Part 146 (2/2)

”He loves Brian.” Jane braced her hands on the arms of Emma's chair and

leaned close. There was a glitter in her eyes. Pure pleasure. She

could do very little to hurt Brian now-G.o.d knew she'd tried whatever had

come to mind to cause him pain. But she could hurt Emma, and that was

the next-best thing.

”He would've walked right out on the pair of us if it hadn't been for

the scandal. That's just what he started to do until I threatened to go

to the papers.”

She didn't mention the threat to kill herself, and Emma. In truth it

had been so unimportant, she'd forgotten it.

”He knew, and that worthless p.i.s.s of a manager knew, what would have

happened if the press had started whining about rock's hottest flame

leaving his b.a.s.t.a.r.d child in the slums. He knew, so he took you and he

paid me a handsome sum to keep out of your life.”

She felt sick, sick from the words, sick from the smell that struck out

at her when Jane spoke them. ”He paid you?”

”I earned it.” Jane took Emma's chin in her fingers and squeezed. ”I

earned every pound and more. He bought you, and his peace of mind. The

price was cheap enough for him, but he never got it, did he? Never

could buy that peace of mind.”

”Let go of me.” Emma gripped Jane's wrist and shoved it away. ”Don't

touch me again.”

”You're as much mine as his.”

”No.” She pushed herself out of the chair, praying her legs would hold

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