For the past two days, I’d received threatening emails asking for money in trade of videos. I’d ignored them. Eliana and I had decided to ride things out and deal with anything that came our way. Rhett Hamilton and Katrina Delaney agreed, and we had their, and my family’s, full support.
In record time, a public service announcement was created regarding revenge porn and the damage it did to innocent people. The Beasts’ social media pages had been ablaze with public support. And many more women had come forward to share their stories. In fact, Eliana was at the stadium at the moment, filming another announcement, Target in tow. Along with the bodyguard, Deke — who she thought was a driver.
Overall, things were going great.
That was why it surprised the hell out of me when Eliana’s mother came to visit.
“Kane, darling, it has simply been too long,” she declared as she swept through the door I held open.
“How did you get up here?”
She simply laughed and waved her hand, wandering around the living room. “My darling daughter resides here, of course. Are you telling me I can’t visit on a whim?”
Yes, that’s exactly what I’m saying. And I’m going to have someone’s balls downstairs.
“What can I do for you, Alize?”
I gritted my teeth when she laughed again. She shrugged off her coat and tossed it on the sofa, revealing a tight neon blue wrap dress underneath. She preened, and I knew she was expecting me to say something complimentary. I didn’t.
With only a slight tightening of her mouth, she continued to walk around my living room, touching leather and carefully studying my art. At the wall of glass, she pressed both palms to the newly cleaned surface. With what appeared to be a practiced maneuver, she bent at the waist, giving me a clear view of her scantily clad ass, and looked down. “Oh my, you could get a nosebleed from up here.”
“What do you want, Alize?” I asked.
She turned and batted those baby blues. “Have I already worn out my welcome?” I said nothing, and she huffed. “I was actually in search of Eliana. I’ve missed her and wanted to catch up. Can you fetch her for me?”
“She isn’t here.”
The baby blues widened, and her bottom lip pouted out. “I’m so disappointed. I’ve heard rumblings of some terrible things that have been happening to her, and you of course.” Her eyes flicked down my body, and I reached for the t-shirt I’d taken off earlier and pulled it over my head. “I just wanted to provide some sisterly support or advice.”
Sisterly? She has to be kidding.
“But this is actually better, Kane.” She came my way. “I feel we got off on the wrong foot, and I would adore the opportunity to clear the air. I truly do want to have a positive relationship with Eliana and you. Can we talk?”
Against my better judgment, I said, “Sure.” I wanted to know what she was up to.
Instead of going to the seating area, she glided toward the bar. “Shall we have a drink?” she asked over her shoulder, “I’m happy to serve.”
A double for myself.
“No, I’ll get it,” I said quickly and cut her off. “Seriously, have a seat. What would you prefer? Wine. Whisky. Scotch.”
She inclined her head regally and turned on her heel. “Scotch with a drop of water, please.”
Turning to the bar, I poured the drinks and added the water. So that I didn’t touch her, I set the glass on a coaster then took a seat in a chair on the other side. Taking a long drink, I set my glass down with a thunk. If I’d continued to hold it, I might have ended up throwing it at her head.
Alize lifted her crystal tumbler to her lips and took a delicate sip, then wrinkled her nose. “Might I trouble you for two drops of water? This is stronger than I’m accustomed to.”
Inhaling through my nose, I stood back up and headed to the bar again. Not caring how much I poured, I watered it down this time.
Retracing my path, I noticed she’d shifted and was sitting closer to the edge. With a simpering smile, she took the glass from the bottom while I held the top. She waited until I was seated before lifting it. “Cheers.”
Close to snarling now, I tossed the rest of mine down. “Cheers.”
She smiled and settled back into her seat. “Now, Kane. I’m rather worried about Eliana and all of this sex scandal nonsense going on. For me, I’m of the opinion that any press is good press, but I know that not everyone thinks as I do.”
Thank God.
“Eliana has always had such a delicate nature. Too soft skinned for the modeling or acting business, even if she had inherited my looks and skills. So, I can’t even imagine how this has affected her. I’m very worried.”
I snarled at the insult to Eliana and looked carefully at the older woman, blinking to see her clearly. Despite the verbal spar, she actually appeared to be sincere. Not that I trusted anything about her.
“Your daughter is much stronger than you realize, Alize. It was a shock, for all of us, but you should be proud of how well she’s holding up.”
“Are the police close to discovering who did this?”
I blinked again and rubbed my eyes. “No, but the Federal Bureau of Investigation is involved and they are working hard to solve the case.”
She licked her lips, reminding me of a serpent as the pink tongue darted between her cherry red gloss. “My understanding is that Eliana’s college boyfriend is now deceased. Such a pity. I always liked that young man. So strong and handsome. Of course, I never knew exactly what he saw in my mousy little girl, but he seemed quite taken with her.” Alize laughed, and the sound was like a gong inside my head. “Until he dropped her for that little slutty cheerleader.”
“El-e-an-a is nooot mouse…” I shook my head and scraped my tongue against my teeth — it felt thick and unwieldy, “m…mousy.”
Alize blurred, and I shook my head again. She leaned forward. “Are… you… all… right?”
Pressing my hands to my ears, I tried to make the words stop echoing. I stood up, thinking that would help. The world went sideways, then Alize’s arm was around my waist, and I was leaning hard against her. “Here… let… me… help… you…”
Then I was walking.
Down the hall.
Into the bedroom.
Onto the bed.
Alize hovered over me, her white-blonde hair like a curtain around my face.
I blinked and…
***
“Kane!”
“Eliana!” My throat was raw from calling out to her, my legs shaking from exertion.
“Kane!”
She was screaming now, shouting my name over and over and over, but I couldn’t find her. Occasionally, I could see her strawberry hair, but when I went in that direction, she was gone.
“Kane!”
I turned and ran, then rebounded off glass. I was in a maze of glass. I’d been running the halls for hours.
Tick. Tick. Tick.
The giant clock over my head was counting down. Only five more minutes to find her.
“Four,” the man in the black mask said, and I began to run again.
“Kane!”
I needed to find her. I couldn’t lose her. Eliana had become my everything. Business didn’t matter. Baseball didn’t matter. Only her. Her.
“Three.”
Panic dumped a new load of adrenaline into my system, and I lowered my shoulder, using it as a battering ram to break through. I rebounded again, and the masked man chuckled.