The Fate of the Muse - By Derrolyn Anderson Page 0,96

I realized that Brad had to be in on the whole thing. I felt betrayed, and imagining how Cruz would feel made me really want to throw up. I had to figure out how to break the awful truth to him, and wondered how much I should tell him. Then I remembered Olivia. If Marissa was right, and she was working with the Edwards family, what exactly was she after? It was like trying to solve a puzzle that was missing many pieces, and I had no idea where to start.

We pulled up in front of Abby’s house and Cruz turned to scrutinize me, “How are you feeling?”

“I’m not sick,” I said, looking at the house, “We have to talk. Can we go someplace?”

“Marina,” he said sourly, “Do you mind telling me what that was all about?”

I took a deep breath, “I will, but I want to keep Abby out of this... Can we go somewhere?”

“Fine,” he was irritated, “But I have to get back to Brad. I can’t believe you were so rude to him!”

“Cruz, please… Let’s go get some coffee, okay? I need to talk with you in private.” I wanted to take him away from Abby, take him someplace safe where I could break the news to him. I suppose I was being cowardly, doing it in public, but I figured it was my best chance to get him to hear me out without storming off or getting too emotional. What I had to tell him was going to hurt, but he needed to know.

Cruz was confused, but he agreed to go with me, backing out of the driveway and taking us down the street to a nearby diner. We took a window seat and ordered coffee.

“OK,” Cruz said, “What’s going on? Why were you so rude to Brad?”

“His last name is Edwards, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, so?”

I grimaced, “I guess I just assumed it was Watson, like his aunt.”

“And?”

I looked at him solemnly, and in slow measured tones I told him, “Cruz, that house… Brad’s house… It was where I was held when I was kidnapped. His father was behind the whole thing.”

“WHAT?!” he blurted out, “You said it was some paranormal researcher dude!”

“I lied.”

“Marina,” his tone was condescending, “You must be confused. Brad’s father is a real estate developer. There’s no way a rich dude like that would get involved with kidnapping!”

I drew a slow, deep breath, not certain how much it would be safe for him to know. I wasn’t sure there was anything I could say that would make him believe me about Brad.

“It– it’s complicated.”

He leaned back in the booth, skeptical eyes narrowed. “Why then? Why would they want to kidnap you?”

I hesitated, “Because he wanted my help to catch Lorelei… and other mermaids.”

He scoffed at me, “What for? I mean, they’re already as rich as God, and I can’t see them breaking the law to make a few extra bucks off a side show!”

I paused, looking out the window to gather my thoughts. If I told him the truth about the muse powers, would he believe me? If he did believe me, I knew he would question his talent, his judgment… everything. It would send him into a tailspin of self-doubt. If he believed me about Brad’s duplicity, he’d question his own lovability.

I looked up at him with tears in my eyes.

His face softened, “Are you sure you’re not just mixed-up?”

“Cruz… You can ask Evie. She was there… She took me out of that house. Boris and Ethan were there too.”

“OK,” he said slowly, like he was talking to a child, “Let’s call Evie right now.”

“NO! We can’t! I mean, we have to wait until we can get her alone!”

“Why?”

“She’s in danger too.”

The look in his eyes shifted to one of complete disbelief, “Uh huh, right.”

I gathered my thoughts, trying to keep my voice steady, “Please listen to me! Her friend Olivia– the one she’s coming back from Paris with– is working with Brad’s father! She’s been in on the whole plot from the beginning!”

He rolled his eyes at me, and I realized that everything I said sounded preposterous, “Plot? Do you have any idea how ridiculous you sound? Now Evie’s friend is in on it too? Puh-leese! Do you really expect me to believe that?”

I dropped my head into my hands, not sure what to do. I’d never felt so alone in my life. “You have to believe me… Cruz… They made me help Barbara Watson get elected… Brad introduced us. He