A tear fell. The first. I blinked hard, willing it to be the last.

  “And you left?”

  I nodded. “Yeah, no sense watching her rub her success in my face. The driver, Deke, was downstairs. He followed me around until I was ready to come here.”

  My phone buzzed, but I didn’t even look at it. It had been buzzing for hours now, and I kicked my purse with my foot. I drained the glass and looked down at my left hand, the beautiful diamond glittering back at me.

  I didn’t cry when I took it off and handed it to Zoe. “Will you give it back to him? Get my clothes? Or not. I really don’t care anymore.”

  On shaky legs, I stood up and poured another glass of wine, all the way to the brim.

  My phone buzzed again.

  I heard Zoe get up and dig through my bag. Then her phone began ringing in the other room.

  She padded out, and I sipped my drink, looking around the apartment. My new home. Whitney had done a beautiful job furnishing it. It was fresh and young and warm.

  Whitney was helping me with the wedding. I’d have to call her to let her know it was off. And Holly to cancel the cakes. And Marsha. And Nana. It was all too much.

  I hadn’t just lost Kane, I’d lost a family — even a baseball family — I’d grown to love in a very short time.

  I shook my head, hoping the movement would rattle my brain enough for it all to make sense.

  My own mother. The woman who labored with me for sixteen hours, blah blah blah. Did she hate me so much? And why? She was always so much better, more attractive, more graceful than me. Why take the only thing I had away?

  “Eliana?”

  Numb, I turned to Zoe, who was holding both phones in her hands. She was frowning, like she didn’t know what to say.

  “It was the FBI agents calling. They’ve arrested your mother…”

  For fucking my fake fiancée?

  “And Winston Hampton.”

  I stared at her, my jaw sagging open. “Why?”

  She shook her head, like it wasn’t important. But I could tell by the look in her eyes that something else was.

  “Eliana…”

  I waited, barely able to breathe.

  “…Kane’s in the hospital. He was drugged. Too much drug.” Her eyes filled with tears. “Eliana, he’s in the ICU. It’s bad.”

  ***

  Deke, the driver was directly outside the apartment door as Zoe, Target, and I ran into the hallway. He ushered us to the car and drove at breakneck speed right up to the hospital door.

  “I’ll be back,” I promised the dog and kissed him on his sweet head, then closed my ears to the pitiful whine as I slammed the door shut.

  Agents Grinstead and Mason were in the lobby as we rushed in.

  “Miss Anderson, we need to talk.”

  I didn’t even slow down, just headed for the elevators. I punched a button with my thumb. “So talk.”

  The agents looked at each other but were silent on the ride to the ICU floor. “Kane Steele,” I told the woman guarding the door. “I’m his fiancée.”

  The woman’s old finger scanned down the names of patients on her page, and I wanted to snatch her clipboard and hurry her up. She looked up at me, her eyes sad. “I’m sorry…”

  I stared at her in shock as grief clawed at my throat, my eyes, my heart.

  “…but they’ve moved him to room three-twelve.”

  My breath left me in a gush. “Which way?”

  It took her gnarled little hand forever to raise, but I was moving before it was fully extended. I’d find it. I’d find him.

  And I did.

  Pushing open the hospital room door, a million emotions flooded through me at the sight of him sitting on the side of the bed. He was fighting with a nurse who was trying to keep him from pulling his IV out.

  “Kane Bartholomew,” I barked, doing a fair impression of Nana.

  His head snapped up, and relief at seeing me caused him to sag. He stopped fighting the nurse, and instead, opened his arms.

  I flew into them, kissing his face, his nose, his eyes, his forehead. “I’m so sorry for running out and leaving you alone. For thinking you would do something like that.” I kissed his lips. “I knew better. I know you better. I’m so sorry.”

  He could have died because of me, I realized. I didn’t know how he was saved, or who saved him, but it wasn’t because of me. I’d never forgive myself for that.

  “I don’t remember anything,” he admitted, “but from what I was told, it looked bad. Bitch even put mayo in the condom.” He pulled me closer until he was whispering in my ear. “If it makes you feel better, I’ll spank that sweet ass later.”

  Happiness and pure joy spread through me. “It will definitely make me feel better.”

  Someone behind us cleared their throat, and I turned in Kane’s arms. Agent Mason crossed her arms over her chest, a smile on her face. “Sorry to interrupt, but Grinstead and I have a mountain of paperwork to plow through. Let me give you a report on what’s happened then we’ll leave you alone.”

  Kane laid back down, and I curled up on the bed beside him.

  “First, we’ve arrested your mother on a number of charges, including attempted murder. Winston Hampton has been charged with multiple sex crimes in addition to felony robbery, attempted rape, and two counts of first-degree murder.”

  I stared at the other woman. “So, it was him?”

  “Yes, we believe Winston is the man who attacked you and killed Joseph.”

  I licked my dry lips. “How do you know?”

  “After you were attacked, we sent notices to all the surrounding hospitals and clinics, asking to be notified of any male being treated for an animal bite. It’s required by law for them to report a bite to the health department, but we were hoping the notice would catch the right person’s attention sooner.”

  “And it did?”

  Agent Mason nodded. “Yes. Winston didn’t go for treatment right away, but one of the bites became badly infected. It was so bad that he required surgery to repair the tissue and bone.”

  I thought of Target and the way he had protected me. That good boy would get a lifetime of treats and bubble baths.

  “Winston also had wounds consistent with what you described to the police. A long cut on his cheek from where you hit him with your engagement ring. From that, we were able to get a search warrant and enter his home, his office, his computers. Eliana, we found the tapes of you and Brett Southerland. We found tapes of your mother with Southerland as well.”

  Zoe stepped in. “You have to be kidding me.”

  Agent Grinstead shook his head. “We kid you not. That’s what led us to begin investigating your mother, Eliana. She wasn’t even on our radar until that point. We went to Kane’s apartment to see if you were aware of your mother and Southerland’s relationship. When we knocked, the door wasn’t fully shut.”

  Because I hadn’t taken the time to close it behind me when I ran.

  “Concerned, we entered the premises and heard vomiting coming from the back room. We found Mrs. Montgomery going through Kane’s belongings. We arrested her on suspicion and called 911 for Kane. Our guys are searching your mother’s home as we speak, and she’s singing like the proverbial canary.”

  Agent Mason’s face turned serious, and she pulled a chair over in front of me and sat down. “Eliana, you need to know something else. Your mother is a deeply disturbed woman. She gave Kane a high dose of GHB, far greater than any human should be able to tolerate. If he hadn’t received treatment right away…” She shook her head.

  I curled tighter against him, unable to believe I’d come so close to losing him like that. I’d left, thinking he was drunk and then walked around for hours. He could have been dead because I was out feeling sorry for myself.

  Agent Mason wasn’t finished. “Eliana, right now, there is a high probability your mother set the fire that burned your apartment building. She was muttering things about revenge, and insurance money so she could escape. We’ll be stepping into that investigation, and if we do find evidence of her guilt, she’ll be facing felony arson charges on top of everything else.”

  I hadn’t thought I could feel any more surprised, but I did. The only thing keeping me from exploding was Kane’s strong arms around me.

  “And Eliana, we think she might have been responsible for the fire that killed your grandparents. There was more talk of insurance and getting rid of responsibility. We still have a lot of work to do to make those charges stick, but I wanted you to hear it from me that it’s a good possibility. We’ll also be re-opening the case of your father’s death.”

  I just lay there, Kane stroking my hair as I absorbed all that I’d learned.

  Agent Mason patted my hand and shook Kane’s. Agent Grinstead did the same. I had the presence of mind to thank them, then they were gone.

  “I’m so sorry,” Zoe said and kissed me on the cheek. “I’m going to leave the two of you alone. Do you want me to take Target back to my place?”

  I thought of my furry hero, who would be much happier in a home than a car. “Please. And give him a big bone. And a bath. He loves those.” Zoe nodded and headed toward the door. “And give him a kiss. Tell him he’s a good boy.”

  “Yes, Mama.” She was halfway out the door when she stopped and came back, digging in her jeans pocket. She pulled out Nana’s ring. “Thought you might like this back.”

  Kane took it from her and kissed my cheek. “You’d be right.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE

  Kane

  I had a dream.

  It was a damn big one. A dream so big that only a handful of men ever got to achieve it.

  There were a million youngsters who picked up a bat and glove and ran out on a field for the first time each year. Those little guys were missing teeth and hammering away at the tee. Then those kids got older. Some lost interest. Some got cut from teams — a few didn’t care, the rest had their hearts broken. By high school, those Little League numbers had dwindled down to nearly nothing. Then they dwindled down even more. Only half a percent of high school seniors would ever be drafted to an MLB team.

  Fewer than that would ever wear a World Series ring.

  I was one of them.

  Me.

  I had stood on first base and tagged out the winning run. I still couldn’t believe it.

  It was something. Actually, it was a repeat of something.

  Ninth inning.

  Two outs.

  Runner on second.

  We were up by one.

  My girl was in the stands.

  Just like the game when I’d damn near broke my leg.

  There was a big difference though. This time we were playing game seven of the World Series.

  The batter stepped up to the plate. Calvin wound up for the pitch.

  Crack!

  Damn thing came at me, knee level, like it was fired from a gun. But… I caught it.

  Me.

  Kane Bartholomew Steele.

  I caught the last out, and the entire world went crazy.

  I never thought anything could ever surpass that feeling, that sense of achievement and teamwork. The glory.

  And then the music began to play…

  And I saw her.

  Eliana.

  And I realized another type of dream was in the midst of coming true.

  White dress, frothy veil not quite thick enough to hide the freckles I loved so much. She was walking toward me on the arm of my grandmother in the silk and lace dress that looked like it was created just for her, a bouquet of blush pink and white roses, dahlias, and peonies in her hands. Her grandmother’s favorite.

  It was a slow walk, but it didn’t matter because it gave me more time to just look at her. To feel every cell in my body attempt to explode from pure happiness.

  Our wedding was perfect. My parents, my sisters, and our friends — my team — surrounded us. Zoe was the only bridesmaid, and Target sat at her feet, our rings tied to his collar.

  When Nana tucked Eliana’s hand into mine and kissed my cheek, I knew real glory. Real achievement. Real teamwork. Real love.

  Before the preacher uttered a word, I pulled Eliana closer. Her eyes widened in surprise at this breach in procedure. The wedding planner was probably having a heart attack at the back of the church.

  “Marry me.”

  She laughed and looked down at her dress. “I think that’s what I’m doing.”

  I was serious.

  After I was released from the hospital, our lives had been nothing but a tornado driving us toward today. The Beasts rebounded from our losses and went on another winning streak, just enough to land us in the playoffs as a wildcard. We’d fought through every game, refusing to give up. And by my side was Eliana, my good luck charm. And Target, the good dog who rarely left our sides.

  I wasn’t the only one who was busy. Eliana became the voice of revenge porn and was invited to a number of major news channels for interviews. There were even talks about doing a documentary to raise awareness and increase the laws protecting the victims.

  I was so proud of her. Proud of the me I was with her. And even though all of this started off as a lark, I never wanted it to end.

  “Marry me,” I repeated and pushed the veil over her head so she could see me and I could see her. See how much I meant this. “Forever marry me, Eliana. Have my babies and let’s grow old and gray together. I love you. And I want to be your husband, and I want you to be my—”

  She placed her fingers on my lips, smiling gently. The strong one this time. “Shhh… you had me at forever.”

  My face exploded into a grin as all my dreams came true. “Is that a yes?”

  She bit her bottom lip, her blue eyes shining. “Will she, won’t she?”

  The preacher leaned forward. “Should I come back later?”

  We both laughed, and I could hear the rumble of laughter all around us. Our friends. Our family. And a woof.

  “Don’t you go anywhere,” Eliana fake demanded and turned to face him, “you’ve got a forever marriage to perform.”

  The preacher winked. “Yes, ma’am.”

  And in the space of a few moments, a different kind of winning streak was born.

  THE END

  Continue on to read an Exclusive SNEAK PEEK from my Amazon TOP 10 bestseller book!

  A SNEAK PEEK

  THE LIST

  CHAPTER ONE

  Riley

  Headlights flickered through the bakery’s rain-splattered front window. Red and white orbs grew and shrank as cars made their way along Perry Street. Even with the front door closed, the sweet smell of freshly fallen rain permeated the bakery.

  I hoisted up the last metal chair, flipped it upside down, and deposited it on top of one of the tables. Closing Crumbs wasn’t that bad.

  At least that’s what I tried to tell myself.

  After a ten-hour shift, my calf muscles begged to differ, but I at least got to be alone while I closed. A full day of ringing up Greenwich Village wives dressed head to toe in Louis Vuitton and college kids stoned out of their minds had the tendency to run you down. Before working at Crumbs, I never would have guessed how important it was for people to get the cupcake with the most icing on it. At least once a day, someone acted like the selection of their afternoon treat was the most crucial decision they’d made all day.

  The chairs off the floor, I headed for the broom closet. A sharp rap on the front door made me turn. My roommate peered at me above the closed sign, her hazel eyes wide and her wavy, auburn hair thick from the evening’s humidity.

  I unlocked and cracked the door but didn’t let Ann-Marie in. “Our cash has been deposited for the day. Go rob someone else.”

  She grinned. “How do you know I’m a burglar and not a rapist?”

  I opened the door the rest of the way and motioned for her to enter. “That’s sick.”

  She flounced across the floor, her flowy summer skirt billowing behind her. “How long till you’re finished?”

  “If you leave now? Twenty. With you distracting me? A few hours, give or take.”

  She ignored me and settled onto the plump cushions on the window seat. Ann-Marie and I gave each other shit all the time. She was the only person I could be like that with, but I guessed our shared caustic sense of humor was a testament to our closeness.

  “I can help,” she offered.

  I quickly shook my head. “No, but thanks. If Dan happened to stop by—”

  “Isn’t he out sniffing coke off hookers’ boobs?” she interrupted with a flip of her head.

  Folding my arms, I cocked my hip out to the side. “That’s a rumor. One person said that, and she doesn’t work here anymore.”

  “That doesn’t mean it’s not true,” she singsonged, an auburn eyebrow raised nearly to her hairline.

  “I’ve never heard anything about him and hookers. Anyway, I need to hurry up and close, but you can put some music on while I sweep and mop.”

  Ann-Marie huffed. “Aren’t you wondering why I’m here?”

  Before I could answer, she held up a folded piece of paper. It was thick, off-white material with a ripped, red wax seal at the end. It looked like a wedding invitation and an acceptance letter to Hogwarts had a baby.

  “What’s that?”

  Ann-Marie grinned in an almost wicked way. “Ever heard of Enigma?”

  Heard of it? I think I’d had wet dreams about it. “Yeah.”

  “This, my dear, is an invitation to it.”

  “No,” I breathed, unable to believe it.

  She nodded. “It’s for two, and it’s only good for tonight.”

  The floor could wait. I sat down on a cushion and took the invitation in my hands. “How did you get this?”

  “You know Bethany from work? Her cousin works for Marc Jacobs, and she’s kind of high on the rung. I’m not sure what she does, but anyway, she got these for Bethany. Thing is… she couldn’t go tonight because her sister is having a baby. So, yay for us!”

  I dragged my eyes from the invitation to Ann-Marie’s face. “How do you know Enigma is even real?”

  Her forehead wrinkled. “What are you talking about? I have the invitation right here.”