to Bruce with determination. “I’m ready to ride with you. Let’s roll.”
◆◆◆
Wake drove aimlessly through the major streets of LA as Sydney tried to think of how to get out of the car safely. Her ex-husband was going about forty miles an hour, which made her reluctant to jump from the car. She prayed that Dash had found Herc by now and they were both safe.
The thought of Dash made her blink back the tears. If she survived this encounter with Wake, Sydney knew Dash would no longer be a part of her life—and she couldn’t blame him. It was her fault that Herc had been endangered. Sydney knew above all else that Dash loved Herc with his entire heart. He’d never be able to forgive her for the harrowing experience Herc had been put through. She couldn’t blame Dash. He was more than a protective older brother. To Herc, Dash was guardian, brother, and friend all rolled into one. Dash would always put Herc first—as he should—but it hurt Sydney that they would both be gone from her life.
“We’ll need to get married again,” Wake suddenly said. He tightened his grip on her hand, causing revulsion to run through her.
“I don’t think your mother would approve,” she noted, knowing how close he was to Patricia Marshall and how much the woman disliked her.
“Mother did give you a rough time,” he said sympathetically. “She never thought you were good enough for me, but I’m my own man, Sydney. Notice how her opinion didn’t stop me from marrying you. Besides, she’s dead.”
“Dead?” Sydney wondered if Wake had a hand in her death.
“You think I killed her?” He laughed. “She had an aneurysm. Now, if I had told her we were getting married a second time? Yeah, that might’ve killed her.” He sighed. “I got her affairs in order. Paid up all the bills. Since I knew I wanted to be with you, I quit my job so I could move to California.”
Sydney knew for certain Wake had gone off the deep end. He’d been proud to accept the offer at the law office in New York. She supposed it was payback since his father had a close friend who was a partner at the firm but Wake had gone on and on about how much he liked working there. To up and quit in order to move across the country and remarry an ex that he hadn’t even spoken to since the divorce? Wake definitely had gone bonkers.
“I’m glad we have enough money to live the kind of life we deserve,” he told her. “Since your money is my money. We’ll never have to work again.”
“Money?”
“Sure. I heard on TV. All the money your first husband left you. The old movie star.” Wake frowned. “I’m still upset you didn’t tell me about him. Or who you really were. The daughter of huge Hollywood hitters.” He frowned. “I thought we trusted each other.”
Sydney wanted to placate him before he flew off the handle.
“Wake, I told you why I left that life behind.” She took a deep breath. “I really don’t know about the money Craig left. I’ve used his business manager to handle all of that for me. He gave me enough to go to college and law school but I never talk to him. I have no idea what’s left of it.”
“You’re kidding me!” Wake blew up. “How could you be so irresponsible? That business manager could’ve run off to Tahiti by now, taking every red cent and somehow making it his own.” He squeezed her fingers painfully. “I’ve always had a great head for money. I’ll manage it from now on. You can count on me.”
He paused. “Let’s start over. The money situation can wait until tomorrow. After we get married in the morning.”
Sydney bit her lip. “It’s not that easy, Wake.”
He beamed. “I already looked it up. I don’t have to be a California resident for us to get married.”
“Even so, we’ll need our official birth certificates. We also have to present a copy of our divorce decree because my dad had to do that every time he married another woman. That may take a few days.”
Wake shrugged. “Then first things first. Let’s go back to your house. I need to be introduced to your dad.” He looked around. “Where the hell are we? Give me directions back to your place, Sydney. I’m all turned around. LA is way too fucking big.”
“Let me figure out where we are.” Sydney