Page 77 of Delicious Surrender

Since the signal was strong there, she rang Jared.

“Bree, what the fuck! Where have you been? What were you thinking?”

“J, what are you talking about? I’ve been on a boat all morning spreading my aunt’s ashes. What the hell has happened?”

“Oh, my god. Are you serious? The article. They published your article. Why didn’t you tell me you were writing that?”

“Jared, I don’t know what you’re talking about. What article?”

“The article that ran in theMirrorthis morning about the club. The article naming clients, revealing what goes on there. Are you saying you didn’t write it?”

“What?! No! I have no idea what you’re talking about—text the link to me. I’ll put you on speaker so I can read it.”

“Bree, listen. This is fucking serious. Gage fired me, and he warned me not to speak to anyone. The club is closed for the next few days. And Nigel is looking for you. He asked me where you were. He looks like he could have a heart attack any minute.”

The phone dinged, and she opened the article.

“Oh. My. God. Who would do this? How did my name get on it? J, I didn’t write this. I would never do such a thing. You know that, don’t you?”

She continued to read and started shaking, her heart thumping in her ears.

Jared broke into her scattered thoughts. “Babe, this looks really bad. You work at the club, you work at the paper. If you didn’t do it, it’s a perfect frame job.”

“I need to call Gage back.”

“You need to call Nigel first—explain to him you didn’t write it.”

“Okay, right. I’ll call him. I have a ton of missed calls. Let me listen to the messages.”

“God, if you have a message from Gage that sounds anything like mine, it will flay you alive. Just know he thinks you betrayed him.”

“I’ll call you after I speak to them. I have a flight booked tomorrow and should be home by two o’clock.”

“Okay. Good, I will see you tomorrow. But call me later.”

“I will. J, I’m sorry he fired you. That’s ridiculous. We had nothing to do with this. I’ll sort it out.”

“I know. Don’t worry about me. I’m okay.”

Brynne accessed her voicemail. Nigel sounded like a man losing his grip on reality. She had never heard him swear, but his messages were littered withfucksandshitsand a fewChrist-almightys.

She had to leave a message.God damnit!

“Nigel. It’s Brynne. Please call me. I was out on a boat and missed your calls. I did not write that article. I don’t know how this happened or who put my name on it. It was not me. Please call me.”

Next, she listened to Gage’s message. If she could describe the devil’s voice, it would sound like his. Ferocious, dark as pitch, flames licking at the edge of every syllable.My god, he hates me.She burst into tears.

It took her a few minutes to catch her breath. How could he believe she did this? She had to explain this was a mistake. A horrible mistake. She dialed his mobile; it rang once and then a message played: “The caller you are trying to reach is not available.”

A sense of dread settled in her stomach. Had he blocked her number? She tried texting.

Brynne:Gage, please call me. I did not write that article. I would never do such a thing.

It wasn’t delivered even though she had four bars.This cannot be happening. In desperation, she tried calling the club. Garrick answered.

“Garrick, it’s Brynne Lar—”

Click.