Final Offer (Dreamland Billionaires #3) by Lauren Asher

“Yup. I just couldn’t figure out how to properly uncork the bottle since I don’t drink.” My nervous laugh borders on hysterical, but Iris doesn’t seem to notice since she doesn’t know me.

“You should have just brought it to us. We could have done that.” She grabs the bottle.

I freeze as a breeze comes through the window, the scent of cigars permeating the air. I’m afraid the rapid beat of my heart will betray me with how hard it pounds against my chest.

Iris’s nose twitches. “What’s that smell?”

I look around the kitchen, doing my best to try to look confused.

Iris’s gaze lands on the curtain swaying in the breeze. “Ahh. Someone left the window open.” She reaches over the sink to shut it, only to pause before she drags the pane down.

“Everything okay?” I ask. The blood in my ears makes it impossible to hear much besides my own heartbeat.

Her back freezes. “Yeah. Just thought I overheard one of them trying to talk shit about us.”

This time, my fake laughter comes out more genuine. “Like Declan would dare talk bad about you. Safe to say he is obsessed.”

At least one Kane brother is loyal.

She turns around with a smile. “The same can be said about you. I don’t think I’ve seen Cal this happy in well…ever.”

I try to smile. I try so damn hard, my eye twitches and my cheeks ache.

Her head tilts. “Are you sure everything is okay?”

“Yup. Just fighting the early signs of a migraine.”

A small frown makes her forehead wrinkle. “Oh, no. Do you want any medicine?”

“I’ve got some in my purse. Hence the water.” I reach for the glass of water I left abandoned on the counter and lead the way out of the kitchen. I’m careful to keep my head held high despite the unbearable weight pressing down around me, threatening to drown me.

You will not let him break you.

Yet no matter how many times I repeat the phrase, bits and pieces of my heart break off and shatter against the floor, leaving an invisible trail of my despair.

As soon as I put Cami to sleep, I lock my bedroom door and pull out my phone.

SOS



Texts pop up instantly.

Delilah

Is everything okay?



Violet

What did he do?



I can always count on Violet to point fingers first and ask questions later. Tonight, I need to borrow some of her anger. At least that way I can feel something other than numbness.

Ever since I overheard the conversation outside, I’ve been on autopilot. Just going through the motions until I could crawl into a ball and process the last few months of my life.

My fingers shake as I type.

I overheard some things…



My phone vibrates in my hand from an incoming video call.

“I’m going to kill him,” Violet seethes.

“What did you overhear?” Delilah, the voice of reason, asks.

“Hold on.” I enter my bathroom and turn on the shower to drown out any noise. “I’m not entirely sure what I heard.”

Oh, you’re sure. You just don’t want to be.

I slide down the wall and cradle the phone against my chest. Panic builds, so I take a few deep breaths.

“Alana, talk to us.”

“I feel so stupid.” My voice quivers.

“You’re not stupid. He is,” Delilah says.

“You don’t even know what happened.” If Cal kept his secret about his inheritance from me, I doubt anyone else is supposed to know.

Why are you still being loyal to him?

Because I stupidly fell in love with him despite having every reason not to.

God. How did I put myself in this position again?

The skin surrounding Violet’s eyes softens. “We don’t need all the facts. If it makes you upset, then that’s all the information we need.”

I prop my head against the wall. “What am I supposed to do? I’m stuck here with him.”

“Come home.” Violet’s lips press together into a thin white line.

I sniffle, fighting the tears threatening to fall. “No. I can’t do that to Cami.”

“She would understand,” Delilah offers.

“No, she won’t. You know how much she wanted to go on this trip.” I don’t have the heart to take it away from her no matter how much I am hurting.

“How can we help?” Delilah’s soft voice soothes the throb in my chest.

“I’m not sure if you can. I’m the one who got myself into this mess.”

Not just yourself.

Fuck. Cami.

If I hadn’t been so naïve, she would have never gotten close to Cal. I could have kept my defenses up instead of letting my heart rule over my brain.

Did you seriously learn nothing from the past?

The realization makes me lose the battle against my tears. A few fall, sliding down my cheeks before landing on my dress.

You let them form a bond together.

“Alana,” Violet calls.

I look up at the ceiling. My vision blurs from the tears, dulling the fluorescent lighting.

“Look at me.” Violet speaks firmer this time.

My eyes slide to my phone. “What?”

“Whatever happened…none of it is your fault.”

My chest pricks. “It sure feels like it.”