Page 110 of Between Now and Always

“From me?” She frowns.

“Yes, I was your friend. You’d be living with him. And I said yes. I’d done everything I could to dissuade you. You were still going to marry him. Since I couldn’t stop the wedding, I figured I’d get you away from him by helping the FBI take him down.”

“Oh my God,” her eyes are wide with intrigue.

“Yeah, and when I saw Carter in the church, I thought maybe he would stop it, but he didn’t.Youdid.” I let my pride show for a second.

“They thought, without you there to get close to Duke, we didn’t have that angle anymore. But when I found out what he did to James, I decided he would pay. No matter what it cost me. I went to Duke, and pretended to want him. He’s a fool. Flattery was all it took and I was in his bed.”

She closes her eyes as if she’s in pain.

“I’m sorry, Lizzy, I know he was your…”

She wrinkles her nose is disgust. “He was my nothing. I don’t care aboutthat. Butyouhated him…how could you… sleep with him?”

My expression hardens, and I shove down my self- loathing and the sorrow of it all. I shrug, not able to meet her eyes. “I’ve fucked a man I didn’t love for years out of guilt. To avenge the man I loved, I would do anything. Even now, I’d do it again,” I say when she looks like she’s about to cry.

I want to tell her to save her tears for someone who deserves them.

“I gained access to information that helped them break the back of the corrupt police in Winsome and the trafficking ring your grandmother was running.”

“Trafficking?” She pales, and I realize that there’s so much still she doesn’t know.

“Mostly for slave labor - unpaid domestics, nannies, farm hands…She’s dead and won’t face justice, but I’ll make sure history remembers her accurately,” I say, drawing satisfaction for that knowledge.

“So, how did you end up in the house yesterday?” she asks.

I shake my head in amazement that all of that was only twenty-four hours ago.

“Duke found out I was working with Serene, I don’t even know how or when. When I realized he knew, I tried to reach Serene, sent her a message. But Phil went out of town. They’d been waiting for him to leave so they could do what they’d been planning. With him around, they couldn’t have lured you here. They always planned to use Cameron, they knew you’d come if it was her.”

She shakes her head sadly. “It was terrifying. I thought we were all going die. Fiona is such a bitch. I have never hated anyone, but I hate her,” she says in a burst of anger. She sags in her bed as if it took all of her energy.

I squeeze her hand, trying to soothe her.

“She imagined herself Lady Macbeth. She found the perfect pawns in your father and Duke.”

“I’m just glad she’ll never touch Cameron again,” she says, her eyes drooping.

“Yes, thank God for that.”

She smiles weakly. “So, what’s next, Dina?”

“I got a job with a law firm in Houston. A big one, Remington Wilde is a legend and he’s opening a new pro bono practice to help the people seeking asylum after being trafficked and he hired me to do research for him.”

“Wow. That’s amazing,” she says, but it’s clear she’s flagging.

“I’ll call you okay? When I’m settled.”

She nods and then yawns. “I think this pump thing just gave me another dose of pain meds, I’m so tired.”

“Sleep. You need it. I have to go anyway.”

“Dina, thank you. I’m sorry that you had to do that and I’m sorry about Wes,” she says.

“Hush. Let’s look forward. I’m ready to leave all that behind and you and Carter. You did it. I’m so happy for you.” My heart, cold and cracked and broken sighs in relief at the small flare of warmth. If I couldn’t have it myself, I’m glad she does. No one deserves the fairytale more.

I kiss her forehead and walk out of the hospital. My debt to James will never be paid, but at least, I’ve done something he couldn’t.

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