The Missing Heir(116)

                “The truth is the truth, Cole. Like I said back then, you don’t                     need to worry. I won’t be dropping by Alaska to bother you.”

                “Will you hear me out?”

                “I don’t think so.”

                “For Zachary’s sake, will you please hear me out?”

                “Are you taking him away from me?”

                “I’m taking him to Alaska, yes. But—”

                “Then there’s nothing more to say, is there?”

                There was plenty more to say. But he could see that this was                     pointless. Maybe they could talk in a few days. Or maybe he should be patient                     and let things settle.

                Zachary had to be his priority just then. And the Cambridge                     deal needed his immediate attention. He also needed to get back to Aviation 58.                     He couldn’t stay away any longer.

                He didn’t want to wait to square this with Amber, but maybe it                     was for the best. She wasn’t going to listen to him right now.

                “I’m trying hard not to hurt you,” he told her.

                She moved for the door, her voice stone flat. “So nice that you                     at least tried.”

                * * *

                Amber was never going to forgive Cole Henderson, and                     she’d probably never forgive herself. He and Zachary had been gone for nearly a                     week, and she’d rehashed every minute of the past month inside her head trying                     to figure out where she went wrong, and how she could have so thoroughly                     misjudged him.

                “I should have realized,” she told Destiny.

                “Realized what?” Destiny was across the table from her at                     Bacharat’s. It was Friday night, and the last thing Amber wanted to do was go                     back to the empty penthouse.

                “I should have realized that with this much money at stake, all                     men would be ruthless.”

                Destiny toyed with her martini for a moment. She started to                     speak then stopped herself.

                “What?” Amber asked.

                “Don’t shoot the messenger.”

                “Are you actually going to defend him?”