Page 105 of Lush

“Miss Laurene, a gift has arrived for you,” her butler said through the door.

I didn’t want to move, didn’t want to break the fragile moment. Quickly fixing herself, she let me put my shirt back on,then called for him to enter. The butler placed a small black box on the table beside her.

He quietly exited, leaving us alone again. Laurene didn’t immediately reach for the box.

“Who is it from?” I asked.

“No name.”

I swallowed, and our eyes connected.

“You think it’s from—” I started as she picked up the box. The lid clicked open, and there was silence, except for the faint sound of her breath catching.

There was no note, no letter. Just a small tattered piece of rope, stained dark brown, almost black.

I felt my blood run cold.

The rope was thick, jagged at the ends, frayed like it had been ripped away from something—or someone. It looked familiar. Too familiar. It was the same kind of rope used to tie down boats, the kind I’d seen on the docks before.

And worse, it looked as though it had been cut loose from the wreckage of the boat where Conrad had died.

CHAPTER 20

Laurene

THREE DAYS BEFORE THE WEDDING…

“Biiitch!”Gigi came in, her sequined jumpsuit shining, heels clicking with every step. She dramatically threw out her arms. “Stop what you’re doing. This is anemergency intervention!”

“Not quite the entrance we’d planned,” Noelle mumbled, following behind Gigi. “But here we are.”

I squinted at them. “You both are dressed nice. Should I be worried?”

“Worried? Since when have I made you worry?” Gigi jumped on my bed, grinning, and sending pillows flying. “Never mind. Don’t answer that.”

Gigi flipped her hair.

“Fine, fine. It’s your bachelorette party!”

“Bachelorette party?” I said.

“Duh! I know this owner of a club in Vegas. Generous donor. Gonna fly us out on a private jet, limo service from the tarmac, give us a section. Basically we’re gonna be bad bitches tonight.”

I raised a brow. “Did you sleep with him? Don’t tell me this is one of your shady connects.”

“No, it’s not. But I low-key feel like I should be the maid of honor andnot Noelle because not only have I planned a kickassbachelorette party, I’m looking for the wedding dress. I need to tell Mama to put me on the payroll.”

Noelle sucked her teeth. “You stole all of that from me!”

“Hush! You know I’mbetterat this kind of thing. And wait, wait, hold up, you’re on an IUD, right?” Gigi squinted at me.

I stared at her for a long moment.

“I’m just looking out for you, girl. ’Cause when I say shit’s gonna be poppin’ off tonight?Shhiiittt.We’re doing this right. No accidental nieces or nephews on my watch.”

“I mean…” Noelle shrugged. “Statistically speaking, Gigi’s right. Unexpected pregnancies do happen at bachelorette parties.”

I looked at the both of them like they were batshit crazy.

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