Fatal Trust Read Online Free PDF Page B

had to be
Dylan. With his dark hair in a ponytail and striking features, Dylan was movie
star handsome, although his red-rimmed brown eyes somewhat ruined the effect.
He headed directly to the drink cart.
    “I’ll have to keep an eye on Dylan,” Cecilia said as she
walked up to them. “He could very well get drunk enough to head to the nearest
casino for a couple of days and lose his share of the trust.”
    “I thought he was out of money,” Ben said.
    “I’m sure he can borrow more now that he’s in line to
inherit a fortune.”
    Ben draped an arm around Lexie’s shoulders, pulling her
against his side. He smelled like pine soap, which surprised her. She’d
expected some men’s cologne with a virile name and an overdose of spice and
musk. “Why don’t you get me another drink, Lexie? She’s a cocktail waitress,”
he told Cecilia.
    Lexie gave him a tight smile. “I’m off duty.”
    “I promise I’ll make it worth your while,” Ben said, his
voice lowered suggestively.
    She was supposed to be crazy about him, so instead of
telling him where to stick it, she raised her chin. “I came out here to give
you emotional support. Not to wait on you.”
    “Good for you, Lexie,” Cecilia said. “Ben always dates twits
who do whatever he wants. He needs someone who’ll stand up to him.”
    Ben sighed as if he’d been ordered to haul stones across the
Sahara for a new pyramid rather than his own glass across the room for a
refill. “With the two of you ganging up on me, I guess I’ll get my own drink.”
    “Bring me a glass of cabernet while you’re at it,” Cecilia
called after him.
    “They got me.”
    The words came from the man who’d just stumbled into the
parlor. His light brown hair was all wild wisps and spikes, one sleeve of his
suit coat was torn, and his shirt had been pulled from his trousers.
    And he was covered with blood.
    “They came out of the trees,” he wheezed out. “I couldn’t
stop them. I tried, but I couldn’t.”
    “Help me.” His voice was just above a whisper. “Please.”
    Then he collapsed in a bloody mess on the parlor floor.

CHAPTER 3
    Lexie froze, her body tensing and her blood chilling. “Oh my
God,” she said. “We need to call 911.”
    “Don’t bother,” Ben said. He hadn’t moved.
    Actually, no one else in the room had moved either.
Meanwhile the man lay motionless on the floor, dripping blood onto the carpet.
    “Someone’s out there, someone who attacked him,” Lexie said,
her voice edged with hysteria. “Probably more than one person. And without
medical attention, he’s going to bleed to death. You can’t just let him die.”
What was wrong with these people?
    “He’s not going to die,” Ben said. “ Death Dreams , right?”
    Lexie’s body unclenched as the bloody man got to his feet,
grinning. “I should have known you’d figure it out, Ben,” he said. “I thought
it was a fitting tribute to Grandfather. Let me clean up, and I’ll be right
back.”
    “The housekeeper won’t be happy about the blood on the
carpet,” Cecilia said as Seth left the room.
    “It’s water soluble,” he yelled over his shoulder.
    “That was my cousin Seth making an entrance,” Ben said. “He
was playing a scene from one of Grandfather’s books.”
    Lexie nodded. “ Death Dreams. I read it.”
    “You’re a fan of Grandfather’s, Lexie?” Cecilia asked.
    “Who isn’t? Which Max Windsor book is your favorite?” Lexie
asked, seizing on a topic that would hopefully distract everyone from the
embarrassing fact that she alone hadn’t realized Seth’s arrival had been an
act. Although to be fair, she also was the only one who didn’t know Seth.
    A few minutes later Seth returned, minus the fake blood and
torn suit coat, although his hair was still wild. “That was the most fun I’ve
had since I played Dracula at the Fresno playhouse. Which was actually the last
role of my career.”
    “Do you miss acting?” Cecilia asked.
    “Not much,” Seth