One of Six (Den Hollows #1)

27. Beatrice

27

BEATRICE

Violet and I crash on my bed as soon as we sneak into the house. But I can't sleep. Neither can Violet. I don't know where to start with my friend. I know she likes to tease, which she did back in high school, but this with Ridge is... different."

"What was it like?" she asks softly. "I bet he was good to you."

I stare at the ceiling and smile. "He was amazing, Violet. He turned me into jelly."

"I'm glad you have someone like that. I've seen the way he looks at you. It melts my heart."

I turn on my side and face her. "What's wrong with you? Calling Ridge, Galen really hurt him."

"I know." Tears well up in her eyes. "He hurt me when he said her name. In the end, I couldn't leave with him thinking I’d confused them, you know? That's why I admitted that I knew it was him. Oh, Bea, my heart skips a beat and I get butterflies in my stomach when I'm around him. He only knows I exist when I'm teasing him." She sighs. "I want him to see me as a woman, Bea."

"Oh, I wish you had told me. Maybe I could have helped."

She wipes her eyes and says, "I blew it, whether I ever had a chance or not. He's twenty-one and I'm eighteen. It's only three years, but it might as well be thirty.”

I want to feel sorry for her and tell her not to give up hope, but would that be the best advice? Ridge likes his variety. I knew that even before I met the Redd brothers. "I never expected it to be like this. I'm in love with Essex, Violet. I want that for you too, and I'm going to help you get what you want.”

"I need to focus on someone who isn't Ridge Redd." She smiles. "How about Boone or Atilio? They're cute."

I groan. "Please don't flirt with them."

"I'll try to be good, but it's hard when I'm sure they really like it."

Rolling onto my back, I sigh heavily and ask my friend, "What do you think about what David said?"

Taking a deep breath, Violet says slowly, "Honestly, David's always been nice to me and my parents. I mean, not social or anything, just in passing or when he's called over to the house on occasion. I have seen him with Judge and Richard, and then he looks right through me. It's like he doesn't want anyone to stop and talk to him while he's with them." She wrinkles her nose. "Does that make sense?"

"So, you believe him? That he's helping Ed?"

"Well, Ed is an FBI agent, right? So, there is obviously some truth to what David said."

"David and Richard got into a fight that night. I was really scared after the gunshot, and with the two of them fighting."

Violet stares at me with her mouth half open. She snaps it shut. "That's the first time you've ever admitted what really happened. Mom thought it was your dad, but my dad told her never to repeat it. He was furious. So, it's true?"

“Everyone knows who killed her. They're too afraid to say anything."

"I wonder what will happen to Lincoln Construction if Richard is arrested? My dad won't have a job."

"A lot of people work for them. Most of them are just regular guys who need a paycheck to live. I wonder if David knows anything about construction?"

Violet snorts. "You'll have to deal with it."

"No!" I shoot into a sitting position. "I don't know the first thing about it... There's always the possibility it could be shut down if Richard used the business for illegal purposes."

"I wonder what my father will do. I hope he doesn't insist on moving."

"We'll get a place together before that happens," I say. "You can't say anything to your parents' Violet. Your dad will go straight to mine and tell him what's going on."

"My lips are sealed." Her stomach grumbles loudly. "Do you think we can make breakfast? I'm hungry."

She looks at the clock, it's almost eight. "Evelyn's in the kitchen." I roll to my feet and stretch, my body aching in places I'm not used to. Essex knows what to do with the beast he hides in his jeans. Just the thought of it brings a blush to my cheeks.

Violet shakes her head of bouncing curls. "Stop thinking about sex when I'm not getting any." She pouts.

"He's really hot, Violet." I link arms with my friend and continue, "He's got a nice,” I whisper, “penis, and he knows what to do with it. His tongue is just as deadly. I can still feel it between my legs."

"You really need to shut up!" She huffs and walks ahead of me.

I grin and follow her into the kitchen. My eyes struggle to take in what I'm seeing—David and Evelyn are sitting at the kitchen table drinking coffee. I clear my throat and push Violet into a chair. "Uncle David, Evelyn, what a surprise."

David snorts. "Considering the night we had, did you really not expect me to come check on you?"

"I'll start breakfast." Evelyn gets busy in the kitchen.

"Are you eating with us?" I ask.

Evelyn stops what she's doing, and David looks just as surprised by my question. To Evelyn: "Um, I don't suppose we could have bacon and eggs with pancakes today, since David is here?”

She rolls her eyes. "Of course... And while everyone's eating, you can tell me what's going on, because I feel like I've woken up in an alternate universe."

She turns back to the task at hand while I catch David's eyes. He shakes his head gently. "Evelyn, we can't tell you anything. Safer that way... Don't let anyone know I was here for breakfast."

Frowning, Evelyn nods.

Violet suddenly shifts her seat so that she's next to David. He looks at her with a raised eyebrow.

I slurp the coffee that Evelyn hands me while keeping an eye on Violet, because I just know from the way she's watching David that she's up to something.

"Violet, drink the coffee in front of you."

"Thank you, Evelyn.” Violet looks back at David, "you're much more attractive now." Violet smiles. "I don't suppose..."

"No! Violet, leave Uncle David alone, please."

"You told me not to flirt with, well, you know who, so I figured, David's hot and single, so why not him?"

David blushes as he shakes his head and takes a sip of coffee.

"Young lady," Evelyn snaps. "Mind your manners." She pushes plates of food onto the table. "David's way too old for you. Flirt with boys your own age."

I cringe at the anger I sense in Evelyn at Violet's teasing. The woman helped raise me, and looking at her now, she's different in some way.

Violet blushes and David gives Evelyn a dark look. He slowly puts down his cup and stands. "No need to get mad at the girl. It's a bit of harmless teasing... Besides, I'm not that old." He winks at Violet and leaves through the back door.

As soon as he's gone, Evelyn drops into a seat. "You want to tell me what's going on?" Her eyes go to the door. "I don't think I've ever seen David so relaxed."

"He helped me a lot, and we talked. He is different. I just hope it lasts."

Her eyes narrow on Violet. "Your mother would be shocked to hear you talk to an adult the way you talked to David."

"Urgh!" Violet shoots to her feet. "I am an adult! And I tease men because they know what to do with a woman who only knows what goes where. Boys fumble. Men are hot and sexy." To me, "I'm going home. Message me later."

Numb to her outburst and abrupt exit, I hug my friend and watch her run up the back stairs to grab her bag.

"I'm exhausted," I comment, twisting a piece of bacon between my fingers before tearing off a chunk with my teeth. "Where is he?"

“He's in the bedroom. I found an empty bottle of whiskey in the lounge."

"He's not going to like being late for work." I make no effort to move. "I'm going out after breakfast."

She frowns. "You're out a lot these days."

"I don't like being here anymore." This is only half the truth. The other half has to do with Essex Redd.

"Hmm, I hope you're not spending more time with one of the Redd boys?"

"They're men, not boys. I'm at a loose end here, Evelyn. Judge and Richard still want me to be with Jason. That is not going to happen. I want to live my life as I choose. Because of Mama's wishes, I have that opportunity. I'm not going to blow it. Mom would be disappointed if I did."

Sighing, Evelyn says, "Do you think they'll let you go? Your daddy is possessive, Beatrice."

I tilt my head and watch Evelyn closely. She is uncomfortable with this conversation. "I thought you wanted me away from Richard."

"I don't know what I want anymore."

The dress I chose to wear today with Essex in mind is pale blue and covered with daisies. It hits mid-thigh with tiny straps holding it to my body. I walk downstairs, my hi-tops squeaking on the wooden stairs. The sun shines through the windows, casting a warm glow on the hardwood floors. I can't help but feel a sense of excitement for the day ahead as I make my way to the front door. I don't get far.

"Beatrice," Richard says, "please step into my office."

Looking at the man who killed my mother, I force my mouth to shut before I tell him everything I've wanted to say for so long. This man has no idea. I look at him and there is no sign of his night of drinking. Against my better judgment, I enter the office and barely manage to hold my breath when I see Richard's lawyer, Thomas Jefferson. Ironic, really, that Mom's lawyer is Alfred Hitchcock. She probably chose him because she loved the movie The Birds. Well, Thomas Jefferson was chosen because he loves money, of which Richard has plenty. I never liked the man.

"Why do you need me in a meeting with your lawyer?" I ask cautiously, refusing the seat Richard is trying to force me into. "I'm not staying, so I'll stand."

"This will take five minutes, Beatrice, then you can get on with your day. I have some papers for you to sign." Jefferson taps on the papers on Richard's desk.

"What are they?"

"You don't have to worry about that. Just sign on the dotted line and we're done here." He grins.

I narrow my eyes. "You must think I'm an idiot to blindly sign papers you've drawn up." I look at Richard. "What are they?"

He clenches and unclenches his jaw. "Nothing to worry about. They're legal documents that have to do with transferring some shares of the business from your mother to you."

I hesitate, knowing there's something wrong with this. "I'm sure a few hours won't make any difference. If you leave the papers with me, I'll read them and maybe sign them if I agree." I hold out my hands for the bundle of papers and Jefferson, who obviously wasn't expecting this, stares at Richard for direction.

"Just sign the damn things, Beatrice!" He shouts, pounding his fist on the table. "You won't understand any of this."

"AJ Hitchcock is my lawyer. When he gets back from vacation, we can talk about this. He'll go over it and I'll listen to his advice." Before Richard can get a word out, I turn to Jefferson and say, "As a lawyer, you should have advised me to have my own lawyer go over them.”

Richard suddenly grabs my arm and whispers, "You are becoming a problem.” His face turns red with anger as he glares at me, clearly not expecting my resistance.

I jerk my arm free and rub the tender skin. "I'm taking the documents."

Both Richard and Jefferson watch me closely. Even when Richard breaks and shoves the papers into my hands, Jefferson doesn't take his eyes off me. Richard says, "You better sign them, Beatrice! You will not like the consequences.”

I roll up the papers and shove them into my backpack on my way out. My stomach feels unsettled, and worry wraps itself around my heart. I know I made the right decision, but the fear of what might come next remains. As I walk away, I can't shake the feeling that something bad is brewing in Mount Sterling.