Chapter One
There were four of us in the elevator.
Across from me, leaning back on the low railing, was Victoria. Despite the long, fraught night, she still looked ravishing in that skintight purple dress. The deep V-line offered up the enticing curve of her tits, and her olive skin seemed to glow in the dim light. Her dark eyes were settled with interest on the older man standing across from her.
He was smiling pleasantly, and wagged a finger at her as he spoke. "I
thought
I recognized you," the man said. "All it took was seeing you all together just now to really put the puzzle pieces together. How do you know my girls?" He glanced from Victoria to Amber to me and back.
I still can't believe it,
I thought, staring back blankly.
Charles Evans was the easygoing businessman who Victoria, Amber and I had met at the rooftop bar of the Bowman Hotel, all those weeks ago. The man who had shared half a dozen stories of world travel with his wife, and who had gone our entire conversation without once mentioning his daughters. Victoria had had time to give me a single, significant look — silently apologizing for not being able to warn me — before a cowed Matthew summoned the elevator and our little group shuffled in.
"Well," Evans said, tugging at the lapels of his heavy woolen jacket and quirking his mouth in a wry smile. "What a pleasant surprise. I'm afraid I really must apologize for my behavior downstairs. Usually I'm not such a ferocious attack dog. It's been a stressful night. Waking up after a few hours of sleep to a mysterious phone call. Being invited to surprise Carmen and Day on their birthday. Dealing with last-minute flight details and then not being able to even nap on the jet down the coast." He paused, then leaned in towards Amber and gave her a stage whisper. "Mostly," he said. "It's nerves."
My girlfriend, who had been holding back in the corner with folded arms, arched her eyebrows. "Is that so?" she asked. Her voice was cautious, and I could tell she was having the same problem I was. It was difficult to reconcile this man with the image I'd built up in my head of a strict, distant and uncaring parent.
Evans nodded earnestly, then smoothed back his hair and straightened his jacket again. "It's been almost a year since I've had the chance to see my girls. And they rarely seem interested in talking, or even texting. I miss them a lot, and I want to make a good impression. Do you think they'll be happy to see me? You did say this was a surprise, after all..."
The goal was to put Seth off-balance by bringing the twins' parents into play,
I thought anxiously as we slowly came to a stop.
But what if all I did was surprise myself?
Ding.
The golden glow of sunrise crept through the huge windows and across the main floor of Seth's penthouse. The party was clearly over, but the warm light illuminated the leftovers. By day, the space looked less alluring, mysterious and inviting, and more like a fancy penthouse that someone had converted into a nightclub. The expensive, artful decor clashed with remnants of the teenage rave, contributing to a discordant feeling. The big, open room was empty, too, which gave the stacks of red plastic cups, rows of bottles and smattering of streamers an odd sense of loneliness.
"Well..." Evans said, nodding to himself as he led the way out of the elevator. "Certainly doesn't look quite the same as the last time I visited. Of course, it was his parents who were throwing the party that night, wasn't it? And the Torrances are usually quite restrained." Taking off his overcoat and draping it over a nearby bar stool, the man seemed unfazed by the evidence that his daughters had been taking part in underage drinking and festivities. Charles Evans seemed ready to continue monologuing, but it was at that moment that a biting voice cut through the air and echoed quietly in the still air.
"
What the hell are you doing he
— Wait, Chuck is that you?"
My gaze swung up instinctively and darted across the room. Anger flared in my chest in response to the hated voice.
Seth stood at the top of the staircase, leaning over the thin railing and peering down into the foyer. He was shirtless, and had changed into a pair of red joggers. Even in the relative dimness, I could see he sported the ripped physique that his chiseled jawline and cheeks advertised. In the hall behind him, for just a moment, I thought I could hear the soft sound of retreating footsteps.
"Seth, my boy!" The twins' father seemed unsurprised to meet the tousle-haired teenager half-undressed. Then, I realized that as far as "Chuck" was concerned, Daisy was dating this douchebag. She had never made their breakup officially known to her family. "Throw on a shirt and get down here! Where are the girls? Chance and Victoria said that you were in on my surprise visit, but it looks like they were just pulling my leg."
I couldn't help but feel a surge of triumph as Seth visibly grimaced, glanced back down the hallway, and then seemed to weigh his options.
"Surprise!" the older man added brightly, almost as an afterthought, and I didn't bother to stifle my laughter.
I could see Seth's eyes narrow as he shot me a barbed glance and came to a decision. "Just give me a minute, sir, and I'll go... wake them up." The teen gave a laugh that sounded a little forced, and then disappeared back down the hallway.
As soon as he was gone, Victoria shot me a look and took several quick steps to my side.
"I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to warn you," she muttered, glancing back over her shoulder at the twins' father. "I didn't realize who he was until we were halfway here. Then, I didn't want to freak him out, so I just kept up the story that we're friends with his daughters."
I nodded several times, still processing. So much had happened in the past few hours that I was having trouble keeping it all straight. "Right," I agreed. The lie came rushing back. "We're friends of the twins, and they've been feeling guilty about missing family Thanksgiving this year. So we stole Daisy's phone and invited him down for a special family birthday surprise."
I could still hear the sleepy excitement that had been in Mr. Evans's voice when he answered the call from Daisy's cell. He'd been confused when he realized I wasn't his daughter, but when I laid out the lie he responded with enthusiasm. Apparently Mrs. Evans was away for a week-long "shamanism retreat," but Mr. Evans was delighted to be included. In the moment I'd had other things to worry about, but now it struck me as one more note off key. This was a man so desperate to see his daughters that he would fly down, no questions asked, after a midnight phone call from a stranger.
Something doesn't add up here,
I mused.
Amber's heels
clicked
up beside Victoria and the buxom blonde rested a hand on the brunette's shoulder. "No hello, Vi?" she asked, but her smile said she was just ribbing her companion.
Victoria flashed a smile, and reached up to squeeze Amber's fingers. "I'm so happy you're back with us, babe," she said. "But right now we need to focus on Carmen. Daisy's home free if we can just get her sister out from Seth's influence."
I'd laid out the situation for Amber on the drive over from the Academy, and my girlfriend murmured her understanding. Her sky blue eyes were determined. Before she could answer, though, a thoughtful voice interrupted.
