Page 36 of Moon Blind Hearts
“I know that,” I reply, frowning. Where the hell is this going? “I don’t understand?—”
“It’s business, Jules,” he cuts in, his eyes hard. “Only business. Anything else you may have sensed was just acting. Nothing more.”
I straighten at his words, understanding what he’s saying. He doesn’t want me getting too close, doesn’t want me to start having feelings. It’s a dangerous thing that can happen in this industry. We’re being intimate with each other, and with me staying on the ranch during our collaboration, it’s far too easy to imagine feelings where there are none. What Oak is telling me is that what happened with Sawyer was nothing. Which answers my questions, doesn’t it? I should be grateful. Instead, my chest hurts just a little too much for comfort.
“Of course,” I reply, nodding, my gaze on his. “Only business.”
He nods, seemingly pleased with my words, before he tips his cowboy hat toward me like any cowboy gentleman would. Despite what we’d just discussed. Despite my determination to hide the pain in my chest. “See you in a few hours, Vanta,” he says, calling me by my cam name, settling the last brick in place. “I’ll be leading you through one of my scenes. Wear something . . . sheer.”
And then he leaves me there, standing in his too-large boots, to stare after him as he walks away.
Chapter 19
Jules
The phone rings a series of five times before he picks up on the other side. It’s a strange ringing, one that sounds far away and in a tube, a product of how many avenues we have to go through just to have a phone conversation. Everything is always encrypted. Everything is as far removed from tracking as possible on the off chance that our father is listening.
“Albie!” I sigh when I hear him on the other end softly say, “hello.” “Oh, how I’ve missed your voice.”
“Back at you, sis,” he replies, and I can hear his smile through the phone. “What are you up to this month?”
“You’ll never believe it,” I say, tapping at the keys on my keyboard. It takes a long time and a whole lot of patience, but I shoot a photo through to the burner phone of the mountains around us. “Check your message.”
I hear him shift around and the buttons click before he whistles. “That sure is a pretty sight. Reminds me of the Swiss Alps a bit, just smaller. Where are you?”
Normally, we’d never discuss that, but with how many avenues we’ve gone through, there’s no tracking this phone call. Plus, Albie only talks in his bedroom with me, the one place my father’s lacking integrity won’t let him bug. Mostly because if something were to get out, namely Albie’s delightful bedroom guests, it would taint the Ward name. So, he only does it for the family interest, and not because he actually respects privacy.
“Wyoming,” I say. “A little ranch out in the middle of nowhere.”
“Nice. And how’s Genie?” he asks.
When I’d told him about her, he’d been ecstatic, and then immediately terrified. We’d agreed that no pictures were to be sent, but it’s been killing me that Genie doesn’t get to know her uncle. Albie would be an amazing uncle.
“Growing like a weed. She’s a year old now,” I murmur. “She’s as wild as you were when we were kids. You’d love her.”
“I already do,” he replies, the smile in his voice again. But then he lets out a puff of air. “I missed her birthday?”
“It’s not like the situation allows for sending presents,” I tell him gently. “I got her a small cake and let her smash it. When this is all over, I’ll show you all the pictures.”
His frustration echoes in the phone line. “This fucking sucks, Jules. I shouldn’t be missing my only niece’s life.”
“I know,” I reply. “I’m sorry. If there were any other way?—”
“There’s not,” he replies. “Augustus has been circling, and honestly, if he knew you’d had a baby with someone else, or what you’re doing for money, he’d raise hell against you. And I don’t even want to think about what Father would do.”
“So, then we’re doing what we can,” I remind him. I hesitate. “I tell Genie about you. When you two finally meet, she’s going to know exactly who her Uncle Albie is. I show her pictures, and tell her stories?—”
He clears his throat. “You really know how to choke your brother up, you know that, baby sis?”
“I’m the older twin,” I remind him on instinct. “Remember, baby brother?”
“Lies Mother told you to make you feel more important,” he fires back, just like old times. As much as our childhood was a slew of cold nannies and lack of real hugs from our parents, I do miss the times I spent with Albie. When we had nothing, we had each other. Always each other. Being on the run affects him as much as me.
“What’s going on in the Ward Dynasty?” I ask hesitantly, not really wanting to know, but it’s important I keep up to date on what our father is doing.
The tone immediately changes from fondness to frustration. “He’s running for Senate again and finally gearing up for a presidential run after this next term. I think I don’t have to tell you what that would mean if he were president.”
“Of course,” I rasp. He’d have any means needed at his disposal to find me. We wouldn’t be able to stay in the country any longer.
