Stranded(49)

Maybe she wasn’t strong enough to be their woman, to deal with the lifestyle. She’d always think that they’d grow tired of her and move on, that she’d end up getting hurt somehow.

India was on the way to the kitchen to get something to drink when the telephone rang. Val was at work so it was either for her or a telemarketer. She looked at the phone and was surprised to see that the number belonged to her parents.

She picked up the receiver and placed it against her ear. “Hello?”

“India. I’m so glad you’re there,” her mother greeted, actually sounding genuinely pleased.

“Hi, Mom. How are you today?” she asked, bracing herself for the scathing comments to come.

“I was calling because your father and I are having a little get together at the house this Sunday, just a small dinner really, and we’d like for you to come.”

India sighed. “I’m not really in much of a mood for company. If you don’t mind, I think I’ll pass.” Plus she didn’t think she was up to dealing with a round of taunts and innuendoes from her parents.

“Please, India. We’ve invited a very important guest and we already said you would be there.”

“Why did you say that? I could have had plans?”

“Jack is coming home this weekend. I would think you’d at least want to see your brother.”

She didn’t want to in particular. Jack was just as verbally abusive as her parents except his comments were never subtle and always meant to cause the maximum amount of pain. “Mom, I’ll just have to see him another time.”

“Listen, you little ingrate. I went to a lot of trouble to get this dinner party together, and you will show up. This is no longer a request.” Leila’s words came out like a harsh command.

There was the woman India knew so well. “And if I don’t?” she challenged.

“Don’t be stupid. Be there at seven. No earlier and no later. And wear something nice.” Her mother hung up without giving her a chance to answer.

The sad thing was, India knew she’d end up going.





Stranded





Chapter Fifteen


Grant clutched the wheel in a near death grip as he tried to concentrate on the road. Almost there. In a few more minutes they would see India again. He’d called her the night before to say they would be down. Not able to go another night without seeing her, without being with her, he and Rafe agreed to make a visit.

After the week they had, this was a much needed get away. Besides, she needed to be warned about Angie. He couldn’t trust that woman as far as he could throw her, and even if they did give her the money, there was no guarantee she’d keep quiet. And who was to say she wouldn’t want more, and they would have to keep paying. The money wasn’t the issue. He’d gladly do it to get the bitch off his back and to ensure India didn’t come under fire.

“You haven’t said anything for the past hour. What’s on your mind?” Rafe broke into his thoughts.

“Probably the same thing that’s running through yours. I still can’t believe she would pull a stunt like this. She’s a snake, but I never thought she’d stoop so low.”

“Believe it. That woman is rotten to the core. I can’t think of one redeeming quality about her.”

Grant nodded in agreement. “It actually makes me sick to my stomach that I once wanted her.”

“You and me both. After she left my office, I had the cleaning crew come in to wipe the office down. It stank of her perfume. She spends money like it’s going out of style. Even when we were married, Angie was draining me dry. It wouldn’t surprise me if she’s gone through her settlement already. Too bad she hasn’t conned another sucker into paying for her expensive tastes.”

“I don’t mind about the money, but my fear is she’ll keep coming back for more, not to mention the fact she may get to India somehow.”

Rafe slammed his fist against the dashboard, his body shaking with visible anger. “If she fucking goes near India, it will be the last thing she does.”

“Easy, Rafe. When you told me what Angie was up to, I wanted to kill her myself, but there has got to be some way to thwart her. India has to be warned.”

Rafe shook his head. “No. I don’t want her to know. We can handle this ourselves, there’s no need to make her worry unnecessarily.”

“I understand your line of thinking, but if we’re all going to share our lives together, it’s only fair she be made aware of what’s going on. Somehow, I don’t think she’d appreciate us keeping something like this from her.”