Page 108 of Cruel Hearts

“It’s more than she deserves, Zane. All she wanted was your money, and then she disappeared when Cardello offered better.”

“I know, but like you said, she’s gone, and I have a new chapter to look forward to. There’s no reason to hang on to the resentment.”

Ash’s tone loses the sharp edge. “Speaking of that, I want to invite you to dinner. You and Nathalie. She landed her whale, and I’d like to congratulate her. You have a way of attractingthe gold diggers, you know that? I don’t know why you insist on dating the poor girls. After Stella, you crave cheap cunt or what?”

“Nathalie helped me through a tough time.”

“That’s why I gave her to you, but that doesn’t mean you have to marry it. She signed a contract with the club. Maybe I shouldn’t have let you have her—I’m losing a good worker. Anyway, I know, I know. You’ll do what you want. Can’t blame you there. I do whatever the fuck I want, too. How’s Zarah?”

“She’s well. She likes to be outside.” I tighten the screws. Ash doped Zarah up to keep his secrets, and I want him to know his time is coming to an end. I need to tread lightly, though. I do not want him targeting my sister. “She’s under the care of our family physician now, and he lowered the doses of some of her medication. She’s starting to speak a lot more, and she’s becoming more aware of the world around her.”

“Good. I’m glad to hear it. Maybe you made the right call.” That’s all Ash says about her, and I’m relieved he doesn’t push the matter. “Dinner tomorrow night then. Eight o’clock at Luna Blanc.”

“Sure, Ash. Hey, man, thanks for being there. Stella fucked me up. It’s time to put the past behind me.”

“It’s not a big deal, Zane. We’re brothers. I wouldn’t expect anything less from you.”

The line beeps, and the tension rushes out of my body leaving me limp and covered in sweat.

Zarah stares at me, and as I walk across the rooftop, she starts to shake.

I slide my phone into my pocket and hold up my hands. “It’s pretend, Z. I have to pretend to be his friend for a little while longer. We need time to plan so he’ll go to prison for what he did to you and Stella.”

She’s not sure but nods her head. “Okay.”

“Like Stella. It’s pretend she’s dead. You know it’s not true. You know she’s downstairs sleeping. Right? The news says she’s dead, but she’s not.”

“It’s a game,” she says, brightening.

“That’s right. It’s a game, and we’re going to win.”

Zarah’s reluctant to go inside, but she has to use the bathroom and the ones up top are locked during the renovation. The sun is setting, and I wouldn’t have minded another hour with her to watch the sun sink into the horizon. I should be tired, but my sleep schedule is all screwed up. It’s nine o’clock, and I’m wide awake.

Downstairs in Max’s suite, I settle Zarah next to Ingrid and she asks my sister where we went, starting a conversation Zarah looks happy to participate in. I kiss her cheek, thankful we were able to spend time together that was comfortable. She hated me and was scared of me for five years, but I know it’s all my fault. I’ve missed her very much.

I need to speak to Nathalie and let her know what Ash said, and I find her in the room she chose watching TV. She’s twitchy, bored. She’s scared, and maybe even hates me a little because she knows after this is over, she’s not getting what she really wants—me. It would have been easy for Nathalie and me to fall into a bland, cardboard life. Stella was gone and I didn’t care about anything but money, booze, and sex, and Nathalie would have fit right in. I certainly didn’t care about falling in love, passion, and creating a family. But Stella came back and shot Nathalie’s chances all to hell. That must have caused some resentment, but I hope to Christ she controls it. We don’t need any more conflict.

“Hey,” I say, leaning against the doorjamb. I don’t go in any farther, and she doesn’t invite me to. “Ash called. He summoned us to dinner tomorrow night at Luna Blanc.”

“Why?” Her tone is defensive and anxious.

“He wants to congratulate us and celebrate our engagement. I had to accept. I’m sorry.”

“I don’t want to go.” She presses her lips into a thin line.

“I know, but you’ll be with me and there’s no reason Ash will do anything to us.”

“Ash doesn’t need a reason to do anything.”

“That’s true, but if we do what he says, then we won’t give him one. Nothing’s changed for you, Nat. Just cooperate and act happy. You should be. At least you’re not the mayor’s sex doll anymore.”

“That was better than this.” She angrily throws the remote against the wall and it bounces onto the floor.

I step into her room and sit on the edge of her bed. Stella’s presence has eclipsed everything else in my life, and I feel badly Nathalie’s turned into someone I used to sleep with and nothing more. In my defense, planning Stella’s death has consumed me, but I’ll need to let other things in or nothing we do is going to work.

“You don’t mean that. What’s wrong?”

“Stella’s pretty.”

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