Page 130 of Cruel Dominion

I’d spent enough time in the spotlight to know that this was a targeted attack. Mom had worked with a publicist to bring Dad down and get all the headlines on her side. She made sure the papers knew everything, all his scandals and sins written out in black and white. It probably took her years to be ready for a move like this.

Maybe six?

A twang in my chest had me clutching at it. I didn’t even realize.

When my phone rang a moment later, it took me a second to find the voice to answer.

“Summer?”

“Can you believe it? It’s so insane. Did you have any idea she was planning to leave him?”

“No, I didn’t.”

“Seriously? She really screwed the bastard. Must’ve taken her a long time to get all that in place. God, what a badass, she totally dropped a bomb on him and then said, ‘you like that, Governor?’”

Yeah. She really did.

I was so proud of her.

“It’s crazy. I can’t believe she didn’t say anything. Feels like everyone is always keeping secrets from me.”

I laughed hollowly.

There was an odd pause on the other end from Summer before she cleared her throat.

“Summer?” I prodded. “Not you, too? Did you get engaged?”

“Okay, so, don’t be mad,” she said. “But I have been sort of keeping a secret from you. I was actually going to tell you over lunch next week but maybe now is better since they keep calling.”

“Since who keeps calling?”

“The galleries. Hold on, let me start at the beginning. So, you know how you left those negatives at James’ place when Carter came in all Batman sans cape?”

“Uh, yeah. Don’t remind me.”

“Well, I may have done something a little naughty.”

It felt like I was sitting on pins and needles. “Summer, what did you do?”

“You know how I’m on all those charity boards? You know, for the Cancer Research Center and the Historical Renovation Program?”

“Yes. You’re a very busy do-gooder, get to the point.”

“Anyway, I’m on the board for the Modern Art Museum,” she went on. “I actually have a lot of contacts in the art world. And I knew you’d never submit them yourself so…”

“Oh god, Summer, what did you do?”

“Well, before I returned the negatives, I kind of, sort of had them digitized…” I could practically hear her bracing for a bite back.

I was too stunned to say a word.

She blew out a breath.

“Don’t hate me.”

My eyes burned.

“You have the images?”

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