chuckle. “Be careful of what you say. What is the name?”
The breath I’d been holding released. “Mortimer Woods.”
“Consider this done.”
39
Hazel
I hadn’t been able to sit still since this morning. I’d called every major news outlet and scheduled meetings with all of them. I didn’t want to be in front of millions of viewers telling them what a shitheel my sister was. I didn’t want to expose myself and my life, but it was the right thing to do.
This had to end before it began. Damien could get hurt. And the social implications were terrible too.
You still love him.
I shoved the feelings away and strode down the corridor that led to my father’s room. I nodded to a nurse I passed along the way, and she gave me the same sympathetic smile the others did in this section of the hospital. Everyone here was terminal.
Swallowing my fear, I pushed open my father’s room door and found him in bed, asleep, a machine blipping next to him.
Kara sat in a chair against the wall, grinning at her phone as she tapped and scrolled.
Unbridled rage welled in my chest, and I pointed at her. “You,” I said. “Outside. Right now.”
“Shush. Keep your voice down. He only just fell asleep, you know. Been pretty talkative all morning. Pity you weren’t here to see it.”
“Bitch,” I spat.
Kara reeled. “What’s your problem?”
“You used my likeness to lie about Damien.” My voice was rising again, and I didn’t want to disturb Dad or let him in on what Kara had done. It would break his heart. I walked over, grabbed her by the arm, and hauled her upright.
“Get off!”
“Come with me.” I walked for the door.
She let me drag her out, half-walking, and still with that stupid smile on her face. The door shut, and we were left semi-alone in the mint green corridor. The passing people were too busy to take much notice of us, thankfully.
“You utter idiot,” I said. “Why would you do that? Why would you lie in front of everyone? You have no idea how bad this is.”
“What, for Damien? Fuck Damien,” Kara replied. “He’s a prick. He broke your heart. Why do you care?”
“Because you lied about being a victim! And you used my name to do it, Kara! Do you have a fucking chip missing
