Billionaires Runaway Bride
It was time I told them about the marriage. I shuffled through a few pages, looking for the rings and our license, but before I could pull them out, Mason’s phone rang.
He stood and paced as he spoke to whoever was on the other end, and I looked up to see Luna perched on the sofa arm, leaning toward Mason’s direction, like the anticipation of his having good news was killing her. What a mess we were in, I thought.
I looked down, and as if my instincts had guided me, my hand was on our certificate. Mason’s voice pulled my attention away from the calligraphy, though, and I left the thing in my case.
“I’m going to have to go down to the station and get the official papers, but I have bad news: the time of death was not until four a.m. That’s more than enough time for you to have committed the crimes.” Mason leaned against the sofa opposite of Luna, who put her hands to her face before retreating to her room.
Mason looked to her as she fled. “She’s going to have to remember. You need to jog her memory. Talk to her.”
“She hates me, and not without reason. I should have never let things go so far.”
“If you get arrested and this goes to trial, she’s going to lose the case for you. I suggest you get her in line.” He met my eyes directly and nodded. The gleam in his eye made me wonder if he wanted me to seduce her.
“Come on, it’s not like that.” I shook my head.
“Like hell it ain’t. She’s in your bed for the past three days and you’re telling me you’re not tapping that? You’re telling me that little Ms. Pole Dancer hasn’t been on your pole?”
“She’s a good girl. She’s probably the most level-headed woman I’ve ever met. And no, for your information, I haven’t fucked her. She’s been sheltered, and her dad’s a preacher, for God’s sake.”
“Oh, nice. The sluttiest girl I was ever with was a PK.” He met my eyes with a wide grin like I was supposed to know what that meant before he lowered his voice. “You know, preacher’s kid. PK. It’s common knowledge that girls raised by preachers all have daddy issues. You throw a little dick and money her way, and she’ll be singing whatever song you want her to.”
I didn’t know what to think as I stared at the man. For someone as smart and talented as a defense attorney, he could sound like the dumbest sack of shit in world. The things he suggested pissed me off even more.
I hardened my glare, narrowing my eyes and leaning forward. “I said she’s not like that. You back off about her and let me handle it.” He leaned back and looked surprised.
“You love her.”
His words had my hackles up even more. “Don’t be ridiculous, man. I think she deserves better is all, and I’m not pushing her into anything she doesn’t like. You get that through your thick head right now.”
Something was boiling up inside of me, but I refused to believe that it was anything more than respect for a friend. I’d spent every day for the past two years with this girl, not counting weekends. Sure, I’d had impure thoughts more than once or even twice about her, but I hadn’t acted for a reason. She deserved better. She wasn’t like all the rest.
Mason snapped his fingers in front of my face. “What?” Suddenly, I heard my phone ring and went to pick it up.
“The things been ringing for three minutes,” he said.
Knowing I could end up in a long, drawn-out conversation with my sister-in-law Sandra, I answered the phone. I had put her off too long already. “Hey, Sandra, what’s going on?”
“Well, aside from you giving me the brush-off while I freak out over the shit I’m seeing on the news, nothing much.”
“I’m sorry I hadn’t been in touch; I’ve been busy getting things sorted. You know it’s not true. I’m being framed.”
She let out a giggle on the other end, reminding me how much she’d like to see me fall. The only difference was, unlike this person who was framing me, she needed me. Since my brother’s death, which left her penniless and was partly my fault, I’d taken care of her and my nephew. “You and Harbor sit tight at home, and I’ll be back to town as soon as possible.”
“I don’t know where Harbor is. He’s never around when I need him. I swear that kid is more and more like his father every single day.” She never missed an opportun
ity to remind me how much time I’d taken away from her and my brother’s relationship. It was one of her many digs, and as much as she liked dishing them out, she liked cashing my checks.
“He’ll turn up. He’s probably out somewhere trying to sober up before he comes back home. Call me if you need me.”
“Yeah, and I’m sure you’ll answer in your own time, as always.” That summed it up perfectly: in my own time. God knows she’d wasted enough of it. I ended the call and shoved the phone into my pocket.
Chapter Nine
Luna
I stayed in the room all evening until Mason left. The man wore on my nerves, and I couldn’t believe I’d agreed to let him represent me. Best lawyer or not, the guy was an asshole.
I finished my book and realized it was the last one. I’d blown through the entire series I’d brought in record time. I guessed that meant I’d have to interact a little with Gabriel, which wasn’t so terrible. He was charming and handsome, and maybe the more we talked, the more I’d start to remember.