Allyson’s blood ran cold. Or maybe it stopped moving completely.

The fear that had been building within her since her arrest threatened to overwhelm her. It felt like the floor beneath her had given way and she was falling into the dark abyss.

“Back to jail?” Her voice wavered as tears threatened to fall again.

Dane cursed loudly. “Crane, get the judge back on the phone. We’re not putting up with his. The bail has been paid. My wife isn’t spending another second in jail, do you hear me?” An inferno blazed dangerously in his blue eyes. “She’ll stay here. Never go back to America.”

Lester shook his head vigorously. “I wouldn’t advise that. And arguing with the judge will only make things worse for Mrs. Prescott. He already believes the attack was faked and, considering your reputation for…phony stories, he isn’t inclined to listen.”

She groaned inwardly. The world was never going to let go of the fact that she and Dane had faked their marriage at the start of their relationship. That was why it was so easy for everyone to believe the worst about her. “So, I’m supposed to just turn myself over to the police?” she asked. Stomach knotting up she swallowed hard, trying to fight the mounting terror.

“We still have four days to get back to New York,” Lester said. “But, yes…if you don’t turn yourself over for arrest within that time, you’ll be a fugitive.” He paused, sympathy flashing in his eyes. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Prescott.”

Memories of her night in jail made her shudder. Those imposing bars haunted her dreams. The hours she spent in jail had inched by so slowly that one night had been a lifetime. Panic made her pulse race. “So, are we just going to give up on getting the charges dropped?”

“No,” her husband said firmly. “We don’t have a lot of time now, but I’m going to turn this city upside down if I have to. I’m not letting them put you away.”

His words both comforted her and terrified her. She knew he would do anything to keep her safe. There was nothing her husband wouldn’t do to keep her out of jail. He had almost broken his hands last night, trying to break the windshield of the car in an insane effort to get to her. Despite the comfort she felt, she also knew that her husband would risk anything. If he was willing to risk prison time and getting injured, he was liable to do something even crazier.

“Now that Nicholas Handel’s will has been taken, we don’t have many leads,” Lester pointed out. 

Lost in thought, Allyson chewed her bottom lip. “Francesca seemed to know something. Earlier today, in the hospital, she was reluctant to tell me something about the Handels. Not to mention, I still have serious suspicions about Rebecca Greene since she works in the women’s division at the London office.”

“My money is on Nicholas Handel,” Dane growled. “It has to be. There’s no way he doesn’t know about his wife’s trust.”

“He wouldn’t have given us access to such sensitive files if he was the culprit,” Lester reminded them.

“Maybe Nicholas didn’t know at the start of all this, but if he discovered what his wife was up to he might have decided to protect her,” Dane said.

Allyson inhaled sharply. “Oh crap. You have a point.” Nicholas couldn’t have known about his heir’s secret trust when he gave them all those files, but there was a chance he had discovered the truth about his wife’s stealing and was doing whatever it took to keep the secret. Even if that meant going after her with a baseball bat.

“We have to figure out who Nicholas Handel’s heir is if we want to figure this out,” Lester said. “Which is easier said than done, but we can start with Rebecca like you suggested, Mrs. Prescott.”

Dane crossed his arms. “First things first. We have to get Allyson safely out of the hotel.”

“We don’t have much time,” she said, trying to keep the frantic edge out of her tone.

Her husband got to his feet. “That’s why, after I make arrangements with my cousin, we’ll talk to Fran in the car and look into Rebecca Greene.”

After Dane’s cousin agreed to let them stay at his place Allyson texted Francesca, asking her to meet them downstairs in the lobby.

Ten minutes later, Allyson and Dane had packed up their belongings and made their way downstairs with Lester. While Dane went to the front desk to deal with checking out, Allyson headed outside with Fran and Lester.

Suddenly, Nicholas Handel and Rebecca Green stepped out of a luxury car parked at the front entrance. Nicholas took off his coat and draped it around Rebecca’s shoulders.

Allyson watched them suspiciously as they headed over to her. Outwardly, Rebecca Greene had a very nerd-chic vibe about her. The total opposite of what a man like Nicholas seemed to be interested in. But he also had a thing for intelligent women, and Rebecca had a very intellectual air with her hair tied up in a prim bun and her glasses perched on her nose.

Everyone quickly exchanged greetings.

“What are you doing here?” Allyson blurted out.

Nicholas pulled her into a tight hug. “We heard what happened, and when we realized you had been discharged from hospital we came down here to see you. Thank goodness you’re okay, Allyson.”

She squirmed out of his embrace, memories of last night’s attack setting her on edge in his presence. Allyson didn’t know if Nicholas had attacked her, but he was the last person she wanted to see right now. “I’m fine,” she said bluntly. “You don’t have to check up on me.”

“Of course, we do,” Nicholas insisted. “I know we’ve had our differences, but after an incident like this we have to stick together.”

Before she could open her mouth to retort, Dane shot out in front of her. More like his fist, which got into Nicky’s face, and punched him in the nose.

 

~~*~~

 

“Stay the hell away from my wife!” Pain shot through his hand. Dane had nearly broken his hands trying to save Allyson last night, but he didn’t care if he broke his hand for real this time.

Blood spurted out of Nicholas’ nose as he howled in agony. “What the bloody hell is wrong with you?”

Dane lunged at Nicholas again, but a pair of strong hands dragged him back. It was Lester. Pulling him back into the hotel lobby. Rage making it impossible to think clearly, Dane shoved Lester away.

“You stay here,” Lester hissed. “I’m going to take care of this.”

“Why?” Dane demanded. “That bastard attacked my wife—”

“I’m going back out there to talk to Nicholas and avoid a damn lawsuit,” Lester cut him off harshly. “Heaven help us if Handel goes to the cops and presses charges.” The lawyer turned on his heel and headed back outside.

Allyson stepped back into the lobby, Rebecca following.

“Why did you do that?” Allyson asked. She knew why, but she asked anyway.

“He attacked you,” he snarled. “Nobody hurts you and gets away with it.”

Seeing Nicholas show up at the hotel like he’d done nothing wrong had sent Dane into a blind rage. He didn’t care if it was reckless. If he ever saw Nicholas Handel’s face again he would tear him apart.

“You’ve probably broken his nose,” she said.

The guests in the lobby turned to stare at them, but he ignored their glances. Right now, the only thing that mattered was keeping his wife safe from the Handels. “If he tries to come near you again, a broken nose is going to be the least of his worries,” Dane muttered.

“I did warn him not to come,” Rebecca Greene murmured.

Dane frowned as he turned to her. “Warn him?”

Rebecca shifted uncomfortably, then adjusted her glasses. “I told Mr. Handel that, given your history, you might suspect him. The hostility between the Handels and the Prescotts isn’t exactly a secret.”

He narrowed his eyes at her. “You’re that close to him?”

“Well, I am one of Prescott Global’s most senior executives here in London,” Rebecca replied.

“That’s the only reason you’re close to him?” Allyson asked. “You’re not part of the family or anything like that?”

Rebecca tilted her head. “I don’t follow.”

“Are you married to Nicholas Handel?” Dane asked through clenched teeth.

Rebecca’s eyes widened in surprise. “Good heavens! You think…” She squared her shoulders. “I’m married, but not to Mr. Handel. Mr. Handel isn’t even married.”

“That’s what you think,” he muttered, watching her closely. Despite her denial, he still didn’t trust Rebecca or anyone connected to Nicholas.

“So, you’re married, but not to Nicholas,” Allyson said. “Why wasn’t your husband at the party at Nicholas’ apartment? Why aren’t you wearing a ring?”

“Who says I’m not?” Rebecca asked. In exasperation she reached under the collar of her blouse and pulled out a necklace with a ring hanging from it. Dane exchanged a knowing glance with his wife, recognition in Allyson’s eyes. Rebecca wore her ring the same way Allyson had when they were first engaged.

“And if you must know,” Rebecca continued, “my husband is a surgeon doing charity work overseas. That’s why he wasn’t at the work party.” With a roll of her eyes she pulled a wallet from her handbag and handed it over to Allyson. “There are photos of Neville, and some of his business cards. Why don’t you have a look?”

Allyson bit her lip. “I don’t know—”

“I’ll look.” Dane took the wallet from Allyson and started to inspect the contents. He wasn’t a fool. Rebecca might just be pretending to be outraged, so he made sure to look through her wallet. It wasn’t exactly the best manners, but if Allyson could be saved by him being a jerk then he was willing to take the risk.

Satisfied that she was telling the truth, he handed Rebecca her wallet. “Your story seems to check out,” he said tightly.

“Of course, it does,” Rebecca said sharply. “But one person’s story absolutely does not check out.”

He raised an eyebrow, suddenly curious. “Who?”

Rebecca leaned forward. “Nicholas,” she replied, lowering her voice. “He’s been acting strangely since the party. Ordinarily I wouldn’t say anything to disparage my boss, but after I heard that you had been viciously attacked, Mrs. Prescott, I started to wonder if I should tell you what I know.”

“What do you know, Rebecca?” his wife asked softly.

Rebecca looked around to make sure they weren’t being overheard. Then she leaned in closer. “I overheard Mr. Handel on the telephone last night as the party was ending, after you had all left. He was having a terrible row with someone. He kept going on and on about not having any money left to give. It sounded like someone was blackmailing him. Like the person on the other end of the call knew he had done something terrible, and wanted to be bought off with money.”

“The embezzlement,” Allyson breathed. “Someone knows he’s done something terrible, or is covering for someone. The blackmailer is probably using it against him.”

“That’s what it sounded like,” Rebecca said with a nod. “And very soon after that call you were attacked.”

“Could you testify to something like this?” Dane asked.

Rebecca’s face paled. “No. Please. Don’t make me get involved with the police. It could ruin me. My husband and I need me to keep this job. His salary isn’t enough for us to survive on.”

He held up his hands, trying to reassure her. “My wife could be getting framed for something she didn’t do. She could end up going to prison for decades because of this. I’m begging you, Rebecca.”

“I do have proof,” Rebecca said. “I recorded what I heard. It sounded so strange that I recorded it on my phone.”

“Can we hear it?” Allyson bit her lip.

“That’s just it,” Rebecca murmured. “I saved the recording on my mobile phone. It’s a company phone, and I was so nervous about the recording that I left my mobile at home.”

“So, we can still listen to it?” Allyson asked. “We can go get it now.”

Suddenly, Lester appeared, concern etched on his face. “Folks, we have to get out of London. Now.”

“Why?” Allyson asked.

“I couldn’t talk Nicholas out of letting you off the hook for punching him.” Lester glared at Dane. “It’s probably best that we get you both on the jet and back to New York pronto.”

“We might have a lead,” Allyson said.

“Rebecca might have something that could clear Allyson’s name,” Dane said. At this point, things were getting desperate. They needed to get their hands on whatever evidence they could to save his wife from prison.

“Look, if you don’t want to face another set of criminal charges, you have to get back to the States,” Lester said. “If we get mixed up with the cops coming after you, Mr. Prescott, that takes time away from Mrs. Prescott’s own case. And we can’t afford to waste time with the judge’s order hanging over us.”

Dane swore. “Let them arrest me. Focus on Allyson.”

“Isn’t your father still in London?” Rebecca asked. “I could play the recording for him. Would his testimony be enough?”

Allyson glanced at Lester, and quickly filled him on what Rebecca had told them about the recording.

“If your father hears the recording and transcribes what he hears, that might be enough to buy us some time,” Lester said. “Make the grounds shaky and maybe get the prosecution to rethink the charges. But we have to get on a plane as soon as possible. Getting arrested for punching a member of your own staff isn’t exactly going to endear you to the press or the authorities, Mr. Prescott.”

With a heavy sigh, Dane nodded. “Fine. We’ll head back to New York. But I want my father to hear this recording as soon as he can.”

“I’ll arrange it,” Lester said.

After saying their rushed goodbyes to Rebecca, they got into the rental car and raced towards the airport. Dane took his wife’s hand in his. Her face was pale, and she looked exhausted. Now, the only thing keeping her from jail was the word of a woman they barely knew.

And Dane still wasn’t sure if he trusted Rebecca Greene.