Page 57 of Ravaged With You

Once again, Abby brushes away my words. “Oh, don’t you worry. There will be hot campy goodness. Emma’s seen to that.”

I sweep my gaze across the room, finding Emma talking to her sister, Eliza, along with Nikki Stark and Jamie Hunter, Ryan’s wife. I don’t know either woman well, though we’ve chatted a few times when I’ve bumped into them at the distillery. Nikki, of course, is the woman whose life Red saved in that horrible hostage situation two Christmases ago in New York.

I recognize a few more women as well. Abby’s lifelong friend Lilah is chatting with Leah, another Stark Security agent, and a woman I don’t recognize, with pale blond hair and cornflower blue eyes. I’ve met Lilah a few times now. She’s a wisp of a woman, petite and delicate, with a biting wit that belies her sweet appearance.

“Who’s Lilah talking to?”

“Oh, that’s Xena. She’s Liam’s wife. Or maybe his girlfriend. I’m not sure, but it’s obvious they’re together with or without the paper.”

I sigh, thinking that maybe the paper doesn’t mean that much anyway. It didn’t for Mel and me.

The thought makes me think of Red, just a few blocks away. The men moved their venue as well, deciding that they would rather be closer to us just in case there was a problem. Originally they were going to be at the distillery, but now they’re down the street at Blacklist, a popular Venice Beach bar.

I lean forward to refresh my drink from the whiskey bottle that’s sitting on the floor in front of the fireplace. “Xena used to work for Ellie Love, right?” I ask referring to the pop star who’s taken all the charts by storm.

“Oh yeah. I think she may still. I’m not sure. But I know she does consulting for Stark Security.”

That surprises me.

“Yeah,” Abby continues when I say as much. “Renly said she’s been a huge help on this trafficking operation they’re chasing.”

“That seems weird. What does her music background have to do with trafficking?”

“Nothing. It’s all about her background.”

I make a whooshing motion over my head, and Abby winces.

“Dammit, I really shouldn’t talk and drink,” she says. “I’m sure she doesn’t mind if you know, but I still fucked up.”

“You’re saying she was trafficked? Or almost was?”

“Sorta. It’s a horrible story,” Abby says, “but I’ll let her tell it to you one day. The good news is that it all worked out, and she ended up with Liam in the process.”

I think about Liam, an absolutely gorgeous black man who looks like he could as easily be starring in movies as working at Stark Security. He’s tall and broad, and must completely dwarf Xena, who’s petite and bubbly.

“I was hoping to get the chance to meet Denny. You’ve become pretty close with her, right?”

“Yeah, I’m sorry she didn’t make it. Apparently her little one’s come down with a cold. She’s only working part-time these days. Since she’s a new mom, she wants to spend as much time as possible with her little girl before she’s school-age. And Mason, her husband, only works a few select jobs. He says he wants as much of home and hearth and sex—his words—that he can get. But I figured he’s earned the right to back off if anyone has.”

I take a sip of my whiskey, then wave to Emma who’s pointing at a whiteboard she’s just pulled out. Dirty Pictionary is written across the top in neat block handwriting. I flash her a thumbs up and then signal that we’ll just be a minute.

“It looks like it’s about time for the games, so tell me quick what’s going on with Mason that he earned the right.”

Abby pushes to her feet “You should ask him. Or Denny. Suffice it to say that whatever drama you have with Red, it must be a cakewalk compared to what they went through.”

She claps her hand over her mouth “Oh, God, I went and put my foot in it again.”

I don’t have a clue what she’s talking about.

She winces. “I shouldn’t be talking about you two like that.”

I laugh. “In case you missed the memo, I’m the one who dragged you aside at your own party, and told you.” I’d laid it all out for her, really needing a female friend to dump on. It was only after I’d dragged her into my emotional mess that I told her about the laser sight and other terrifying things.

I know. But—”

“What?”

“I’m just happy for you and Red, but I know it must be weird. Feeling that way about him with what happened to Mel.” She shrugs. “I’ve been drinking too much, and I’m sorry if I’m bringing up weird memories or making you feel awkward.”