My knees felt weak at the idea of Gabriel doing something like that. I slumped against the side of the bed.
“Listen, just, um, you know the script. If anyone reaches out for a comment or anything, you don’t know shit,” I instructed.
“Your personal life is private and is not up for public fodder,” she said, repeating the same statement that my PR company had put out after everything happened with Nate.
“Right.” I pulled my phone from my ear when it beeped. “Demetria, I gotta go. I’ll call you back later.”
I didn’t wait for her to say anything as I clicked over to the other line.
“Ray.”
“Do you need me to come down there?” Rayven asked, her voice sounding impatient.
“I guess you saw the photos.” I pinched the bridge of my nose.
“Umhm,” she answered. “It happened in New York, and they didn’t mention you being in Texas at all. But it’s only a matter of time before someone connects you with Texas since Gabriel is from there.”
I sighed, hating that she was right.
“No one’s likely coming down here to get pictures of me.”
“Probably not, but it could still pose a safety issue. I’ll be on the next plane.”
“No,” I said firmly. “That’s not necessary. You do whatever it is you need to do where you are. I’m fine down here, really.”
“Are you sure, Lena? How do you know he isn’t behind these photos?”
Fear pushed through me. It was one thing for Demetria to mention Gabe possibly being behind the photos, but hearing Rayven ask the same question had me rethinking my stance.
I shook my head. “He isn’t. I’ve been in Texas for three months before that trip. Why would he wait until we were in New York to let something like that leak?”
There was silence on the other end of the phone for too long. I could almost hear the gears churning in Rayven’s head.
“Why do men do half the shit they do?” she asked disdainfully.
“It’s only a photo. It’s not that big of a deal. My private life is off limits.”
“Does he know that?”
I assumed she was talking about Gabriel. I stood from the bed and leaned my head against one of the wooden pillars at the edge of it.
“He wouldn’t do this.” My voice was soft.
Rayven snorted. “Yeah, it’s not like there’s a great track record in our family for choosing quality men or anything.”
I hated how right she was.
My father was terrible when it came to relationships. Rayven’s mother and my mother were sisters. Her parents had divorced years ago and still could barely manage to be in the same room. Her father was cold and distant. Always had been.
“I warned you before I left about wolves.”
“I know, Rayven. Let it go. This wasn’t Gabe.”
“Right. A wolf dressed in sheep’s clothing is still a wolf.”
“Why would he do this?”
“He’s a businessman, right?” she asked. “In addition to being a fighter, he runs a business. Maybe he wanted publicity for his company. What if he thinks being seen in public with you will drive business his way? Hell, maybe he’s just a damn clout chaser. Who knows? What I do know is that he isn’t the one coming out of this looking bad.”
