before. Over the years, anyone she met had treated her with kid gloves because of her familial connections. No one ever felt comfortable with Robert Naylor’s daughter.
Obviously, her new sister felt no intimidation whatsoever.
“Here, sit down.” She dragged a chair over to the side of the bed.
Cassandra just stared at her. Was she for real? Did she really expect them to sit down and talk about boys and giggle behind their hands like real sisters? Other than genetics, they had nothing in common.
Then again, what better way to learn about her enemies than to keep them close?
Taking a seat, Cassandra lifted her chin, her bound hands in her lap. Rachel sat down across from her.
“I’ve been waiting for a time to visit when my mother wasn’t here. I…” She shook her head with a grimace. “…just can’t stomach her right now.”
Cass could understand that. If her father had kept the truth from her like that, she’d be angry, too. As a matter of fact, he had kept the truth from her. He still claimed innocence on Riordan’s whereabouts.
“Thank God for Tris.” Rachel’s eyes held tears when she looked at Cass again. “He’s been wonderful through all of this.”
“Tristan Jacobs?”
Nodding, Rachel smiled for the first time since she entered the room. “Yes. We’re engaged.”
Cassandra glanced down at Rachel’s left hand. She had long, oval fingernails just like her.
“No ring yet.” She held up her hand. “He just proposed a few days ago. Things have been a little crazy.”
Understatement of the year. Rachel’s life had taken huge blows over the last few days but she’d found love despite it all. Cassandra felt alone, even though she and Dar were in this together. While he remained locked up and drowned himself in guilt, she had to keep things together. It was up to her to stay focused and get them out of this situation.
Rachel shook her head. “I’m sorry, I’m monopolizing the conversation. I guess I’m a little nervous.”
Cass sat back in her chair. “To be honest, I don’t know what to say or how to treat you. We’re on opposite sides of this situation. I can’t just forget everything and treat you like a long lost sister.”
Rachel lifted her chin. “You’re right. I could look at this situation the same way and decide that I want nothing to do with the Naylor family and all your father orchestrated over the years. But, what you’re forgetting is that my mother lied to me, too. So did my father – or, stepfather.”
She leaned forward, her arms on her legs. “Do you think I want a world-renowned criminal as my father? Do you think I want to claim a brother that kidnapped me and tried to shoot my mother?”
Cassandra knew her father and brother had been involved in illegal activities. She’d always tried to justify the weapons sales, the trade secrets, the government leaks by telling herself it could be worse. Dar had always told her they weren’t that bad because they’d stayed out of human trafficking and illegal drugs. But, Cassandra knew a sin was a sin, no matter how big or small.
It didn’t keep her from loving her family.
Rachel sat back in her chair and blew out a breath. “The only constant has been Aidan. He’s my brother and that can’t be taken from me. I know I can depend on him no matter what may arise. He’s responsible for starting this entire ball rolling.” She laughed to herself. “On second thought, I may have to kill him.”
“I wouldn’t mind teaming up with you on that one.”
Her gaze shot to Cassandra. “Why? What has he done?”
Driven her mad with longing, irritated her with his high-handed attitude, and kissed her with a fire that could melt steel.
Cassandra felt heat rise in her face. “Just his job.”
Rachel gave her a knowing smile. “Don’t kick yourself, Cassandra. My brother has had females flocking to him since middle school.”
Gee, thanks for making me feel so much better. Not.
“He’s a hothead, though.
Obviously, her new sister felt no intimidation whatsoever.
“Here, sit down.” She dragged a chair over to the side of the bed.
Cassandra just stared at her. Was she for real? Did she really expect them to sit down and talk about boys and giggle behind their hands like real sisters? Other than genetics, they had nothing in common.
Then again, what better way to learn about her enemies than to keep them close?
Taking a seat, Cassandra lifted her chin, her bound hands in her lap. Rachel sat down across from her.
“I’ve been waiting for a time to visit when my mother wasn’t here. I…” She shook her head with a grimace. “…just can’t stomach her right now.”
Cass could understand that. If her father had kept the truth from her like that, she’d be angry, too. As a matter of fact, he had kept the truth from her. He still claimed innocence on Riordan’s whereabouts.
“Thank God for Tris.” Rachel’s eyes held tears when she looked at Cass again. “He’s been wonderful through all of this.”
“Tristan Jacobs?”
Nodding, Rachel smiled for the first time since she entered the room. “Yes. We’re engaged.”
Cassandra glanced down at Rachel’s left hand. She had long, oval fingernails just like her.
“No ring yet.” She held up her hand. “He just proposed a few days ago. Things have been a little crazy.”
Understatement of the year. Rachel’s life had taken huge blows over the last few days but she’d found love despite it all. Cassandra felt alone, even though she and Dar were in this together. While he remained locked up and drowned himself in guilt, she had to keep things together. It was up to her to stay focused and get them out of this situation.
Rachel shook her head. “I’m sorry, I’m monopolizing the conversation. I guess I’m a little nervous.”
Cass sat back in her chair. “To be honest, I don’t know what to say or how to treat you. We’re on opposite sides of this situation. I can’t just forget everything and treat you like a long lost sister.”
Rachel lifted her chin. “You’re right. I could look at this situation the same way and decide that I want nothing to do with the Naylor family and all your father orchestrated over the years. But, what you’re forgetting is that my mother lied to me, too. So did my father – or, stepfather.”
She leaned forward, her arms on her legs. “Do you think I want a world-renowned criminal as my father? Do you think I want to claim a brother that kidnapped me and tried to shoot my mother?”
Cassandra knew her father and brother had been involved in illegal activities. She’d always tried to justify the weapons sales, the trade secrets, the government leaks by telling herself it could be worse. Dar had always told her they weren’t that bad because they’d stayed out of human trafficking and illegal drugs. But, Cassandra knew a sin was a sin, no matter how big or small.
It didn’t keep her from loving her family.
Rachel sat back in her chair and blew out a breath. “The only constant has been Aidan. He’s my brother and that can’t be taken from me. I know I can depend on him no matter what may arise. He’s responsible for starting this entire ball rolling.” She laughed to herself. “On second thought, I may have to kill him.”
“I wouldn’t mind teaming up with you on that one.”
Her gaze shot to Cassandra. “Why? What has he done?”
Driven her mad with longing, irritated her with his high-handed attitude, and kissed her with a fire that could melt steel.
Cassandra felt heat rise in her face. “Just his job.”
Rachel gave her a knowing smile. “Don’t kick yourself, Cassandra. My brother has had females flocking to him since middle school.”
Gee, thanks for making me feel so much better. Not.
“He’s a hothead, though.
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