Page 97 of The Red-Hot Stakes

He shook his head, laughter vibrating through him. He was quiet for a few steps as we neared our building. “You sure you’re up for this? You should probably go to the doctor, and get that toe checked out.”

“I don’t think they do much for broken toes. I’ll just hobble around as best I can.” I leaned my cheek on his shoulder. “I messed up so much of her wedding stuff already—dress shopping, her shower. I can’t bear to ruin this, too.”

His chin dipped down to rest on my arm in a mini hug. “You know she’ll understand, especially after she hears the whole story.”

I knew that, but still. “Afterwards, okay?”

He didn’t answer for a long moment, but at last he said a reluctant, “Okay.”

I took the quickest shower of my life, wishing I could linger in the warm spray with Liam. Then I changed into fresh clothes and wore flip flops that didn’t press on my toe while he took his turn.

We hurried to the pavilion, splitting a Snickers bar from the fridge in our room. Neither one of us had eaten lunch, and we were both starving. I perfected a weird hop-shuffle that had me moving at a decent pace, especially with my hand on Liam’s arm for balance.

“So, those connections I was telling you about?” he said as I chewed my last bite of the candy bar. “I called one while you were showering. I don’t want Brad’s ties to a ‘made man’ coming back to bite us in the ass.”

I nodded. “Good call. I’ve had enough of being on people’s shit lists for a lifetime.”

We arrived at the pavilion with a minute to spare, just as the minister asked us all sit down to go over the service verbally first. Liam sat beside me and pulled my injured foot onto his lap, then wrapped his arm around my shoulders. I leaned into him, content despite the growling in my stomach and the ache in my foot.

My heart was whole, my best friend was getting married and no one was blackmailing me. What more could I ask for?

* * * *

After the rehearsal, Liam insisted on giving me another piggyback ride to the Mexican restaurant, Fiesta. Once we were seated and our orders in, everyone turned to us.

“Spill,” Rhonda demanded.

I took a drink of my margarita, glancing at Liam. “You want to, or should I?”

“I think you should have that honor.” He gripped my thigh under the table, shifting his chair so our legs were pressed against each other.

I’d missed him taking up all the space. I leaned into him as I started from the beginning, keeping my voice as steady as I could. Audible gasps sounded when I got to the blackmailer’s threat of falsely accusing Liam of arson, along with his threats against my friends if I told anyone.

I couldn’t make eye contact as I told them about breaking up with Liam. His warm hand comforted me, his thumb stroking back and forth offering me reassurance.

“Oh, Gina,” Avery said, her voice cracking.

I shook my head. “Not yet.” I kept going until I came to part at the clifftop then I nodded to Liam. “Your turn. I haven’t heard how you found us yet.”

A torrent of emotions swirled in his gaze. “No, you haven’t. After you told me you were leaving after Avery got married…” He smirked at my glare, knowing he’d just thrown me under the bus. “You apologized, but you seemed off, so I went looking for you.” He shrugged.

“I knew it wasn’t fair to make you leave, and I wanted to talk more. But you’d disappeared. I caught a glimpse of you and a guy ducking through the fence, and I knew something was wrong. So I followed. When I saw he had a gun, I hung back, not wanting him to see me.”

I remembered Brad saying something about a note, but Liam loved me enough to come after me without one. I took a sip of my margarita. As Brad’s panicked face flashed before me once more, and I shoved the memory away.

“When you reached the clearing, I was going to rush right out and make myself known.” He hesitated, staring at the table. “But then I heard you.”

He turned to the others, shaking his head. “I’d realized it was Brad by this point, my ex-brother-in-law. And he had a gun pointed at Gina. After she’d asked several times what he was doing and he hadn’t responded, well, you all know her temper.” He smirked, touching my shoulder. “She let him have it which got him talking and he explained everything, the whole stupid scheme.” Guilt etched in his face. “I realized what she’d done for me, to protect me, and how wrong I’d been all the times I’d judged her. I’m so sorry, Gina.”

“Me too.” I leaned in, brushing my lips against his. Then as one, we turned to the rest of the group, and I hung my head, admitting, “Brad didn’t make it off the cliff. We already talked to the authorities, explaining how he fell.”

The memory played through my mind, and I couldn’t stop it this time. Him falling, me clinging to him, watching him slip through my fingers. I shuddered, burying my face in Liam’s arm until I could compose myself. Then I steeled myself as I raised my head to survey my silent friends.

Avery’s eyes sparkled with unshed tears, and she sniffed. Derek shifted uneasily in his seat as he raked a hand through his hair. Neither Greg nor Rhonda looked at me.

“Gina, I’m so sorry!” Avery burst out of her chair, running around the table to fling her arms around me. “That you had to go through all of that, alone. And I was so mean to you!” She cried on my shoulder. “I should have known better. I’m the worst person in the world. I’m dirt, worse than dirt. Can you ever forgive me?”

I snorted and hugged her back. “Oh, Ave, of course I forgive you. You’re my family. We may hurt each other, we may fight, but you’re stuck with me.” I sighed. “Besides, it’s all over now.” It sank in that it really was, and I felt lighter still.

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