Page 142 of Perfect Liar
“Good. Anything else, brother?”
“Not now. I’ll go get the team briefed and see you later.”
There was movement, then the door opened and shut.
Will came back to bed and pulled me into his arms.
I still pretended to be asleep.
He kissed the top of my head and then whispered to himself.
“This fucking war has only just started…”
I let out a small gasp, and my eyes popped open.
CHAPTER 39
I ran my cold hands along my hips as I stared at my deep-blue dress in the mirror. The color reminded me of the moonlit sky over the Atlantic, and the shimmering metallic threads kind of mimicked the stars.
I’d carefully chosen something to cover the blemishes on my back. Will had beaten up himself enough over it.
His text message pinged my phone.
Last minute business. Won’t be long. Stay in your room until my brother comes for you.
John knocked two minutes later.
“Hey, Ellie. Come on out…let’s go downstairs.”
“Be right there.”
When I opened the door, John stood tall in a perfectly tailored suit. He grinned and winked, offering his arm. He was becoming more like his bold brothers every day.
Fighting the nervousness in my stomach, I pasted on a smile.
In the corridor, savory aromas wafted around, and the air buzzed with conversations.
John hesitated at the bottom of the stairs to look for Thomas.
Long wooden tables covered in white linens filled the great hall. The rugs were gone, and the wood floor sparkled. Candles flickered and chandelier crystals cast rainbows on the walls.
Red, yellow, and peachy-orange floral arrangements decorated the tabletops. Hors d’oeuvres and desserts packed the sideboards. People moved in and out of the billiard room to get drinks from the bar.
How I longed to get behind the bar and pour drinks and chat casually about nothing—I missed working at Nick’s. No, not Nick’s. I realized what I actually missed was Jess and me together at Nick’s.
Memories of us together filled my mind. Her singing. The two of us bumping hips as we served drinks.
I needed to hear her voice again. Once Will finished cleaning up in Stonington and cleared my name, he’d let me call her. But until then, I could only secretly follow her on social media.
John yanked me out of my head with his sweet insight.
“You look amazing, Ellie. You’ll drive my brother mad, you know.”
I squeezed his hand and smiled, hoping he was right.
“How many people do you suppose will be here?”
“Mum said about forty. She made it smaller this year.”