Liz covered her mouth with trembling fingers. Everyone else buzzed with conversation but he kept his focus only on Liz. "Wait? What? That's the secret you held for her?"
“Maybe he took out the yacht?” Luke suggested.
Rafe brushed off the feeling of betrayal and pointed Liz toward the dock. Peter often spent his free time on the bay and it would be his best guess on where the groom was now. "I gave her a chance to come clean. Let's find your brother. I had no idea she planned this wedding."
Liz clutched his arm as the others all followed behind them like a superhero team. While they were anything but, a small part of his mind screamed this was the wrong thing to do. He always helped Jen—but Liz mattered more, which meant protecting the Morgans. Rafe led the charge that might destroy his oldest friendship.
Chapter 20
Fume might be coming out of Elizabeth's ears like in one of those old-fashioned cartoons; her face felt that hot. Jennifer intended to manipulate her brother's grief! Peter was despondent over Belle's death and then she came forward like a spider.
Rafe had tried to protect Jennifer and he knew she lied about a possible pregnancy? Her entire body steamed. Clearly he still cared for her. Her hands clenched as they marched on board Peter's yacht. "Jennifer cannot get away with this."
"I agree. Peter is probably below deck." Rafe was in step beside her. At least he’d told her, so that now she could tell her brother. Tonight they would discuss his silence that had almost destroyed Peter.
The group made their way into his private rooms of the yacht. The coffee cup on the counter was still hot, but Peter didn’t answer her calls. "He has to be here."
Bells rung in the air like the universe disagreed.
Rafe raised his hand to stop the procession. "Are those church bells? We're at Peter's home. There’s no church on the property."
Luke, Caro, Elle with Brandon, and Ashley all followed their march when he began to walk them toward the dock again. Then two more women walked over to them on the pathway toward the yacht that also led them back to her house.
The moment they joined their group, Victoria said, "Alice and I heard part of your conversation with Jennifer earlier and we’re concerned, Rafe."
Rafe walked in front of the gang plank, when Liz’s sister, Victoria, said, "My brother just went into the Mirror Suite. John and Alice are with him, but please go and confirm what you know before it's too late."
Peter's house still had the tastes of his father’s decadant choices in this mansion’s style. Rafe took her hand and she let him as he said, "Let's hurry."
If they stopped this wedding long enough to tell Peter, then she'd forgive Rafe. Maybe. They ran across the lawn to get to the upstairs hall. "Rafe, thanks."
Victoria ran right next to her as they made it to the marble stair case. "I don't know why our father insisted we have our own hall like in Versailles, but if you need me to, I have no issues interrupting a wedding if Jennifer already started one. I can't imagine my brother agreeing to any of this."
"Thanks Victoria." Victoria had grown up with their father. In many ways Liz was lucky in her ignorance. She reached out and placed her hand on Victoria's shoulder. "I'm glad we're sisters. I want to be with Rafe when he tells Peter, to show my support. Since we came here, you three have been amazing. You didn’t have to accept us, but you did."
Her sister-in-law Alice, who stood outside the door, called out as they approached. "Peter is more than eager to listen. John warned him that something was fishy, and now Jennifer showed up in a wedding gown."
"What?" Liz said as Victoria gasped.
At the door, they formed a V with most of the family on either side behind her. Liz took a deep breath and then flung open the door.
Peter stood in his blue business suit next to Jennifer. Jennifer's white dress draped the floor near her. Peter crossed his arms and shook his head as they approached. Liz heard Jennifer say, "This was to be a surprise. I thought we agreed..."
Peter then said, "Absolutely not. I miss Belle. I love her. There is no wedding."
Liz held up her hand. It wasn’t enough, he needed the entire truth. "Wait, there is more."
"More?" Peter asked as he pointed to the white gown.
Jennifer tugged both of Peter's hands as if she wanted to make an escape out the back door. Her wild gaze landed on Liz and Rafe and then returned to Peter as she said, "Yes, Peter, I have to tell you something."
Peter's forehead bunched as his gaze went from his family toward his unwanted bride. He tugged his ear. "Now?"
"Yes." Jennifer nodded. "I should be the one to tell you first."
Liz couldn't take a chance that Jen would do the right thing, like Rafe believed. If they slowed down, Jennifer might do something to stop the truth. She led the group down the aisle closer to the center as people whispered in their seats.
Peter scratched his head. "What Jennifer?"
"I'm not pre..." Jennifer's confession was cut short when the door behind them slammed open and banged the wall.
Liz turned and then gasped.
Peter's wife, who had gone missing weeks ago, walked in with her brother Matthew. Belle shouted, "Peter!"
"Belle!" Peter's entire face brightened as he dropped Jennifer's hands.
Belle ran through the crowd in the hall and jumped into Peter’s embrace. "Peter."
Liz stepped closer to Rafe and took his hand for support. Her knees quaked. Belle returning was a miracle and she'd always been so amazingly nice to her and her mother. She clutched his hand and turned toward Matthew in the back. "Oh my goodness. How?"
"Matthew owned the ship,” Rafe said. “I texted him to make sure this morning, but he never answered."
He’d suspected Belle might be alive and hadn’t told her? Why not? She wagged her fingertip to her brother, who joined them in the aisle.
Most eyes of the audience were glued as Peter kissed Belle and Jennifer stood there, covering her face with the flower bouquet.
The second her brother came closer, her gaze narrowed. The woman he spoke about who had needed help must have been Belle. "Matthew, why did you keep Peter's wife away from him for twenty-four hours?"
"I didn't know who she was. I haven't met Victoria, Peter or John. The woman I found was groggy and at the hospital, she insisted she wanted to walk into her husband’s arms."
"Nice to meet you, then." Victoria Morgan waved and went toward her husband as she said, "Peter must be so happy. I'm excited for him."
Then the entire hall went deadly silent as Jennifer placed her hand on Peter's shoulder. She wiped her eyes and said, "Peter, I'm not pregnant. Go. Be happy."
Belle stepped out of Peter's arms. "Pregnant? I was gone a few weeks."
Jennifer winced and shook her head. "I tricked him, Belle." Peter's spine stiffened but Jennifer stepped around him and told Belle. "I lied and tricked him so I could take your place. He never touched me. I'm sorry."
Peter’s fingers curled around his lips.
"You should leave." Belle then turned away from Jennifer and tugged on Peter's arm. He followed his wife into a back room and the crowd gasped.
Jennifer's eyes were pools of tears and everyone gawked. Liz wasn’t sure what to do when Rafe let go of her hand and walked up the aisle to offer comfort to Jen, putting his hand on her back. The actress turned into him and hugged him as he said, "Jen, I'm proud of you."
Liz's entire body chilled. Rafe could forgive a lie that big from Jen. She had no words. She was numb.
Jennifer sobbed into Rafe's jacket and she clung to him. "I lost, Rafe."
Rafe reached out, squeezed her shoulders, but created a small distance. "No. You told the truth and didn't stop the reunion."
Matthew tapped her on the shoulder. She turned away, like she could pretend what just happened wouldn't be branded in her memories. She took a look time to inhale and then gave her brother a pencil-thin smile. "Matthew, why didn't you just tell Rafe everything yesterday? Why the secrecy?"
&n
bsp; He whispered his answer so not everyone heard him. "Rafe is working for you. I asked around for someone I could trust, but I refused to take him off your case for even a second. Has he found who is behind the ransom?"
"No, not yet." Goosebumps grew on her body. She knew Rafe was close. The air near her smelled of the woods, as he usually did. She ignored the sense as she said, "You should have brought Belle here last night."
“I didn’t know who she was exactly.”
Rafe joined them with Jennifer right next to him. The pit in her stomach grew as Rafe stopped and searched his pockets. "My phone... where is it? I was running a search..."
Jennifer in her white dress overpowered the conversation even if she didn't say a word. Liz rolled her eyes and avoided looking at Rafe. His phone probably fell out of his pocket while he chased Jen. "Order another."
Rafe shook his head. "I have never lost my phone in my life. The missing information from the murder investigation file was due to me today. It was my most direct lead to who is threatening you now."
The investigation that might help them stop whoever wanted to blackmail her. She'd just pay the money. She used both hands to create personal space between them as she stared at the mirrored ceiling. "Why are you protecting Jennifer?"
"She's my friend." Rafe's eyebrows arched like he was shocked she had a problem with his actions.
"That's it?" She crossed her arms and met his gaze.
Jen's finger pointed at both of them. "Rafe? Are you and Liz?"
"Not now Jen." Rafe stepped so close they were nose-to-nose. "Yes, Liz. Jen is just my friend."
From the moment he said yes, the room had warmed, the chill gone. All she saw was him. She hugged her waist and hoped he'd hug her.
"Rafe..." Jennifer's voice pierced the connection and Liz looked down at her feet.
Rafe took a deep breath and turned his head. "Jen?"
Jennifer picked up the hem of her wedding dress. "Can you get me out of here? I need to reach my car and disappear."
Rafe met her gaze again. He acted like he needed permission. Darn. She nodded and sighed. Rafe patted Jen's arm. "Sure. Stay next to me. Liz? Coming with?"
No. She'd not go and watch them say good-bye. She pointed to her brothers and Caro and then took Brandon from the nanny to hold him close. "I'll stay here with Luke and everyone. We'll be fine. When you get back, we'll talk."
Rafe helped direct Jennifer out of the room. Liz's spine became like ice as she saw how Jennifer clung to his arm. She hugged her waist and turned away so she didn’t have to watch them leave.
Caro's hand patted her arm. Liz lowered her head and then turned toward her as she said, "Liz?"
"Yes?" Liz sighed as she hugged Brandon near her shoulder to pretend she was fine.
Caro glanced at the door and then at her. Her brown eyes pierced right through her. "My brother spent a long time with Jen, before…"
Her words were like daggers that were being drilled in her heart. To be told she never had a shot? Liz needed a wall around her heart. All she could do was lift her chin and pretend. She'd be like ice. "I understand. She was in his heart first."
Caro shook her head. "No. I don't think that's it. Not entirely. He’s not in love with Jen; he said he mostly felt sorry for her."
The ice wall she was building cracked at its foundations. Drat. She couldn't exactly stop the energy that coursed through her body and she prayed she didn't break down. "How long were they together?" At least her words sounded proper and clipped.
Caro shrugged. "Middle school, high school and college, but that was a long time ago, and she dumped him to be with Peter. Honestly, my brother said he saw her more as another sister at this point. Don't take Jen’s drama seriously."
Or maybe Rafe didn't want to tell his sister he was in love with someone unavailable. The thought left her alone and stuck at the bottom of a ravine with no ladder. "She's free now and most important, he doesn't see her as part of The House of Morgan."
"I don't think he wants her." Caro never blinked. "And my brother is an idiot if he holds your last name against you. You have a child together."
Liz fixed her hair as nerves exploded in her. The pulse in her blood raced in hopes to have it all.
"Besides, I see the way he looks at you."
Her shoulders slumped. Looks and actions were different. She couldn't get her hopes up. No promises had been made. "We were just a fling and then he found my son for me, but I know he can't see past the father I myself never knew."
Caro walked with her out of the hall as the crowd dispersed. "People change from school into adulthood and my brother has been a single cop for almost as long as he was a teenager with Jen. If he says he wants to be with you..."
"He's not said that." Caro guided her to the stairwell where more people milled around. Liz handed Brandon back to Elle who sat across from them on a bench under a palm tree without a word.
Rafe's friend, Detective Perez, brushed by Caro’s shoulder and she grimaced as he walked further down the hall. "Jose. I'm sorry." She rolled her eyes as if annoyed at the interruption, though she had no idea why Jennifer invited him to this fiasco. Rafe’s sister came closer and asked, "What has he said, then?"
"We are living in the moment."
Caro dismissed Liz's fears with an elaborate hand gesture. "That doesn't sound like Rafe at all. Why don't you follow him? He's only going to Jen's car which is parked in the garage. It will be best if you two talk and get any misunderstanding out of the way."
"Okay." Liz slowly nodded. Perhaps she didn't have to be so negative. Perhaps Rafe's heart was open to her and he wasn't going to use her name against her. She went down one step and then turned. "Thanks Caro."
Caro reached forward and squeezed her hand. "My brother is yours for the taking if you like, though don't tell him I said that."
"Why?"
"He's the type who would want to chase you."
A huge smile grew on her face. At least Rafe's family approved. It was a start. Rafe saved Brandon. He was his father. Perhaps they could be a family. She'd have to open her heart. Liz gestured toward Matthew and Luke near the door of the ornate hall. "Caro, you picked a good one yourself. Luke is steady and a stand up guy."
Caro winked and glanced over her shoulder to point toward her mother in her gray silk uniform. Her brother's face brightened with love and Caro said, "I think so. Now go. We won't let anything happen to Brandon, except my mother wants a few minutes to hold him."
Pilar took Brandon from Elle and made baby noises.
"That I believe and thanks." Liz slid her hand down the wooden railing, her heels clicking against the wood floors. If Rafe's heart wasn't engaged, could he love her? She turned out of the crowd into the garage. A car engine already purred in the port so Liz maneuvered past the guest cars.
Rafe stood in the garage next to a silver Maserati. She waved and was about to call his name when Jennifer wrapped her arms around Rafe, closed her eyes and kissed his cheek.
Neither of them moved.
Her heart lurched. Could she disappear? What were they doing? Her voice reflected her pain as she said, "Rafe!"
She turned on her heels.
"Liz, wait!"
Liz bolted on the gravel drive to the side steps of the mansion so she could avoid everyone seeing her tears. There was absolutely no way she'd give her heart to someone who clearly loved someone else. She'd been a stupid fool. The tears on her cheeks didn't matter. All that mattered was that she needed space to breathe.
Chapter 21
Elizabeth shouldn’t cry but she couldn’t stop. Rafe had been her hero. She never should have brought him into her bed or let him get to her heart.
Brandon. She needed her son. As she darted through and heard people's voices, she remembered the threats. Her brother John announced to everyone, “We’re now going to celebrate Belle’s return.”
Celebrating needed to be later, at least for her. Liz needed to find Brandon, and hold him. It wasn't good
for her son to see her a crying mess, but she couldn't leave him here either.
She slipped out of the crowd and into the kitchen to find Elle. The nanny wasn't there but she followed the staff’s directions toward the patio back door where she saw Elle and Ashley kept a watchful eye from the same bench she was in earlier. The second Liz closed the screened door of the private patio, Elle jumped to stand up with concern in her gaze. "Ms. Morgan, are you okay?"
Her body wanted to cave in on itself. She needed time to lick her wounds and find her game face, but Rafe was probably seconds behind her. She had to get out. Her heart sped up. "Where is Brandon?"
Elle pointed toward her mother right outside the door. "He's with Pilar Soliz and your mother. They wanted alone time with him."
His two grandmothers. Rafe's mother seemed more than capable of handling anyone who came at her. She had survived thirty plus years working for Mitch Morgan. Her heart slowed down, but then she heard Rafe outside the house door behind her. She practically ran as she said, "On the patio?"
"Yes, they are all right outside."
"Thanks Ashley." She waved and rushed out to see her son. Humidity pressed against her skin the instant she stepped outside from the air conditioned patio. If she took Brandon, he'd see her tears. She hugged her waist and then realized her brother sat with them.
If anyone could protect Brandon, it was Luke. Caro sat right next to him. She cleared her throat so she sounded normal and then walked over and tapped her brother on his shoulder, "Caro, Luke?"
"Yes?" Her brother's blue eyes met her own and she prayed he didn't ask questions. Rafe would soon find her.
"Liz." Rafe's voice carried across the patio.
Every nerve in her body was frazzled. "Can you walk Elle and Brandon home if I'm not back soon?"
Again Rafe's voice pierced the air. "Liz!"
"Please?" Any second he'd be here and she didn't need to hear his excuses. He loved someone else. Jennifer’s face practically glowed with happiness. The image replayed in her mind, over and over again. "I need to get out of here."
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