She brings the device to her ear, holding her breath, staring at the pool in anticipation as she waits for her mother to pick up.
Then, on the final ring?—
“Mom! Oh my god,” she sighs. “Yes, I’m perfectly fine… Safe, don’t worry… Yes… I’m in Beverly Hills… right at the top… I know. How crazy? One of the editors from the magazine invited me to stay at hers for a while, you know, until I find a new place and everything. Tell Lila I’m so sorry. I lost my phone and…Yeah. I know.” Her tone drops. “I’m trying to take a break from screens… My friend has a retreat up here. It’s the perfect opportunity for me to unwind for a while… Um… I’m not sure yet.”
I stare at her hard. I can’t hear her mother. But Icanhear Joy’s voice shaking as she tells her mother when she’ll be home.
Joy’s gaze veers over to me while she listens to her mother speak.
I draw a line over my neck, telling her to end the call. I don’t trust her. Joy likes to talk. I’m worried the truth might slip out.
“Joy,” I mouth.“End it.”
She looks at me, screwing up her lips. Her cheeks are now red for a different reason. She’s angry.
“Joy.”
“I’m really not sure, Mom. But please don’t be worried. I’m staying here for free. And I actually really enjoy it… Tell Lila I’ll make it up to her when I’m back. I know she was excited for me to move in with her and everything?—”
I steal the phone, ending the call.
“What the fuck?” Joy’s eyes flare wide. Her face is as red as the bikini.
“Time’s up.”
“You didn’t give me a time limit.”
“What makes you think you’re going back home?”
Joy folds her arms over her chest. She really is teasing me now with those breasts. I may have to bend her over the lounger. Tell the guards watching to turn the other way.
“You honestly think this is going to be forever?” Joy looks at me pointedly.
She’s saying the same things as Niko. I don’t like it.
“Yes,” I say straight to her face.
“Then you’re never gonna win.” Joy sinks back into the lounger. She puts her sunglasses on again. Picks up her book, leafing through pages until she finds the right one.
I stare at her side profile. “Sweetheart, I always win.”
“When all you care about in life is punishing people?” Joy brings the sunglasses over her eyes, watching me sidelong. “That just makes me feel sorry for you.”
I grind my teeth as she gets back to her book, sunglasses back on.
Sitting here on the lounger watching her read is making me feel like a lemon. And I haven’t felt like that in a very fucking long time.
I stand up, straighten out my suit jacket and head over to the office. Nikolai is waiting for me. And we need to find a way to stop my son.
15
JOY
Three days later,I’m walking back from the bathroom—half asleep at two in the morning, when I hear movement downstairs.
Voices.
I come to a stop in the middle of the corridor. Smart people eavesdrop. That’s how they get to be so smart in the first place.