Touched (The Untouched Trilogy #2)(53)

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“Why was I not invited?” I asked.

“I just learned of it this morning, Aria.”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“Mother.”

“What?” I asked.

“I’ll show you. Give me a second,” he said, and walked toward the study.

My phone rang. I looked at the screen but didn’t recognize the number. I considered not answering but thought better of it since Lia and Bianca were traveling; I didn’t know whose phone they could be using so I quickly pressed answer. “Hello.”

“Is this Aria Cason?” the caller asked. I didn’t recognize the voice.

“Yes. To whom am I speaking?” I asked.

Silence.

“Hello,” I said, again.

“Yes, I’m here. I thought I was prepared to hear the voice of the woman who slept with my husband, but apparently I was wrong.”

“Excuse me? Who is this?” I asked.

“If what I previously said doesn’t clue you in, then you’ve obviously made a habit of f*cking married men. I guess I should make it clear ... this is Tiffany Patrick.”

I choked back what I really wanted to say because I needed to keep this situation contained. “Tiffany, the only reason I’m not replying to your insult in the way it deserves is because we both were victims in this situation but if you continue to speak to me like that, I have no problem forgoing my calm and letting you know exactly what I think of you and this bullshit.”

“I’m sure your calm has more to do with your need to keep this quiet than a commonality of wounds,” she replied.

I stepped into the foyer hoping I was out of Aiden’s hearing range. “Listen bitch, don’t give the pretense of knowing shit about me.”

“I may not know you but I know women like you.”

“Women like me? Oh, you mean women who’ve met men who’ve lied about being married to horrid bitches like you? Maybe this is how you get your kicks but I have better things to do with my time so if you would like for this conversation to continue, I suggest you drop the insults and get to the point of this f*cking phone call.”

“I’m sure your friend explained that my attorney is planning to subpoena you,” she stated.

“Actually no, she didn’t. Your marriage … or divorce rather, has nothing to do with me.”

“Isn’t it too bad you didn’t feel that way before you had my husband’s dick inside you?”

“You’re a childish bitch. This is my last time telling you to watch your f*cking mouth.”

“What’s going on Aria?” Aiden asked, having stepped behind me.

I spun around to face him. “Nothing. Can I have some privacy please?” I asked, hoping he hadn’t heard too much.

“Who is that?” he implored. I could see that he wasn’t exactly overflowing with patience.

“No one important,” I replied, as I pressed end on the phone call. I was sure I hadn’t heard the last of that bitch. She would definitely call back later.

“What?” I asked, scowling at Aiden.

“You already know what. I’ll ask once more Aria. Who was that?”

“And I will tell you one time Aiden, it’s of no concern to you,” I replied, pushing past him. I switched my phone to vibrate. Aiden was on my heels. He was not going to let this go. I sat on the couch and watched him as he pulled his phone from his pocket. He pressed something on his phone and walked over to me and grabbed mine. I reached to get it from him but it was of no use.

“Run a trace on this number and let me know exactly who it is. Yes, as soon as possible,” he said, speaking into the phone as he watched me.

I grabbed my phone from his hand as he passed it back to me. “How dare you! If I wanted you to know who I was speaking to, I would have told you.”

“If you speak to anyone the way you were speaking to the person on the other end of that call, it’s because they’ve stepped out of line with you and I won’t allow anyone to do that.”

“You step out of line with me on a regular basis,” I retorted.

“That’s because I’m allowed,” he stated, matter of factly.

“Like hell you are.”

“Aria, I’m not going to argue about this. I’ll have the information I need soon enough.”

“Please stay out of this Aiden,” I pleaded.

His phone rang. “If you’ll excuse me. Yes? Anything else? No, that will be all.” He pressed end on the call and coolly placed his phone back into his pocket.

“Why is Dane Patrick’s wife calling you?” he asked, walking towards me.

“What? What are you talking about?”

“You know exactly what I’m talking about. What’s going on Aria?” he demanded.

“Why don’t you just pick me up and shake the details from me Aiden? You can’t just insert yourself into matters that do not involve you.”

“Is there something you need to tell me?”

“You sound as if you already know. You can’t continue to invade my f*cking privacy!”

“Can we forego the dramatics Aria? Just once? What the hell is going on?”