Scandal:The Complete Series(64)

Lucius used to keep tabs on Carter who was known for his volatility but eventually Carter made himself scarce and disappeared for long stretches. If Lucius knew what Carter was up to, he certainly would never share it with me. Like Carter, I distanced myself from the organization.

As far as I know, Carter is no killer but those things can change fast in the underworld. Years have passed. All it takes is one wrong move.

A guard leads me to a dark room where Carter smokes a cigar while staring at the flame made by an old-fashioned silver lighter. Starlight streams through large windows behind him.

“Funny thing about a lit cigar,” he says when he notices my presence. “It makes the darkness around it more noticeable.”

“I had forgotten those little things you say,” I say, turning on a shaded lamp standing on a small table next to the door. The room is bare—the only furniture besides the little table are a loveseat facing the windows with a coffee table next to it. This is effectively the sunroom by day. A few flowerpots against the walls are the only decorations in the room.

Carter stands near a large glass door, exhaling smoke. “How’s Ella?”

“Asleep. She’s drained emotionally and physically.”

Carter nods. “A necessary inconvenience.”

“That’s perfect,” I say. My disdain grows stronger with every word out of his mouth. “You can say that to cover your every move. Men like you are always giving yourself a break. Allows you to cross every line.”

Carter exhales round puffs of smoke that rise slowly toward the ceiling. “There is no line between a man and his child. What would you know about it? You’re a playboy. Ella is just another plaything at your never-ending party.”

“You drew that line yourself and now you say it doesn’t exist. You’re not all there, Carter. You know it and Lucius knows it, too. You allow yourself delusions to explain some wacky code you have.”

He puts the cigar out on an ashtray on a coffee table. “You’re the prince of a delusional world. All that fashion bullshit. I see all you sissies looking tough on those billboards. Makes me laugh. The world’s softest men trying to look all hard and dangerous.”

“I’ll kick any man’s ass who tries to put her at risk,” I say. “Even you.”

He laughs. “There’s our common ground. I never wanted my daughter to be part of my world. I did what I had to do to distance her from it. I wanted her to hate me enough not to want answers. Not you, though. You want her attentions so much you brought her along for the ride. You call that love? It’s all about you. Pure selfishness. Don’t get it bent, powder face.”

“Powder face?” I repeat. “I get it. I’m a model. I wear makeup. I forgot you like to bully.”

“Aren’t you just as sharp as a marble?”

“Okay, Carter. Say whatever you want to make yourself feel better, but you know as well as I that she is only here and along for the ride because there are people that want to hurt you. This is all on you.”

“You know, that’s what I’ve heard about you. Too damn innocent and too damn above everyone else,” Carter says, sharply. “I wouldn’t have let her know about any of it. I’d have given myself up before anything happened.”

“Too late, old man,” I say. “My best friend was brutally murdered. Blood is on your hands that you can’t wash off.”

Carter grinds his teeth but quickly calms down, a grin taking over his features. “It’s not your fault you’re fucking clueless. At your age you think with your dick. If you had some perspective, you could admit that keeping Ella around is more important to you than keeping her alive.”

I bite my lip not wanting to be dragged into any more of his verbal combat. If he thinks he’ll throw me off my game with his vulgarity, he’s sorely mistaken. “You’ll be happy to hear that she hates me right now,” I say as a way of interrupting his hidden interrogation. It’s clear that this conversation was a premeditated prodding meant to test my feelings for Ella.

Carter shakes his head. “My daughter’s frustrations give me no joy.”

He produces two cigars from his pocket and offers me one. “I’m willing to accept that you love Ella. I can see you think you do. Let me tell you where things stand.”

I take the cigar and snap it in half, without even thinking, setting the pieces on the ashtray. Carter’s eyes follow my gestures intensely. It takes patience on his part not to blast me for wasting a perfectly fine cigar.

“I’m waiting,” I say. “Where do things stand?”