But I had a feeling I’d underestimated the Alabama-born and bred Sally Mabel Rivers. If she’d made it this far, she was used to fighting for what she wanted. Fist for fist? I didn’t stand a chance.
“You seriously think I’m going to let you walk out of here with that dress? Are you completely delusional? You’re a nobody. One phone call and Elaine could have this whole place on lockdown. You’re not going anywhere.”
“I know who you are,” I said, willing my hands to stop trembling. “I know who you are, and I know what you’ve done.”
She narrowed her gaze. “You don’t know anything.”
My Bluetooth buzzed in my ear and I reached up, answering the call in a move that I hoped looked like I was simply tucking back a loose curl. Isaac’s voice filled my ear. “I’m at the back door ready and waiting.”
I closed my eyes. I could make a run for it. Push past Elaine and try and make it to Isaac before security could slow us down. But that would leave Alex on his own. And the thought of that? Suddenly the dress didn’t seem all that important.
Paige had already forgiven me once. She didn’t need the dress to know how much I loved her.
My hands dropped and the dress slid to the floor. “I have to go,” I said softly.
Katrina appeared in the bedroom doorway, my clutch and phone in hand. “Heads up,” she said, before tossing them my direction. Whether she was actually trying to help me, or just be rid of me sooner, I’d never know. But as I raced down the hallway toward Alex, I hardly cared. I had to stop him. I had to keep him from humiliating himself in front of Alicio. At the bottom of the stairs, I scrambled for my phone. Isaac was still on the line.
I ducked around a corner, pressing myself into a darkened alcove. “Isaac?” I whispered.
“Dude, what just happened?” he said. “Do you have the dress?”
“No. The dress doesn’t matter. I have to find Alex.”
“What do you want me to do?”
“Just get out of here. Call Chase and let him know. I’ll get Alex and meet you back at the hotel. I’ll explain everything there.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
Alex
I paced around Alicio’s study and watched the clock. He’d returned from the golf course, I knew that much, and had agreed to speak with me, but he wanted to dress for the wedding first. His timing couldn’t be more terrible. I’d told Dani to move on the dress, assuming that now that Alicio was back, I could confront him immediately. The delay might be the undoing of our entire plan.
The study door opened, and I turned, but it wasn’t Alicio standing in the door, it was Gabriel.
“Gabe,” I said. “Hey.”
He was already dressed, at least. “Alex,” he said. “So you came after all.”
“I don’t know why everyone expected me not to show. I told you I was coming.” I didn’t even try to hide the irritation in my voice. I was tired of pretending it didn’t hurt to have his family cast me aside.
Gabriel’s face softened. “Alex, I think I know why you’re really here.” He glanced at the folder sitting on the coffee table in front of me. I willed my eyes forward, keeping them trained on his face. If I followed his gaze, he’d know for sure he’d figured me out.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I think you do. I’m not going to stop you, but I do think you should reconsider. The situation—it isn’t what you think.”
“It isn’t Sasha embezzling millions of dollars from LeFranc?” I said, crossing my arms across my chest. I was done playing it safe.
“It’s a lot more complicated than that,” Gabriel said. “As a friend, Alex, I’m telling you. Don’t get messed up in this. Walk away.”
“Walk away when I was right about Sasha all along? How can you stand for this, Gabe? How can you let her do this to your family?”
“Alex, he’s right.”
I turned back to the study door. Dani stood there, her hand resting against her chest and her breathing heavy. Had she been running?
“He’s right,” she repeated.
I stilled. “What?”
She took a few steps into the room. “It wasn’t Sasha embezzling the money. Or at least, it wasn’t only Sasha. Alicio knows, Alex. He knows Solomon Rivers.”
I looked at Gabe.
“Like I said. It’s not what you think,” he said. “If you go public with what you think you know, Dad’s going to have a lot of