“You really don’t know much about her?”
“All I know is that she was an extremely stern and powerful woman. She married into the family like you and I did, but she really had a head for the business. Some people say she ran the company in her first husband’s stead. Certainly, after he died, she seemed capable enough to step right up and take control. Her second husband was a rather passive man. I don’t think she and Russell got along very well. He was a teenager when his parents died, and Clarissa resumed full control of the company.”
A controlling person raising the young Moreau heir alone?Sounds familiar.At least Alicia understood where some of Russell’s tendencies came from. “Did she abuse him?”
Julia gasped. “I don’t think so!”
“You don’t know?”
“How could I? Russell has never been the type of man to open his own heart, let alone to another human being.”
It’s too convenient an explanation, anyway.Yet now, Alicia was convinced more than ever that Clarissa had something to do with Russell’s reign of terror.
“Thank you for…”
Alicia’s gratitude was cut off when a cry broke through the bedroom door left ajar.
“When I say I want to be left alone, you fucking leave me alone!”
Julia sucked in her breath. Alicia remained still in her bed.
“Could you please bring me my cell phone? It’s in my purse.”
After Julia located the purse in a chair on the other side of the room, she drew out her daughter-in-law’s phone. Even from across the room, Alicia could see the royal purple case twinkling with bits of glitter in the soft light.I felt like such a college student buying that thing.In truth, Alicia had wanted the lilac-colored phone case, but it felt too juvenile for a woman of her current business standing. She needed to be like her wife and have a dark case. She had compromised, however, by getting a glittery cover to smile at every time she saw it.
Alicia wasn’t smiling now.
“Calm down. I’m fine,”she texted Danica in the other room.“Come to me.”
Did she get her text? Or was she too busy raging at some poor person in the maw of the penthouse? Was it Lissa? One of the Clayborns? Abby? More rage seeped through the walls. Every time Danica cursed or slammed something, Julia shuddered, her own amber eyes glazing over in triggered memories.
“That is the emotion she keeps bottled inside,” Alicia’s mother-in-law said with too much experience to back it up. “That comes straight from her father.”
Alicia had held on to her response until now. “What an idiot.”
“Who?”
“Both of them.”
Julia stood from her seat when there was a lull in her daughter’s rage. “Excuse me,” she whispered. “I need some air.”
Alicia didn’t say anything. She understood that Julia needed more than air. She needed some time alone with her terrible thoughts and memories. To Alicia, her wife’s expression of misplaced anger was a nuisance that Danica would hopefully own up to when she calmed down. To Julia?She thinks she gave birth to another monster, doesn’t she?Alicia continued to rub her abdomen.I won’t allow any monsters in my home.
The bedroom door flung open shortly after Julia disappeared through it. There was Danica, her white blouse wrinkled and pants not faring much better.She’s been drinking.Alicia steeled herself. That whisky could be smelled a mile away.
Alicia held out her hand to her. “Come here.”
Danica went, kneeling beside her, taking Alicia’s hand and holding it to her cheek. Her skin was so hot that it burned.My wife.Alicia touched her greasy hair that desperately needed the sweat washed out of it. Had she been crying? No, that would’ve been too healthy. Danica was not raised to express her emotions healthily. She said so herself what felt so long ago now.She’s been through so much lately.The farther she delved into the world of her emotions, the more Alicia needed to step up and be the rock Danica desperately desired.
“I love you,” Alicia said, brushing her fingers against Danica’s ear. “I’m okay. It’s going to be okay.” Wasn’t that supposed to be Danica’s line?
“I’m so sorry.” Danica balled up her hand and kissed every knuckle one at a time. “It’s all my fault. Oh my God, Alicia, I deserve to die!”
“What are you talking about?”
Danica met her reddened eyes.If she hasn’t been crying, she’s definitely been holding it back.With her mouth pointed toward her, however, all she smelled was the stench of alcohol. “Thismorning, when I made you have sex with me… I was too rough. I should’ve been gentle with you! I did it! I killed our baby!”
“First of all,” Alicia’s words held a bite to them. “You didn’t make me do anything this morning. Are you crazy? Don’t insult me by implying I did not consent.”
