can’t blame men for being such swinging dicks when women like this exist.”
I shake my head with a sigh.
“But it’s not okay. We don’t get to assume that every man we come into contact with is a crap sandwich just because some guys are.”
“I think we do assume. We’re just not allowed to say it.”
I go through the search links. Victor has a thing for rich and famous women. “Seems Daddy Brandt likes a certain type too. He changes girlfriends every six months, but the last lady he set his sights on accused him of harassing her. She said he wouldn’t leave her alone when it was over. Looks like it was a sugar arrangement.”
“Creep,” Brina spits. “I hate men like that.”
Don’t we all.
But the second page of hits is completely different. Everything becomes all about the Brandt-Parnell incident or the Parnell-Brandt incident. The third headline down catches my eye.
“Victor and Giselle Brandt Suspected in Dylan Parnell’s Death!”
Parnell? I’ve heard that name before but I don’t know where.
“Any clue who Dylan Parnell is? Was, I mean?” I ask.
“Oh, yeah! He was dreamy. When I was growing up, he was in some big movies with all the hot guys like Ridge Barnet. My mom always had a thing for him too, but when I asked her why he wasn’t making new movies, she told me he died in the nineties. Freaked me out. He was so young!”
I look up, my belly twisting.
“Ohhh, crap. I totally forgot all this!” Brina says. “When was it again? I have to know.”
I shrug and click the link.
“About twenty years ago—” She gasps. “Oh my God. Wait. Paige, he...he died on a boat with Ward’s parents!”
Holy shit.
She’s right.
I’m reading it now with my heart scaling my throat.
“...they were accused of murdering him. Huge messy court battle, but since the yacht sank, there was no definite evidence. Wow, looks like Parnell’s family still thinks they killed their son. This makes no effing sense.”
I sit up, bewildered, fingers fumbling.
My phone hits the floor with a thud.
Brina sets her phone on the coffee table in front of the couch. “God. There are so many links it has to be true. But the Brandt family is independently wealthy, and they don’t seem to have a problem attracting media attention on their own. So, what reason would they have for killing an actor?”
My eyes are glued to the screen. I’m numb from the shock and at the same time the wind has been knocked out of me.
“Last thing I skimmed made it sound like drugs were involved. Maybe that was the motive?” I say.
Were they all high?
Was it just a tragic accident?
My stomach clenches, and I remember Ward reacting like an electric fence to the box.
He was in control like the lion he is, but visibly upset. His fist clenched when that boat appeared.
I knew I had to get him out of there before he went nuclear.
No wonder.
“Jesus Christ. Hold on, Brina.” I reach for my phone and text him.
Ward, are you okay???
“What is it?” Brina asks.
My phone buzzes. Dandy. I’m surprised you care. You were in a big hurry to get away from me.
Sigh.
That’s not it. I was pissed and confused that he wouldn’t trust me to help.
Brina’s staring at her screen again. “Victor and Giselle used to go to all the famous beaches and Europe for months at a time on ‘publicity tours’ before the boat thing. Giselle had an acting career once. Looks like they’d leave Ward and Nick with their grandparents. They sound pretty self-absorbed.”
There it is.
That twisted freaking moment when I start to hurt for Ward Brandt...and Nick, too.
“What a horrible way to grow up,” I say.
I shake my head and text him again. I didn’t understand the situation. But I’ve done some searching around and...I do now. I’m sorry.
His response is immediate. Not everything you read online is true. Only, in this case, it might be.
Ward, are you all right? I sound like a broken record, but I’m worried.
There’s so much I still don’t understand.
Why would Victor want to drag this out with Beatrice recovering from a heart attack? It’s bad for his family and awful for his mother’s health.
I can’t see how it helps him. Ward’s last message is ambivalent enough, neither confirming nor denying...
But. What. Is. Happening?
I’ll be fine if you promise to stay the hell out of it, Paige. You don’t know everything and honestly you don’t need to. This isn’t your problem.
The bearish response makes me think he’s back to his