Page 99 of Bitter Rival

“So there’s no truth in it?” He turns to face me, eyes shrewd. “He’s not, in fact, looking to sell to Michael Castellano?”

It takes everything in me to keep my expression neutral and my jaw from dropping. Michael Castellano is Beckett’s uncle? How are they related? I didn’t even know Robert had a brother.

I shrug. “Not that I’m aware.” Why am I lying for Beckett when he didn’t even have the common decency to tell me the truth?

“So you have no knowledge of this?”

I think Harold is just taking a stab in the dark, hoping I’ll cave and give him the information he wants.

He’s bluffing. He has to be. Beckett asked the Castellanos to keep it confidential, and they assured us they wouldn’t say a word.

“I don’t think Beckett is looking to sell at all.” That, of course, is yet another blatant lie and just wishful thinking on my part, but Harold doesn’t need to know that.

“I hope you’re right. But if, by some chance, you’re not, I hope you do the right thing.”

“I have every intention of doing the right thing. You know my plans. You’ve known them from the start.”

“Yes, my dear, I know. And I’ve kept that under my hat. But I sincerely hope you’ll do everything in your power to ensure that Robert’s legacy is kept intact.”

After my shower, I drop onto the outdoor sofa, phone in hand, and debate my options.

I could just ask Beckett if Michael Castellano is his uncle.

Or I could gather the information on my own.

I gnaw on my lip, replaying the conversation with Michael and Gabriella over lunch. There was never a single mention of Robert’s relation to Michael. In fact, Robert never came up in the conversation at all. Not once. There was no mention of a family connection whatsoever.

But if it’s true, why didn’t Beckett tell me? Why would he withhold that information?

Because he can’t be trusted.

Because he has a hidden agenda that he doesn’t want you to know about.

God. That man is so infuriating. He’s happy to stick his dick inside me, but he still doesn’t trust me enough to tell me the truth.

I thought, at the very least, that we were becoming friends, but I guess I was wrong.

I’ll just have to ask someone who will give me a straight answer and get my information from someone I trust.

I swipe my thumb over the screen and call Pete. After we exchange greetings, I get right to the point. “What can you tell me about the feud between Robert and Michael Castellano?” Yeah, subtlety has never been my strong point.

Pete sighs. “Do I want to know why you’re asking this?”

It dawns on me that this might not have been the best approach because now I’m going behind Beckett’s back. “Probably not. This needs to stay between us.”

“Guess I should have known it would come to this. Is Beckett thinking of selling the vineyard to him?”

“Maybe. But you didn’t hear that from me.”

“When Beckett was a boy, he used to ask me about the feud all the time. Back then, he was angry that anyone would tamper with his father’s vineyard. Now I’m guessing he’s just angry at Robert.”

“Can you blame him?” There I go again, defending Beckett. Why do I keep taking his side? I’m not sure he deserves my loyalty when all he’s ever done is shut me out and lie to me.

“No, can’t say I do. But he’s better than this. He just needs to be reminded of that.”

I mull that over for a moment, wondering why everything is falling on my shoulders when I’m getting absolutely nothing in return.

But I’ve been asking myself that question for months, and I don’t have an answer so I steer the conversation back to the Castellano/Heyward feud. “Why did Michael and Robert hate each other so much?”

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