His Other Wife (Beautiful Lies Book 1) Read online

  But he was too busy freeing his rock-hard cock from his pants to care about a little paint, and as they made love, he got a whole lot more colorful, and not just with the paints. He thrust hard into her, almost animalistic in his desire for her, and she clung to him, kissing him roughly, biting at his lower lip, her fingers biting into the hard muscles of his shoulders.

  They tumbled from the table to the floor of the studio, laughing and gasping for air as they kissed. Anouk straddled him and rode him hard, as he stroked the paint all over her breasts, her belly, swirling it into her navel.

  Afterward, they collapsed together, coming down from the exquisite high. Knox smudged her cheek with his finger. “Lord woman, you are a mess.”

  Anouk laughed. “Douchebag.”

  “That’s me.”

  She stuck her tongue out at him. “You know, I was all clean and freshly showered, when you had to get all artsy. And my tea’s cold.”

  “God, such a nag.”

  She kissed him. “You can make it up to me. Take me to the shower, serf, and clean me up. Then you can make me some more tea and attend to my every need.”

  “I have a need you can attend to,” he leered, as she rolled her eyes.

  “Obsessed with your own cock.” She sighed, shaking her head in mock-judgment. “All you men are the same.”

  They bickered playfully as they climbed up the stairs to the apartment, trying not to get paint everywhere as they headed for the shower. Afterward, as promised, Knox brought her fresh tea as she sat in bed, and they chatted until they fell asleep.

  At three a.m. the phone rang. “Knox?” It was Levi. “Knox, man, you’d better come. It’s Dad. He’s in the hospital.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Anouk held Knox’s hand as they ran through the quiet hospital corridors. She knew he was terrified, and he hadn’t said a word in the car ride to the hospital. Levi didn’t tell him much. “We think it’s his heart, Knox. Flynn found him in his study… please. Just come.”

  Now, as they approached the room the receptionist had directed them to, Anouk saw Levi waiting for them. As she got closer, she saw the expression on his face and her heart sank.

  Oh, no…

  Knox almost skidded to a halt when he saw his brother. “Levi…”

  Levi shook his head, his eyes full of despair. “He’s gone, Knox.”

  Anouk felt Knox jerk his hand away from hers and his legs crumpled. Both she and Levi went to him, but Knox seemed to explode, pushing them both away. He darted away from them. Anouk moved to go after him, but Levi caught her arm. “No, Nook. Let him go.”

  Anouk felt helpless, but when she saw Flynn, her face red with tears, she knew she had to stay with her new family. She wrapped her arms around Flynn, and with Levi, they sat and waited for Knox to return.

  Knox didn’t know where he was going when he ran, but he ended up on the rooftop of the hospital. Mindlessly, he walked around the helipad that took up most of the roof space, walking to the middle of it and sitting down. It was still dark, the roof only lit by a small spotlight, and he stared out over the city to the dark mountains of the Olympic range, to the small vessels out on Elliott Bay.

  Gregory Zapata, titan of business, for years a distant father, but for far too short a time, a friend, was gone. His father. His Dad. And once again, he was too late to say goodbye to someone he loved.

  It made him want to scream into the night, to yell, to rage all his pain out into the darkness. All the threads connecting him to his parents were cut now. He and Levi were the elder statesmen now, and they needed to step up and care for their cancer-stricken sister.

  But he felt numb. Knox felt helpless with grief, but at the same time, he felt so utterly spent with the effort of loving. He didn’t know how long he stayed outside, but when he eventually found his way back down, one of the nurses told him that they had found a room for Flynn. Knox felt a rush of fear, and the nurse put her hand on his arm. “She’s okay, just the shock, and in her condition, the doctor just wanted her to be checked out. Your brother and your friend are with her. Room 617, my dear.”

  He thanked her and moved away, but stopped. “My dad… Gregory Zapata?”

  “We’ve taken him down to the morgue, my dear. Your brother said it would be best. He’ll be cared for.”

  “Can I see him?”

  “I’m sure that will be possible. Probably in the morning, dear.”

  Knox thanked her again and went to find his family. As he approached room 617, he saw Anouk come out of the room. She saw him and came to him, wrapping her arms around him. He buried his face in her shoulder. “Oh, darling, darling, I’m so sorry.”

  He nodded but didn’t speak, just wanting the comfort of her arms around him. He breathed her in, feeling as if she, Anouk, was the only thing tethering his sanity right now.

  Anouk stroked his head with comforting, loving touches. He closed his eyes and wished he could rewind the clock a few hours, to when he had been happy, so happy, with his love, in their home.

  Knox didn’t know how long they stood there, but eventually he looked up. Anouk’s eyes were red and she looked as devastated as he felt. “Flynn?”

  “She’s fine, baby. She thinks the doctor is fussing, but I think he was right to keep her here.” She smoothed her hand over his face. “I love you, Knox Zapata.”

  He nodded, emotion choking him so he couldn’t speak. Anouk brushed her lips gently against his. “Come. Sit with Flynn and Levi, darling. There’s nothing we can arrange until morning.”

  “I want to go see Dad.”

  “I know. As soon as you get the go-ahead, I’ll stay with Flynn.”

  She tangled her fingers with his and led him into Flynn’s room. His sister was laying on her side, curled up in the fetal position, her face white with shock. Levi looked a million years older, grey-faced and utterly broken. It was strangely terrifying to see his steady brother like that. Levi was the realist, the one who faced things, but this had clearly defeated him.

  Knox squeezed his brother’s shoulder. Levi didn’t move except to put his own on top of Knox’s hand. Flynn watched them with huge, sad eyes. She looked lost. Anouk sat on the edge of her bed and held Flynn’s hand.

  It seemed like hours before they spoke, moved or even saw another soul, as if the world had stopped. Around six a.m., the hospital began to wake, with early rounds by the doctors, the breakfasts being taken to the patients. The low hum of noise got louder as the time progressed, but in the room where the Zapata family waited, it was quiet. Flynn had slept for an hour, fitfully, but none of the other three had closed their eyes, too mired in shock.

  Anouk finally stood, her movements slow and stiff. “I’ll go find us some coffee.”

  “Thanks, Nook.” Levi smiled gratefully at her, but Knox didn’t say a word, just nodded. She touched his face before leaving the room. Outside, medical personnel bustled past her, and she tried not to get in their way as they went about their work. The vending machine closest to the room was out of order, so she found herself in the main cafeteria. She loaded a tray with coffee, fruit, yoghurt and juice. Flynn needed to eat, apart from anything else, and Nook was worried, too, about Levi and Knox. Both of them were shell-shocked, and Anouk knew she would have to be their rock right now.

  She balanced the overloaded tray carefully and started to make her way back up to the room. She pressed the button for the elevator. The doors opened and she stepped in, feeling someone behind her. She reached for the call button for her floor, and the tray wobbled precariously.

  “Careful.”

  She froze, then slowly turned. Shawn was staring at the doors at first, then looked at her. His eyes widened in surprise. “Nook… what are you doing here?”

  Anouk narrowed her eyes at him. “Are you following me, Shawn?”

  He sighed, shaking his head. He pointed to his ear, the furthest away from her. She saw then that it was covered in blood. “No, Anouk, I’m not f
ollowing you. I’m just here to get this fixed up. I heard you before.”

  Curiosity got the better of her. “What happened?”

  Shawn gave her a strange smile. “I wasn’t concentrating. Crossed on a red light, nearly got my ass handed to me by a Prius. I was lucky.”

  “Sorry.” The word felt strangled in her throat.

  “Why are you here?”

  Anouk hesitated before opening her mouth, but she never got to tell him. The elevator doors opened, and suddenly a whirlwind of rage flew into the enclosed space, knocking Shawn to the ground in a flurry of fists. The tray finally fell from Anouk’s hands, as she tried to haul Knox away from her ex-husband. “Knox! Stop!”

  In his rage, Knox whirled around and his fist connected with her stomach, throwing her back against the wall. That stopped him cold. “God, Nook… I’m sorry, it was an accident.” He looked appalled, all the anger draining away from him.

  The commotion had brought orderlies and security guards, and they hauled Knox from the elevator, while another helped Anouk. Shawn scrambled to his feet, and for a second, Anouk thought she could see a flash of triumph in his eyes. She blinked and it was gone.

  Shawn held up his hands as the security guards took hold of Knox, who was calm now. “Fellas, it’s nothing. Really. My fault.”

  Knox barely glanced at him, only gazing at Nook, who also put her hand up. “Really. Just a misunderstanding. Please, guys, thank you for your help, but my… Knox’s father just died. Emotions are running high.”

  The head security man looked uncertain. “Are you sure, Miss?”

  “Really. Please.” Anouk felt panicky at the thought of Knox being arrested now. Her stomach hurt, but she knew without a shadow of a doubt that Knox would never knowingly harm her. She could see the mortification in his eyes.

  Shawn put a hand on Knox’s arm. Anouk froze, but Knox just stared at him dumbly. “Man, I’m sorry about your dad. I know… you probably don’t want to hear it from me, of all people, but I know about loss.” He gave a quick glance at Anouk. “I’ll leave you now. Again, I’m sorry.”

  He turned away and walked calmly down the corridor, stopping to speak to a nurse who directed him elsewhere. Anouk watched him, confused. Of all the people she didn’t need to see right now…

  Finally, the orderlies and security officers left them alone, and she took Knox’s hand and they went back to the room. Before they went in, Knox stopped her. “I’m sorry. I just saw him and went mad.”

  “I know. It’s okay.”

  “I never meant to hurt you.”

  Anouk put her arms around him, feeling the tension in his big body. “I know that too. I love you.”

  “I love you, too.”

  Knox and Levi were taken down to see Gregory in the morgue, and Anouk stayed with Flynn. The younger woman looked guiltily at her. “I know I must seem like a coward, but I don’t want to see Dad like that. I want to remember him laughing with me, being silly.” She chuckled quietly. “Knox and Levi… he didn’t show that side to them very often, but with me, he was always my buddy, you know? He softened. He always regretted the rift with Knox.” She sighed as Anouk’s eyes filled with tears. “I miss him already.”

  Anouk wiped her face. “Oh, Flynn, I can’t tell you how sorry I am.”

  “I know.” Flynn squeezed her fingers. “Knox is going to need you.”

  “I’m here for all of you, all the time. Whatever it takes.”

  Flynn smiled. “Dad adored you, you know? He was so delighted Knox had found someone like you. ‘She’s a good one’ he said all the time, and he looked so happy when he saw you and Knox together.”

  “You’re going to make me ugly-cry,” said Anouk, as she struggled to check her tears, and Flynn chuckled.

  “It’s okay to cry. Healthy.” Her face crumpled then. “But seeing Levi cry…” She began to weep softly, and Anouk wrapped her arms around the girl, feeling how thin she was, how vulnerable.

  The doctor came to check on Flynn soon after, and despite his wish that Flynn stay for another night, Flynn wouldn’t hear of it. “Please, Doc, it’s bad enough that my dad’s gone. I need to be at home with my family.”

  Reluctantly, he discharged her, and when Knox and Levi returned from the morgue, shattered and silent, they went back to the Zapata mansion. Levi went to the study to begin the arrangements for the funeral, Flynn excused herself to take a bath, and Anouk sat with a statue-like Knox in the living room. She rubbed his back, trying to comfort him, but he sat forward suddenly. “Why was Simon in the elevator with you?”

  “He just got in. I didn’t see him until it was too late.”

  “You didn’t?”

  There was an accusatory tone to his voice, and Anouk frowned. “If course not. Do you think I would have gotten in if I’d seen him? He followed me in. He said he didn’t know I was there, that he was there to get an injury treated.”

  “Hmm.”

  A spark of annoyance lit up in her. “Hmm, what? I didn’t know he was there, Knox.”

  Knox shook his head. “Why didn’t you get off?”

  “Because my hands were full, the doors were closed, and by the time I registered who was in the elevator with me, it was already moving. Where are you going with this, Knox?”

  He shrugged. “Just seems a little… coincidental.”

  Anouk reined in her temper and got up. “I think you should go get some sleep. You’ve had a shock, you’re grieving, and you’re focusing on something that doesn’t matter. I’ll go see if Levi needs any help.”

  She didn’t slam out of the room, not wanting to make more of Knox’s suspicions than just the ramblings of someone who didn’t want to face his sorrow. She understood, she did, but Shawn was still too sensitive a subject for her.

  She hated that Shawn had seemed thoughtful and reasonable in the face of Knox’s violence. For a second, she had seen the man she married, the man she had spent a happy five years with; not the man who broke her heart, the bigamist, the might-be-murderer. That man in the hospital today… anyone would have trouble believing he was a killer.

  Levi was in the study on the phone when she found him, and he waved her in. He said goodbye to the person on the phone and ended the call. He rubbed a hand though his hair. “Someone from the funeral home will be coming to see us later,” he said, his voice cracking as if he couldn’t believe what was happening.

  “Levi, let me deal with them. Tell me what your father’s wishes were, and I can deal with them, if it’s too hard for you.”

  He smiled at her. “You are kind, Nook, but I need to do this. I need something to distract me.”

  “Maybe you should get some sleep before they arrive?”

  “Maybe.” But he didn’t move, just kept fiddling with a piece of paper, mindlessly turning it over and over in his hands. “It’s weird, sitting behind this desk.”

  “If it’s any consolation, it suits you. You look like him, you know? You have the same… gravitas your father had.”

  “Thank you.” Levi shook his head, smiling. “I’ve never had the confidence he had. Knox was more like him, strangely enough. That’s probably why they butted heads. Both of them were stubborn asshats most of the time.” He laughed, but it was a sad sound. “Nook… Knox is going to take this hard. I don’t know how much you know about our history, his history. Our mom, his high-school sweetheart, Lily.”

  Anouk nodded. “He has told me how they both died.”

  “Lily died in his arms, you know. Her murder shattered him and, honestly, I thought he would never recover from it. Then he brought you home, and the difference in him… Nook, you brought him back to life.” Levi’s face flushed and he smiled shyly. “He’s a lucky man.”

  Anouk tried to smile but she had a heavy feeling in her heart. “I want to help you all.”

  “You being here is the help we need. Thank you.”

  Anouk left Levi alone shortly afterward, as he continued to arran
ge the funeral and wake. She went to the kitchen to find the Zapata’s beloved cook, Daisy, her eyes red. Anouk hugged her tightly. “It’s okay, Daisy. Look, can I help you? I’m going mad with nothing to do.”

  So, she spent the afternoon in the kitchen with Daisy, cooking food they knew wouldn’t be eaten, at least not today. “It’s okay,” Daisy said, “we can freeze all of this.”

  Anouk made some hot chocolate and took it up to Flynn, as dusk fell outside. Her young friend was sitting in an easy chair, gazing out of the window, and she took the hot chocolate gratefully. Anouk swept a hand over her forehead and was glad that she didn’t seem feverish. “How do you feel?”

  Flynn sipped her drink before answering. “Just… sad. Like it’s a blanket of sadness that I can’t escape.”

  “I know, bubba, but it’s still so fresh.”

  Flynn picked at the seam of her jeans. “Does it ever feel better?”

  Anouk sat down on the window sill. “I don’t know what it’s like to lose a parent. I never had any. Tom is the only person who has died too soon in my life, and I only really knew him for a few months. He meant so much to me, despite that, and I’m not sure I’ve accepted that he’s gone, even now. So… I can’t answer that honestly, Flynn, but I think, over time, it becomes a dull ache. I hope it does. It won’t ever go away, of that, I’m sure.”

  Flynn slid her hand into Anouk’s. “Thanks for being honest. I couldn’t bear to hear platitudes right now.”

  “You are my family now. I’ll always tell you the truth.”

  Anouk went to find Knox, and searched the entire house before finding him standing outside. It was raining heavily and he was soaked through, but as she tried to pull him into the dry, he resisted. Without looking at her, he spoke. “Have you called Iris?”

  Anouk frowned, shivering against the cold. “No, why?”

  “I think you should call her. See if she’s okay with you staying with her for a few days. Possibly longer.”

  Anouk’s heart began to pound unpleasantly. “What are you talking about? I need to be here, with you, Flynn and Levi.”