Ruthless Rival

"You are," Opal says. "You're better than he deserves."

Vanessa laughs. "She roasts you."

"She's right," I say.

Vanessa smiles. "I don't know. Simon has a lot of admirable qualities."

"It's the height again, huh?" Opal asks.

"He is tall. And handsome."

"And rich," Opal adds. "But you're rich too."

"Not in the same league," Vanessa says. "But I was thinking more… that he's thoughtful. Caring. Gentle."

"Sex?" Opal asks.

Vanessa laughs. "Aren't you tired of us talking about sex?"

"She wants what she can't have," I say.

"Probably," Vanessa says.

"No way!" Opal shakes her head. "I adore Vanessa. That's all."

"I'm glad. I think… if you said you didn't, that would change things for Simon," Vanessa says.

"But why would I say that?" Opal says.

"If you let your feelings for my sister…" Vanessa pulls her plain bagel from the bag and peels it apart. "She's mean when she's threatened. It's not personal. I promise."

"How am I a threat?" Opal asks.

"Are you kidding?" Vanessa laughs. "You're gorgeous."

"Oh." Opal blushes. "Is that really it?"

"Not all of it. But a lot," Vanessa says.

"That's kind of shallow," Opal says.

"It is," Vanessa says. "I won't defend Lee. She gives into her worst impulses. She's cruel to people who aren't part of her circle. But she's just as vicious for her friends."

"You like having someone mean on your side?" Opal asks.

"It sounds awful, but I do." Vanessa takes a long sip of her English Breakfast. "My head of security, Xavier, is the same. He's a lot like Simon. Quiet, thoughtful, patient. But he's extremely capable too."

"Simon isn't?" Opal asks.

"Are you?" Vanessa looks to me. "Capable of hurting someone?"

"If necessary," I say.

Her eyes fix on mine. "If it's not necessary?"

"Hasn't everyone considered that?" I've planned a million different types of revenge against Cole. Everything from destroying his company to taking his life.

I've imagined that a million times.

The visceral justice of my hands around his neck.

I can't tell Vanessa that. She'll never understand. Not with her history.

But I won't lie to her either.

"I've wanted to hurt people before," I say. "People who hurt me. Or my family. But I've never resorted to violence."

"Would you?" she asks.

Yes. "If it was the only option."

Her eyes stay fixed on me. She's thinking, hard, but I have no idea what the fuck it is that's going through her head.

Is she deeming me a monster?

Or declaring me perfectly normal?

We all have fucked-up thoughts.

But most of us don't investigate the risk of revenge.

The cost of ending the man who—

No. I can't go there. Not today. Not with Opal sitting next to me.

"I hope it never comes to that," I say. "But if someone was trying to hurt you or Opal, of course, I'd take action."

"Yeah, but could you actually hurt someone?" Opal asks. "Kill them?"

Without a second thought. "If necessary."

Concern flares in Vanessa's eyes. She pushes it aside. Tears a piece of her bagel.

"Really? You could kill someone with your bare hands?" Opal asks. "Or do you have a gun? You don't have a gun, do you?"

"No," I say.

"What if they had a gun?" she asks.

"Then I'd have to outsmart them," I say.

"Is the security for you?" Opal asks Vanessa. "Are you safe?"

"At the office. Sometimes, abusers come looking for people. We need someone tough. Our whole team is, but Xavier is the best. I trust him with my most delicate situations," she says.

"If you needed a bodyguard?" Opal asks.

"Or if a friend needed one," Vanessa says.

"No! Vanessa! Don't give Simon ideas." Opal looks to me. "See. He's already thinking it. He's going to send me to college with an armed escort. Ugh! We better stop discussing this before he asks for Xavier's number."

"Does it help he's handsome?" Vanessa asks.

Opal sticks her tongue out. "Maybe. If Simon is more worried I'll screw him than need his protection."

"Not commenting," I say.

"Am I going to be this annoying when I'm thirty-two?" Opal shakes her head. "Back to better questions." She holds up her bagel. "Favorite bagel?"

"Plain," Vanessa says.

"Favorite way to eat it? When Simon isn't insisting on a dairy-free life?" Opal asks.

Vanessa looks for something in my eyes. I'm not sure what it is, but she must find it, because she turns to Opal with a smile. "Plain."

"The same as Simon. Ugh." Opal takes a bite. "You're too good together."

"I'm a born and bred New Yorker. Anything else is sacrilege," Vanessa says.

"I am too," Opal says.

"You're special." Vanessa stage whispers, "Simon grew up on Long Island, so he…"

"Overcompensating?" Opal asks.

Vanessa nods. "Does he also claim New York pizza is the best?"

"Simon eating pizza?" Opal laughs. "I'll believe that when I see it."

"Right. The allergy. Sorry," Vanessa says.

"No. There's a ton of dairy-free pizza out there. But even at vegan restaurants, where there's no dairy in the entire place…" Opal shakes her head. "He still won't taste my pizza."

"The brunch place?" Vanessa asks.

"He grills the staff! Every time." Opal shakes her head. "Wait until one of your kids has an allergy. You'll hate it too."