Page 63 of Unbroken Promises

“Nonsense! Stay!” Mr. Oakley speaks loudly, and it is clear to see that he has been drinking heavily, which is not at all like the man I once knew.

“Please dear, we are past that level of formality. Why, we are practicallyfamily.You were, after all, going to be my daughter. Please, call me Diane.” She steps forward, taking my hand and giving it a hard squeeze. “Come now, my sweet girl. Why don’t you come sit with me and us ladies can have a bit of catching up. Brad, dear?” She looks to her husband, and I get chills at his name, his features so like those of his cruel son that once shared his name.

“Why don’t you take her dear little friend, Johnny, here, and tell him all about your recent acquisition of the team?” She looks at me once more. “You see dear, we are celebrating. We acquired the team at the end of last season, but due to various legal matters it had to be kept under tight wraps until recently. How fortuitous that we should run into you here tonight, with all our colleagues in attendance to celebrate such a momentous occasion?”

“Oh, um, that’s okay, I really should be going-” I gesture halfheartedly over my shoulder as she pulls me further into the room, glancing anxiously to the corner where Mr. Oakley has dragged Tony for a discussion of the acquisition of the hockey team.

“No! I simply won’t hear it! Sit down, Danica, dear!” With a surprising amount of force, Mrs. Oakley shoves me down into a chair, and the people who had been mingling nearby shoot us a glance before quickly moving further away.

“Now tell me, dear. How have you been? I have seen you in the papers, making headlines with your Olympic wins and your charitable work with that little gymnastics center that you opened. And clearly,” she gestures blandly at my attire, “you have found yourself a new man, though I’m sure he isn’t half as smart or handsome as my dear Bradley was.” She sniffs, indignant.

“Mrs.-” I pause as she glares at me, and quickly correct myself, “Diane. It’s kind of you to ask. I have been doing well, thank you.” She arches a brow at that, faceskeptical.

“Haveyou though? Been doing well that is?”

I go cold at her words. She couldn’t know about the stalker situation, could she? It is weird enough that they were now apparently in Seattle after being based out of the east coast. There’s no way they could know about this. I haven’t heard from them in over seven years. Not since Bradley was killed and Mr. Oakley was under investigation for potential fraud and money laundering thanks to a well-placed tip by Finn.

“I don’t know what you mean?” My smile is tight, words arctic as I respond to her pointed question.

She reaches over, squeezing my hand in feigned concern. “Simply that, life must have been . . . well, a bit of a challenge for you? Hasn’t it? What with your father disappearing mysteriously and then your mother falling out of good graces in polite company. Your brother having to step down from his highly anticipated career in the sports industry to clean up your father’s mess? It must have just beenso hardfor someone like you.”

Wow. I slip my hand out of her grasp, resting them in my lap.

“I’m sorry? Someone like me?”

She shows her teeth, more threatening than polite in her mockery of a smile. “Well yes dear. You always were a bit. . . troubled. Had a hard time fitting in at school and within our social circles, though yours was always a bit. . . more relaxed than my own. Why, I remember all the times our poor Bradley would come home, full of worry for his darling girl. He tried so hard to help you feel more comfortable with his friends at school, to help mold you into a young woman who would be successful when held to the expectations that is standard among the Oakley brides. It’s a shame, a tragedy really, that he passed away unexpectedly. Though I suppose it really is for the best. Why, if he could see the kind of life you are living now, the. . . people. . . you are keeping company with. He would be so very disappointed.”

She sneers down at me, as she mentions my “people,” throwing a quick evil eye over at Tony before her face becomes the epitome of motherly concern once more. “You were always supposed to be my daughter, darling girl. I’m sorry that things didn’t work the way that they were meant to. But maybe it was for the best. If you are ever in need of a mother’s advice, though, please do reach out to me. Goodness knows, your own certainly can’t be helpful in that regard.” There is disdain written all over her features at the mention of my mother. And while I may not have much of a relationship with the woman any more, it is not Bradley’s mother’s job to criticize the woman that she was once best friends with.

My words are sharp as I bite them out, polite smile be damned.“Excuse me?Who the fuck do you think you are?” I hiss quietly, so that only she can hear. “You are just as much as a raging alcoholic bitch as my own mother, and no less the bored housewife. Don’t even pretend that you are better than her. For all her flaws, she at least didn’t raise an abusive rapist for a son.” I stand abruptly, not waiting for a reply. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’ve overstayed my welcome and reallymustbe leaving.”

Not bothering to attempt polite curiosity or feigned disinterest, I stomp quickly over to Tony where he appears to be managing to keep a polite façade as he discusses sports with Bradley’s father. I grab his arm tightly, not caring about my lack of subtlety. “Mr. Oakley, it was. . . well. It was something, seeing you again. Glad to hear you figured out your finances after that whole fraud and money laundering debacle with the government.” My voice is too loud, it carries over to the groups mingling nearby and they shoot looks with various levels of concern and intrigue in our direction. “Now, if you don’t mind, we really must be getting back to our seats. Goodbye.”

Without a backward glance, I practically drag Tony out of the room, not bothering to respond to the surprised look the security guard shoot in our direction. If he didn’t know, then he didn’t know. And if he did. . . well then. . . fuck him.

Chapter Sixty

Danica

Standing in the corridor, I wave politely as Theo’s teammates begin to exit the locker room one by one, greeting their loved ones and saying goodbye before they leave for their next stretch of away games. Tony is next to me, but we haven’t spoken since leaving the Owner’s box. I feel him shooting furtive glances in my direction any time he thinks I’m not looking though.

“You okay?”

I glance over to him now, and he is staring at me intently, an expression I can’t read on his features.

“What happened back there? Well, it just- it seemed really intense.”

I bite my lip, hesitating, as I try to figure out what to say.

“Listen, you don’t have to talk to me about it or anything, but does Theo know?”

I frown at his pointed look. “About the Oakley’s being the new owners for the team? I highly doubt it. He would never have let me come to the game if he knew they were going to be anywhere near here.”

Arms cross over his chest; he stares at me hard. “No. Does Theo know about that boy Bradley, of yours?”

My brows dip in confusion. “I’m not sure what you mean?”

“Listen,” he raises his hands in a placating gesture. “I’m not trying to get in the middle of anything here, but my boy Theo? Well, he’s had a hard time of it. So, if there’s something you’re not telling him-”

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