Until We Meet Again(79)
tracks are covered on the legal end.”
She’s speaking the words, but the idea seems too outlandish
to believe. “What on earth made him think I’d ever agree to
such a thing?”
“That’s where I came in.” Her gaze becomes distant. “‘Such a
pretty girl,’ Papa always used to say. ‘One day, you’re going help
the family like Nico and Riff.’”
She touches her face, lost in thoughts. “He trained me from
the time I was twelve. Taught me subtle ways to get exactly
what I wanted from a man. How to carry myself. How to talk.
How to dress. How to be every man’s dream come true. But he
always made it very clear that I’d never be able to choose my
own man. I couldn’t even go on dates. My only interactions
with men outside my family were for training, under Papa’s
watchful eye.”
Hearing Fay open up like this, seeing the sad, vulnerable
girl inside, I’m overcome with the desire to protect her. I take
her hand.
“I’m sorry.”
She shrugs. “It wasn’t a bad life. In fact, Papa spoiled me
terribly. Any new dress I wanted. Jewelry. Shoes. Trips to the
seaside with Mama and Isabella. As long as I understood that
when the moment came, I could not disappoint him.”
“And that moment came when Ned offered me as a lawyer,”
I say, putting the pieces together.
She nods. “I was the bait. I was supposed to seal the deal.
Once you were in love with me, I’d see to it that you kept me
happy, even if it meant working for my father.”
I lower myself onto the stone bench, my head throbbing with
all the new information. Was it possible? Could Ned really sink
so low?
Little by little, pieces from my memory fill in the story. Ned
introduced Fay to me. He arranged the first several meetings
and that night in New York, when he was so insistent that I
would marry her.
And then there was everything I learned last night. Jerome
Smith telling me about Ned’s gambling debt. His revelation
that the merger with Cooper Enterprises was only possible at
the promise of Ned’s arrangement with “unknown entities.”
Like the mob.
“I can’t believe it,” I say softly.
Fay comes beside me. “Can you forgive me, Lon?”
I look at the girl before me. It’s strange to see her in this completely new light. She’s a different person in many ways. And yet, she’s still the same beautiful girl I’ve known all summer. I
tuck a strand of her jet-black hair behind her ear. “Of course I
forgive you. It’s not your fault. You were just doing your duty.”
“It may have been duty at first,” she says, choking out the
words, “But I came to love you, Lon. Truly.”
I take her face in my hands. “Oh Fay.”
Squeezing her eyes shut tightly, she grabs my collar and
presses a kiss to my mouth. I’m filled with a tempest of conflicting emotions. Cassandra has my heart, but somehow I can’t push Fay away. I don’t know if I’ll see tomorrow. And
Fay’s lips are warm and soft, like they always were. I allow
myself a single kiss.
“Well, isn’t this a pretty sight. And here I was worried.”
At the sound of Ned’s voice, Fay and I pull apart.
He’s standing right in front of us, dressed in a stylish suit that
almost looks comical stretched over his huge body. The sight
of him sends rage through me. My fists tightened at my side.
“Easy, boy,” Ned snarls, his expression suddenly becoming
severe. “You’ve done enough damage today. Let’s not make it
more.”
“You owe me an explanation,” I say, clenching my jaw.
“I’m sure Fay here has given you her own warped version
of events.”
“Is it true then?” I ask, the sting of his betrayal piercing me.
“Did you really lose everything to gambling debts? Did you
really promise me to the mob? Did you really try to push me
into a marriage so that I could solve all of your financial problems for you?”
Ned swipes a hand through the air. “I did what I had to
do. You’d do no different. It’s not like I was giving them your
head on a platter, boy. With Roberto, you’d be rich and powerful beyond your wildest dreams. It’s better than anything your stupid father could secure for you. I’m doing you a favor.”
I shake my head slowly. “How could you think I’d ever
become a criminal? I guess when you’ve sunken to that level,
you think anyone will.”
“You’re not as noble as you fancy yourself.” Ned scoffs. “You’re
as low and common as any man here.”
Fay jumps to my defense. “Don’t you dare insult him.”
He whirls around. “Keep quiet.” His eyes burn with rage.
“You have no right to tell me what I can and can’t do. You’re