“Let’s not act stupid. We all know why you targeted her—for her money.”
“What money?”
Dorothy tsks. “Don’t act surprised. It’s really not your forte.”
My throat tightens.
“She’s an heiress. Her father’s a multibillionaire, and she has a sizable trust as well.”
What the fuck?
Dorothy’s lips twist into a vindictive line. “I can’t wait until you’re prosecuted. I won’t be handling the case because it would look bad, me being your loving and stunned aunt and all. But mark my words. You’ll be arrested for statutory rape, most likely convicted of a felony—since that’s the least her family will demand—and registered as a sex offender once you’re out of prison.” She smiles. “I can’t wait.”
I stare at her, my scalp throbbing as rage and confusion beat at me. She has to be making this shit up. I’ve seen the depth of her hatred. Purely from spite, she made sure Granddad cut his daughter off for marrying Dad, who was a penniless nobody as far as the family was concerned. Then Dorothy maliciously spread rumors about my parents…simply because she could and knew Mom wouldn’t retaliate.
“I don’t believe you. And even if what you’re saying is true—which it isn’t—Liza would never testify against me,” I say, unable to think of anything else.
Dorothy gives me a look full of pity. “Who told you that? Elizabeth?” She snorts. “I saw her earlier today at her grandmother’s mansion, and she told me she was perfectly ready and willing.”
My heart beats so fast that I’m afraid it’s going to give out. I clench my hands until my nails dig painfully into my palms, and will myself to wake up from the nightmare.
This can’t be real. Can’t be.
“Why do you think she was at the bar?”
“Because she wanted a drink.”
“Have you seen her Maserati? Did she say she’d let you drive it if you fucked her well?”
What Masera—
The night I met Liza. There was a Maserati in the parking lot.
Dorothy continues, an ugly sneer edging her tone. “You actually thought you were good enough for her? She’s going to marry Nate Sterling. Their families are already making arrangements.”
Bullshit. A girl about to marry someone else wouldn’t have been like that with me…
“At least you won’t look too terrible in orange. You have the right coloring.”
This is all Dorothy’s fucked-up poison. She’s out of targets, so she wants to drag me down.
“You’re lying,” I say flatly. “Liza would never betray me.”
“Oh, she most certainly would, to have the DA’s office look the other way. She’s no angel, you know.” Dorothy chortles. “As soon as things are sorted out here, she’s leaving for Italy. What? You thought you mattered? Please.”
“Get the fuck out of here,” I spit, my jaw muscles tight.
“Do you honestly think you have any power over anything?”
I take a step forward. Her throat works, a sliver of fear passing through her eyes before she catches herself. She holds her chin high, even though it’s quivering slightly. “I can’t wait until you’re in prison, where you belong.” Forcing a cackle, she spins and leaves.
The horrible laugh rings in my ear even though she’s gone. I slam the door, then kick it.
I start shaking so hard that I have to lean against the back of the couch for support. My knees feel like water, and nausea roils in my gut, a bitter sour taste on my tongue.
I inhale and exhale a few times, trying to process everything. I hate this, I so fucking do, but my gut tells me Dorothy’s right. If I’d been thinking more clearly, I would’ve realized what Liza really was back at the bar when she gave me that line about her friends leaving her stranded. There were other signs, too: how she called Gavin by his first name; how she fumbled a little when I asked her how she knows him. She implied she works at a café near OWM, but does she really? If she’s an heiress, it explains the dresses she brought for Kristen.
No more thinking with my dick. No more believing Liza is innocent just because that’s what I want to believe. Maybe…just maybe…Dorothy’s lying about Liza’s willingness to testify against me, but it’s more likely Liza did something really stupid, something she doesn’t want her parents to know about. That would put her in Dorothy’s power, and I have no objective evidence telling me I can trust Liza with something as important as my future and my sister’s wellbeing.