Page 135 of Bitter Confessions

Roth’s cutting tone made her stiffen. An awkward silence fell.

“Roth,” she in a conciliatory tone, knowing the long-term consequences of this could be dire, and he’d blame her for it. “I’m fine. You should finish your business.”

He slipped his arm over her shoulders, tucked her into his side, and walked away from the group he’d been speaking to.

“You don’t need to do this,” she began.

“Quiet.”

She kept her gaze lowered and watched shiny shoes, heels, and expensive fabrics whip out of their path as people hurried to get out of his way. Roth didn’t stop until a pair of Italian shoes faced off with them. She didn’t have to look up to know who they belonged to.

CHAPTER 26

“Take her home,” Lyle ordered.

“That was the plan,” Roth said curtly.

She glanced up as Lyle turned on his heel and led the way out of the ballroom. Conversations stalled as they passed. The outbreak of whispers made her stomach twist.

While she and Roth paused to collect their coats, Lyle slammed through the front door. Though Lyle seemed upset, he couldn’t know about Warren. She didn’t imagine he’d be able to function if he knew one of Hennessy & Co.’s shareholders had raped his wife.

Roth brushed her fumbling fingers aside and did up the buttons of her coat. “What happened?”

She pulled away before he could slide the last two buttons home and grabbed her clutch before she shoved through the front door. Security swung their attention from Colette and Lyle, who stood at the curb, to Jasmine as she rushed down the steps.

“Careful,” Roth snapped behind her.

Colette’s mask slipped, showing her relief. “I couldn’t leave without knowing you were okay.”

Jasmine took the gloved hand Colette extended to her and squeezed. “I’m fine.”

“The fuck you are,” Lyle snapped, his breath coming out in a gust of white from the freezing temperature. “Colette said you had a run-in with Warren?”

She glanced at her sister to see how she wanted to handle this. One glance at Colette’s tormented blue eyes told her she was second-guessing her threat to expose Warren. Feuding with someone so closely associated with them would affect one hundred or more contacts and despite being the victim, Colette’s reputation would be tarnished. The consequences of opening this can of worms would be catastrophic.

“What the hell happened?” Lyle demanded.

When Colette began to shake in delayed reaction, Jasmine wrapped her arms around her. Security and the staff in white uniforms were on alert but kept a respectful distance. Lyle and Roth wore identical bewildered scowls. As Jasmine sensed her sister’s anguish mounting, she tightened her hold and buried her face in her sister’s fur coat.

“I’m going to rip Warren’s head off,” Lyle snarled, turning to go back in.

“Don’t!” Colette choked.

Roth grabbed Lyle’s arm. “We need to know what happened before you assault someone.”

As Lyle went toe-to-toe with Roth, Jasmine tensed, worried his temper would get the better of him and he’d take a swing at Roth.

“A tale’s circulating of Minnie and Colette barging into the bathroom so Minnie could vomit. Colette yelled at the ambassador’s wife to get out so they could have privacy. That’s enough cause for me.”

“I didn’t realize,” Colette began faintly, but her voice trailed off when she failed to come up with an explanation for her behavior.

“Marty told me when you sent me to find Min and Roth.” Lyle locked eyes on Jasmine. “What did Warren do, cara? Did he touch you or something?”

She sensed Roth’s sudden stillness. Her stomach began to jitter again. Beside her, Colette imitated the marble statue she’d seen in the library.

Running his hand down her arm and touching her hand was nothing compared to what he’d done to Colette. But, if her sister decided not to reveal her history with Warren, she had to deflect so Lyle and Roth’s minds wouldn’t continue in that direction. “No, he didn’t touch me.”

Lyle’s face was awash with frustration and confusion. “Was it someone else then? If Tucker hurt you again, I’ll?—”

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