“Who the hell are you?” Alec snaps at me.
“Kayne Rivers, sir.” I put out my hand over Ellie. He doesn’t take it. The tension in the room intensifies. He hates me already. Can’t say that I blame him.
“I see it’s a party,” Jett walks in a moment later whiter than a ghost.
“How’s London?” I ask worriedly. I think this is the worst I’ve ever seen him.
“Pregnant.” Every head in the room swings toward him.
“What?” My jaw hits the floor.
Jett just shrugs, dumbfounded.
“Mazel tov,” Alec spits. “Now is someone going to tell me what happened here?” He motions to Ellie.
The room becomes deadly silent.
“I believe Mazel tov is used for a wedding.” Jett breaks the ice.
“Whatever. I’m very happy for you, son. Your life just got a hell of a lot more complicated, but right now I’d like to know what the hell happened to my daughter.”
“A very unfortunate accident,” I answer. “She was in the wrong place at the wrong time,” I lie. Lie upon lie upon lie. It’s what my life is built upon. Ellie is my only truth.
“Has there been an arrest?”
“No arrest,” I tell him.
“Why the hell not?” he barks.
“The perpetrator has been taken care of,” Jett informs him.
“I thought you said he hasn’t been arrested?” Alec looks crazily between Jett and me.
“He hasn’t,” I tell him menacingly calm.
“Then how—”
“He’s dead.”
“Who killed him?” Alec’s face contorts.
“Me,” I say evenly, staring straight into his eyes.
Alec glares at me for what seems like a lifetime before he nods, almost satisfied, then sits down next to Ellie. I look around the room; it’s suddenly very crowded and very uncomfortable. Tara makes her way next to me and picks up Ellie’s hand.
“Why is she wearing an engagement ring?”
All attention falls on me.
I clear my throat. I suddenly feel like I’m suffocating. “I asked Ellie to marry me, and she said yes.”
“What?” Alec scowls at me, Monica gasps, and Tara scoffs.
“That issoEllie.” Tara laughs.
“What’s so Ellie?” I ask her.
Tara tosses her long platinum hair over her shoulder and looks over at me. She’s a cute girl. Big blue eyes and a nice smile. “Getting engaged to a man she didn’t even tell us she was dating. I’m surprised you two didn’t already elope.”
