“And I think Jerold Pierce would be a reasonablejudge.”
Titus turned to Faythe. “I’m sorry, but could my brother and I possibly have the use of your office for a fewminutes?”
Faythe blinked, obviously surprised. Then she stood. “Of course. Ladies, could I interest you in a cup of coffee? Or Robyn, maybe a glass ofwine?”
“Sure. Thanks.” On her way out of the office, Robyn went up on her toes to whisper something to Titus. I couldn’t make it out, but she sounded angry. Or maybeembarrassed.
“Don’t worry,” Justus whispered to me as he kissed my cheek. “He’s mad at me, notyou.”
But I didn’t believe that for one second. I’d proposed to Justus. Within hours of running off to Las Vegas with him. Titus probably thought I was using his brother for his money. Which was a hilarious irony, considering that Marc and the South-Central enforcers thought Justus was usingmeto get to hismoney.
It would be great to have just one person who could understand our relationship for what itwas.
It would be even better if that person wereme.
I grabbed Faythe’s arm the moment the office door closed behind us. “He hates me,” Iwhispered.
“I’m sure hedoesn’t—”
“Faythe, hehatesme.”
“Okay, calm down.” She turned to Robyn. “I’m sorry to abandon you, but…” Faythe tilted her head in mydirection.
“No worries,” Robyn said. “I’ll just snoop around here on myown.”
“I’m sure if you wander into the kitchen, my mother will try to feed you. Or offer you adrink.”
“Sounds good. Thanks.” Robyn headed into the kitchen, and Faythe followed me into my room. Where I’d slept for the past two nights without Justus. Vic, from what I’d heard, had started sleeping in front of the guest house door to keep him from sneaking out to ‘see’me.
And for the record, there is nothing in the world more humiliating than knowing that the entire South-Central compound knows you’re trying unsuccessfully to getlaid.
Faythe hadn’t tried to talk me out of sleeping with my husband, but she’d refused to step in on our behalf with Marc and Vic until after the hearing, because she thought we should take everything slow untilthen.
Logically, I couldn’t argue. But logic didn’t mean much when I was around Justus, and when I’d tried to point out similar incidents in her own past, she’d only frowned and told me to learn from hermistakes.
But what I’d learned was that if the tribunal was redrawn and that draw didn’t go our way, Justus would still have to flee the country. And he’d need access to his money for that. I wanted him to have that access. I wanted him to live, even if I couldn’t go withhim.
But if the drawdidgo our way… If we got to stay in the states, a legitimately marriedcouple…
I sank onto the end of my bed, and Faythe took my desk chair. “I’ve ruined this, haven’t I? I should have called Titus when we got back to the ranch? Or I should have made Justus call him? I don’t even know who told him about thewedding.”
“I did,” Faythesaid.
“How’d he take it? Was hemad?”
“He was…surprised.”
“Why does that sound like a euphemism for really fuckingmad.”
“Language,” Faythesaid.
“Sorry.”
“Kaci, you stole two cars, ran off to Vegas, and married an underage gambler. Without bothering to tell either of your families. You knew there would be consequences forthat.”
“Yes. But I didn’t think those consequences would include his family hatingme.”
“Titus will get over it. But you’re going to have to give himtime.”
