Quest for Love: Los Angeles Armstrongs 1 (The Armstrongs Book 7) by Jessica Gray Page A

“But why?”
    “Because she’s my daughter. Whatever she does ultimately comes back on me and I can’t have that. If word got out that Linda was a thief, it would be a mark against me, not her.”
    Her reasoning shouldn’t have surprised him, but it did. In his book family always came first. He’d helped his siblings on countless occasions but never to rescue his public image or the family honor. No, the Armstrong family members stuck together because of their love for each other.
    “I can’t accuse someone else,” he replied. “I uncover the truth, I don’t hide it.”
    She approached him again with a fake smile that was meant to intimidate him. “Look, Chuck. I don’t care about your moral inclinations. Either pin this on someone else, or I will ruin you. I know everyone in town – and a word from me about how incompetent you are, and you’ll never work in Hollywood again.”
    And that would be a bad thing because why? But it would be a bad thing. He relied on word of mouth to get him his next job, and if Evangelina Ross were to spread lies about him, it could destroy his business. She had him, and looking at the smug satisfaction on her face, she knew it.
    “I won’t let you blackmail me.” He stormed past her to leave the mansion, but she called after him:
    “You have two days to think about your decision.”

Chapter 19
    Linda was trying to fend off the panic consuming her. She crawled into bed, hugging a pillow to her chest as she tried to deal with the happenings. Chuck. Making out. Her mother. The Oscars. Her mind was spinning.
    And then Evangelina stormed into the room. Her face was mottled red and she was shaking with fury. “You little bitch! It’s not enough that I house you still, you have to steal from me!”
    “What are you screaming about?” She tried to play ignorant.
    “You know exactly what I’m talking about. You destroyed my Oscars.” Her mother stepped to the bed and Linda slid her feet to the opposite side, suddenly remembering that her shirt was partially tucked out from Chuck’s hands earlier. Heat flooded her body and she reached to fix it, which was a mistake.
    Ev’s eyes darted to take in the disheveled state of Linda’s clothing and messed-up hair, and then she sneered at her. “Was that bastard up here? With you? You little slut.”
    When Linda opened her mouth to deny it, her mother cut her off. “Don’t lie to me. I can see the whisker burn on your neck and your puffy lips. I sure thought he had better taste than making out with you, of all persons. Or is this how he got the information out of you?”
    Linda fisted her hands. She wouldn’t let her mother destroy the notion that Chuck liked her for who she was.  “What right do you have to question my morals when you are the queen of sex with any male who has two legs?”
    Ev advanced on her and Linda wisely kept the bed between them. “So, you think to show a backbone with me? You don’t have the nerve to follow through. You’re nothing but a worthless waste of space and I don’t know why I put up with you.”
    “You don’t put up with me, Mother. It’s the opposite. I put up with you.”
    “Well, you know where the door is. But you don’t have the guts to leave. Mark my words, you’ll rue the day you messed with me. I can’t believe you hate me enough to destroy my Oscars.”
    “Believe it!” Linda yelled at her, keeping her volume at the same level as her mother’s. She stared the woman down, shaking with emotions and fury.
    Ev gave her a hateful look. “You’re pathetic. I’ve done nothing but tried to make a valuable person out of you. And what do I get for that? A useless stealing bitch.”
    Evangelina turned on her heel and flounced from the room, her four-inch heels clicking on the boards of the floor.
    Linda waited almost a full minute after her mother’s grand exit, before she left her position by the bed. She was crying and shaking, but somehow summoned the strength to walk into the