Always With You - Part Three(7)

"How'd he die?"

"Accidental drowning." Jason's eyes bore into mine. "During sex."

"Oh shit," I breathe. "She killed him? With sex?"

"Not officially, no, but … "

"And then?"

"Tried it with a third man, only he didn't tell her he was married. According to the wife, who was a friend of Sophie's in the beginning, she got him to make provisions for Isabella with some kind of a sob story. And sex, of course."

"Provisions? In his will?" Jason nods. "And he's dead, too, I suppose."

He nods again. "Poisoned. The wife swears Sophie did it on purpose, but the investigation cleared her. Apparently they were in Montreal on a tryst and she talked him into ordering some fugu for them. It was poorly prepared, or so the report read, even though no one else got sick and the chef had over thirty years of experience preparing and serving it. Anyway, the guy died of asphyxiation right in their hotel room. Found the pufferfish toxin in his blood. Just enough to kill him."

My head is throbbing and the desire to take Olivia and Isabella and just run away is strong. "How many more?"

"That was the most recent. After that, her own father died and she came here."

"Lucky me," I murmur sarcastically. But it really is lucky for Isabella. Now I really hope she's actually mine. That would mean I could try to take her away from her scheming mother. Of course if money is what Sophie is after, maybe I could make her a deal.

"When she showed some interest in me, I thought I'd do a little experiment to see if money really is all she's after. She was flirtatious, but still focusing on you. So when she asked me what I do for a living, I told her I travel around, living off my trust fund. Listed off a few countries, let her think it's substantial. That's when I saw her attention shift."

"So this has nothing to do with her daughter?"

I'm so furious and disgusted, I don't even know what to say.

"It seems not. A paternity test would prove it, of course, but … "

"Yeah, she did everything she could to make sure that wouldn't happen, but despite her efforts, I'll know the results soon enough."

"Gavin said he knew a guy. Did he help you out?"

"Yep. I got him what he needed. Should know something in the next twenty-four to forty-eight hours."

"Nice," he says in agreement, nodding as he sips his drink.

"Do you think-"

I'm interrupted by the return of Sophie. She practically skips across the bar floor and lands ass-to-leg on Jason. He laughs lightly, neither too interested nor too disinterested.

Yeah, you just keep right on doing what you're doing, man. That bitch is digging her own hole. And I'm more than happy to bury her in it.





CHAPTER SIX



Olivia



When Sophie found out about our plans to watch a movie with Isabella tonight, I could almost see her tripping all over herself to figure out how to be included. While she's obviously interested in Jason King, it's apparent that she isn't ready to give up on Cash entirely either. Watching her juggle the two of them is almost laughable. If it weren't so sickening, that is.

Cash told me what Jason said. I didn't think I could dislike Sophie any more than I already did. I was wrong. I could cheerfully rip her head off and kick it around the room for a while if given the chance. But rather than ruining everything, I simply smile and hold my tongue. Cash has a plan and I just have to play my part until it's all worked out. Then we can be rid of Sophie once and for all. Forever. I hope.



       
         
       
        

"How about we all have dinner here before I start work?" Sophie asks, her attention on Cash. Before I can decline, she continues. "It's the least I can do. And Isabella would love it so much. Wouldn't you, Izz?"

Isabella nods excitedly, tickled with the prospect of spending more time with Cash. It's the look on her face that has him agreeing, even though neither of us really want to spend a single second with that treacherous whore, Sophie.

"We'll do it. For Isabella," Cash replies, emphasizing her name. Sophie's smile doesn't falter, but a hardness creeps into her eyes assuring me that she doesn't like it.

When it comes to preparations, I offer to help, a half-hearted effort at best, and Sophie politely declines, thankfully. That just gives me more time to spend with Cash and Isabella out in the club, playing Twister on the dance floor.

When the meal is ready, Sophie calls us back. Rather than trying to squeeze us in at the small dining room table, though, she has arranged the food on the table and stacked the plates and silver beside it. "Let's do it like a buffet line. We can fill our plates and then go out and eat at the bar."