Alicia unfolded the paper and saw the address. “Do you know where this is?”
“Sure. That’s not too far from here. Could drive there in about ten minutes, unless traffic is really bad.” Dee held up her hand. “No, ma’am. I have to discourage you from going.”
“You’ll go with me if I do go, right?”
Sighing, Dee softened her concerned demeanor. “I sort of have to, don’t I?”
“If I go, you can’t tell anyone. You get me, Dee?” Alicia was of two minds about going as it was. On one hand, she was desperate to know more about the family that Danica would ask her to join one day. On the other… shit sounded a bit ominous. There was also the chance that Julia really was crazy, and everything coming out of her mouth was a crazier lie cooked up in her own head. She didn’t get that scar from nowhere, though. “I’m serious. There’s some weird shit afoot, and I intend to findout what’s going on. I might be the next Mrs. Moreau if things continue the way they are. I don’t want any surprises.”
“Neither do I, yet we got a big surprise.”
Alicia ignored that. “Danica said she’ll be out really late. I should be able to meet her mother without anyone noticing. She did tell me to go out and enjoy myself. This may not be enjoyable, but it’s a chance to learn some things.” Alicia held her hand out toward Dee. “Promise me you won’t tell anyone anything.”
The bodyguard slowly shook her head before clasping Alicia’s hand. “I make no promises if my boss directly asks me about it, but I guess we won’t give her a reason to?”
Alicia would take it.
Chapter 8
The car pulled up to a hotel a few blocks from Alicia’s. The driver helped her out, and Dee was on the sidewalk before anyone could even think about shooting the bodyguard’s charge.
“It’s fine,” Alicia said, placing a light hand on Dee’s arm. “I’ll try to keep this brief.”
“Got a feeling that there ain’t nothin’ brief about that woman, ma’am.”
“Let’s get this over with.”
They entered the hotel lobby with nary a look at any of the help. All the driver had been told was that Alicia wanted to meet a friend who was from Chicago. He would park and take a break until Alicia wanted to go back to her hotel.
“Are you Alicia Colbert?”
Alicia nearly jumped out of her skin as a man in dark sunglasses approached her. Dee immediately put herself between the two people until the man held up his hands.
“I’m her,” Alicia said.
“Come with me, please. Ms. Johnson will meet with you in a secure area.”
“That guy’s a bodyguard too,” Dee whispered in Alicia’s ear. “I could take him.”
“Hopefully, you won’t have to.” They entered a small, private lounge where only Julia sat by the fireplace – no fire blazing. She immediately stood and gestured to another chair. Dee stood back, arms crossed and eyes never looking away from the scene.
Julia sat back down in her chair. The man in the dark sunglasses disappeared into a corner.She’s not even married to Russell anymore,and she still has a bodyguard.Alicia didn’t like where this was going.
“Thank you for agreeing to see me.” Julia’s entire personality had changed. No longer looking over her shoulder, the woman was poised, soft-spoken, and dare Alicia say… confident?This is what I expect from a well-bred woman, good enough for an arranged marriage like the one she had.Alicia had no business being in the same room as this woman’s daughter. Ah, there it was. The downside to seeing the real Julia Moreau. “I take it that no one but your bodyguard knows that you’re here?”
“Danica is working late tonight, and I’m still of no consequence to anyone else.”
Julia’s smile was not warm. “Everyone but Russell, I’m sure.”
Alicia swallowed. “He may or may not have threatened me.” Dee’s eyes drilled into the back of her head. I’d like to see you take Russell Moreau on, Dee, but he’s got more bodyguards than the president.“He’s made it clear that I am not the right material for his daughter.”
“Let me guess.” Julia leaned back in her chair. “He’s shopping for a suitable match. That family is big on their arranged marriages. That’s how I ended up in that mess.”
“So I’ve been told.”
“Don’t get me wrong, Ms. Colbert. I married that man willingly.” Julia rolled her one good eye at the memories of her younger self. “I was incredibly naïve. My whole life, my family told me that I would be the wife of one of the greatest men in the country. I only met Russell a handful of times. He seemed taken with me enough.” She pulled her front bangs away, giving Alicia a better view of the massive burn scar running from her forehead to her throat. “I didn’t always have this. It’s a token of my marriage.”
Alicia stiffened in her seat. “How did you get that?”
