she knew the family would not hear them in those late hours.
He had torn her favorite nightgown down the front, using his body to hold her down. The sound of the tearing fabric still echoed in her ears because the cold air suddenly accosting her skin contradicted the heat of his probing hands. When he’d raised himself to release himself from his pants, she used the moment to scramble for the door, but he’d locked it when he’d entered and snagged her around the waist, pulling her back. Her actions did nothing but excite him more. He wasted no time.
What embedded in her mind so deeply during this ordeal was her helplessness against his strength. The salt taste of Buzz’s hand as he held it over her mouth, the scotch on his breath invading her nostrils, the wild almost insane excitement in his eyes reflected in the dim light as he pumped inside her, stealing her virginity and uncaring that he hurt her. Then psychologically, he humiliated her with ugly words of how she had seduced him to give her what she wanted while her body and mind decried his violation. And worse. When she had an orgasm even as she struggled, her body’s betrayal had brought Campbell to climax. Sated and arrogant, with his full weight on top of her, he had wiped her tears and caressed her face as if they had been the most intimate of lovers.
The experience was awful. Blinded by tears when he’d gone, she had kicked the ruined nightgown into her closet because she couldn’t bring herself to touch the garment. She’d curled up on the floor in her shower and wept under the steaming water, wanting to die.
These were the memories that resurrected when she recounted the story. These she had to tamp down to keep her words sounding neutral.
She met their gazes and as bluntly and calmly as possible said, “Buzz Campbell raped me.”
* * *
IF KELLY THOUGHT the cameras and reporters had been bad the first time, she was sadly mistaken. Camped out five-to-six deep in front of Neverland, passersby had to step into the street to get around the sidewalk. Gratefully, she had left Matt at Donna’s while she tried to put their world in some semblance of order. Now, any thought she had about stopping at Neverland to touch base with Bunny in person was shot to hell. No way would she exit the taxi.
She slouched down in the seat. “Don’t stop, driver. Keep going.”
After gawking at the crowd in front of Neverland, he glanced at her in the rear-view mirror. “Hey, aren’t you the gal who owns that joint? The one they’re jawing about on television?”
She considered denying it, but then decided she’d start her campaign at the grass roots. “Yes. But, I’m here to tell you. The senator is lying.”
“Really? That’s not his kid?”
Oh, God. Dare she say it? “What I’m saying is that I didn’t seduce him. The senator lied.”
The guy whistled softly. “What are you gonna do, lady?”
Her laugh caught in her throat. “There’s the million-dollar question.” She didn’t even know where she should go to avoid the press.
Yes she did. Michael. When all else failed, she now had family right here in the good old U.S.A. They might find where she was hiding, but Michael would make sure they didn’t get to her.
She speed dialed Michael’s number. As it rang she said to the driver, “Would you mind returning me to the place you picked me up?”
* * *
EVAN BURST INTO Steve’s office angry enough to punch the man. He had called Steve several times after Kelly left last night, but got voice mail. Now, Steve had a ton of explaining to do. His reasons had better be a matter of life or death—and that might not be enough.
At the look on Evan’s face Steve stood. “If you hit me, I’ll press charges.”
Evan could not remember ever being so angry. He wasn’t a violent man but he sure felt like he could put a dent in something. “What the hell have you done, Steve? I specifically asked you not to disclose the DNA information on the air.”
“You force my hand, Evan. I had no choice.”
“Me? How?”
Steve’s steely blue gaze grew hot with conviction. He pointed out the immense office window reflecting the orange traces of dawn creeping into the sky behind the nightlights of the city. “You were going to lie to the world on camera. If the truth got out your career would