“Don’t. Call. Me. That.”
Ed’s ears were pinned all the back as he smacked his lips. In the dusk she could see the bright whites of his eyes. All signs she’d been taught in grade school that indicated a potential attack. But as he moved, it wasn’t Sadie he was pointed at; it was Aaron.
This time, it was Aaron who screamed as Ed shook the ground with his powerful charge.
15
CONNER
Fifteen minutes earlier
“Veronica, we’re done here. There’s a detective on the hunt for you. She knows you’re here.”
“You meanDetective Harlow?” The way she changed her voice when she spoke the name gave Conner chills. How had he not known it was her this whole time? They’d had two conversations on the phone. Two full exchanges that should’ve been enough to tip him off. “I guess I forgot to mention my side hustle: acting. And let’s face it. You’re too kindhearted to call the police on me. It’s that determination of yours to see the best in people. It’s your greatest weakness.”
“What are you doing here?”
“What do you think?” She snaked a hand around his neck and pulled her cheek against his to speak against his ear. “I’m a little short on cash. Oh, you’ll spot me for the winning bid, right?”
“You need to leave.”
“Actually, you need to write me a check unless you want me to cause problems.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You should’ve turned me in when you had the chance. I stole way more than twenty-five grand, babe.” She kissed him on the cheek, no doubt leaving behind a smear of gaudy red lipstick. He immediately glanced at the opposite end of the audience to Sadie, hoping to catch her eye. To let her know this wasn’t what it no doubt looked like. But until he could be sure Veronica wasn’t going to stir up actual trouble, he had to stay put.
Even as he watched Marc exit the stage after Edith won the bid and march over to Sadie. He expected the confrontation, but not untilafterthe auction was over. They still had three more bachelors to flaunt. He hated leaving Sadie to deal with Marc on her own, but she was tough. So much tougher than she realized. She could handle him for a few minutes until he got there.
“And guess what?” Veronica said, turning his cheek with the sharp red nail of her index finger. “I’m taking you down with me.Unlessyou help me out. I need to get out of the country for a bit, but I can’t do it on an empty bank account. Let’s say fifty?”
“Fifty what?”
“Thousand.”
Conner nearly choked. “You’re insane.”
Veronica shrugged as she followed his gaze to Sadie. “Maybe I am. But it would be a shame to be locked behind bars. Your little girlfriend might get tired of waiting for you to serve twenty years and run off with someonenotin prison.”
Conner felt sick, but that didn’t mean he was giving in to any of this. He’d donate the five grand to the animal shelter because he would’ve done it anyway. But he wasn’t giving Veronica a dime. First chance he got, he was going straight to Ryder Grant. The police chief would know how to deal with this. “Go ahead,” he said to her, calling what he suspected was a bluff. But even if it wasn’t, he was done having his act of misguided kindness held over his head. As he watched Sadie start to run away from the park, he lost what was left of his patience. “Do your worst. Idareyou.”
She grabbed his arm when he went to leave. “Give me the money, Conner.”
“If you have anything left to say, you can say it to my lawyer.” He pointed to the older man in glasses standing behind the rows of folding chairs. “Mr. Jenkins is right over there.” Leaving Veronica, he hurried through the crowd to Marc, hoping he wasn’t too late to fix whatever had gone down in the time his ex wasted.
“Where did she go?” Conner demanded.
“Don’t know. Don’t care. I’m done with her,” Marc growled. “Done.”
It took a lot of restraint for Conner not to slug his best friend. Maybe a tooth knocked loose or a broken nose would get his attention. Or at least give him pause before he said something else he’d end up regretting. “You let her run off.”
“She’s a big girl. Or didn’t she tell you?”
“She’s your sister.”
“Not anymore. If you know what’s good for you—”
“Shut up.”
