Page 140 of Dark Rival

“You don’t have to wait,” Allie said hoarsely. She suddenly turned and wrapped her arms around him in a bear hug, clutching the velvet dress Royce had given her in her arms. “If Royce comes back, you’ll come for me?” And then she realized what she’d said. She needed a miracle, desperately.

His blue eyes flickered oddly. “O’ course.”

Allie turned away. He had been grieving, too. She’d caught him weeping when he thought he was alone. He didn’t think Royce was ever coming back to them.

Wiping her eyes, she marched up to the front door. She tried to smile at the doorman and failed. “Hi, Freddie.”

He barred her way. “Hello.” He was a flirt and he smiled at her. “Who are you here to see?”

Allie was bewildered. “Are you joking?” She started to go past him; he took her arm.

“Lady.” His tone changed. “No one goes up unannounced. Who are you here to see?”

She gaped at him while he stared firmly at her. “Have I changed so much?” she finally asked. “This is where I live.”

Instantly she saw a wary look in his eyes—a look she was very familiar with, being a New Yorker. He thought her nuts. “If you won’t tell me who you wish to see, I can’t let you in. You have to be buzzed up.”

This was insane. What was wrong with him? “I’m really tired and this isn’t funny.” Freddie never joked. “I live here.”

“Unless you’re a new tenant, you don’t live here. And there are no new tenants—there haven’t been in years.”

He didn’t know her. “Buzz William Monroe—or Alec,” she cried. She looked past him at Aidan, who was listening closely, his eyes wide and alert. What is this? she asked him silently.

He shrugged.

“Are you kidding?” Freddie said incredulously.

Before Allie could argue, she saw her brother coming through the lobby toward the front doors. As sad as she was—and as bewildered—it was great to see him and her heart leapt. Freddie opened the doors and Allie rushed into his arms.

Alec’s eyes went wide, then he grinned at her with an odd, very male look. “Wow. Do we know each other?” His grin played.

Allie released him, shocked. She opened her mouth to blurt out that he was her brother. But he didn’t know her, either.

What was happening?

“Hey, don’t be insulted. Did we meet each other last night at Ciprianni’s?”

She inhaled. How could her own brother not know her? She glanced at Aidan, and he shook his head with a warning she did not understand.

“Hey, I’m sorry, I made a mistake,” she said.

“No, I’m the sorry one.” His seductive smile played. “How about a drink?”

“Another time,” Allie managed to say.

He shrugged and walked to the curb for a taxi.

Allie stared after him as Freddie rushed to hail a cab for him. If Alec didn’t know her, if she wasn’t Alec’s sister, what did that mean? What could it mean?

And Royce’s image came to her mind, flooding her senses with yearning.

And she heard Elasaid. Embrace your destiny, darling.

Freddie had returned to his post before the two doors.

“What happened to the Monroe Heiress?” Allie asked, trembling.

“I’m going to call the cops now,” he said. “Lady, you are cute as hell but you are nuts! There is no Monroe Heiress. Mr. Monroe has three sons.”