Page 3 of Secrets (The Sins Trilogy 2)
Finally, her coughing fit subsides, and she looks up at me, her gray eyes glassy. “Tony?” she whispers dazedly.
Thank God.Tears of relief spring to my eyes, and I blink them away as I pull her into my arms. “I’m right here, Iris. I’m right here.”
I feel her small body tremble, and bitter self-recrimination spreads through me like poison. I screwed up. Again. One step too late. How long has Sam been pushing her into the water and dragging her back out, just to do it again? Nausea starts in my gut, leaving a sour tang in my mouth, but I hold it together. There’s no time for weakness. Iris comes first. She always comes first.
“Tony…” She looks up at me, her pupils wide. Her lips are bloodless. Just hours ago, she told me, “Love you,” with those sweet lips, her eyes bright and tender.
Oh, Iris, my heart.
“I…” She goes limp.
“Iris!” I put a shaking hand on her cheek. Why the hell is she so cold? And pale? “Iris!”
“What the hell are you doing here, Anthony?” Sam demands.
I glance in his direction. He’s finally made it around to this side of the pool.
Underneath the anger are frayed nerves he’s desperately trying to hide. His face is ashen, his hand clenched around a towel.
Murderous rage erupts in my chest. I want to beat the shit out of him for hurting Iris. I want to break him the way he tried to break her—shove his face into the water and hold it there, make him feel the terror of drowning.
But right now, Iris needs me.
I pick her up. She’s too light, one of her arms dangling loosely. Swallowing my anger and panic, I start to walk past Sam.
He blocks my way. “She and I have unfinished business.”
“Get out of my way!” I try to move around him again.
The asshole stays in front of me, his arms spread. “She’s my niece!”
I bare my teeth, ready to rip him to pieces. I won’t even have to put Iris down to kick this fat, red-faced moron’s ass.
“Enough!” One sharp word cracks the air, the voice high-pitched and cold.
Coiled for action, I look up and see a pale Elizabeth standing at the French doors with her Russian hound.
Sam licks his lips. “Elizabeth.”
“So. This is what the donation was really about.”
They can hash out the money problem later. I start to walk away.
Elizabeth turns to me. “Tony—”
I don’t bother to slow down. Elizabeth is a great actress, just like her brother. Her entire family, including her, thrives on drama—from sex tapes to crazy “marry for inheritance” gossip to over-the-top public declarations of love. I have no patience for any of it right now.
She follows. The Russian moves toward me, but she raises a hand to stop him. “Tony, please. Listen—”
“I’m done with you. If you wanted to get back at me, you should’ve taken a shot at me. You and your freaking family… I should’ve known better.”
“I swear I didn’t know!”
TJ is holding the door to the Cullinan open. “None of that matters,” I say coolly. “Iris is hurt, so none of that matters.” I deposit Iris on the back seat and get in after her.
“Now what?” TJ says the second he’s behind the wheel.
“Home.” I pull Iris tighter toward me. “Get Dr. Young to meet us there.”
“Should send a driver. That woman drives like a slug.”
Right. She’s a brilliant doctor, but a stickler for rules and refuses to drive a mile over the speed limit. “Tell Wei to pick her up.”
