Betrayed by M Dauphin Page B

playing one with me.”
                  He then filled me in on the Delany connection to him, why he thinks Rob hates him so much, and why he believes Rob is in the lead for prime suspect. He doesn’t trust him, that’s for sure. I could hear his voice pleading with me to back out of the wedding and take myself out of the connection to the Delany family, but I couldn’t do that. Not with four days left, they would never find someone able to do it on that short of notice.
                  “That’s a lot of speculation, Tatum, without any hard proof that it was actually him. I can’t back out of the wedding now.” I said, shaking my head at the mess that we were in.
                  “I realize that, and I don’t think you need to. I honestly don’t think he’d ever hurt you, you have formed a friendship with him. Just know that from here on out I will not be leaving you alone when there are Delany’s around.”
                  I was okay with that. After all, I was starting to get the feeling from Rob that he wanted a more personal relationship with me. He did stop by quite a few times when Tatum was gone last week, and most of his visits didn’t have a real reason. I had also caught him on more than one occasion looking at me like a piece of meat, and it was unnerving.
                  “Fine. That’s all I can ask of you. Now get dressed. We have a very demanding Delany to deal with this morning.” Oh I knew he was going to be pissed that Tatum was still on board. Hell, by the way he was looking at me last week he was going to be pissed that Tatum was back in the picture at all.
    ***
    We grabbed a coffee on the way into the studio. I was in the front grabbing some folders when Rob walked in and smiled. He obviously didn’t know Tatum was here.
                  “Hey you. How are you feeling? You gave everyone a scare last week. That’s decaf coffee, I hope.” He said as he glanced at the cup in my hand. How do I respond to him? Does it matter if he knows or not? The truth shall set you free, I guess.
                  “I’m not pregnant anymore, Rob. Thanks…though..” I said awkwardly.
                  “Oh. God Molly, I’m so sorry to hear that.” He said as he came over for a hug. Of course, that had to be the time that Tatum walked back up front from the storage room. Of. Fucking. Course.
                  “Need another one of those eyes blacked out, Delany?” he growled as he casually set down the boxes I had him bring up.
                  Rob laughed and backed up.
                  “Well. Back in the picture are we Tatum? Shame, Molly. I thought I had you pegged for someone a little smarter than that.” He was such an ass. Before the two of them could get in another macho man match, I spoke up.
                  “Actually Rob, I am glad you stopped by. I have been wanting to tell you that I will not be in need of your assistant’s services this weekend. A photographer is only as good as their right hand man. Mine is Tatum. Take it or leave it. I don’t shoot the wedding unless he is there.”
                  There. It was said. I’m holding my ground on this one. He glared at Tatum for a moment, then looked those piercing black eyes straight at me.
                  “That’s a very bad decision, Molly.” He said through gritted teeth.
                  “Then find another photographer.” I was done playing him games. I didn’t need them money that badly, and the public knows how difficult it is to deal with a Delany, so my reputation wouldn’t get hurt too bad. Hopefully. I stood there, hands on my hips, ready for a verbal lashing from the second hottest man I’ve ever laid eyes on. Instead, his lip turned up into a half smile, and he nodded his head, then turned and left. Whatever he came here for must not have