Page 10 of Falling Into Forever
Survivors’ guilt is one that lasts a lifetime.
CHAPTER3
DANTE
“It’s been a long day, and I have no idea how this will go.”
I’m out of sorts. I may be known as Hollywood’s it-boy when it comes to solving public relations crises, but I’m not sure even I can salvage my reputation with the story they’re spinning.
Somehow, rubbing elbows with celebrities made me a celebrity in my own right, and now I’m experiencing the dark side of fame in a whole other light. It wasn’t ever supposed to be like this. I had no interest in the spotlight, but the spotlight found me just the same, and I was too young to fully flesh out the possible repercussions down the road.
When I was lonely and hurting, it was a boost to my ego to have people interested in me, even if it was originally via Trent. Now I wish I’d never shown my face.
“Why?” Lena asks.
“Because,” I say like a petulant child. My damn nerves are shot. I spare a quick glance at my driver in front of me, but thankfully, he stays focused on the road and not on my quickly spiraling life.
After reading Saylor’s book a few weeks ago, I started making plans. Schemes. A way to force my way back intoherlife because it’ll be a battle of wills. I wasn’t prepared to be called in as her knight in shining armor right when my world was imploding.
I’ve needed her since I was fifteen years old. I blew it once—I won’t do it again.
“Because why?” Lena prods, bringing the screen closer to her face. This is what I get for being best friends with a hairstylist. She has a sixth sense and has spent countless hours reading people. She could pry gold from a pirate’s hand if given enough time.
“Because she has no filter or self-preservation, for one. For two, she won’t be happy to see me. And three, because Trent and my client, if I can still call Olivia a client now, are spewing their stupidly concocted story all over the tabloids about my character and insinuating Poppy isn’t safe around me. And…” I don’t want to admit this, but it’s the only truth that makes sense. “It had to have been Trent who tipped off that reporter about Saylor and me. I was stupid to hold out hope there was enough kindness left in him not to drag Poppy or Saylor into this.”
He knows I have exactly two weaknesses. His daughter is one, and Saylor is the other. He all but made that threat in my office a month ago, didn’t he?
My own brother is trying to ruin me. We’re a fucking reality show.
I’ve spent the last six years keeping my nose clean and helping clients dig their way out of their shit. I should have known that one little threat against a lying, cheating, narcissistic brother could undo all my years of hard work.
“Connecticut isn’t so bad,” she says, and I lean my head against the car window.
“I don’t know, Lena. I’m back in the middle of bum-fuck country, and I have to trust Kate Gerard, of all people.” Thankfully we’re on the same team, because if Kate is half as ruthless as she was when she worked in public relations, she’s not someone I’d want as an enemy.
Me and Saylor. Two problems, one solution.
That’s why I dropped everything and agreed to come. I’ll do whatever it takes to save us both this time.
Nostalgia hits hard when I lean forward to peer out the windshield. “Poppy would love it here. It’s quiet, and kids are running all over town.”
Lena smiles into the screen. “I’m sure she would, but because of Trent, she’s stuck in the house for a while.”
I can’t hide the flinch. We’ve worked so hard to keep Poppy out of the spotlight. Even when Trent is plastered all over the news, we’ve made it our mission to protect our little girl.
Because yeah, sometimes I feel more like a father than an uncle. She means too much to me to allow Trent to deprive her of that kind of love, so I decided a long time ago that if he wouldn’t provide for her in every way, I would.
I swallow through the guilt as sights that still haunt my dreams come into view.
If Trent had been in his right mind, he never would have made up lies about his daughter like that. Until recently, the media had only speculated.
Is she Trent’s, or is she Dante’s love child?
Could she be their niece?
Are they raising her together?
Because we never confirmed anything, the public quickly lost interest in her. Acknowledging that she was Trent’s daughter would only have put her in harm’s way, so we remained silent.
