The Favor

“I’m not done—”

“Yes, you are,” a new voice cut in.

Jen jumped. Her face paled as Dane stepped out of the shadows, his eyes cold, his face diamond hard.

He slanted his head. “Tell me, Jen, why is it that you think you have the right to speak to my wife like that?”

Her mouth set into a bitter twist. “Your wife?” She sneered. “Never thought I’d see the day you let anyone fool you. It turns out that the infamous Dane Davenport can actually be conned. Because you honestly think she loves you, don’t you?” Jen barked a laugh. “Wrong, my darling Dane. She’s been manipulating you from the start, and you’ve been blind to it. I’m honestly embarrassed for you.”

One of his brows hiked up. “Are you now?”

“Anyone can see she’s leading you around by your dick. Well, anyone but you. Hell, she even somehow managed to talk you into spending all kinds of money on a party. You hate parties. You hate relationships. You hate the concept of marriage.”

“What I hate is when people get the insane idea that they can treat Vienna like she’s a piece of shit. Don’t think being my brother’s wife will protect you from the consequences, Jen. It won’t. Now go home and sober the fuck up.”

“She’s only after your money,” Jen persisted, gripping her glass so tight it was a wonder the flute didn’t crack. “How do you not see that?”

“How do you not see that I don’t give a shit what you think?”

Jen sucked in her cheeks. “I know a gold-digger when I see one, Dane. That’s what she is. Did she play the victim of poverty so that you’d ‘save’ her?” Jen scoffed. “I bet she did. Hope doesn’t think so. She thinks the whole thing is a farce, that you paid Vienna to marry you just so you could get that cushy trust fund. Maybe she’s right. It would explain why Vienna didn’t let the damn pictures chase her off.”

“What did you just say?” asked Dane, his voice low and cold.

I felt my lips part. Oh, the bitch.

She blinked, the bluster leaving her in a rush. “I, um …”

“You said something about pictures,” he prompted oh so calmly, but danger dripped from his tone. “What pictures might they be?”

Her eyes flickered, and she took a step back. “Dane …”

“You sent Vienna the flash drive?”

She shook her head fast. “No. Not me. Hope.”

“Hope?”

“Yes. She told me she had photos that proved you’d cheated on Vienna. She said she sent them to her.”

“What else did Hope say?”

Jen lifted her shoulders. “Nothing, really. She was just angry when Vienna didn’t leave you.”

“Hmm. And you had nothing to do with it?”

“No, nothing,” she swore, her eyes wide.

“What about Travis? Was he in on it?”

Jen licked her lips. “No. He doesn’t like that you’re with Vienna, but he … he decided to let it go. Hope didn’t want to. She can’t. He’s gambled away so much of their money. His share of your trust fund could fix the mess he’s made.”

“Yes, I can imagine why Hope did this. But why did you, Jen?”

“I told you, it was all Hope. It had nothing to do with me, I swear.”

Dane crossed to her. “You’re lying to me.”

Blanching, she shook her head again. “I’m not, I wouldn’t.”

“The flash drive, the spoofed text, the phone call to the venue attempting to cancel the reception—you and Hope were behind it all. Why? I don’t buy that you wanted to come between me and Vienna purely because you think she’s a gold-digger.”

Jen’s eyes blazed at him. “She is. She’s not good enough to be a Davenport. Hugh would say the same, if he was alive right now. He wouldn’t have come here today. No, he wouldn’t have given this marriage his blessing, and you know it. He wanted you to marry—” She cut off and snapped her mouth shut.

Dane lifted a brow. “Don’t stop now. Who did he want me to marry? You?”

She swallowed. “He thought I was the one for you.”

“And yet, he had no problem with you marrying Kent.”

Her eyes teared. “I loved you. I would have been everything you needed if you’d just let me in. I would have fixed you; would have made you happy. But you wouldn’t let me. I’ve never begged for anything in my life, but I begged you to give us a chance. You wouldn’t.”

“What the fuck does it matter? You’re with Kent.”

“I am. And I love him. I’m happy. I have a fucking great life.”

“Which is considered the best kind of revenge, really, isn’t it?” I cut in. “You wanted Dane to see you happy, to see that you’re better off without him.” I kind of understood. I’d felt the same when I realized I’d have to face Owen again.

“I am better off without him,” she insisted. “And so are you. The only thing he ever cared about is that fucking trust fund.”