Before Dark: Brothers after Dark Book 1 Read online

  “Are you sure you’re happy with him?” my father asks, eyeing me over the rim of his coffee cup. “We want you to be happy.”

  I give him an assuring nod. “I’m in love with him, Dad.”

  “Just because you’re in love doesn’t mean you’re happy. There are people who are in love, but they make each other miserable.”

  “Yes, sweetheart, love is not everything. But I could see last night that you’re happy together. I saw the way you looked at each other.” There’s no way Mom will let the opportunity to have Winston as her son-in-law pass her by.

  We finish breakfast, and on the way home I ask Dad if he’s sure about taking Winston’s money for his business. He tells me Winston is the answer to his prayers and that God works in mysterious ways. I don’t have the strength to pursue the topic, so I keep my mouth shut.

  Inside my childhood bedroom, I sit on the bed, observing my belongings. This room had always been my oasis, a place for me to recharge, my hiding place when life was unkind. The entire house in fact. Each time I crossed the threshold and breathed in the ever-present scents of vinegar—Mom’s favorite cleaner—and Dad’s Old Spice cologne, I felt instantly better.

  A knock on my door brings me back from memory lane. The door cracks open before I ask the person to enter.

  Heather appears in the doorway, wearing one of her many miniskirts and a tight tank top. Her long, curly, brown hair is wrapped in two French braids, as it has been since childhood.

  “Welcome home, sis.” Her face is bright with joy at seeing me. “I’m sorry I couldn’t make it to breakfast. I had to cover for someone from midnight till six.”

  “I’m surprised you’re still standing. You must be exhausted.” I pull her into the room and into my arms, holding her a little longer than necessary.

  “I had to come and see you,” she says when we break apart. “Mom can’t stop gushing about your gorgeous fiancé. He must be something.”

  “He is.” I curl my hands in my lap. “I think Mom and Dad think they hit the jackpot.”

  We both laugh. “That’s exactly how it sounded when I spoke to them.”

  Silence falls between us and then Heather asks me a question I’ve been dreading for days. “Why didn’t you tell me about him?”

  “I’m sorry. I was afraid you might not approve.” I cringe. “I was sleeping with my boss. I didn’t want you or anyone to think I was sleeping my way to the top.”

  Heather touches my arm and shakes her head. “I know you, Jenna. You’re not that kind of person. For you to do what you did, you must have been really drawn to him.” She pauses. “Now I want you to tell me the truth, okay?”

  I know what she will ask before the words leave her lips. I have already rehearsed the answer on my way home.

  “Is he the one? Is he really the one?”

  “I wouldn’t be marrying him if he weren’t the one.”

  “Sweetie, he’s a billionaire. It’s easy for him to sweep any girl off their feet, to make them fall in love with him. Money is sexy.”

  “I didn’t fall in love with him because of his money.” My voice is sharper than I intended.

  “I know.” She touches my arm gently. “I didn’t mean for it to come out that way. What I mean is, if he were someone else, someone with a different job and a different life, would you still be drawn to him?”

  “Yes, I’d be drawn to him.”

  “That’s good because I don’t want you to end up the way I did. Married for only a month.” She laughs.

  After high school graduation, Heather celebrated with a trip to Vegas with one of her best friends. When she returned three days later, she was married to someone she had known for a night. Our parents were horrified and immediately relieved when the marriage was annulled thirty days later. It turned out the guy had also realized he’d made a mistake. The scandal had followed Heather for quite a while, though. But like everything else, it eventually died.

  “By the way, just so you know, as I was arriving here, I saw Rob’s car outside. Before he could get out of the car, Dad went out to meet him.”

  “Oh no, what was he doing here?”

  “According to Dad, he wanted to talk to you. He’s been telling everyone around town that he wants you back.”

  My heart sinks. “I don’t want him back. He cheated on me with his ex-girlfriend.”

  “True. I don’t think he deserves you.”

  “Is he still outside?”

  “No, Dad sent him away.” Heather stifles a giggle. “With the help of his rifle.”

  “Oh my God, no.” I find myself giggling as well.

  “As he was chasing him away, I heard him tell Rob that you have moved on and he should do the same.”

  “Of course he did.” I can’t help smiling.

  I lean into my sister again, feeling content. As much as I want to tell her about my doubts concerning my upcoming wedding, I choose not to. I want to enjoy this moment with my sister before the storm of wedding planning hits.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Winston

  “Where the hell is she, dammit?” My face heats up as I glare at Angelia as if it’s her fault. “Have you tried calling her again?”

  “Several times,” she says, twisting her hands. “I keep getting voicemail.”

  I drop into my desk chair and pull out my phone. I dial Jenna’s number again after calling her so many times already this morning. I get voicemail as well. What the fuck?

  “I can keep trying, if you like.”

  “Yes, keep trying. I want you to get her on the phone as soon as possible.”

  “No problem. As soon as I get hold of her, I’ll let you know.”

  “Thanks, Angelia.” I do my best to soften my voice.

  As soon as she leaves my office, I rise from the chair and move to the window, staring out at the city of New York, but not seeing it because my eyes are clouded by anger.

  Jenna had planned on returning to New York this evening and I wanted to send the private plane to get her. Instead, she didn’t pick up my calls since last night or return any of them. What the hell is going on?

  I sit down again and call one more time. I’m starting to feel like some kind of stalker right now. Unable to handle the suspense any longer, I call her parents’ home. It’s a good thing I had asked her for the number. No one picks up.

  As soon as I hang up, Travis calls. I’m not in the mood to talk to him, especially after what he did last time. But I do need to transfer my anger to someone else before I blow up.

  “Why do you sound so pissed off?” he asks.

  “Don’t you think after what you did last time, I have the right to be?”

  “I didn’t lay a hand on her, man.”

  “But you were about to. I want you to stay away from her. In fact, I want you out of my life for good.”

  “So, you’re turning your back on your brother?”

  “I don’t even know whether I can call you my brother anymore. You don’t act like a brother.”

  “Come on, Winston. There’s nothing you can do to separate me from you. We are a family whether you like it or not.”

  “Why are you calling, Travis? What do you want? The money I promised you is already in your account. You’re getting nothing more from me.”

  “You think this phone call is about money?” he scoffs. “It might surprise you, but I’m actually calling to apologize. You were right. I was kind of an ass. Sometimes I can’t help it. I actually thought I was doing you a favor.”

  “What the fuck do you mean by that?” I massage my temple in circles.

  “I was testing to see if she’s the one for you. If she can be trusted. If she had fallen for my charm, you would have known she’s not the one. Remember what happened with the model?”

  “Jenna is not her. She’s different. I trust her.”

  “I believe that now and I’m truly sorry. I was being a jerk. I promise to try harder next time we meet for dinner or lunch.” He pauses. “Thi
s time, go ahead and pick a fancy restaurant. I will not embarrass you or myself.”

  “Dinner with you?” I laugh out loud. “Hell, I don’t even want you at my wedding anymore.”

  “You can’t be serious.” His voice is hard now.

  “I am serious. I don’t know if I can trust you around my fiancée or my business partners.”

  “You’re my fucking brother. I deserve to be at your wedding.”

  “No.” I snap a pencil with my hands. “I make the choice of who comes to my wedding and who doesn’t.”

  “I think your anger has nothing to do with me. I kind of get the feeling that not everything is fine in your little bubble of romance.”

  There are disadvantages to having a twin brother. Reading my mind is one of them.

  When I don’t respond, he laughs. “I’m right, ain’t I?”

  Before I speak, I pull out a drawer and take out a bottle of painkillers. I open it and pop a pill into my mouth, swallowing it down without water.

  “What’s going on, bro?” he asks.

  “You’re wrong,” I lie. “Everything is great.”

  “I can read the lies in your words.”

  I suck in a breath. “Fine, it could be better, but it’s none of your business.”

  “Come on, I want to be there for you. What happened?”

  I don’t know what gets into me, but I find myself telling him everything. “She was supposed to come back today, but I haven’t been able to reach her since last night.”

  “Sounds to me like she doesn’t want to speak to you. That’s what you get for letting a woman have all the freedom. You should have insisted she come with you.”

  “What did you want me to do, drag her to New York by force?”

  “If you had to. If you want to be in control as a husband, you have to lay down the rules before you even get married.”

  “You want me to rule over her?”

  “From what you told me, you already are. You just don’t know it yet. You love the power of having control over a woman, just like I do.”

  “I’m nothing like you, Travis.”

  “You can keep telling yourself that. It doesn’t make it true. We are very much alike, you and I. There’s a dark side to both of us. The only difference is that I don’t hide my darkness like you do.”

  “I would never do the things you do. I would never hit a woman.”

  “Tell me that after you’ve been married for five or ten years when your wife emasculates you.”

  “This phone call is over,” I say sharply. “I have to go.”

  Before he can say anything else, I drop the phone on him and call Jenna’s home again. I still don’t get anyone to pick up the phone.

  Furious, my palm meets the surface of my desk hard and fire spreads across my skin. I clench my hand into a fist and press it against my forehead before shooting out of the chair and going back to the window.

  My phone rings, startling me. I grab it, my heart thumping in my throat.

  “Angelia, did you get her?”

  “No, but I wanted to confirm your meeting with Lorenzo Sabiro for ten o’clock.”

  “I want you to push it to tomorrow.”

  “You’ve got it.”

  After the call, I contact the wedding planner, in search of another distraction.

  “Thanks for calling, Mr. Slade. I was calling your fiancée like you told me to, but I’m unable to reach her.”

  “She’s a bit busy right now. But I’ll arrange for you to meet her tomorrow.”

  “Excellent. I also wanted to confirm the colors. Are you still going with all white with a few splashes of gold?”

  “That’s right.” I stretch my legs out under the table, then cross them at the ankles. “Have you added my fiancée’s parents and sister to the guest list?”

  “Yes, I have.”

  “Good. That’s all the people who are coming to the wedding.”

  “Anyone else from your wife’s side? Friends or relatives?”

  “No. My friends are her friends.”

  She hesitates briefly. “Okay. Anything else you wanted us to discuss?”

  “I want white roses. White roses and candles everywhere at the reception hall.”

  “Done.” I can hear the sound of her typing. “I have arranged for a wedding cake tasting. I was also hoping to reach your fiancée to see when she has time.”

  “That’s not necessary. I trust your taste. I already sent you an email telling you which cake we’re going for from the photos you sent me by email.”

  When the wedding planner doesn’t respond for a while, my short nails dig into the palm of my left hand. “Are we on the same page?”

  “Yes...I was wondering if I should run any of this by your fiancée.”

  “No need. I already discussed everything with her. She’s all for it.” I pause. “You no longer have to call her to confirm.”

  “Perfect. Looks like this is going to be the easiest wedding I’ve ever planned.”

  “I’m a busy man, Miss Miller. I make decisions fast.”

  “I can see that.” I can hear the smile in her voice. “I’ll send you a copy of the invitation so you can have a final look.”

  “I have to say I’m impressed by your speed and attention to detail. I appreciate that.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Slade. I’m really honored to be planning this wedding for you. I’ll make sure it’s the most beautiful event of the year.”

  “It better be. I want the best for my fiancée. Money is not an option.”

  “You gave me a budget, and I will stick to it.”

  “Double it.” What’s a couple of hundred grand for a spectacular event that Jenna will never forget?

  Once everything is settled, we end the call and I continue to pace the office from one wall to the other. Finally, I sit down and call Marion.

  “I need you to get the plane ready.”

  “Give me the time and I will be ready,” he says.

  “Be ready by this evening. We’re going back to Misty Cove.”

  I have a feeling that the reason Jenna is not picking up my calls is because she decided to stay another day with her family. If she won’t return on her own, I’m going to bring her back.

  Maybe Travis was right and I should make it clear to her what I will and won’t tolerate in a marriage.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Jenna

  “Jenna, it’s so nice to see you back in Misty. It’s good to see an old friend.” Jane Smith, a red-headed woman I had gone to school with, throws herself into my arms. She smells of cinnamon, like Christmas. When she pulls back, she gives me a bright smile. Her bright orange lipstick is quite distracting.

  Jane was a popular, straight A scholar, who fell pregnant two years before graduation and quit school soon after to work side by side with her mother at The Shake, the only milkshake bar in Misty.

  “Thanks, Jane. It’s great to be back.” I throw a quick glance at Heather, who’s looking away to hide a grin. She knows that Jane and I had never been friends. In fact, Jane used to be the leader of the little gang that bullied me in school, calling me the ugly duckling. It was no surprise that when she left, the bullying stopped. But the past is the past and we were both kids at the time.

  “We hear New York is treating you well,” someone calls out from one of the pink and white tables. “How wonderful that one of us is going to be a billionaire.”

  More people chime in at how thrilled they are for me. People have been congratulating me all day. Although I appreciate their well-wishes, they keep mentioning Winston’s billions, making me feel like a gold digger.

  I have to say it’s been a while since I saw Misty this excited. Gary from the magazine stand even thanked me for bringing him more business than he’s had in years. Apparently all magazines with me and Winston gracing the cover are flying off the shelves.

  “Come on.” Heather takes my arm and pulls me to a table in a far corner, next to a large, dusty, fake pl
ant that looks incredibly real. The only reason I know it’s fake is because a few years ago I pinched it and it didn’t break or bleed.

  Heather leans in. “I had to get you away before they begged you for money.”

  We both burst out laughing, and when Jane comes to serve us, we give her our orders. In the past, she used to serve her favorite customers first. Sometimes she made us wait for a full thirty minutes before she came to our table. Other times we left before she even got to us. Now it seems we have been upgraded to VIPs.

  “Ladies, I’ll wrap in an extra dash of cream in both your shakes.” Her smile is so big her makeup cracks at the corners of her eyes.

  “That’s awfully kind of you, Jane,” Heather says, her voice carrying a faint sarcastic tone. “Thanks.”

  “Anything for you guys.” She walks away, hips swaying from side to side inside her tight miniskirt.

  “I can’t believe how much she’s changed,” I say, folding my pink napkin in half.

  “Yes.” Heather lowers her voice. “She used to be a complete bitch to you. She’s lucky we still come here.”

  “We couldn’t stay away from The Shake if we tried.” I can’t even count how many hours me and Heather used to spend inside our rooms promising each other that we would not set foot in The Shake again. Those promises always died with a glance through The Shake’s windows at the happy customers sipping away on their creamy dreams.

  “You’re right about that.” Heather removes the napkin from my hand and weaves her fingers through mine. “You always fold napkins when you’re nervous. What’s going on? I brought you here to celebrate your engagement, but you don’t look like someone who just got engaged to a billionaire.”

  “It’s not about the money, Heather.” I fold my arms across my chest. “I’m not marrying him for money. It’s not my money, it’s his.”

  “I know, love. I’m joking, and you are reacting to everything. What’s going on?” Her hazel eyes bore through me, searching for answers. “And don’t you dare lie to me, Jenna Elizabeth.”

  I slide my hand out of her grip and rub my temples to ward off a headache that has been plaguing me since I woke up this morning. “I don’t really know. You’re right that I should be excited.”