just grabbed the cross and slipped it in her front pocket as she made her way across the room to her bag. Then she snatched up the small overnight bag she’d brought just in case, threw it over her shoulder, and was back out the door in less than thirty seconds total.
Leslie was still by the front door waiting for her, concern shadowing her beautiful face. “Is there anything I can do, Lorelei? Would you like me to go to the hospital with you?”
She wasn’t going to the hospital.
“I appreciate the offer, Leslie. But I think it’s best if I go by myself. I’ll give you a call later, though, and let you know what’s going on.” Pushing past her, Lorelei forced a smile and glanced over her shoulder as she made her way to the elevator. “I promise.”
But first things first.
They parted ways in the parking garage and Lorelei wasted no time. She’d memorized the address on the scrap of paper Dina had slipped her, knew exactly how to get there. In less than twenty minutes she was pulling into the driveway of Dina Andrews’s lavish home. One look at it confirmed what she’d suspected deep down all along: Mark had lied about the lack of money just to shake her.
Impatience and anxiety pawed at her, making her movements stiff and jerky as she climbed the steps to the front door. Lorelei refused to think of the consequences of what she was doing and pushed the doorbell button. She’d deal with whatever happened—later.
After a few tense, long seconds the door swung open. Dina took one look at her, her cold blue eyes assessing, her posture aloof, dripping Chanel. Then she tossed her pearl blond locks and smiled victoriously. “I knew you wouldn’t fail me. Come on inside.”
Lorelei felt a tremble in the pit of her stomach and forcefully ignored it. Stepped over the threshold and followed Dina through the decadent foyer. The ex-Mrs. Cutter lived well, that was for sure. The place reeked of expensive, high-maintenance woman.
The frigid sound of Dina’s voice grabbed Lorelei’s attention, and she turned her head toward Dina. “I take it things fell apart between you and that illiterate bastard. Can’t say that I’m sorry about it. I always say that good looks fade over time, but stupidity is forever. You’re better off without him.”
Lorelei wasn’t dumb. She knew exactly what the woman was implying. But she didn’t have time to play her catty little games. “Where’s the money, Dina?”
The too slender woman smirked. “Touchy, aren’t you? Does the truth bother you?”
She bothered her. “I have somewhere to be. So why don’t you just get the money and we can be done with this thing.” She pulled the charm out of her pocket and dangled it briefly, then put it back. “I showed you mine. Now it’s your turn.”
Dina pushed past Lorelei and she caught a whiff of expensive perfume. “I’ve been after that charm of his ever since he walked out. He’s so damn attached to it that I’m going to use it to my advantage.”
A thought occurred to Lorelei. “Is that why you have the restraining order? Were you stalking him?”
She watched the blond sniff a bouquet of red roses that sat on a side table. Then she straightened and said dismissively, “That and the phone calls and the whole hitting thing. He’s such a wuss. Called the cops on me over a little slap. Can you believe it?”
Yeah, actually she could. It was called assault.
The necklace suddenly felt like lead in her pocket. “Look, Dina, I don’t care what you’re going to do with his good luck charm. But we made a deal and I’m here to collect.” Being in Dina’s presence was making Lorelei feel slimy and in need of a shower. It was time to go.
The air changed suddenly and the woman spun, hatred plastered across her face. “I’m going to make him pay out his ass. He’ll give me twenty million to get his cross back because he’s powerless without it. Five million for every year I suffered in that marriage. My best years were wasted on that dumb prick. No matter what I did, he never noticed. Never gave me the attention I deserved. I did everything for him and he didn’t give a shit about me.” She speared Lorelei with a bitter glance. “You’d better get used to it. Get used to playing second fiddle to a goddamn fucking sport.”
Lorelei was getting the picture now. In the