Well, shit. He knows about the Port Kings.
At the very least, he knows the Gallaghers have criminal ties. That’s the only logical explanation for his sudden, weird shift in behavior. One of his Zenith buddies probably tried to sound the alarm all morning.
My gut twists. Damn. That was my chance to admit everything. To save myself in the hopes that he’ll still want to invest. But why would he?
Why would anyone?
And yet, if he knows and doesn’t run, then maybe it’s a trust thing. Maybe Kellin is testing me because he’s falling for me too.
Maybe if I confess, the investment will fall through, but the two of us won’t. Is that why he’s still here? For me?
For us?
I should head straight to his hotel room and come clean.
My hand flies to the door handle, and I leap out of the car and into the elevator in a flash.
Sweat beads along the small of my back. Nerves tingle the tips of my fingers.
This is not a typical Maeve move. I’m the one who runs away from intimacy, not toward it.
But it’s the right thing to do. We can’t build a relationship on lies. I witnessed that as a kid. I watched the lies and fear destroy my mother one drink at a time. Then one pill at a time.
The elevatordingswhen I reach Kellin’s floor, and the alert wakes me from a trance.
I still. My heart pounds in my ears, louder than the piped-in music.
How the hell does Kellin know about all my visits to the penthouse?
He was never with me when I received the royal summons.
That’s when the real storm hits, and a tsunami of nausea overtakes me. I bend over, hands on my knees.
Kellin’s been watching me. Following me.
But why?
For information? About what?
Me? The Cypress?
My guests?
My father?
Is he some kind of private investigator? A cop? The FBI?
Surely he didn’t have ulterior motives this entire time.
…Right?
The elevator doors slide shut. I’ve never felt so small in this quiet space, like I’ve all but vanished as I press the button for the sixth floor.
My heart insists no. No way would Kellin play me like this.
Too bad my mind’s screaming at me towake the hell up.
Chapter 31
