Page 44 of Highball and Chain

I shook my head. “That’s ridiculous.”

“She saw us together the night of the gala. I had no idea she was there.”

My pulse throbbed behind my ears. “You think she will come after me?”

“Until today, I would have said no. Either way, I don’t intend to leave your side until this is settled.” He spoke as if it was a done deal.

“There you go again making decisions for me.” I waffled between punching him or kissing him again. Both. Yes. Both sounds about right. “Do I get a vote in this?”

Inside the house people tapped silverware to their glasses. Enzo stood and pulled out my chair. “You’ll always get a say in what happens between us. We’ll finish this conversation after the festivities are over.”

I had no idea how to respond to him. While I believed he believed what he said, I couldn’t shake the feeling our definitions of a say in what happens were very different. Scarier still, I didn’t hate the idea of him looking out for me.

Wedged between Enzo and Marco, I watched the newlyweds smash cake in each other’s faces and kiss it off.

Maggie wiped the icing off her face and joined us. “I’m beat. Gabe and I are going upstairs for a quick nap.”

“You’ll get a real honeymoon soon, sis.” Enzo gave Maggie a quick hug. “Shanna and I are leaving in a couple of hours.”

She glanced at me as if for confirmation.

“I’m not a huge fan of the idea of leaving you here, but I’d rather not be stuck on the compound indefinitely with Evelyn.”

“I see…so Enzo is the lesser of two evils?” Maggie started to say something else, when Gabe swept her into his arms and carried her upstairs.

I stared after them, amazed they seemed so happy with everything that was going on. What I wouldn’t give to feel like that. “I should go pack.”

“Your room is next to the master. I’d give them a few minutes before you go up.” Grinning, Enzo took my hand. “Am I really the lesser of the evils?”

“I’m not sure yet. Ask me again once we’re back in New Orleans.” I walked back to the patio in search of my cell.

He followed me. “That isn’t much time to judge my wickedness. We could divert our flight to Paris for a week...”

“Tempting, but Dahlia and Jessie will be on the plane.” I scrolled through my voicemails. I had one from my mother, wishing me safe travels.

A little late, Mom.

The next message was from my boss. “Shanna, this is Alex. I need the video footage you shot before you left. You forgot to forward it to me. I wouldn’t have called, but it’s urgent.”

A second message from Alex had come in an hour later. “Shanna, destroy the footage. The client isn’t interested in pursuing a divorce.”

The third message was timestamped twenty minutes later. “It’s Alex again. I hate to do this over the phone, but I’m letting you go. I’ve hired your replacement and had your things sent to your home address. Don’t come to the office.”

I replayed the message three times. I’d worked with Alex for almost four years, never had an issue. He’d praised my performance. Heck, he’d called me his go-to-girl.

This can’t be happening. I sat and put my head in my hands.

“What’s wrong?” Enzo brushed his fingers through my hair.

“I lost my job. He fired me in a voicemail.”

“What a prick. Was there a problem with you taking a vacation? You’ll be back tomorrow.”

“He didn’t say why, only that he’d hired a replacement.”

Enzo knelt beside me. “I’m sure you’ll find another job. Judging by the way you’ve handled yourself here, you were born to be a PI.”

“Thanks. There isn’t much call for private investigators in-training. I was planning to go to school, but never got around to it.” I had gotten around to it, but thanks to my dyslexia, I had trouble untangling the letters enough to pass the exam.

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