Page 54 of His Weekend Wife

“I didn’t think he’d do this.”

“Do what?”

“He thought he could bet with it, triple the amount—”

Ash laughed, but it lacked of any humor. “No surprise.”

Abby blinked, stood up, her mouth lowering at the corners. “I’m glad you find this funny. You must hope that I’m brutally murdered.”

“It’s not funny in the slightest. How could you still trust a man who has done nothing but lie to you from the beginning? Thirty grand, Abby. It’s gone and your life is still in danger.” And then a light went on in Ash’s head. “You’re here for more money, aren’t you?”

Abby clasped her hands, her knuckles turning white. “I need help…”

“I gave you all that I had.”

“You’re here, Ash. Look around you. It’s not exactly slumville.”

“And it’s not mine.”

“You’re his wife. You’re still married, remember?”

She swallowed and her throat felt like she’d swallowed a razor blade. “No, Abby.”

“Oh, so you’re saying I’m on my own.” She crossed her arms.

“I’m saying I can’t, I won’t ask Declan for more money. It’s impossible.” Her bottom lip trembled.

“There’s always a way. Hell, one of those paintings downstairs is worth a lot more than I make in a year,” Abby said.

“Are you asking me to steal for you?” This all seemed like a nightmare, and yet there was no waking up from the reality of the situation.

“Like he couldn’t replace these things.”

“What did Phillipe do with the money, Abby?” Although Ash already had a good guess, she needed to hear the truth.

“I told you. He lost all of it.”

“Was there ever any loan sharks after you and Phillipe?”

As if she needed to gather her words carefully, Abby paced the floor, her shoulders slumped. “I couldn’t tell you the truth, Ash.”

“Start now.”

“He made it seem like a dream come true. We’d get thirty grand and I’d quit escorting, and he’d get clean. He’d pay off a few debts and we’d leave to somewhere nice and warm. Where no one knows us. He swore he could get clean if he was away from the same people, the same places.” Abby stopped pacing and looked at Ash. “It’s a bad dream.”

“For you and me both.” Ash rubbed her forehead, her mind racing as fast as the beating of her heart.

“I see you have your ring back.”

Ash brought her hand up, touching the precious diamond. If a strong wind would have come along, she would have been blown away. She’d loved and cared for Abby since she was brought home from the hospital, crying even then. When it stormed, Ash comforted her. When she fell, Ash patched her up. In one fell swoop, she realized Abby wasn’t that sweet, innocent child any longer. She’d grown into a selfish woman. And yet, why did Ash still feel the need to protect her? Provide for her? Make sure she was safe?

With a broken heart, Ash went to her purse, unzipped it and took out a folded handkerchief. She carefully unwrapped the material and sitting in the cotton was a pair of diamond earrings, the one thing her father had left her that had belonged to his mother. Ash had only worn the earrings twice, at her high school graduation and college graduation, afraid she’d lose them if she wore them more.

She scooped up the bobs into her palm, admiring the elegance of the sparkling diamonds. “Take these, Abby. I don’t know how much they’re worth, but they’re real. I don’t have anything else.”

Hesitation flitted across her expression. “Not enough.”

Ash blinked and laid the earrings on the dresser. “My suggestion, take them and get as much as you can, leave town, leave the state, get as far away as possible. Pray that Phillipe won’t follow.”

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