Page 45 of Her Dark Lies

No option I came up with was feasible.

In the end, I needn’t have bothered. When I followed her to her annual exam, moved up the moment Jack started talking about his baby fever, I learned her lovely little secret. My God, the nurses and doctors talk so loudly, it hardly takes ten seconds to ascertain exactly what’s happening in the room next door.

Despite agreeing to start trying right away, Claire was there to get the implant, and there was no way she was removing it until she was good and ready. That would buy her three years at least.

Score one in my column for Claire. At least she wasn’t as easily seduced by his begging as she’d played to be. Perhaps she was more of a worthy opponent than I thought.

26

La Familia

Jack walks the familiar halls of the Villa to his parents’ rooms. Though it’s late, he barges in without knocking. The suite on this side of the Villa is similar to the bridal suite though the terrace faces the other direction. It is a sunrise catcher, not a sunset.

Jack had fought against his parents giving up their rooms for him and Claire, but Ana was adamant. It was tradition that the eldest son took the Venus suite as a newlywed. Period.

Elliot had groused that they hadn’t given it up for him and Amelia, but Ana simply cast her gimlet eye on her second son and shook her head. Tradition was tradition, and she preferred the sunrise view anyway. Better for sun salutations on the terrace.

Brice sits at the desk by the French doors to their terrace, his computer out, Elliot by his side. Both have earpieces in, both are nodding at the same time. They are absorbed enough not to notice Jack’s grand entrance. The server issue is being handled, and Jack feels some tension leave him. Whoever is trying to break them won’t succeed. He won’t let them.

Ana is lying on the chaise, long legs crossed at the ankle, the latest issue ofEndlessJourneyin her lap, a book of poetry by her side, and a glass of champagne at her elbow. The very picture of relaxation.

Rattlesnakes relax, too. They curl up in the sun to warm their skin, completely harmless to passersby. If left alone. If they are not threatened.

The champagne bottle is half empty. Ana and Brice have been indulging more than usual lately. He’s tried not to notice, but it’s been hard to miss. Not that Jack is one to talk—he’s been drinking too much, too. A bottle of wine in the evening instead of a glass. Double scotches instead of singles. He’s blamed it on the stress of the wedding, of not telling Claire everything, convincing himself that’s what is getting to him.

Keep lying to yourself, Jack. Keep pretending. That always works.

“Any word on the servers?”

Ana puts a finger to her lips and gestures toward his father and brother, then crooks her finger in acome with megesture, swinging her legs off the chaise. Jack follows her toward the terrace. Ana pats Brice on the shoulder as they pass. He twitches at the intrusion and keeps on talking. Jack hears “More trouble in Tanzania?” as he follows his mom outside.

That is not good news. The Tanzania project was one of Jack’s babies—one he’s stepped away from for the wedding. If everything goes south...

Not your problem today, Jack. Let them handle it.

The terrace is sheltered but misty; the rain has died down to a gentle patter from the night sky. Soon enough, the patter will be a roar again. The island’s early summer storms are impressive.

Ana closes the door gently and lights a cigarette.

“When are you going to quit that nasty habit?”

Ana smiles languorously and blows a stream of smoke over his head.

“We all have to die of something, Jacky. I might as well enjoy myself until I go.”

“One day, you might come to your senses and realize you’ll live a bit longer if you stop now. What’s gone wrong in Tanzania? Is it related to the server issue?”

Ana waves a hand. “Nothing we can’t handle. Elliot’s working on it. You’re off the clock, remember?”

“I remember. It doesn’t mean I need to be cut out of the loop.”

“Elliot has this,” she repeats, taking another drag. “Besides, you said you wanted out of the main business after the wedding to spend more time on the Foundation. Let your brother step up. It’s time. Now, what’s the problem?”

She has left no room for argument, so he changes tack.

“We have another problem,” he says. “It seems someone’s been spying on us.”

Now he has his mother’s full attention. Her dark eyes flash with suppressed anger, but she nods. “Explain.”