Page 74 of Forbidden Desires

I look at her, confused. I know Brody said there were some changes made because of a threat or something. Is this what he was talking about? “And you think it was Brody? Why would he do that?”

“Charles was my soul mate, you know. We met when I was just a seventeen-year-old working in reception over the summer. He was charming and charismatic, older. You know what I’m talking about. It’s what you see in Brody,” she tells me, like somehow our relationships are the same. “I fell in love with him instantly. And within a couple of months, I found out I was pregnant. My parents kicked me out, and I came to him for help. He gave me a job and assured me he would take care of me. And he did. Right up until the day Mrs. Alexander walked in on us in his office.”

I stare back at her in disbelief. She’s the one, the woman Brody’s dad was with the night his mother found them. She’s the reason his mother is dead. My heart aches for them all over again, knowing what they’re about to walk into.

“When she died, grief took him over, and instead of coming to me and letting us finally be a family and Mason have a dad, he pushed me away. I quickly realized how delusional I had been to believe his lies. I was only ever his bit on the side.

“After I left this place, I fell on hard times, and Victor came to my aid. He convinced Charles to send me money every week. He made sure Mason was provided for. It wasn’t until last summer that our paths crossed again. He could hardly believe his luck when I came to stay at the hotel and was looking better than ever. Whereas he had aged terribly, I had taken care of myself. Using the money he was sending me, I made sure my body waskept in perfect condition, with one thing on my mind. Getting revenge on him for how badly he hurt us. I know you’re not a parent, Gisele, but you must understand, a mother will do anything for her child.Anything.” Her crazy eyes lock on mine, and I believe her.

“So, you married him and convinced him to change his will to include Mason?”

“It wasn’t even hard.” She cackles. “I finally had everything I wanted.”

“It was what I was entitled to,” Mason agrees. “Why shouldn’t I have been included in the family business? I was family, after all.”

I look between them. They’re so unapologetic about all the manipulation. They both truly think they’re entitled to take whatever they want. Lana is an awful piece of work. She was sleeping with him for years, knowing he had a wife and kids. Brody’s father was just as bad. It’s disgusting, all of it. It’s Mason I kind of feel sorry for. He had to grow up without his father and a mother so narcissistic she thinks kidnapping and blackmail is normal. Our eyes meet, and he smiles at me, all charming. There’s something unstable about him as well; I can’t tell what he’s thinking, and it’s unnerving.

“You had to grow up without your father, that must have been so hard.” I try to talk to him on his level, hoping it might help my cause. I know I won’t be able to convince her to let me go, but maybe I can get through to him.

“Wasn’t so bad. He was a conceited jerk anyway. Who needs that in their life? I was better off without him,” he grumbles, but I can see his pain. He grew up in the shadows while Brody had the limelight, and the father. That must have killed him as a young boy.

“That’s right, Son, you are,” Lana agrees, kissing him on the cheek.

“So the two of you got him to agree to what you wanted, then you killed him? Was it poison?”

Lana’s eyes rake over me. “I can see why you like this one, Son. Maybe we should keep her.”

I shudder at the idea. What does that even mean?

Mason’s eyes land back on me. “Oh, I intend to.” He smirks, his eyes filled with a dark longing that makes me feel sick. His hand comes to my chin, and he forces me to look up at him. “I will keep you as my little pet, just so he can’t have you. All my life I’ve had to hear how wonderful Brody was. From my father, from my teachers at school, from football coaches, even from total strangers. Everyone in this town loves him. Now it’s my turn to have it all. This business will be mine. And so will you, sweetheart.”

I glare at him, disgusted that he thinks he can treat me like a possession. “You can’t force me to be with you,” I snap, my words dripping with contempt. I might be tied up and helpless, but I will never willingly agree to this.

His hands come to the arms of the chair, and he drops down to my level, staring right into my eyes. I blink back at him, trying not to give away how scared I really am. “That’s where you’re wrong. After tonight, I will have the power to do whatever I want.” He grins psychotically.

My chest heaves, the weight of his words bearing down on me. I need to get the fuck out of here. I wonder where Brody is. I haven’t heard from him since he went into that meeting with his uncle this morning, but surely, he has to be around here somewhere looking for me by now. Or Emerson, she must be worried. I should be running the ceremony as we speak. Someone will notice I’m missing soon.

Lana comes around behind him, placing her hand on his back. “Calm down, dear,” she says in a sweet motherly tone. He releases his grip on the chair and takes a few steps away fromme, running a hand through his hair, like he’s stressed. She has a crazy hold over him, even though he’s a grown man.

He begins to walk back and forth across the room. “He should be here by now. What’s taking him so long?” he asks her.

“He’s a little stressed, dear. You have to understand things have been tense since his father’s passing. At the will reading we found out that Mason had been wiped from the will entirely,” Lana continues explaining. “I have tussled with the lawyers over this for months, but it’s now time to take matters into my own hands. Don’t you think, Gisele?”

The crazy bitch is asking my opinion now? What fucking twilight zone am I in? “I think if you sit down with Brody and tell him what’s going on, I’m sure he will consider your requests. Neither he nor Emerson have any idea you’re their brother. They didn’t do this to you. Charles is the one who did this to you both, you should give the Alexanders a chance.”

She shakes her head. “No more chances. I guess his children will pay the price for his mistakes. It might not be fair, but that’s life.” She shrugs it off like it’s nothing.

A commotion starts outside. I can hear voices calling for me and banging on doors. I glance at Mason. His eyes tell me to keep my mouth shut, and he’s by my side within seconds covering my mouth. He drags me from the chair and holds me close to him, dropping his lips to my ear. “Be a good girl now and do as you’re told.”

“Oh, good, your boy has arrived. Now the real fun starts.” Lana rubs her hands together. Her story would have been touching, a little sad even, if she wasn’t now standing here with a gun pressed to my back. But somewhere along the way I think Lana has lost her mind, her son along with her, and I might just end up dead because of it.

Chapter 36

Brody

Iscreech into the parking lot of The Alexander and make a run for the conference center, needing to find Gisele. The room is set for a wedding, thedecorations perfectly in place. Bar staff are setting up, music plays through the room, but there is no sight of her.

Emerson catches up with me.

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