So after we’d brought the yacht into port, we’d called the police and told them everything. How Trevor took me, lured Michael and his friends there, and nearly killed Will and me.
It was devastating, and while Mrs. Crist was thankful we were okay, she would hurt for a long time.
Mr. Crist, on the other hand, seemed more disappointed than grief-stricken. He only had one son now, and instead of the contempt with which he usually treated Michael, he began getting very involved in his life, wasting no time in shifting the hopes he had for Trevor onto Michael.
Good thing for Michael he had plenty of practice standing up to his father.
My mother and Mrs. Crist walked toward the kitchen, and Michael’s father approached, carrying a drink in his hand with a cigar between his fingers.
“I want to sit down today. We’ve got things to discuss.”
He spoke to Michael but glanced to me, his indication clear. Since I wouldn’t be marrying Trevor, his plans now included Michael.
“Things to discuss,” Michael mused, taking my hand. “You mean my future and Rika’s money? Because it’s too late. I broke the trust. Everything is in her name now.”
“You did what?” his father growled.
I grinned, letting Michael lead me away. “I’d love to sit down and discuss my future next time you’re in town,” I told Mr. Crist, letting him know I was the one in charge of my family’s business now.
There were several pieces of real estate he and my father co-owned, so I had no choice but to work with him, but I wasn’t a pawn for men to marry and govern. Now he knew.
Michael and I walked into the dining room, seeing Will and Kai standing around the table, talking with drinks in hand while their parents and several others congregated in small groups around the room.
Servers flitted in and out, carrying trays of hors d’oeuvres and refilling champagne glasses.
Kai met us halfway, closely followed by Will.
“I found Damon,” Kai told Michael right away.
“Where is he?” I asked.
“St. Petersburg.”
“Russia?” Michael said, a stunned look on his face. “What the fuck?”
Kai continued. “His parole officer came looking for him. Damon missed his check-in with him, and after tracking his passport, they found him there,” he explained. “It makes sense. That’s where his father’s people are from, so he’s on friendly ground. They’re not going to go after him, of course, but we can.”
I shook my head. “Just leave him alone.”
Michael turned his eyes on me, looking down. “I’m not waiting for him to just show up back here, Rika. He’s dangerous.”
“He won’t come back,” I stated. “He won’t want to fail a third time. Just leave him alone, and let’s move on.”
Kai and Michael studied me for a few moments, and I hoped they understood what I wasn’t saying.
There had been too much pain. Too many years and too much wasted time. We all needed to start living again.
Damon wouldn’t try to hurt me again. Another attempt after two failures would make him look pathetic. He was gone.
And since we’d found the phone from Devil’s Night right where I suspected—in Trevor’s cabin on board Pithom—and destroyed it, there was absolutely nothing holding us back anymore. It was time to start having some fun.
“So what do we do now?” Will asked.
The corner of Michael’s lips lifted. “What we’re good at, I guess. Wreaking a little fucking havoc.”
And then he jerked his chin, gesturing to the two female servers behind Kai and Will.
The guys turned around, seeing two college-age girls, dressed in black pencil skirts, white blouses, and black vests. They tried to their hide smiles, eyeing them as they lit candles and checked the table settings.
“Delay dinner for us?” Michael asked.
Kai turned back around, his chest shaking with a quiet laugh. “How long do you need?” he asked, backing away with mischief in his eyes.
“An hour.”
Kai and Will turned around with shitty-ass grins on their faces as they followed the girls and disappeared into the kitchen.
I narrowed my eyes up at Michael, confused.
“Come on.” He tugged at my hand. “I want to show you something.”
And then he pulled me along, out of the dining room.
I STEPPED OUT OF THE CAR, the leaves rustling under my heels as I pulled my ivory-colored coat tight around me and slammed the car door.
The day was clear, not a cloud in the sky as I breathed out steam and looked up, seeing the scaffolding, tarps, and small yellow bulldozers sitting around the old cathedral.
“What’s going on?” I asked.