16. Laurene
CHAPTER 16
Laurene
“If it were me, I’d have just beat her ass right there,” Gigi called from the fitting room. “Party was already ruined after what you said about Reese and his daddy. What’s one more fight?”
We’d been at it for hours. Next to me, Noelle was just scrolling through work emails on her phone.
“I can have some of my boys run up on her. I know where she likes to shop too. Couple quick shanks to the gut, twist it so the wound doesn’t close. No one would know,” Gigi continued.
Why was Toby even there? He doesn’t just happen to be places—he places himself there. Was it a warning? A taunt? Or just Toby playing his little games again?
“We’re not killing Blair.” I pinched the bridge of my nose. “And for the last time, what boys? The ones you know who drive Teslas and buy craft kombucha in bulk?”
Gigi huffed. “I know people. Movers and shakers who are not afraid to get dirty.”
“You know gangsters?” wide-eyed, Noelle asked incredulously.
“Noelle, that’s outdated. ‘Street consultants,’ babe. Keeps it classy,” Gigi quipped from behind the curtain. “Am I sexy? ”
She dramatically yanked open the curtain, showing off a sparkly dress that was way too tight. Walter let out a little “arff” from my lap, his old body wiggling when he saw her.
“I think Walter’s already given his answer.”
Gigi blew Walter a kiss. “You’re such a good boy, hyping up your mama.”
Harold is sleeping with Blair. The epiphany was jarring and unexpected. I had no clue how to tell Reese. He’d lose it, and that would be the end of his already fragile relationship with his father.
Gigi twirled, admiring her reflection.
“Sexy.” Noelle nodded. “Very, very sexy. But this is what you want to wear for church?”
“It’s not for church.” Gigi giggled. “I lied to get you here.”
“What is this for, then?” Noelle asked.
“Court.”
Not court again.
“Don’t tell me you’re still stealing?” I asked while Noelle’s eyes widened.
“First of all, that was one time. ” Gigi glared at me. “It was a dare. But no, I’m not the one in trouble. Thanks for that vote of confidence, big sis.”
I sighed. If Toby knew something, I was going to find out.
“Since y’all so damn nosy, I’m supporting my homegirl. She was doing a hundred in a thirty-five zone, but only because she knew my IBS was acting up. How can I not support?”
Walter let out a small bark.
“That’s right, Walter baby. Anyway, I’ll change. I didn’t love the look on y’all’s faces.”
“We’ve been here for hours, Gigi!” I called angrily as she shut the curtains.
My mind wandered. I had to talk to Blair. The idea felt suffocating. Maybe Reese was right. But what if it wasn’t her, and I tipped my hand? The lilies and hidden camera felt too deliberate to ignore. Was this payback? Was I overthinking again ?
No, I wasn’t overreacting. I had to trust my instincts. They’d never failed me before—at least, not when it mattered.
Noelle pushed a piece of hair behind her ear. “You alright, Laurene?”
I scanned the boutique. Nobody looked out of place.
“Noelle, I—” A heavy feeling constricted my throat. I took a deep breath to center myself. “I need to talk to you about something important.”
“What’s up?”
I counted back from ten as I petted Walter. “Someone’s trying to blackmail me.”
For a moment, her face froze in disbelief. Then, to my horror, she let out a bright, incredulous laugh. “No way. You’re messing with me, right? Who blackmails someone these days? Isn’t that, like, old-school villain stuff?”
Her reaction was so Noelle—earnest, a little na?ve, but with just enough edge to keep me from rolling my eyes.
“I wasn’t honest about everything that happened on the boat with Conrad…”
“You’re serious.” Noelle sat up straighter, her usual lightness replaced by sharp focus.
“Absolutely.”
“Oh my God.” Noelle paled, and her hazel eyes dulled. “Are you safe? I mean, this sounds dangerous. What are they?—”
“The day after I got back, I got a threatening note. Someone shoved and dragged me while I was jogging. Toby’s acting weirdly friendly. And then there’s the camera I found in the bridal suite last week. Blair. Oh, Reese got sent lilies—just like the ones at Conrad’s funeral. It’s all too much. I feel like I’m losing it?—”
“Slow down.” Noelle leaned in, her tone calm but firm, her practicality now cutting through my spiraling thoughts. “What’s their angle? Are they looking for money? Stocks? What exactly are they holding over you?”
I hesitated. “It’s…complicated. ”
“Complicated.” Noelle’s eyes narrowed. “Have you called the police? Does Reese know? Your mom?—”
“He knows. I haven’t told anyone yet but you.”
Noelle shook her head, a crease forming between her brows. “If someone is watching you?—”
“I know!” I interrupted, frustrated. “But you know as well as I do that the whole town would know about it in less than an hour if I went to the police.”
Noelle clutched her phone. “You can’t just handle this on your own. Keeping secrets got us here in the first place.”
I moved Walter, then reached into my bag. I held up the camera for her.
“Shoot, you were serious.” Noelle took the camera, and her face hardened, her fingers trembling. “This camera could be from anywhere. Do we know if it’s for sure related?”
“Are you kidding me? It doesn’t just coincidentally show up where I am.” I felt my pulse quicken, my voice rising. “After everything that’s happened, you really think this isn’t related?”
She paused, eyeing the camera.
“Can you help me figure out what’s on this? Maybe where it came from?”
I hated to bring Noelle into this, but she was my only hope. She had all the resources and connections I didn’t, thanks to her tech company. And I trusted her to keep it quiet.
She studied the camera in her hands. “So, what really happened that night?”
The memory tightened my chest.
“Conrad and I got into it. He…grabbed me. I never told you that.”
Her eyes snapped up, catching the hesitation in my voice. “He what? When?”
“I went downstairs. Conrad was there. We exchanged words,” I exhaled sharply, my voice clipped with frustration. “Reese came down. That’s what started the argument. ”
Noelle’s brows furrowed. “Okay, but why would that set him off like that?”
“Conrad had been taking Reese’s ideas—stealing them—and passing them off as his own. And Reese just had to sit there and take it.”
Noelle nodded, but I pressed on. “We were planning to expose him. That was the plan. But…Conrad found out about us. He was gonna tell on us.” I swallowed hard. “And Reese lost it.”
Noelle exhaled. “Shit.”
I nodded.
I watched Noelle look down at the camera before sliding it into her purse. Gigi stepped out of the dressing room, her arms full of clothes.
“What’s the vibe, ladies?” she asked, glancing between us, completely oblivious. “I couldn’t decide on one dress, so I’m getting all seven.”
Noelle and I changed the subject. I didn’t want Gigi involved. We stepped outside, and Gigi was still blabbing away. Then, I saw them across the street. I saw Blair talking to Mayor Castillo near the curb.
They were so close, faces almost touching…
Gigi held up Walter’s leash in my face. “Oh! Before I forget, Lu, do you mind taking him home with you?” Giving the small dog a quick kiss on the head, she headed in the other direction. “I’ve got this party up in the Bay, and I’m already running late.”
I looked down at Walter.
“Thanks, babe!” she called over her shoulder, hopping into her convertible. “Love ya! I’ll be back in three days! Make sure he takes his joint supplements.”
I glanced back across the street, where Blair had just stepped toward her car, still deep in conversation with the mayor.
Noelle stepped beside me, her gaze darting across the street. “What’s going on over there?”
“It’s Blair. I think she could be the one doing the blackmailing. ”
Her eyes shot wide open, and she turned to me, face full of shock. “You think it’s her ? Why didn’t you tell me that part?”
“I’m not sure, but I need to find out before?—”
Blair fumbled with her car door, oblivious to us watching.
“I can’t just stand here,” I muttered.
Noelle’s voice dropped to a sharp whisper. “Are you out of your mind ? Don’t! You don’t know what could happen if you do this.”
Dante walked to his car, peeling out quickly, and as he passed, I saw a seal on the back of his car.
I couldn’t react because Blair swung the door open. I started to turn.
Noelle grabbed my arm. “Wait! What if she sees you? What if this turns into something way worse ?”
“I can’t just let her walk away.” I couldn’t shake the feeling that Blair could help figure this out.
“Laurene!”
I quickly turned, scooping Walter up as we headed toward Erik’s car. I hoped he wouldn’t mind if I took his car on a little joyride. I needed to buy my own car but I refused to use my parents. I buckled Walter into the passenger seat to keep him safe.
Blair’s headlights flashed on, and I held my breath, watching her car pass. I waited a beat before starting mine, doing a quick U-turn to follow.
What am I doing?
I gripped the wheel, focusing on keeping a safe distance. If I hadn’t taken that photo of Blair all those years ago, maybe none of this would be happening. Maybe she wouldn’t be unraveling, and I wouldn’t be chasing her, not knowing what comes next.
What was the plan when she parked? Pretend to be the police and yell “Freeze”?
Reese should be here.
The headlights cut through the winding road as Blair’s car swerved up the hill .
The road narrowed, hugging the coastline like a jagged ribbon. A few cars sped by, their lights flashing across my windshield, blinding me for a moment, but I stayed focused. Blair’s taillights flickered ahead, weaving through the dark curves.
I glanced at Walter. “We got this, don’t we?”
His ears twitched, and he gave a sharp bark. Good boy.
I shifted, still tracking her car, but something felt off. Where the hell was she going?
This was my neighborhood. Beyond our house, there were Noelle’s parents, Reese’s family, the Whitmores, and a few others. The Sterlings lived near the wharf.
Her brake lights flickered again. I caught a glimpse of her head down. Was she texting?
I closed the gap. A deer darted out from the woods, its body a blur against the road. Blair’s car swerved, tires screeching, barely missing the animal.
I slammed on the brakes.
“I’m so sorry, Walter, are you okay?”
I quickly glanced at Walter, looking for any injuries, but he seemed more surprised than hurt.
Blair’s car jerked back onto the road, speeding up. She must have realized I was following. She was trying to lose me.
As I rounded the bend, a sharp thud sent my car lurching. I gasped, white-knuckling the wheel, but it was too late. The car veered right, grinding to a halt.
Heart racing, I realized what had happened.
“No, no, no.” I slammed my hand on the wheel.
Turning on the hazards, I threw the car into park and stepped out. The right front tire was completely blown.
“Damn.” I’d hit a pothole, and Blair was long gone.
Walter poked his head out, eyes watching me as if waiting for instructions.
“You’re a man. Fix the tire.”
Walter barked in protest.
I took out my phone. I only had eight percent battery left .
The signal flickered between one bar and nothing. Barely. I looked around—no traffic, no lights, just the silence of the cliffs and the distant sound of waves crashing far below.
Walter growled, low and guttural. I spun toward him. His small body was rigid, hackles raised, eyes locked on the trees.
“Walter?”
His growl deepened, then he started barking, sharp and urgent.
I stared into the inky blackness of the woods. Nothing. Just shadows. But I still felt like something was out there.
For a split second, I thought I saw movement—quick, fleeting between the trees. My throat dried up. I held my breath, watching to see if something—or someone—was there.
I was stuck. That empty road felt creepy; the silence was heavy.
I pulled out my phone—5% left. I lingered over Reese’s name on my screen. My pride swelled. I really didn’t want to ask him for help again so soon. But I promised we’d do this together.
I hit the button, holding my breath as it rang.
He picked up after two rings. “Laurene?”
“Hey,” I said, forcing my voice to sound casual. “Don’t freak out or anything, but I need a little help again.”
There was a brief pause on his end. Then I could hear sheets shifting. “Tobias?”
“I blew a tire. I’m fine,” I added quickly, but the words felt hollow. “But I’m kind of stranded out here in the middle of nowhere.”
“You’re gonna give me a heart attack with these calls, Laurene. Where are you this time?”
I told him where I was, but that creepy feeling from the park came back.
“I’m on my way,” he said, and I could hear him getting out of bed. “Get in the car and lock your doors. Don’t go anywhere.”
“Reese, you don’t have to?— ”
Walter growled again, making me look back at the trees. Then, Walter jumped out the window and into the bushes.
“Walter!” I yelled. “Walter, no!”
“What’s going on?” Reese shouted.
“Walter just jumped out the window!” I scrambled to chase after him, the phone still pressed to my ear. “I’ve got to get him!”
“Laurene, don’t go in there alone.”
I fought my way through those bushes, branches tearing at me, calling for Walter. His barks echoed in the distance, guiding me, but I could barely keep up.
“Walter!” I sprinted through the trees, the ground uneven beneath my feet. The dog was a blur in the shadows, moving impossibly fast—nothing like the senior dog I knew.
“Laurene! Laurene!” Reese’s voice boomed from the phone, but I couldn’t stop.
“Walter, come on!” I shouted, my breath ragged, lungs burning as I fought through the thick underbrush. The sharp branches scraped my skin, and the sound of my pulse pounded in my ears, the rhythm of my frantic steps matching the frantic beat of my heart.
I tried hard, but Walter still outpaced me.
How the hell was this old dog moving like this?
I tripped over a root, the rough bark scraping against my ankle, and then the world turned upside down. A gasp escaped my lips as I hit the ground hard, arms flailing, my body tumbling down the steep incline, the sounds of rocks and dirt crunching under my weight filling my ears. My phone clattered to the ground.
The impact knocked the air from my lungs. It all went black and silent for a bit, my head throbbing and my ears buzzing.
I flipped over, short of breath, muscles killing me. I couldn’t lose Walter.
Dirt and leaves flew out of my mouth. I made a face, and struggled to my feet, grabbing my phone.
Gigi would owe me big-time .
Walter barked again, closer. I used the trees and roots to pull myself out of the small alcove. Annoyance gave way to fear; I had to reach him.
“Walter!” I shouted again, my voice hoarse.
He barked in response, and I pressed forward, swiping at the leaves stuck in my hair, ignoring the sting of the branches that scratched at my skin. I burst from the trees, a wreck.
Bristling, Walter barked wildly at a nearby tree. Stiff and growling, he glared at the branches.
“Walter, I know you didn’t—” Following his gaze, I saw the cause of his frenzy.
On a branch, a fat raccoon stared.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I muttered, wiping a hand over my face, half laughing, half furious. “A fucking raccoon? Really? ”
Walter continued barked, his whole body trembling, oblivious to the fact that our terrifying intruder was just a glorified trash panda. Fuming, I scooped him up.
“You scared the hell out of me for this ?”
Walter squirmed for a moment, still focused on the raccoon. I glared up at the animal that had sent us both into this ridiculous chase.
“You better stop, Walter. That thing can take you. You’re out of your weight class here.”
The raccoon gave us one more bored glance before turning and scurrying higher up the tree.
“You and your mama owe me a new Diamante skirt! You hear me? Five hundred dollars!”
I turned and started making my way back through the trees, my legs aching with every step.
“You’re lucky I love you,” I muttered under my breath. Walter finally settled down in my arms, his little head resting on my shoulder, tuckered out.
The farther we walked, the more my relief of it not being a person began to sink in .
I imagined worst-case scenarios and a lurking stranger. Frustrated and breathless, I saw the car.
“Finally,” I breathed, dumping Walter in the passenger seat. He wagged his tail, unfazed.
“You’re a menace, you know that?” I grumbled, scratching his head.
Reaching for my phone, I glanced at the screen—1%. Of course. I tapped the screen, but the phone went black, dead.
“Great. Perfect,” I sighed, slumping against the side of the car. Alone, no phone, covered in mud, stranded. It couldn’t get worse.
Walter was out like a light, snoring away while I waited, grumbling. Soon after, I saw Reese’s headlights cutting through the dark. I stood up straight.
He got out of the car; he looked concerned and frustrated. Furrowing his brows, he scanned the area, slammed the door, and walked toward me.
“If I get another call from you out alone at night?—”
He stormed toward me, then stopped, surprised by my state and Walter’s snoring.
“Don’t you dare,” I warned, flipping him off as I wiped the mud from my cheek. “It’s not funny.”
Reese snorted again, his shoulders shaking as he fought to contain his laughter.
“I mean it, Reese, shut up. Just fix this tire.”
Reese let out a hearty laugh then got to work. He walked around the car, checking out the damage. I saw him kneeling, focused on the tire.
It reminded me of the times I used to watch him work on his bike. The way his brow furrowed, his tongue poking out, deep in concentration as I knew his brain was running a mile a minute. He crouched, his jacket straining across his back.
It was unfair, the way I remembered those shoulders—how they’d easily pushed my legs over his shoulders.
He leaned in, tracing the tire with his fingers .
Why was it so hot to watch him touch a tire?
A flood of memories hit me—those same fingers trailing fire down my skin, slipping beneath my panties, pulling them off with a quiet, deliberate tug. And worse, those fingers thrusting slowly inside me, each movement sending a shockwave of heat through my body.
Shit. Get a grip.
At the nape of his neck, sweat glistened under the dim light, a few stray curls sticking to his skin. I could still feel the way I’d clenched around him when he had me on the bed, my legs wrapped tight around his waist, every thrust of his hips making me forget about everything else.
He looked solid. Capable.
“Yeah, you fucked this up,” Reese muttered as he stood, and I swallowed hard. The heat flooded low in my belly, and I forced my gaze back up to his face, praying he hadn’t caught me staring.
He knew, his eyes showed it.
“Seriously, are you okay?” he asked, gentler now. “It wasn’t anybody out there this time?”
“Yeah,” I mumbled, totally wiped out. “I’m fine. Just embarrassed.”
Reese paused, then softened, his warmth returning. “Wait here.”
He went back to his car. He popped the trunk, rifling through a bag.
He returned with a towel and water. He opened it, pouring some onto a towel before stepping closer. He silently wiped my face with the towel. I shuddered at the touch.
He whispered, “I’m getting the hang of caring for you again.”
As he kept talking, he gently held my face, his fingers almost touching me, and suddenly all the tension disappeared, leaving me breathless.
“C’mon, you and…” Reese paused. “When did you get a dog? ”
“He’s Gigi’s,” I muttered. “Both of them stress me the hell out.”
Reese called a tow truck for Erik’s car, and we hopped in his car and drove to my house.
“Why were you out here alone?” Reese asked. I shouldn’t be jealous of the way he lazily petted Walter or how Walter leaned into his rubs, nearly crawling into his lap. “The truth.”
“I was following Blair.”
Reese’s jaw tightened. “You what?”
“I had to,” I defended. “Something’s off with her, Reese.”
“You couldn’t just—” He shook his head. “What if something had happened? You were out there alone, Laurene. Somebody already attacked you. What were you gonna do if it was worse this time?”
I didn’t have an answer for that.
“I can’t have you running off like that,” he said, his voice dropping lower. “I need to know you’re safe. I can’t?—”
I saw fear in his eyes.
“When I heard you screaming,” he began again, “it brought me back to the yacht.”
The words came out in a rush, like he’d been holding them in for too long.
“I couldn’t find you then, and I thought—” His voice cracked, just slightly, before he composed himself. “I can’t go through that again.”
Reese’s hand brushed mine; I eagerly held it.
“Look, if you think it’s Blair, then let’s go in that direction, but you cannot be doing shit like this alone. I will tell Erik.”
“Oh, so now y’all friends?”
He gave me a look. “Actually yes. He brought me a cigar.”
I didn’t have time to figure out of he was lying or not.
“What about what you said before…in the garden?” He’d promised me hell, and I hadn’t forgotten.
Reese’s hand still held mine but his eyes darkened, as if every hurt, every bit of anger between us was running through his mind in this moment.
“I thought I needed to even the score.”
With just one hand, he effortlessly steered the car too smooth and sexy.
“I haven’t forgiven you,” he said. The look in his eyes was intense. “Hell, I don’t know if I ever will.”
He squeezed my hand, then let it go gently.
“But I can’t keep holding on to that. Not with everything going on. We’ve got bigger problems than our past.”
My heart clenched at his words.
“So maybe we calling a real truce for now.”
I nodded slowly, feeling a little hopeful. “A truce sounds good.”
Reese smiled.
“I think we need to add Dante to the list of suspects.”
“Dante? But?—”
“I saw him with Blair. And my mother, she’s terrified of him.”
Reese cursed. “Okay.”
At my house, Reese parked, his hands lingering on the wheel. We were both quiet. I could only hear Walter’s soft breaths, all snuggled up in my arms, fast asleep.
“Crazy, isn’t it? I used to drop you off way back there, right at that gate.” He gestured toward the dark iron gate farther down the drive. “Didn’t even think I’d get this close to the house without your family calling the cops.”
“We don’t have to sneak around anymore,” I said, my voice dropping as I leaned in slightly, eyes locked on his. “We’re getting married.”
Reese watched me settle Walter gently in the back seat, his eyes following every movement. I leaned over toward him, the space between us shrinking, and reached for his seat belt. My body pressed closer to his, my breath warm against his skin as I unbuckled the strap, feeling the faint tension in the air .
I let my lips brush near his ear, my voice a teasing whisper. “Is this part of the truce?”
“I guess it is,” he muttered, his eyes briefly meeting mine with a flicker of something unreadable.
Reese swallowed hard. But then something shifted inside me, a boldness I couldn’t ignore. I reached for him, my hand sliding to the back of his neck, fingers threading through his hair with a possessive pull, drawing him to me.
His breath hitched, just a beat before his lips pressed against mine—slow, deliberate, like he was savoring the moment. I melted into him. Reese’s hand slid from my neck down to my waist, pulling me closer until I was almost in his lap, our bodies pressed together in the confined space of the car.
“Laurene…” he breathed against my lips, and I could hear the strain in his voice. “We shouldn’t do this.”
“Do you want to stop?”
Reese blinked slowly, and for a moment, I saw that familiar glint in his eyes—the lively, mischievous one. It was like seeing the old him.
“I need you.”
He pulled me fully onto his lap, and I gasped, my knees sinking into the leather seat on either side of him. He dragged his thumb over my bottom lip; I let his thumb slip inside my mouth, and I sucked.
A low growl escaped his throat as he felt my lips close around his thumb. I ground my hips down, feeling him growing hard beneath me, his fingers digging into the fat of my hips.
Yes.
The outline of his cock between my thighs was enough to make my mouth water and remind me how long it had been since someone had touched me. I pick up my movements. He urged me to move faster, his breath coming out in hot, soft pants.
His lips and teeth grazed my skin, a soft groan rumbling in his chest, a desperate need in his touch, as if he couldn’t get enough. I let out a soft moan as I shifted my body, feeling the seam of my jeans brushing against my clit with the perfect amount of friction.
Suddenly, the car door flew open, and a gust of cold air blew in—along with a voice.
“Miss Laurene.” The calm, unflinching tone of my mother’s butler sliced through the haze.
I froze, flushed, my heart hammering in my chest. Reese held on to my waist just a beat longer than he should have, then sat up straight, letting out a breathy sigh of frustration.
“Your mother wants to know if you’re coming inside.”
I searched Reese’s face one last time. His smirk sent shivers down my spine and made my heart race. He stayed silent, leaned back, eyes twinkling mischievously.
“Yeah.” I hauled myself out of the car and grabbed Walter. Reese’s gaze followed me. At the doorway, I took one last look.
Reese remained motionless, his dark silhouette a stark contrast against the car window, his intense gaze fixed on me, an unnerving intensity that had consumed me.
It was like a promise and a threat all in one.