“No. He was at Kaitlyn Moore’s... and I know, I shouldn’t have, but I went over there because of Ivy and the article, and nothing else. I was shitfaced, looking for more information, and David threw out a line and reeled me in.”

“Are they broken?”

“Do they look broken?” I answer cynically. “I passed out when he did it, but I think the alcohol may have numbed some of the pain. And yeah, they fucking hurt. Sophia, I want to know why you’ve kept this from me.”

“There hasn’t been a good time to tell you,” she responds in a hushed tone.

She’s silent as I run my hand through my hair, stand, and pace next to the window; kicking a few magazines on the floor that are in my way.

 “I apologized for being a dick to you last night, but that doesn’t mean I’m not upset about other things. You can be upset with me, but I’m pissed as well. Jesus Soph, we need to talk about this now, so let’s get it over with so we can move forward and figure out what we need to do next. Please stop pussyfooting around. It’s bad enough I have my father to deal with... and now this?” I exhale and head for the kitchen for a glass of water and some ibuprofen. My mouth and throat are both dry, probably dehydrated from the fucking liquor, plus my head and fingers hurt like a son-of-a-bitch. “You never told me about the money,” I mumble, glass in hand, returning to the sofa. She sits with her juice, and we stare at one another, taking slow sips in some dumbass stand off. Her legs cross then uncross, still in the dress she wore to the bar last night. It’s surprising she still has it on if she wasn’t drinking. Why didn’t she slip out of it when she got home? Seems uncomfortable and unlike her to fall asleep fully clothed.

“Can I explain without you cutting me off or losing your cool?” she asks.

“I can’t promise I won’t be upset... but yeah, I’ll try to stay in control.”

“What I was trying to say is that there hasn’t been a good time to tell you. It seemed inappropriate to mention David over the phone while you were in Vegas, and when you returned we had the situation with the article, and then one thing after another with Ivy to deal with. I didn’t want to just sneak it in on top of everything else. Plus, if you recall, you flew off the handle yesterday morning when I brought up the article, I wasn’t about to mention David after that. Your reactions lately have been extreme, wouldn’t you say? A bit on the passive-aggressive side?”

She’s one to talk, but I let her comment slide. “This thing with David is more important than Ivy, and you haven’t been honest. I’m really disappointed in you, Sophia... and in myself, I don’t want us to lose trust in one another.”

“I know, I’m sorry. I should’ve told you about David before anything else.” Her words are sincere as her eyes well with tears. The waterworks are on the way.

I raise my arm as a distraction to her, as well as a loving gesture on my part. With a smile, she curls her body next to mine, her arm wrapped around my waist. I kiss her forehead and apologize for losing my temper, going to Kaitlyn’s, the nasty fuck, and getting shitfaced. She nods and continues the discussion about David without any further prodding.

“He called after my father’s estate was settled. Somehow he already got the money from my brother and now he wants my share. The guy’s a shitbag-sleazeball. Sorry, I know you’re related to him.”

“Not by choice, Soph.”

“Anyway, I hung up when he called, but he wouldn’t let up. I want to change my number.”

“He’ll just get it again. That’s not going to solve the problem.”

She brushes her hand gently down my leg and continues in a quiet voice. “Then, I saw him on the street the other day when I left our building. All I could think to do was run back inside. He’s creeping me out and I wish I could go to the cops.”

“He’s friends with most of the guys at the station, plus...”

“I know, your father. I understand, but what do we do?”

“Just give him the fucking money. Who gives a shit? It’s not like we’re dirt poor or anything. We’ll be fine without it.”

“That’s not the point and you know it. The bastard had me locked in a room and tried to force his dick into my mouth when we were in Vegas, remember?”

“I know,” I whisper. She’s right. David almost raped her, and now after going through that experience with him, she has to hand over her inheritance? For fuck’s sake, I understand how she must feel.

“Why should I hand over a fortune to a person like that? Think of all the crap he put people through, especially you. And all of this could continue, even after he gets my settlement, you know? It doesn’t mean he’s going to leave us alone.”

I exhale and place my hand on my knee to remind her of my evening. She stares at the splints and shakes her head.

“You need to give him the money. It’s not worth it. I agree with you, but the fact of the matter is our lives are more important.”

She sets her feet on the coffee table and exhales. We sit with our arms around one another and watch low clouds travel across the grey urban sky. Every few minutes a small sliver of sunlight penetrates the dense sky.

“Cove, I’m tired and emotional, and all I want are my feelings to be known. I’m unhappy that I have to pay a man who abused both of us.”

“I know. Your feelings are valid, but your idea of keeping the money isn’t realistic. Not with whom we’re dealing with. How much is it by the way?”

“Twelve million, plus the loft next door.”

“Twelve million? That doesn’t seem like a lot considering all your father owned, then again, David did mention the cops seized most of it. So, your brother got the same amount?”

“Don’t know,” she shrugs. “I would assume so since he was the executor of the estate, but who knows, I think it’s fucked up we got anything at all. I mean, my brother never saw him, and it’s not like I was close to him in the end. My father would have killed me when the time was right, and given the opportunity, I just might have done the same.”

“His will was probably years old, I’m not surprised you were in it. Do you have a check or what?”

“A settlement check came while you were out of town, it’s in one of the drawers of our dresser. It feels dirty. For a few days I pretended I didn’t have it; out of sight, out of mind, until David started being a dick and was a constant reminder that it was in my possession.”

“Let’s take it to the bank tomorrow, and then Haverty and I can figure out how to get it to him. I don’t want you dealing with too much of this, okay?”

Her hand brushing across my arm sends chills through my body, and she nods in agreement.

“Next time, if I’m out of town, promise me you’ll tell Haverty.”

“Promise,” she whispers. “But there’s not going to be a next time.”

“I hope you’re right about that.” I let my breath run softly down her neck while I unzip the back of her dress in an attempt to change the mood. “You’ve had this on since yesterday. Let’s shower, then sometime today we need to visit my mother.”

The dress slides effortlessly to the floor as we stand and head for the stairs. I let her walk in front of me so I can stare at her perfect ass on the way up. Like most women, she complains that it’s too big, but to my eyes, it’s stunning, something I fantasize about sometimes when I jack off. I love sliding my dick between it when we spoon at night. She’s crazy if she believes a bony ass would be better than her padding; kind of like the difference between pushing my dick inside a moist crème cake roll, or sliding it into a jar of peanuts. Shit, good thing I didn’t say that out loud. She’d call me a nut job, literally.

“You looking at my ass?”

“Always?”

“Licking your lips?”

“Hopefully licking your lips soon.”

With my last comment and our first step into the bedroom, our hands are all over one another in an all out fight for who’ll be in control of this fuck session. Thank God, I’m forgiven.