was determined to get me out of here. But I told her I was fine. And I told her that I’d given you my word that I would stay.”
His face softens at this last sentence. “Good. Still, I can’t let this kind of transgression go unanswered…not without some kind of a response. Deanna needs to start understanding that her actions have consequences.”
“I’m not sure what’s wrong with her.” I look down in confusion. “I mean, she’s always been a free spirit but I’ve never seen her that emotional.”
“A free spirit?” David snorts. “That’s one way to put it. She was drunk, Lilly. That’s what’s wrong with her. I could smell it three feet away from her.”
“No, she said she’d had a late night yesterday. That was from drinking last night.” I want to believe what I’m saying is true, but I’m not sure if it is.
“Lilly.” David levels his gaze at me and there’s something softer, more understanding in them now. “You don’t smell like that from drinking the day before. Based on the way she was acting, I can assure you she’d been drinking today.”
“But it’s only 1:00 p.m.” I say the words faintly.
“That doesn’t stop an alcoholic. And god knows what else she was on. She looked like hell.” He says.
“She doesn’t take drugs!” She’s my sister, I’d know.
“What makes you so sure? She hangs out with a goddamn drug dealer after all.”
“What?” I feel a wave of surprise go through me. “No she doesn’t. How would you even know?”
“I saw who she was with the first night you were all here. Security flagged the guy immediately. My sources tell me they party together constantly. It’s more than liquor, Lilly.”
“Brian?” Again, my voice sounds far-off. I can hear the disbelief. But I am also fitting the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle together in my mind. Stacy and Blair had been open about their jobs. They worked in the Vegas nightlife scene, just like Deanna. But Brian had been tightlipped. I flash back, remembering how I asked him if he was in the club business. I remember how Stacy and Blair smirked at the question and how Brian avoided answering it directly. You could say that. That’s what he’d said. Shit. Maybe David is right.
“So, what should her punishment be?” David’s sharp tone calls me back to the present moment. “I’ll let you decide, since it seems you were still planning to uphold your commitment to me, despite Deanna’s crazy antics.”
“Her punishment?”
“Like I said, she needs to understand that her actions have consequences. You’re here because you represent the 1.3mil she owes. By trying to take you away from here, she was essentially trying to steal from me. No one steals from me. This time, I’ll be generous and let you decide her punishment…because you’re her sister and because you were going to stay. If it were up to me, it would surely be much harsher.”
I look down. For some reason, I find myself blinking back tears. The reality of my sister’s situation is just now starting to hit me.
“So?”
“I could stay an extra night.” My brain spits out the words before I really consider what I’m saying.
He looks a bit surprised at the suggestion. “What about your flight back?”
“I can rebook it. It’s a flexible ticket.”
“Okay then.” He pauses for just a moment, as if there’s more to say on the topic, but then just says, “If that’s what you want her punishment to be, that’s what it’ll be.”
“Yes. I’m sure.”
“Good.” There’s the tiniest glint of something that looks like pleasure in his eyes, but it’s over almost as soon as I see it. “You can see Darlene at reception if you need to use a computer or a phone. I have to get back to business. Your sister has cost me valuable time.” And without another word, he turns and walks off, leaving me standing alone.
I make my way slowly up to the penthouse, thinking about Deanna the entire time. I feel foolish for not having seen the signs of trouble sooner. I’d just assumed that she was partying too much now and again. She’s always been a big drinker, even when we were underage. But the fact that she’s apparently hanging out regularly with a drug dealer gives me pause. What else is she into? Plus, this isn’t just any drug dealer. Brian is apparently notorious enough to be on David’s security team’s radar. What if Deanna is in with the wrong crowd? The way she