“You’re not just getting rid of me so you can do something stupid, are you?”
“This whole plan is stupid, and you know it,” he pointed out.
“Gee, the fact that you avoided giving me any reassurance was noticed, buddy.”
“Melissa, this is all going to be over soon. I promise.”
“Let me guess. You want me to trust you?”
He squeezed her hand. “Just a little while longer. Play nice?”
She rolled her eyes. “You know better than anyone that playing nice is never as fun.”
But she finally gave in and turned away, headed to the bar. Like she wanted, she could feel eyes on her. Courtney’s for one, but also strangers’. With every step she took, almost an entire leg was exposed through the slit, and she could feel the cold air of the ballroom on her back. A number of tables were set up toward the front of the room, with a large setup of screens for some sort of audio-visual presentation. Hopefully they’d be out of here long before that. Somehow, when she thought of the illegal things Gage had done, she never imagined him sitting through some boring PowerPoint.
At the bar, she put in an order of Diet Coke, careful to avoid alcohol. The bartender had just given her the boring drink when someone leaned next to her at the bar. “You don’t look like you’re working.”
“You don’t look like you’re pretending not to know me,” muttered Melissa.
“Have you done it yet?” asked Courtney, the smell of tequila strong on her breath.
Well, that would explain why she was suddenly so much less paranoid.
“We only just got here. Don’t worry, your dirty work is going to get done.”
“It better,” warned Courtney, leaning in closer. “Because if it doesn’t, you know what will happen to you. You can bet your ass I won’t let your boy toy get away scot-free either.”
She had to laugh at that. “You think you could stop Gage? You don’t even have any of your boy toys here, and you’d need an army to hurt him.”
“Hey, Gage might be good at what he does, and he might be good in the sack, but he can’t stop bullets. Got that?”
“Yeah, I got it.” Fantastic. Even if her head didn’t get blown off tonight, she was going to get shot. She might need something stronger than a Diet Coke.
Gage gritted his teeth as he watched Melissa talk to Courtney. He wanted to run over and break them up, but Toni was just about to get there. There were too many parts in motion right now. He had to keep his cool until the last minute. Finally his phone beeped and confirmed that Toni was there. She’d skipped the process of entering the party altogether and in her message directed him to have Melissa meet her at the roof. Gage made his way through the crowd, but he was interrupted as Courtney moved to stand in front of him.
“Hey, handsome,” she said in a slightly slurred voice. “Wanna dance?”
At least she wasn’t bothering Melissa anymore. “How much have you had to drink?”
“As much as I want. It’s my party.”
“No, it’s a party for your father’s company. A company which, as I understand, isn’t going to you at all.”
Her fake smile immediately dropped, and her eyes got that vicious spark he was more familiar with. “So you think you know things now?”
“I know this and that.” It was the revelation that had hit Melissa up last night. It had been Sarah who had left unintentional breadcrumbs for them to follow. “From what I understand, old traditions die hard. You’re supposed to be a stay-at-home wife and mother by now, not running a company. Your dad seems like a traditionalist. I’m sure he wants his stockholders in good hands. Namely, your brother’s.”
“You shouldn’t talk about things that don’t involve you,” she hissed.
“That’s going to change, isn’t it? As soon as word of Dawson, aided by his mistress, taking seventeen million from the company comes out, that company is going to be all yours.”
“That’s a pretty little tale you’re telling. I know nothing about it,” she said in mock innocence, as though she suddenly cared whether someone listened in.
“I hope I haven’t disturbed your night. I live to make you happy,” he said dryly. His phone dinged, and he glanced down. “Oh, look.” Gage held the phone up for her. “Your brother just got seventeen million dollars richer.”
Courtney wrenched the phone from his hand, and a smile spread across her face as she saw the confirmation that seventeen million was now in Dawson’s account. “You actually did it. You genius son of a bitch.”
“Now we take that thing off Melissa’s neck?”
Courtney let out a little laugh. “Please. Do you think I’m stupid? The ink, or whatever electrical shit this is, isn’t even dry. Once I get what I want, she’ll be free. I don’t know why you wouldn’t trust me.”
Gage pulled the cell phone out of her hands. Her reneging on the deal (again) was hardly a surprise, but it was an experience where Gage found himself sorely tempted to hit a woman in the face, something he never thought he’d want to do.
When the witch was finally gone, he rolled his shoulders to try to center himself. “Just a little bit longer,” he muttered to himself. “Just a little bit longer,” he repeated as he made his way to Melissa.
She was staring at him intently, obviously aware of who he’d been talking to. “What just happened?”
“I gave Courtney what she wanted. She’s pretty fucking happy about it, too.”
Melissa narrowed her eyes. “Happiness is not an emotion she should be allowed to feel.”
“So I’m taking it that your conversation with her didn’t go much better?”
“I don’t know about that. I think it went pretty well. Actually, I—”
“Toni’s upstairs. She’s on the roof. According to her, if you go up the northwest stairwell, you should go right up to her. A few minutes, and you’ll finally be free. I want you to get that done before Courtney decides to do anything stupid.”
“You think she’s going to get rid of all the evidence that quickly?”
“I think she’s drunk on liquor and on power. I don’t want to test a volatile situation like that.”
“Okay, okay. I’ll go upstairs. When this is done, I have things to tell you.”
“And I can’t wait to hear them. I’ll see you soon.” He watched her intently as she walked away, making sure no one stopped her. It was vital that she and Toni were uninterrupted upstairs. He had no idea how many hostiles were around them right now. He spotted Courtney on the other side of the room, laughing loudly at something that was probably only funny because of her blood-alcohol level. Then he searched out Dawson. He’d found the guy easily enough the first time he’d looked, but now he wasn’t anywhere—
A hand closed on Gage’s shoulder. “Hey, you.” The recognizable voice of Dawson Vance. “Remember me?”
Fuck. Well, at least he found him.
“We’re going to have to hurry,” said Melissa as Toni worked at the back of her neck.
“Gee, thanks for telling me we’re in a hurry. If I didn’t have you telling me that, how would I ever know?”
Melissa took a deep breath and tried to control her temper. She appreciated everything Toni was doing to help her, but damn it, she was allowed to rush her. She needed to get back to the party and regroup with Gage. “How did you finally figure out how to get this thing off?” asked Melissa.
“Like I said originally. I had to find the right frequency she was using to control the device and I copied it. So now I’m able to tell it not to go off.”
“So it was possible to take it off? She may not have been lying about letting me go?”
“Yes. There’s a chance the crazy witch wasn’t going to kill you. Please don’t tell me you’re feeling bad.”
“Not bad. Just curious about what could’ve happened. The what-ifs....”
“Don’t think too much about what-ifs. Keep you awake at night and do nothing helpful.”
It was good advice. It
would be best if Melissa shut herself off from the what-ifs forever. But she knew she couldn’t do that. As long as Gage was around, the what-ifs were ever present. What if he never talked to her again? What if after this they had nothing to do with each other? Every time with him seemed like the last time, and how long until it was actually true? Would they have a chance to celebrate after tonight? Or would he get the fuck out and try to put all this behind him? Try to put her behind him?
Toni sighed and put down her tools. “I said something wrong, didn’t I?”
Melissa shook her head. “Of course you didn’t. My mind is just... a mess.”
“This have something to do with Gage?”
She hated to think that she was that easy to read, but it wouldn’t be difficult to guess the source of her problems.
“Gage is Gage. You know, if you love him for who he is, you’ll be good. If you ever want anything else, you’re probably shit out of luck.”
“I don’t know what I want. I’ve always had my future in my sights. Husband, home, kids. How can that mesh with a guy like Gage?”
“Family, home, and kids are pretty common. What if he wants the same thing?”
Melissa tilted her head and narrowed her eyes. “Come on. You know Gage.”
“I know a lot of people. The only consistent thing I’ve learned is that people can surprise you.” Toni looked her in the eyes. “Well, before you go wallowing in self-pity, I suggest you ask him what he wants. Ever since you two have been working together, the only thing that I know for sure is that all he’s ever wanted is you. How’s that for a what-if?”
“I’ve got a good one,” said the all-too-familiar chilly voice of Courtney Vance. “What if your hired help was meeting with strangers behind your back?”
Melissa and Toni both stood abruptly and turned to face Courtney. Melissa could tell by her uneven steps that she was still a tad inebriated, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t dangerous. “What do you want from us?” asked Melissa, standing firm. “Didn’t Gage show you that we finished our job?”
“A boss’s work is never done. Didn’t you know that? And I’m going to be the boss.”
“Give it up, Courtney,” warned Toni. “Melissa’s not going to be your puppet any longer.”
“Funny you should say that.” Courtney pulled her phone out of her clutch. “I was thinking the same thing.” After a few swipes of her finger, she slammed the tip of her pointer finger onto the glass screen of the smartphone and stared expectantly at Melissa.
Melissa tensed all over, waiting for the explosion. Sure enough, as Toni threw the plastic bag in her hands away from her, it let out a loud boom as fire engulfed it. Holy shit. Courtney wasn’t bluffing at all. The bomb had been real, and it almost killed her. Courtney Vance tried to kill her. “What the fuck?”
Courtney stared in confusion at the burning remnants of the bag. “I don’t....”
“You’re a little late to the party,” said Toni. “I just got it off her.”
Courtney pointed at Melissa in shock. “No! She’s still wearing it!”
“I’m wearing a decoy. So you wouldn’t know once I got back to the party. I didn’t realize I only needed to wear the decoy for thirty seconds before you tried to blow my head off!”
“That’s not fair! That was supposed to be on your neck!”
Melissa shook her head in disbelief. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t fair to you. Next time you put a bomb on me, I’ll try to be nicer.”
“What do you think you’re doing?” said a familiar-sounding voice.
Melissa looked up to see Dawson Vance behind Courtney with a shocked look on his face.
Courtney jerked around, seemingly more surprised than any of them to see her brother there. “What.... What are you doing here?”
“I brought him.” Gage stepped out of the shadows.
Courtney immediately went into survival mode. “Dawson, you wouldn’t believe what just happened. These people brought me up here to rob me! They want to take all my money!”
Dawson shook his head, unfazed by her feeble excuse. “I know everything,” he said. “I know what you’ve been up to.”
Courtney kept on shaking her head. “You don’t. You can’t know. Everything I’ve done, they forced me to do!”
“I don’t think so,” said Hart.
Melissa looked around and saw her brother and Hart with a stack of papers in their arms. “We’ve been spending the last few days digging up every piece of dirt we could on your sister. All for internet searches for contesting wills, all the shady people she was in contact with when she wanted you out of the picture. Before she decided simply framing you would be easier.”
“No!” she screamed. “I don’t know what they’re talking about! They are all liars. I’m family, Dawson. These are just strangers.”
“Relax,” said Dawson. “Of course I’m not just taking their word for it. I look into things. I research. And until right now, I thought they were full of shit. But that doesn’t explain why you’re so afraid.”
“She’s afraid because she’s scared. She tried to kill me, and now I’m off her leash.” said Melissa. For the first time in days, a smile of victory crossed her face. They finally had Courtney right where they wanted her. And when Courtney reached inside her clutch for something, Melissa’s smile only got wider. “It’s not fair,” she warned as Courtney came to the same realization herself.
“I don’t.... What....”
“You shouldn’t drink and play with guns,” Toni warned. “What if you end up losing it?” Toni then held up the gun that Melissa had picked out of Courtney’s purse when she was too inebriated to notice during their conversation earlier.
And just like that, Courtney snapped. “What is wrong with you people? Why can’t you just follow simple directions? I’m not crazy! Albert was my father too, and I get nothing.”
Gage tilted his head. “Millions of dollars in a trust fund?” he offered.
“Right. Nothing. Dawson can go on making millions and billions the rest of his life, and I’m completely shut out. In a few years, I’m not gonna have anything.”
Melissa couldn’t tell whether she’d totally blown a gasket or she honestly thought that millions of dollars was nothing. “Invest the money. There’s plenty you can do to keep income coming in. Hell, with your connections, you can get a job in a heartbeat.”
Telling her to get a job was obviously not the right move. Melissa could practically see the fire in her eyes as she started running forward. Melissa was so shocked, she spent a few stupid seconds standing like a deer in the headlights before she tried to move out of the way, but it was too late as Courtney’s body slammed into hers.
The momentum of the hit had her falling backward. Melissa managed to steady herself as she got closer to the edge, but then Courtney’s closed fist slammed into Melissa’s cheek. Melissa fell back but was already preparing for the next blow. This time, she was able to duck away, and Courtney stumbled forward.
If she wasn’t drunk and in the middle of some kind of mental breakdown, Melissa was sure she would’ve stopped in time. But as though it were in slow motion, Courtney continued stumbling forward until she was right at the edge. Melissa could hear the stampede of footsteps behind her but was unable to look away.
“Courtney!” called Dawson right as he was about to reach her. But he was too late, and just like that, she disappeared over the edge.
Melissa wrapped Gage’s jacket tighter around her. She was so tired, but every time she closed her eyes, all she saw was the last few moments of her life.
A snapping sound pulled her out of the horrible memory, and she saw Gage in front of her. “Did you literally snap me out of my thoughts?” She looked up at him.
“It worked,” he said casually as he leaned against the wall next to her. “Besides. Didn’t look like there was anything good going through that pretty little head of yours.”
Melissa let out a little laugh. “Flattery will get you everywhere.
Are Toni and Hart still here?”
“No. They scattered. Didn’t want to be around if the police showed up.”
“Peter said the same thing. Funny since the cops never came anyway.”
“Vance had a point. It would overshadow this whole party if Courtney was found.”
Melissa couldn’t imagine covering up a family member’s death. Though she supposed that she knew someone who had faked their own death. Maybe she wasn’t as different from the Vances as she wanted to be. “Gage, I need to ask you something.”
“I’m all ears.”
She didn’t look at him. Instead, she took a deep swallow and looked in front of her. The Vance party was still in full swing, with people talking and dancing and laughing as though nothing had happened. “Will you go on a date with me?”
“What?”
“I know this is bad timing. I mean, I basically just killed someone and—”
“You didn’t kill anyone.”
“I stood there. I just stood there and watched. I could’ve stopped it. I know I could’ve.”
“Courtney was off the rails. She tried to kill you first. You had no responsibility to her at all.”
She shook her head. All those perfectly logical excuses didn’t sit right with her. “I had a responsibility to me. I hate to live with regrets. I don’t want any more. Not if I can help it. So right now I need to ask you. Do you want to go on a date with me? Or are you going to run off and pretend like nothing ever happened? You’ve never wanted to talk the future or labels, but right now is the time. We need to put some label on this. So tell me right now—what am I to you?”
He stared down at her, and for a flash of a second, she was sure he was going to walk away and leave her. But then he said one simple word.
“Mine.”
Lucky Liar
The Arrogant Thief Page 15