Page 25 of For Her
“I’ll cut right to it, Jack. He’s doing an exclusive tell-all interview with Kassandra Morgan.” He’s talking about a national news TV host that has made herself a household name with her high-profile interviews on her night show.
With that, I withdraw my hand from the fridge and close it.
“Fucking- A,” I grumble, as I open the cabinet beside the fridge and pull out a bottle of Johnnie. “What the fuck does that scumbag have to tell?” I ask, as I set my phone down so I can untwist the cap.
“Apparently, his side of the story,” Ron answers flatly. “I know…” he says when I snatch the phone up to give him a heated look. “But, Jack, we will only make ourselves look worse if we try to stop this. David has advised that we go about business as usual, and I agree with him. As far as the world is concerned, this doesn’t affect you guys because you know the truth, and you’re secure in it.”
I knock back the finger of scotch I just poured and let it blaze a trail down my throat to my gut while I let that concept sink in. Fuck. He’s right, I realize, as I let out a weighted sigh.
“I know this is fucked up and comes as a blow, but it’s the way it is, and you need to be careful about how you react.”
I reluctantly nod my head while I will my blood to stop bubbling through my veins. But it’s now that another thought hits me.
“Have you talked to Matt?” I ask Ron, because Eli’s skeezy behavior didn’t start with Mayzie. He dated my sister a long time ago before he made it big, and when he decided he wanted to sign with us, he knew he couldn’t with her around so he got rid of her, by blackmailing her in the most vile ways and at the lowest levels. It cost us over a year with her, and it wasn’t until Mayzie participated in a sting with the NYPD that exposed him that she felt safe enough to come back to us… and Matt.
“I’m calling him next. I wanted you guys to hear it from me so that you can be prepared. No matter whose side people are on, this is going to spark a frenzy with the media. Some viewers will side with him simply because they feel like hating, but we all know who the majority already believes, and like every major story, it will blow over.”
I nod along as I feel the scotch start to dull my nerves.
“And how you react will make a difference, Jack, because you know this is his last-ditch effort at saving face, but you damn well know a small part of him is hoping for a reaction from you and your family. Don’t give it to him.” His voice is direct and stern yet has a papa bear quality to it.
“I know,” I say after a moment, and blow a huge breath out that vibrates my cheeks. “I guess I have to go talk to my wife now. You’ll call Matt?”
“Immediately,” he assures me with a sincere look in his brown eyes.
“Thanks,” I say before I sign off. This is going to warrant a family meeting later, after Matt and Melanie have been filled in.
I put the bottle of scotch away and head for the living room where I find Mayzie sitting on her yoga mat over by the picture window. She’s sitting up straight with her knees butterflied out with a hand resting on one while the other lies on top of her growing belly. Her eyes are closed, her face relaxed, she’s breathing slow and deep and looks zen as fuck.
Dammit. I really hate to ruin that, but I can’t put off telling her. She probably should have heard it from Ron at the same time I did, but then she and I would have been freaking out together. This way I could get a grip and then let her hear it from me, and I can help her through it.
“Hi, Baby,” I gently announce my presence and her eyes open, lit up by a warm smile when she sees me. God, I love that smile. It’s going to suck to take it off her beautiful face.
“Hi,” she unwinds her legs and holds out her hands, giggling. “Help me up?” My heart squeezes and I feel a smile of my own as I take her hands in mine and pull her to her feet. I lean in to give her a little kiss and she backs away.
“Oh, Jack,” her hand comes up to cover her nose and mouth.
“What?” I ask, totally confused.
“You smell like a distillery,” she muffles behind her hand.
“What? I only had one shot.” She has the nose of a fucking bloodhound these days.
“In the middle of the afternoon?”
“Yeah, there was-”
“Baby, I’m sorry but I’m going to gag,” she warns, backing away further.
“Okay, sorry. Just stay right there, okay?”
I dash up the stairs to our bedroom and grab mouthwash from our bathroom and swish it around while I change my shirt for good measure. I then race back down the stairs to find my girl still standing in the living room, her face now anxiously curious. I take her in my arms and hold her to me.
“Better?” I ask, as she presses her face to my chest and breathes in deeply.
“Mmm… much. Now, why were you hitting the Johnnie?” she asks as she looks up quizzically.
“Baby, I got some pretty messed up news I need to tell you, but it’s just a speed bump, okay?” A speed bump that’s on fire with spikes all over it and rabid Dobermans running circles around it.