Page 116 of Love on the Line

“Yeah. They go back to college. Been betting on stupid shit for years. He claims he had no idea Blackwood was a psychopath. The wager was that Blackwood could get a ring on Anne’s finger in three months.” John shifted. “He was running out of time and got desperate.”

“You should have seen his face when I turned him down.” Anne pressed a shaky hand to her mouth, and Wyatt’s heartrate throbbed in his forehead. If only he could have gotten to her faster.

He brushed back a strand of her hair and guided her head to rest on his shoulder.

“You won’t have to worry about him ever again.” John scrubbed a hand over his chin. “His partner turned over financial records that he says will prove tax fraud as well. And Victoria has been questioned. She’s going to pay for her part in all of this, too.”

“She never mentioned Blackwood. Just told me the super let her in,” Wyatt said.

“Blackwood warned her she wouldn’t get paid if she said anything about him hiring her. She used the spare key he’d made to enter and lied to you about the super.” John stood. “I gotta get back downtown. They’re bringing in Moe Dog and his goons. They aren’t getting off scot-free, either.”

“I’ll walk you out.” Wyatt took the mug from John.

John glanced down at Anne. “You put up a hell of a fight against a maniac. I’m glad you’re okay.”

“It’s a good thing Wyatt showed up when he did, but thanks.” She gave him a half-smile that didn’t reach her sad eyes.

Wyatt’s chest tightened. He’d have to fix that.

He followed John out the door, pulling it partially shut behind him.

John stopped on the landing and faced Wyatt. “I’m sorry, man. I didn’t account for dealing with a psychopath. If I’d thought for one second that Anne was in danger—”

“Let it go. We’re good.” Wyatt held up a hand and shook his head. “The important thing is she’s safe.”

John blew out a breath and nodded. They stood in silence for a while as people came and went from the building, carrying groceries, taking out trash, performing normal everyday tasks.

Wyatt gripped the railing. It would be nice to get back to normal again. “Hey, next time we grab a beer, let’s not make it a biker bar.”

“Hell, no. And you’ll be buying, as usual, loser.” John clapped him on the back, keeping his hand there for a second as he looked Wyatt in the eyes.

They’d been friends long enough to not need words.

John smirked and jogged down the stairs, calling over his shoulder, “If you want to keep that classy woman, get a shower and a shave, baboon butt.”

Wyatt grinned and leaned back against the cool, hard concrete surface of the wall. With a sigh, he forced away all the what ifs hammering in his head. He’d come so close to losing Anne. Thank God the craziness was over. He pushed off the wall and opened the door.

Time to get back to the woman he loved and start the rest of their lives…together.

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