Tempted

I cut her off. She’s rambling, and as much as I appreciate her struggle to make me feel better, I don’t need her to soften the blow. The damage has been done, and it was served on a silver platter courtesy of Bailey.

“It’s fine, Harper. If she doesn’t want to talk to me, it’s okay. As long as she’s going to be all right, I’ll survive.” I get up to head out, but Harper stops me.

“Drew, don’t go. She’ll come around. I think she just doesn’t want you to see her like this. She’s mortified. She says she doesn’t remember taking drugs. She swears she didn’t, but the tests don’t lie, and now she’s finally starting to understand that. She’s embarrassed.”

“I’m okay. Hopefully, she’ll come around. For now, I’m going to get going. I have some more arrangements to make for her relocation to Serenity Vista. Call if anything happens?”

“Of course.” She gives me a sobering stare. “Thank you so much for saving my sister.” She rushes forward and envelops me in a hug. I squeeze her back.

As soon as I hit the highway, I dial the club. Carter answers on the second ring. “Silver, how can I help you?”

“Carter, it’s Drew.”

“Man, how is she? I’ve been a wreck over here.”

“She’s doing all right. You’ll be able to see her tomorrow if you want.”

“Of course, I want to see her. I’m freaking out,” Carter barks.

“I know. Listen, can you do me a favor and hold down the fort tonight? I need to take a personal day.”

“You’re the boss. I’ve got everything under control over here. Some guy named Mathis called about an hour ago. He said he was returning your call.”

Shit. I hope that’s all he said. I haven’t had a chance to tell anyone my plans. He was supposed to call my cell.

Mathis is a guy I met in boarding school. I heard around town he was shopping buildings, looking to start a new club. He owns clubs around the world, so I reached out to him about buying Silver. The place is a money horse, and it would be a waste to sell to anyone else. There is no need for Mathis to have competition when I just want out. He’s a decent guy, and that’s what Silver needs.

He will pay top dollar, and the transaction will happen quickly and without hassle. The best part is that he has already agreed to keep all my staff. It’s a no-brainer. We just have some last-minute details to work out.

“Anything else?” I ask, hoping for a big no.

“That’s all. Oh, and Drew? Monica put in her resignation.”

I laugh at the pure audacity of that girl. “She was fired, Carter. There is no resignation. Can you make sure that if anyone calls for a reference for that girl, you tell them to call me directly?”

“Sure thing. Take it easy and kiss my girl for me.”

I hang up, completely wiped out. I’m so tired, but I have a lot of work to do. But first there is someone I need to see.

I pull up to the gated community of Long Cove. The attendant asks for my pass in which I advise him why I’m here.

“Name please?”

“Drew Lawson,” I say, knowing that my name is still on that list. Nobody ever updates their permanent visitor list unless there’s a stalking situation.

“Have a good day, Mr. Lawson.”

I drive up the road until I find 1680 Romalade Drive. It’s been some time since I’ve been here, and it was under very similar circumstances. This time, I plan to leave with a very different outcome.

Marla answers the door with a look of shock marring her face. “Drew. What can I do for you?”

“Hello, Marla. Can I come in?” My voice is not pleasant. This woman won’t even care what I have come for. She’s too concerned about herself to bother worrying about Reese.

“I just wanted to talk to you about Reese and getting him help.”

She just stares at me with a look of boredom.

“Why would you want to waste your time talking about something so pointless? Reese will never give up his drinking and drugs.”

The look of disgust must be evident on my face because she scoffs. “Come on, Drew. This is Reese we’re talking about. If Alexa’s death wasn’t enough to wake him up, he’s a lost cause,” she says flippantly.

“I think he needs help.”

“And what do you think I can do about it?”

God, I hate this wretched woman. I can understand why Reese is so fucked up. But as much as I want to tell her to go fuck herself, it’s not worth it.

“Well, I just thought you should know . . . He was involved—”

“I don’t care. I’m done with this conversation. We’re heading out to the Cayman Islands in two days. I have too much to do to worry about Reese.”