Song of the Surf (Pacific Shores Book 3) (17 page)

Riley practically shoved Rem through the front door of her parents’ house and then felt a little guilty for the way she was treating him.

Skulking, he stopped and rubbed the spot on his arm where she’d just been gripping him.

Sandy padded in, tongue lolling and tail wagging. Remington dropped to his knees to give her a good scratch behind her ears.

Riley flipped her car keys around one finger and studied the interior of the palatial house she’d been raised in. It sat high up on a large bluff above Marinville and it didn’t look any different than the last time she was here. Cold, hard, modern lines spotlessly cleaned by the live in woman who was housekeeper, cook, and butler of sorts, Lucia. Large windows looked down on the Pacific where the melting sun cast golden molten slag onto the water and horizon beyond. Hanging on the wall opposite the entry was a large canvas of a grotesque, modern art couple, the price of which could probably keep a place like House of Hope running for half a year.

Her lips thinned. Looked like her father’s tastes hadn’t changed any. Rem shouldn’t have to see something like that every day.

She prodded him in the back, nudging him out of the expansive entryway and on into the living room. She bent and patted Sandy on the head as she said, “Hurry up and find Mom. I don’t want to leave Jalen sitting out in the car too long.”

Her jaw jutted off to one side as she thought of the obstinate man currently waiting in the driveway. Of course she’d had her own car at the hospital, but Jalen had insisted on riding with them here when she’d said she would take Rem home after dropping him off at Serenity Shores.

Stubborn as the year is long.
She’d tried to decline. But he’d insisted. And after doing battle with Rem, she hadn’t had the emotional energy to fight Jalen too.

She shuddered. This was one place she wished she could have kept her new friends from knowing about. Despite the money sitting in the account Daddy had put in her name, she was by choice practicality penniless and her father was almost a billionaire. It was going to be so hard to explain why she would never ask her father for another dime and why he probably wouldn’t give one to her if she did.

Rem headed for the solarium where the wet bar was, and Riley took a breath to ease the rapid beating of her heart.
God, I’ve tried so hard to escape this place.
She stiffened. Did Dakota and the others even have her talking to God now? He probably wanted nothing to do with her, just like her father.

Remington slumped into the room ahead of her and flopped onto one of the couches, grabbing up the remote on his way down. Mom was lounging on a white leather chaise staring blankly out at the sunset, a martini cupped in one hand.

Rem powered on the TV and a basketball game blared into the room. Sandy jumped up and curled into a comfortable position near his feet.

Mom turned slowly from her perusal and when her gaze settled on Riley her brows rose slightly. She sipped her drink. “Riley. What are you doing here?”

Anyone who didn’t know her probably wouldn’t realize she was drunk. But Riley could tell by the way she smacked her lips and smiled thinly that she was well on her way to sauced already.

Riley twirled her keys around her finger once and then folded her arms over the pain in her heart. Mom was always perfectly coifed and painted. Her nails were never chipped or in need of color. And she always dressed with a class that emphasized her sleek graceful figure. But beneath all the polish she looked even worse than she had the last time. No amount of foundation could hide the large bags under her bloodshot eyes, the skin starting to sag along her chin, or the wrinkled hands. Alcohol was sucking the life from her.

“I’m here because Rem snatched someone’s purse. She is a friend of mine. Luckily she didn’t press charges. I’m bringing him home.”

Mom fluttered the fingers of one hand. “Lesson learned the easy way then, right Remington dear?” She tittered too loudly.

With her mother’s cavalier attitude, it was no wonder Remington thought he could do whatever he wanted. But saying something to her when she was in this state would only do more harm than good. So Riley bottled up the rebuff she wanted to offer and strode over to take in the scenery out the window. The beauty below the house never failed to take her breath away. The modern glass and natural wood home rested above one of the area’s few sandy beaches and a path from the backyard meandered down the rocky cliff face, through the beach grass, and onto the expanse of creamy sand before the waves.

How many days had she lain sunbathing on that stretch of beach during summer breaks?

The sun was nearly set now, and where all had appeared set afire from the glow only moments ago, now there were only touches of golden light kissing the rippling crests of the swells. A couple of large rocks just off shore cut black shadows against the water, and the lights of Marinville could be seen off to the left.

She glanced at her watch. She really needed to be going. But she hated to leave Rem with Mom when she was so obviously drunk. “Where’s Dad, Mom?” A huff of air escaped Riley’s nose. She hated the thought of leaving him with Dad even more.

Mom gave another careless wave of one hand. “Switzerland this time, I believe.”

“Actually I’m home.”

Riley spun toward the sound of her father’s voice, willing away the wash of fear that suddenly had her tasting metal. She wished he didn’t still have the ability to make her whole body tremble and her knees go weak.

Sandy leapt off the couch and darted to her bed in the corner, dropping down like she’d been there the whole time. Dad even had the dog cowering in his presence.

Remington jolted upright and powered off the TV, squirming uncomfortably on the couch and pinning Riley with a look that begged for mercy.

She gave him an imperceptible shake of her head to reassure him. She might threaten him with their father, but she’d never actually follow through. Heaven knew Rem had received more than his fair share of “punishment” at the hands of Dylan Ross.

“Oh, you’re home dear!” Mom bumbled off the chaise and then tottered on her high heels across the room to Dad’s side, but he only brushed her away as he set his briefcase near the grand piano and pulled off his gloves and long winter coat and scarf. Where Mom’s glamour looked a little frazzled, Dad was the picture of stoic professionalism. Neatly shaven and pressed, every silvered hair in place. Tie knotted tightly at his throat, even though he’d probably been on an airplane most of the day.

Mom tried not to look hurt by his rebuff and redirected her steps to the wet bar as if that were where she’d been heading all along.

Lucia bustled in to take Dad’s things, but he waved her off. “Thank you, Lucia, but I won’t be here long. My car is waiting for me outside. I have early business in Portland.”

“Very good, Mr. Ross.” Lucia disappeared toward the kitchen.

Mom added an olive and a splash of vermouth to her glass. “You weren’t supposed to be home till tomorrow, dear. I would have sent Roddy to bring you the Jag if I’d known you would be here today.”

“Actually I told you I’d be home yesterday, but the business in Zurich went long and I missed my flight. I just had a car from the office pick me up as I have to be in Portland first thing.” Without missing a beat, he spun to face Riley. “Why is there a Mexican sleeping in your heap of a car in our driveway? Please tell me you haven’t fallen in with a man of that sort? As if Nate wasn’t bad enough?”

Anger shooting through her, Riley studied the white carpet near her feet. Jalen had been kinder to her in the few days she’d known him than her father ever had been. So if that was the “sort” he was worried about, he could just keep worrying. “Nice to see you again too,
Dylan
.” It always grated on him when she called him by his name.

“Don’t give me sass, young lady. You may be out on your own, but I’m still your father and you will respect me.”

Ruthless. Degrading. It was probably why he had done so well for himself in the business world. But she wouldn’t dignify his “discipline” with a reply. She brushed by him. “Actually I’m leaving. I was just giving Rem a ride home from town.” At the wet bar, she pulled her mother into a quick hug and then started from the room without a backward glance.

“Riley, wait.” Her father’s harsh command stopped her in her tracks, but she didn’t turn to face him.

“I’m actually glad you are here. There’s something I need to say to your mother and it’s good you and Remington are present to hear it directly from me.”

Glass shattered on the tiles behind the wet bar, and when Riley spun around, her mother’s face looked like someone had just painted it white.

Riley felt faint. She knew exactly what her father was about to say and she also knew it was going to kill Mom.

Dad approached it like a business meeting. He slid his hands into his pockets and turned his back on them to stare into the almost darkness outside. “Katherine, I can’t imagine that you haven’t seen this coming. I’ve filed for a divorce. I will be more than generous to you considering you’ve done absolutely nothing to contribute to our income over the years. Everything should be finalized by the end of the month. You will get this house and a generous alimony. I even imagine you’ll still be able to afford the staff.”

Despite the fact that she’d seen it coming, shock held Riley in silence.

Mom’s voice trembled when she asked, “It’s Moira, isn’t it?”

Dad’s latest hot little secretary, no doubt.

Dad nodded, as if this were a conversation any family could be expected to have on any given day. “Moira and I have purchased a place in Portland. Remington you’ll be welcome to come stay with me on the weekends, if you like.”

Remington swore one vile curse, and Dad spun around and backhanded him.

“Dad!” Riley lurched forward and inserted herself between the man and her brother.

Dylan Ross leaned over her, eyes bulging. “Don’t tempt me to do the same to you!”

“Dylan! Stop!” Mom leaned against the bar like all the life had just been drained out of her. “Just go.” The last two words were barely audible.

She wasn’t even going to fight it? Of course she wasn’t. She always simply accepted what Dad doled out. And it didn’t sound like her lifestyle would have to change much, so why would she fight it?

Dad straightened and shoved his hands into his pockets.

Riley’s anger boiled into words. She folded her arms. “Don’t worry, Mom. You’ll probably be better off in the long run.”

She saw the moment the anger sparked into action in Dad’s eyes.

His face turned a livid red and spittle glistened on his lips. He reached out and grabbed her upper arm, much like she’d manhandled Rem only a few moments ago. Keeping a firm grip, he propelled her across the solarium, through the living room, and out the front door.

Jalen, lounging in the passenger seat, must have heard them coming because he sat up. The lights along the drive illuminated his widening eyes as he took in the man dragging her across the aggregate.

Humiliation burned through her. “Dad stop, please. I’ll leave.” She tried to extract her arm to no avail.

“You better believe you’ll leave! I’m not going to take any more lip from you!”

“Hey!” Jalen was scrambling from her car now.

Terror clawed at her. If Jalen tried to protect her and assaulted her father in his own driveway, he could lose everything. “Jalen stop! Just get back in the car. We’re leaving.”
Jesus, please don’t let my stupidity bring harm to Jalen…

Dad shoved her hard and she stumbled forward until she crashed into Jalen’s chest. Jalen took her shoulders and set her only far enough away from him to quickly assess her from head to toe. Apparently satisfied that she wasn’t terribly hurt, he pulled her close once more in a protective gesture. “It’s going to be okay,” he said softly, but his gaze drilling into her father’s above her head was anything but soft. She’d never seen that look in his eyes before. It was a look that dared the old man to come one step closer.

And for some reason her father stopped. He’d never backed down from anyone before. Dad tossed her keys toward her feet. “Get off my property and take your Mexican trash with you.”

Jalen stiffened, but to his credit he didn’t respond or retaliate.

Dad spun on one heel and stormed back up the walk.

“You alright?” Jalen’s words were low and soft, and his hands slid in a gentle caress from her shoulders to her elbows and back again.

She shivered and nodded, wanting only to get away from this place. She pushed him toward the car. “I’m fine. Let’s go.”

Her keys had skidded just under the chassis on the passenger side. She dropped to her knees and scrabbled one trembling hand around trying to find them. Finally her fingers settled over the cold metal and she yanked them up. But when she stood and started for the driver’s side, Jalen stepped into her path. “Is Remington safe in there?”

She nodded. It was the assurance she always offered. Yes, everything was fine. But in reality she had no idea if Rem was going to be fine. That brought the tears to her eyes.

“Ri.” Jalen touched her chin, forcing her to meet his searching gaze. “Do we need to call the police?”

She glanced back to the house. Searched her memory of all the times something like this had happened before. Then returned her focus to his. A tremor washed through her. “I don’t know. I think he’s about to leave. That’s his car.” She pointed to the limo idling near the fountain. Its black windows prevented them from being able to see anything inside.

Jalen glanced from the limo to the house and rubbed the back of his head. “Better safe than sorry, don’t you think?” He reached for his phone.

Her eyes widened. Was she really about to allow this man to call the police on her father?

“Jalen—”

At that moment the door to the house swung open once more. “You’ll hear from my lawyer on Monday!” Dad yelled, and then pulled it shut hard. He stopped when he saw that they were still where he’d left them.

But Riley had already slapped the keys into Jalen’s hand and shoved him toward the driver’s side of the car. “Let’s go. Put your phone away.”