Page 41 of Bitter Secrets

The silence didn’t bode well. She glanced at Roth to find him watching her closely.

“He’s with you, isn’t he?” Lyle guessed.

“Yes, he’s right here,” she said and forced a smile that she hoped reflected in her voice. “We just had dinner.”

“Where?”

She told him the name of the restaurant and added, “It was a business dinner with Guy Reed.”

“Samson’s son?”

“Yes, Samson’s foolish, arrogant son.”

It took two seconds for him to fill in the blanks.

“He sold Reed & Sons to Roth?”

“Yup.”

“Son of a bitch. What the hell does he want with a beer company?”

Her mouth curved. It was scary sometimes how similar they were. She glanced at Roth as she said, “Apparently, he’s more interested in the land the vineyards are on.”

“But why…?” Lyle broke off abruptly. “Never mind. I don’t want to know. When will you be back?”

“Two weeks, give or take,” she said as Roth turned off the street. “Lyle, we’re driving underground. I may lose you.”

“Answer your fucking phone,” he barked before he hung up.

She skimmed through her messages. Sure enough, her sisters’ texts filled the screen.

Checking in. How are you?

Do you want to meet?

Call me when you have a chance.

Are you okay?

Colette had even sent pictures of Polara to entice her to respond. Her brows rose when she saw that they had resorted to emails. Her sisters didn’t come right out and ask if she was in danger or hurt, but the escalation in inquiries showed how worried they were.

Roth drove into the glass and steel elevator that would take them back to the underground parking garage. A week ago, Colette was adamant about keeping Lyle in the dark about her bad investments and Hennessy & Co, and had now done a complete turnaround. Roth did more for Colette and Lyle’s relationship than any marriage counselor could have. Even after a decade of marriage, Colette kept Lyle at arm’s length, but something had changed. She wasn’t sure if it was Dad’s death, Polara, the incident at Tuxedo Park, or a combination that caused Colette to finally confide in her husband.

“What did he want?” Roth asked.

“To make sure I’m alive,” she quipped.

“Nothing’s going to happen to you.”

They traveled several floors down. The only source of light came from the starlight roof of the Rolls-Royce, which gave off an eerie glow.

“Can you guarantee that?”

A pause and then a lethal, “Yes.”

“Can you protect me from yourself?”

As the elevator opened into the well-lit garage, she faced forward. Her nerves coiled as he remained staring at her for a good twenty seconds before he put the car in gear and drove to his parking spot. She apologized to her sisters in their group text and explained where she was, even though she was sure Lyle had already relayed that information. Colette answered immediately.I’m glad you’re okay. Keep in touch.She wasn’t used to keeping anyone apprised of her whereabouts, but all things considered, she couldn’t fault them for worrying. In their eyes, she was in love with a lying, abusive sociopath.

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