The sun beat down on Rome’s head and shoulders, the blue ocean in front of him twinkling as the waves rolled against the yacht. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair, not sure what to do.
It was evident Tim was not in a compromising mood, nor was he feeling friendly. Rome had attempted to speak to him, to congratulate him on getting the role, but Tim blew him off and walked away. While almost everyone else was wearing swim trunks and T-shirts that could come off once they reached the point in the ocean where Wynnie had mentioned stopping the yacht for some t
Rome sprinted around the edge of the boat, the fury inside blinding him to everything else except for catching up to Tim and making sure he paid for what he’d just done. He grabbed ahold of Tim’s arm, shoving off one of the men who was escorting him away from the scene, away from where Mark’s bleeding body still lay.“Come back, Tim Bolt! Come back and see what you’ve done! Mark Hutio’s body still hovers just above us, and yet you walk away!”&
Aunt Genevieve was sitting on the floor in her bedroom, her cell phone in her hand, tears streaming down her face as she screamed, “My baby! My boy! Tim! Timothy!”“Aunt Gen, calm down!” Ella begged her, dropping down and wrapping her arms around her aunt’s shoulders, trying to figure out what had happened. “What’s going on?”
The police station was just as cold and impersonal in real life as it was on television. Rome sat in a stark white room, with only a desk, a few metal chairs, and a Styrofoam cup full of water someone had given him when they first brought him in. He’d refused medical treatment after the Coast Guard had torn him out of the water. He had a blanket wrapped around his shoulders. At some point, Bart had gotten his shirt and shoes to him, but he didn’t know where his phone was. All he knew was that Mark and Tim were dead, and the police were trying to figure out whether or not Rome had killed Tim or if it had been an accident.
Her phone was ringing in her pocket. Ella couldn’t ignore it, even though now seemed like an awful time to take a phone call. Aunt Genevieve was sitting next to her, bawling again, and Henry was trying to navigate driving in LA, which wasn’t all that easy for natives, let alone visitors. Ella wanted to just sit there and be quiet, but when she saw it was Bart calling, she had to take the call.“Hello,” she said, her voice soft and serious.
“What in the world have you gotten yourself into now?”Monty Verona was clearly not happy, and even though Rome knew there would be dire consequences for all that had happened, he’d never been happier to see his father, or the lawyer by his side. Franklin McNair was one of the top lawyers in all of California, probably the country. If anyone could make sure Rome wasn’t charged with anything, it was Mr. McNair.
Ella had agreed to stay at her aunt’s house. Tim’s dad was on his way home from New York City and would be there in a few hours. In the meantime, Aunt Gen had taken something pretty potent that was helping her sleep. Henry had gone back to Teresa’s house. He’d promised to let her family know what had gone on so she wouldn’t have to call any of them. Her dad had still called, but Ella didn’t have much to say to him. She was numb.One of Aunt Gen’s butlers announced she had a visitor; Ella blinked a few times and looked up at th
Rome’s mother was still crying. He’d been home for a few hours, and she was still sobbing as if he was the one that was dead. His father and McNair had spent most of that time in the study while Rome sat in his bloodstained shirt with his arm around his mother, apologizing.Eventually, the two men came out. “Lacy, why don’t you leave us be for a few moments?” Monty asked in a tone that conveyed it wasn’t a question.
About an hour after Mary had gone home, saying she’d consider Ella’s offer to come and work for her as her personal assistant, the same butler who’d led Mary in earlier ushered in new guests, unwanted ones.Ella had been sitting with her bare feet tucked underneath her, staring at the wall, but when her father, his lawyer, Bob Shiner, and Henry walked in, Ella stood, not sure what she should do. The three of them were dressed in suits, and the older gentlemen looked extremely serious, as if Ella was th