Page 111 of Highball and Chain

Enzo

Nothing that had happenedsince the engagement party made sense except Shanna. I hadn’t realized how much I’d come to depend on her being in my corner until I’d overheard her conversation with Jack. In those few precious seconds, she’d gutted me.

“Gabe wants everyone present before we get into the details of the situation with the Abruzzos.” The fact I could form a word, let alone complete sentences surprised me.

“Now? It’s two-thirty in the morning.” She avoided my gaze.

“He’s on Italy time.”

It dawned on me I should be angry with her. She’d lied to me about her relationship with Jack, strung me along, and made me believe in something besides family and work and obligations. One look at her swollen eyes and red nose, and I couldn’t find it in me to raise my voice. For whatever reason, she’d been crying and that hurt almost as much as her deceit.

Shanna went into the bathroom and splashed water on her face.

“Forget it. I’ll tell him you’re asleep. We’ll schedule a call first thing in the morning.” I turned to go.

“No, it’s okay. I’ll talk to him now.” She gave me a curious look, likely wondering how much of her conversation I’d overheard.

“You should know, he’s not happy that I told you about the family business.”

“Then he should be upset with Maggie, too. I talked to her before I called…”

“I figured as much.”

She frowned. “I finally got ahold of Alex.”

“You’ve been busy.” I clasped my hands behind my back so she wouldn’t notice them trembling.

“He uprooted his family and left New Orleans. Says he’s selling his house and business.” She spoke without looking me in the eye. “He told me to send the video to the mayor’s home address and run away.”

“Instead, you’re making plans to marry a man who owns a business in the French Quarter?”

She pressed her lips together and looked away. “Mayor Carter is desperate to get his hands on that recording.”

“And to eliminate any witnesses.”

Shanna shook her head. “Maybe, maybe not. Alex still has the same cell phone. The mayor has half the police force in his back pocket. They could find him if they wanted to. Plus, you can’t sell a business or real estate without some sort of physical address.”

“It’s entirely possible Alex and your fiancé are still breathing because Carter’s goons believed them when they said they hadn’t seen the video.”

“Maybe, but would you leave loose strings dangling if you were him?”

“It’s not easy to get away with murder. It ups the ante with law enforcement. Enough people die and the state or feds get involved.”

“Are you speaking from personal experience?” She tilted her head and grinned.

My chest tightened. How can she crack jokes as if nothing was wrong? “You’re in more danger now that you’ve seen the video. You’re welcome to stay here until you can make other arrangements.”

Shanna flinched as if I’d jammed a needle into her arm. “Thanks. I’ll stay out of your way.”

“Use the bodyguards when you go out.”

“I will.” She motioned toward the stairs. “We should get down there.”

I couldn’t face Marco and Nico, nor could I speak to Gabe until I had a minute to myself. “Go ahead. I’ll be right down.”

Shanna opened her mouth to say something, but I ducked into my room and closed the door.

This changes everything.

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