Page 38 of Beyond Oblivion

Raegan tilted her head with a grin that was half amusement, halfI will enjoy burying you.“That’s adorable. You really thought pulling the pregnant-other-woman card was the move? You actually decided that when you couldn’t get Trent to cooperate in Operation Baby Trap, the Hail Mary was to announce your scarlet letter to half the damn town? That’s bold, Camilla Parker Bowles,but we’re not buying crazy here!”

Madison’s nostrils flared, but Raegan cut in before she could respond, her arm dropping from Camille as she took a step forward. “You don’t know me,” Raegan said, voice steady but dangerous. “I’m Cami’s best friend. We go way back. As in, before-Trent way back. You’ve got two choices: Walk away with what’s left of your dignity or stay and see what happens when I’m tired of talking.”

Madison opened her mouth to respond, but Raegan wasn’t finished. “I’m gonna give youone—just one—chance to turn around and walk away before I hit you so hard it’ll make your fake baby dizzy, you insane, conniving littlecunt.” She leaned in closer, her voice sharp enough to cut glass. “And I don’t care if you’re barely legal. Anyone—and I meananyone—who puts that look on Cami’s face,” She pointed at Camille, her glare locked on Madison. “I will happily rack up so many felony charges they’ll name a prison wing after me.”

Madison, for once, didn’t have a comeback. For the first time since her mascara-smeared arrival, she seemed unsure of her next move. She hadn’t planned to be ambushed by a friend who didn’t mind trading freedom for a little justice.

Raegan smirked, catching the hesitation like a shark smelling blood. “You’ve got five seconds, Lolita.” Her eyes targeted her prey like a heat-seeking missile, and it seemed like the whole street leaned in to see what would happen next.

Madison fidgeted, glancing at me with one last attempt. “We’re not done.”

“The No Contact Order I’m filing tomorrow says otherwise,” I said flatly. No point in dressing it up, Raegan had snagged theBiggest Bitch of the Night Awardwithout breaking a sweat. We’d be shopping for medals for both her and Hazel that weekend. I envisioned matching gold-plated middle finger trophies.

Madison huffed, throwing one last glare our way, turning to hurry around the corner.

I turned to Camille, already in apology mode. “Baby, you know—”

“I know,” she said softly, wiping her nose.

I looked at Raegan, who was still buzzing with righteous fury. “Thank you.”

Raegan wasn’t ready to let me off the hook just yet. She crossed her arms, death glare still locked and loaded. “I need to hear you say it.”

Lachlan stepped in, looking genuinely alarmed. “There’s no way he would—”

Raegan shot him a glare sharp enough to slice through bone. “I wasn’t talking to you.”

Lachlan was a one-man rugby team—massive, intimidating, and built like he could tackle a freight train, but he shrank back from Raegan’s wrath. When faced withthatlevel of nuclear-grade, weaponized disdain? Even a human rhino knows when it's time to back the hell away from an angry woman.

I was on my own.

I raised my hands like I was facing down a SWAT team. “I didn’t touch her.” My voice was as earnest as I could make it. “I swear.”

Raegan’s shoulders finally relaxed, the fire dimming in her eyes. Camille let go of me and stepped into Raegan’s arms.

“Hi,” Raegan whispered, holding her friend tight. “You okay?”

“If wanting to crawl into a hole and die of humiliation is okay,” Camille grumbled into her shoulder. She righted herself, prompting Raegan to reach out and wipe the tears from under her eyes.

They began to chuckle, and then they hugged again.

Lachlan and I traded glances, both in disbelief. I threaded my fingers behind my head, and then a sigh slipped out, long and heavy, while my adrenaline begged me to unleash on the next poor soul who crossed my path.

Raegan had always had perfect timing, but damn. She’d shown up like a whiskey shot after a bar brawl—just what Camille needed, getting her to laugh seconds after that mess.

“Thanks, Ray,” I said, watching as Raegan hugged my wife again, gently cradling the back of Camille’s head.

Once they released a final time, Raegan shot me a wink. “Got room for one more at the table?”

“Oh, no way,” Camille said, shaking her head. “I can’t go back in there after that.”

Raegan raised an eyebrow. “Oh, youcan, and youwill.You’re going to walk in there with your chin up, baby. Let them all know it’s settled and there’s no doubt in your mind.”

Lachlan grinned. “I like this one. Becca’s still holding the table. She’ll wanna hear this story.”

Camille dabbed at her nose with the inside of her wrist, her face a mix of embarrassment and reluctant determination. She glanced at the door like it was the gates of hell, then at me, giving a nod.

“Fix your face,” she said.

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