Stealing Her (Covet 1)

Izzy took a deep breath. “I’m sorry for just calling like this. It’s just, I walked in, he was saying I love you, and—”

“Oh, sweetheart, don’t blame Brid—I mean Julian, for that. It was too painful to bring up. On top of that, his father never wanted the public to know about me, especially now that I’m dying.”

Izzy put her hand on her chest. “Is there anything we can do? The doctors in the city are the best. I volunteer at Manhattan Grace. I can call someone and—”

“No, honey, I have the best care now thanks to, thanks to Julian and to Edward. I’m sorry for keeping this secret, but sometimes it’s the best when it comes to a high-profile family. Sadly.” And she sounded sad, like she understood that she was sacrificed in a cruel way, because she was forgotten, by everyone but me.

And apparently now my brother.

I wish I had known.

Maybe the hatred wouldn’t have run so deep.

Maybe I wouldn’t have been so hell-bent on agreeing. Then again, there was nothing I wouldn’t do for Mom.

I felt conflicted.

Like I was stealing his life without knowing all the facts, and I wondered what he would do if he was in my position. Would he be the bastard I’d always believed him to be? Or would he try to make it right? Would he kiss my fiancée?

I ran my hands through my hair, not realizing that Mom and Izzy were both giving me funny looks. “Sorry, just thinking.” I flashed a smile I didn’t feel. I could see the sadness in my mom’s eyes, because she knew the toll this was taking on me even though I didn’t admit it. I was never brought up to be a liar.

And that’s exactly what I was doing.

Every day.

Lying to get money.

Tennyson through and through.

“Thank you for answering,” Izzy said softly, and the inflection in her voice rang true. Odd that I would know that about her already, that when she said thank you in that voice it meant she truly was thankful.

“I’m sure this won’t be the last time,” Mom said cheerfully, and just like I knew the meaning behind Izzy’s tone, I knew the warning behind my mom’s.

My gut twisted because this, this was what my mom had always wanted, for me to settle down, for her to know that when she left this earth I had someone by my side.

It killed me to think she might die watching her son live a lie.

Chapter Twenty-One

ISOBEL

I was furious when I’d heard him say “I love you” to someone else. He hadn’t said that to me in . . . I refused to count because it was depressing thinking about how long it had been since he’d looked into my eyes and said those words, the words I needed so desperately to hear.

And then to find out he’d been talking to his mom.

I still felt betrayal and anger, but I at least could understand why he would keep her a secret from the press. I just couldn’t get over him keeping it from me.

“Why?” I crossed my arms. “Why hide something this huge?”

“Izzy . . .” Julian let out a rough exhale and mimicked my movements, crossing his arms and leaning against the sink. “My father . . . let’s just say things didn’t end well between them when I was a teen. I know it’s not possible, but I blame him for her sickness. I always thought that when he broke her heart he also broke something inside her, making her weak enough to get sick. The truth is—” He looked angry in that moment and cursed furiously, then locked eyes with me. “The truth is, he didn’t want anyone to know about her because it would make him look bad, that would make the Tennyson family look bad. He’s been remarried three times, which seems to escape his notice when it comes to having a stellar reputation. And I made my mom a promise when I was fourteen. To always keep her safe. And sometimes keeping people safe means pretending they don’t exist.”

My heart slammed against my chest. “Julian, pretending someone doesn’t exist doesn’t make their existence any less true.”

“I know that, don’t you think I know that?” He moved toward me, his eyes angry, his muscles straining against his simple white T-shirt. He was predatory in a way I’d never experienced before, aggressive. “But you know how this family is, sometimes you aren’t given a choice. I did the best I could with her . . .” He sighed. “And with you.”

“Ohhh, so you cheated on me all those times to protect me, gotcha,” I snapped.

His face fell.

I looked away. “Sorry, you didn’t deserve that. I’m just . . . I’m processing.”

“Yes, I did deserve that, and I know it’s a lot to take in,” he whispered sadly. “I need you to keep it to yourself, though, Izzy. My father may be paying for her treatments right now, but anything could set him off, and we have the buyout papers to sign and the wedding and who the hell knows if Ju—”