the big guns to intimidate me.” Danny stepped back.
The doorbell rang and he ran to get the pizza. He set the large pie out on the counter.
“Want a slice?” he offered.
I peered suspiciously at the big name chain that made generic pizza. “No thanks. Carbs? You?” Mocking him was half the fun of being the sister-in-law.
“I’m out of a job so I’m stress eating.” He grabbed a slice, folded it, and started chewing.
“Well, I’m not here to hurt you. I’m just concerned for my sister.”
“I could call my lawyer and tell him you’re trying to pressure me in the settlement. Community property is the law so he says I get half.” Danny didn’t make a move for his cell phone lying on the kitchen table. Instead he went for slice number two.
“I’m not a lawyer or here about the settlement. Honestly I don’t care how you two divide up your mansion contents. Marriages don’t always work—people change and they grow apart.”
It’s what the teachers told me when my dad walked out. I broke down in tears one day at school. The funniest part was I wasn’t upset, I was really relieved. But I let them think what they wanted.
Fear and anger were emotions I’d learned to channel by then. The absence of fear freaked me out for a little while. My sister would not live in fear if I could help it.
“You don’t hurt her, I won’t hurt you,” I said.
“So why are you here?” He dropped a half-eaten slice back into the cardboard box. “I told her I wouldn’t bother her anymore. I tried, okay, but I’m done. I swear.”
Was there something my sister hadn’t told me? I got that tingle of sisterly secrets. “What? What were you bothering her about?”
“Getting back together—I tried it a few times. I screwed up, okay? Her career got so big and I was stalled. Everyone loves her. So I got drunk and stupid one night at a buddy’s party.” Danny grabbed a bottle of beer from his fridge and chugged it.
“So you’re the stalker,” I smiled.
It added up. He knew about the side door on the garage. When I left Vegas I’d hoped this would be a one or two day job rather than something that dragged on and on like most of my sister’s drama.
“What? Stalker? No!” He slammed the bottle down. “What’s going on?”
“She’s received some disturbing threats. Nothing physical yet, but if you’re behind it—you’ll pay. I don’t care what the lawyers, LAPD, or anyone says. You’ll answer to me.” I stepped into his personal space and glared. “And I don’t care about consequences. There’s no I’d answer to that my ex can’t get to and smooth over. So you’re in danger of me putting you in the hospital.”
Danny swallowed hard. He knew I’d make good on any threats. His character on the soap tried karate once and I’d shown him a few moves. He knew exactly what I could do without a gun.
“I’m not threatening her. I wanted her back, not hurt or scared.”
My gaze stayed locked on his and damn it, I believed him.
“People get crazy in divorces and your career is suffering. Are you sure your agent or lawyer didn’t hire someone to mess with her for your benefit? Your career and hers aren’t hurt by all the tabloid ink.” I had to be sure.
He shook his head. “I haven’t seen the stalker thing in the press.”
“I meant the divorce. We’re trying to keep the stalker out of the news so I can find the criminal quick and quiet. But your divorce just started. Maybe you’re getting what you want out of this. The news won’t hurt your prospects and I can’t completely stop the news.”
He shook his head. “You’re jumping to a lot of conclusions, Helena.”
“I’m following a lead, so prove me wrong. Check with your agent and lawyer to make sure no one is orchestrating a Hollywood stunt to help you.”
Danny’s eyes narrowed. “You really think I’d let that happen?”
“I think your agent or lawyer could pull the strings behind your back. No physical harm but a
The doorbell rang and he ran to get the pizza. He set the large pie out on the counter.
“Want a slice?” he offered.
I peered suspiciously at the big name chain that made generic pizza. “No thanks. Carbs? You?” Mocking him was half the fun of being the sister-in-law.
“I’m out of a job so I’m stress eating.” He grabbed a slice, folded it, and started chewing.
“Well, I’m not here to hurt you. I’m just concerned for my sister.”
“I could call my lawyer and tell him you’re trying to pressure me in the settlement. Community property is the law so he says I get half.” Danny didn’t make a move for his cell phone lying on the kitchen table. Instead he went for slice number two.
“I’m not a lawyer or here about the settlement. Honestly I don’t care how you two divide up your mansion contents. Marriages don’t always work—people change and they grow apart.”
It’s what the teachers told me when my dad walked out. I broke down in tears one day at school. The funniest part was I wasn’t upset, I was really relieved. But I let them think what they wanted.
Fear and anger were emotions I’d learned to channel by then. The absence of fear freaked me out for a little while. My sister would not live in fear if I could help it.
“You don’t hurt her, I won’t hurt you,” I said.
“So why are you here?” He dropped a half-eaten slice back into the cardboard box. “I told her I wouldn’t bother her anymore. I tried, okay, but I’m done. I swear.”
Was there something my sister hadn’t told me? I got that tingle of sisterly secrets. “What? What were you bothering her about?”
“Getting back together—I tried it a few times. I screwed up, okay? Her career got so big and I was stalled. Everyone loves her. So I got drunk and stupid one night at a buddy’s party.” Danny grabbed a bottle of beer from his fridge and chugged it.
“So you’re the stalker,” I smiled.
It added up. He knew about the side door on the garage. When I left Vegas I’d hoped this would be a one or two day job rather than something that dragged on and on like most of my sister’s drama.
“What? Stalker? No!” He slammed the bottle down. “What’s going on?”
“She’s received some disturbing threats. Nothing physical yet, but if you’re behind it—you’ll pay. I don’t care what the lawyers, LAPD, or anyone says. You’ll answer to me.” I stepped into his personal space and glared. “And I don’t care about consequences. There’s no I’d answer to that my ex can’t get to and smooth over. So you’re in danger of me putting you in the hospital.”
Danny swallowed hard. He knew I’d make good on any threats. His character on the soap tried karate once and I’d shown him a few moves. He knew exactly what I could do without a gun.
“I’m not threatening her. I wanted her back, not hurt or scared.”
My gaze stayed locked on his and damn it, I believed him.
“People get crazy in divorces and your career is suffering. Are you sure your agent or lawyer didn’t hire someone to mess with her for your benefit? Your career and hers aren’t hurt by all the tabloid ink.” I had to be sure.
He shook his head. “I haven’t seen the stalker thing in the press.”
“I meant the divorce. We’re trying to keep the stalker out of the news so I can find the criminal quick and quiet. But your divorce just started. Maybe you’re getting what you want out of this. The news won’t hurt your prospects and I can’t completely stop the news.”
He shook his head. “You’re jumping to a lot of conclusions, Helena.”
“I’m following a lead, so prove me wrong. Check with your agent and lawyer to make sure no one is orchestrating a Hollywood stunt to help you.”
Danny’s eyes narrowed. “You really think I’d let that happen?”
“I think your agent or lawyer could pull the strings behind your back. No physical harm but a
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