“Someone mentioned it the other day and I thought of the idea.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Seriously?”
“Yes, is that so hard to believe.”
“Oh, Amy, stop. You are a useless liar,” Monique said, exasperated. “This way, we don’t have to wait months for her to show up.”
“Do you not think, Monique,” he snapped, “I might already have something in motion to draw her out without using Amelia as bait?”
“I don’t mind being bait,” I said. “And what do you have planned?”
He ignored my question. “To go behind my back.” He shook his head, clenching his teeth so tight, a muscle bulged in his jaw. “Were you in on this debauchery, Kenneth?”
Kenneth rose casually and sauntered down the stairs. “I was aware. It was a solid plan, and one we hope will work.”
“I take you into my home, offer you protection, and the way you repay me is to connive behind my back.”
Kenneth’s tone was soft—sympathetic, even. “You had other issues to deal with. We thought we’d take some pressure off you.”
He jerked his chin up to the hallway, where Michael stood next to Georgie. “And what about you, Michael, were you aware?”
“I was not.” He guided Georgie down the stairs with his hand on her back. She tightened the belt on her silk robe. “And I agree with you, they should have run their plan by you, but it is done now and there is no point arguing about it.”
“The images were uploaded at one this morning.” Karson raised his voice. That explained why he’d left our bedroom; he would have been seething. “Before we even left the nightclub. What if something happened on the way home and I was unaware?”
“You are always aware of danger,” Kenneth answered. “Amy was safe—is safe—with you.”
It was a clever response. One Karson did not fall for.
“If you think,” he said flatly, “stroking my ego might get Monique out of her misdoings, then you are sadly mistaken.”
“I think,” Kenneth flanked Monique, “Monique only has your best interests at heart, and you should be thankful you have her on your side.”
Karson’s eyes flared with annoyance. “Need I remind you, Kenneth, that when it comes to Monique, loyalty is not something you should speak of.”
The comment struck both of them. Monique’s throat bobbed and she looked away. Kenneth’s mouth dropped open for a moment before it tightened into a thin line. “There is no need to remind us of the sacrifices that we have both made. One of us made that sacrifice for you!”
Monique turned and strode toward the door, but not before I caught tears in her eyes. She reefed open the door, and it slammed shut behind her.
I saw a flash of guilt in Karson’s eyes as he watched her leave. Then he turned and strode into the ballroom.
I stared after him for a moment, debating whether to follow. “Karson …”
He didn’t answer, didn’t look back.
“Leave him be,” Michael said. “He will calm down soon.”
Georgie and I went to the kitchen, and I slumped onto a stool at the bench, guilt gnawing at my chest. I wanted him to trust me. Maybe we should have talked about it prior?
“That was intense,” Georgie said, smoothing down her hair as she slipped in beside me.
“Never mind Karson, he will settle down,” Mary said, her back to us as she poured coffee into our mugs. “When he is a little upset, he has a tendency to go off like a frog in a sock, and then he thinks about it and comes around.”
“A little upset.” Georgie spooned sugar into her cup. “I’d hate to see him pissed off, then.”
“Let’s hope you never do.” Mary smiled wryly, passing her the milk. “Where’s Josh this morning?”
“Probably sleeping in. When I left the club, he was chatting to some hot guy.”
