CHAPTER SEVENTY-TWO

VEGAS:

Present day…

Our reunion had been short-lived, but oh-so-sweet. When Shondra called, she asked me to put her on speaker so she could fill Jae in at the same time.

Her news floored us. 

No wonder Shondra doted on Kale so much. No wonder I saw sadness fill her eyes every October. I shuddered to think what she went through, practically alone.

Later, when she returned home, we'd talk about why she didn't come to me, why she didn't want to share her burden.

But I already had an idea.

Shondra was a rock. Time and time again, she took care of everyone but herself. She put her life on hold for her mother, for me, and even for Axel. She didn't allow herself to crumble because we needed her.

Enough was enough.

When all this was over, I was going to fight to make sure my girl had a happily ever after. I was going to make sure she ended up with a man who'd make her happy and put her above himself.

As things stood, I wasn't sure Axel was the one.

Jae ended the call with his pilot and turned to me. He wanted to stay... with us, but his friend was about to make a life altering mistake and I couldn't fault him for wanting to go. 

I touched my lips to his, intending it to be a light kiss goodbye, but there were too many lost years in which we could have gotten to know one another and too many regrets that we didn't. 

Too much damn time wasted.

I arched into him. He must have expected it as he didn't stumble, instead he pressed me even closer, bending my back into the crook of his arm. Peace, the kind I only knew that night with him, danced through me like the slow swirl of his tongue in my mouth.

I moaned, loud enough to wake the dead. 

He nibbled on my bottom lip in sweet chastisement, his hands gripping my sides. "Vee, don't do that again. I'll never leave if you do." 

Years of pining for the other, our daily thoughts and nightly dreams had brought us to this moment. We had spent little time together, and the odds were against us going for the long haul, but somehow... someway, I knew we would.

***

I'd called Terrence to meet me for an early dinner at a cafe near the hospital. He sounded resigned when we'd hung up. Or maybe tired. February was right around the corner and his campaign for mayor was in full swing. 

We'd been to this cafe before. He always got the mushroom burger, and I was just about to order it when someone slipped into my booth.

Gertrude Ehrenberg. The woman who was funding most Terrence's campaign.

Her showing up startled me to say the least, but I hid it well behind a puzzled smile. "Mrs. Ehrenberg? What are you doing here?"

Her steely eyes met mine. "I think it's time you and I had a chat, don't you?"

I hadn't a clue what she was talking about. We'd met once at a fundraiser; the same night I saw Jae. After that, I'd only heard about her through Terrence.

Mrs. Ehrenberg recommended...

Mrs. Ehrenberg said...

Mrs. Ehrenberg told me to...

I thought little it until she was sitting across from me, pinning me down like a bug with a needle through its belly.

She has a hold over him.

"What do you want, Mrs. Ehrenberg? Where is Terrence?"

She didn't answer me. At least not right away. She sat back and became the epitome of ease by folding one hand over the other. "I want to tell you a story," she said, studying the enormous diamond on her left-ring finger, "and by the end, you'll understand." Her eyes met mine once more. This time there was steel, but also a hint of amusement. I sat back, heartily wishing the cafe served popcorn.

"Let me start from the beginning, shall I?"

I nodded. Wondering just what she had to say.