Page 357 of Under Her Skin

I hope this is still real when I wakeup!

Chapter8

BLAINE

“He’s not here yet,” I hear the preacher tell the news crew in the hallway. “And you can’t be here. This is a sacred place. I can call security to see you allout.”

“We’ll wait outside for him to leave then. I’m sure he has plans for after the wedding—to go on some extravagant honeymoon with his new bride. We’ll get him then. He owes the world an explanation for how he gets everything he wants. First, he becomes a billionaire by selling crap, and then the kids he was visiting all have miraculous recoveries. Sources say he has an in with the devil, preacher. Is that the kind of person you want in yourchurch?”

“The man has no in with the devil. You’re being very dramatic. I baptized him only last week,” hesays.

“He was never religious before. What’s happened to change him? Or is he faking a newfound religion for some reason? The people have a right to know about this. He may end up being a very dangerous man. So help me get the truth out of him. Help me find out if he actually made a deal with the devil like the man he ran out of business claims hedid.”

“I’m going out there to set the record straight,” I say, but find Kent and Randy, as well as Mr. Richards, holding meback.

“You stay put,” Delaney’s father tells me. “I’ll deal withher.”

“No,” I tell him as the other two continue to hold me back. “I can’t let you do that, sir. This is mybattle.”

He turns to look at me and shakes his head. “Son, you are about to marry my daughter. You are about to be a part of my family. I protect what’s mine. Today is about you and my daughter starting your own family. When you have kids, you’ll understand what I’m doing. No one pushes any family of mine around. Noone!”

And with that, he’s out the door, and Kent says, “Damn! You got one tough father-in-law. Lord help that reporter. I think she’s about to see thelight.”

We listen at the door as Mr. Richards calls out, “Hey you! Over here! What do you want with my son-in-law?”

The sound of several sets of feet moving quickly in our direction are heard, along with the female reporter’s voice, “And who areyou?”

“My name is none of your concern. My daughter is marrying the man you’re planning on ambushing, and I’m here to tell you this ends now. You will never get an interview, mainly because this is no one’s business. I overheard you talking to the preacher. I know you want to accuse Blaine of something evil, and I will not allow it. So, hit the road, or you’ll besorry.”

Kent peeks out the door, then pulls his head right back in. “That cameraman has his camera on. Mr. Richards seems to have no idea they’re videoinghim.”

Randy looks pissed and he goes out the door, leaving my brother and me alone. “Shit,” I whisper. “What’s he about todo?”

“Stop recording this instant,” Randy shouts. “I’m Blaine Vanderbilt’s attorney. I’ll have you all charged if you don’t stop videoingimmediately!”

“Oh, shit,” Kent says. “He’s pulling some bullshit out of his hatnow!”

“So, you think you can stop us from getting the truth about Blaine Vanderbilt, do you?” the reporterasks.

“Camera off, now!” he shoutsagain.

“Fine,” a man says. I suppose it’s the cameraman. “You have to know, we will get this storyeventually.”

“There is nothing to get. My client is cleaning up his business practices. He may have dealt with companies and people who weren’t very good people, but those days are behind him. Leave the man alone to start his new life,” Randysays.

I wait for the reporter to respond, but my phone rings, and all I hear after that is the sound of people running and the door being thrown open. They’ve found me, and the green light is on at the top of thecamera.

“We’re live with Blaine Vanderbilt,” the dark-haired reporter says as she moves in, making me and Kent back up as they move into theroom.

Pressing the button to send the call to voicemail, I stop moving and stand up straight. “Yes, you are. After harassing me for a week, you have me here, live, cornered in an empty hospital room on my wedding day. Please tell me what’s so important you needed to interrupt our specialday.”

“The people want to know how it is you get everything you want. The wealth and the children’s miraculous healing? All of it comes down to one night when you were seen leaving a warehouse that’s known to be the meeting place of a group of satanic worshipers,” she says, then pushes the microphone in myface.

“This is nothing more than a witch hunt.” I look at my brother. “This is my brother. Ask him if I’ve ever exhibited any eviltendencies.”

“Never,” Kent says. “You’re making yourself look ridiculous with these accusations. I’d expect this out of a cheesy tabloid. Never the localnews.”

A familiar voice comes from behind the camera crew. “I’m going to ask you only once to leave these premises. Then I’m calling law enforcement and pressing trespassing charges on your whole crew and your television station,” the head of security, Mr. Davenport,says.