Two Weddings and a Fugitive (The Chanel Series Book 4) by Donna Joy Usher Read Free Book Online Page B

her that yesterday. It wasn’t like her to be forgetful.
    ‘I know that dummy. Which bar?’
    ‘How did you know I was in a bar?’
    ‘It’s six o’clock and you’re on a tropical island. Where else would you be?’
    She had a very good point.
    ‘Don’t worry. I see you.’
    What? I swung around, with the phone still pressed to my ear, and there she was. She tottered through the growing crowd on the Nine West pumps she had purchased in Las Vegas. Her black dress showed off her shapely legs and matched her black, bob wig.
    ‘Maaarrrtiiiiine,’ Mum shrieked. She launched herself into Martine’s arms and the two of them jumped up and down like giddy school girls.
    ‘At least someone’s pleased to see me,’ Martine said when she had finished jumping.
    ‘I’m pleased,’ I said. ‘Surprised but pleased.’
    ‘You don’t look surprised,’ she said to Billy, leaning over to kiss him on the cheek.
    ‘I had a feeling we’d be seeing you.’ He gave her a slow, sexy smile.
    ‘What are you drinking?’ Harry asked her.
    She pointed to my cocktail and then pulled me to the side. ‘Boris is coming,’ she whispered.
    ‘I know. That’s why I’m here. To protect Matt.’
    She shook her head. ‘He’s coming for us .’
    I had been taking a sip of my drink. Now, instead of swallowing it, I found myself inhaling it. Alcohol burst from my mouth and nose as I started to cough. Martine thumped me on the back while I made noises similar to what I imagine a choking camel would make.
    Finally, when I could breathe again, I said, ‘What do you mean for us ?’
    ‘That’s what Crusty told me.’
    ‘How would he know?’
    ‘Word on the street is that when they searched the cell Boris had been in before they moved him, they found Matt’s newspaper clipping.’
    ‘Billy said he had drawn a skull and cross bones next to Matt’s name.’
    She nodded. ‘Yes, but did he tell you Boris had circled the bit about us and written the word ‘kill’ next to it?’
    All the air in my lungs escaped in a whoosh. Boris was coming to kill us. ‘Don’t panic,’ I said as black dots danced in front of my eyes. ‘The cops won’t let that happen.’
    ‘Urrrr, Chanel.’ Martine put a hand on my arm to steady me. ‘You are a cop.’
    ‘Damn it. It slips my mind in moments of extreme terror.’
    Merriment danced across Martine’s handsome face.
    ‘Here you go.’ Harry handed her a drink and we followed him back to where Billy and Mum were talking.
    ‘So,’ Mum said, ‘what are you up to tomorrow?’
    Trying not to get killed. ‘Bridesmaid’s dress fitting.’
    ‘Oooh.’ Martine clapped her hands together. ‘Sounds like fun. Can I come?’
    I looked over at Billy. He gave me a slight nod, which was good because I was bringing her with or without his permission. Safety in numbers and all that jazz.
    Dinner was a far less painful event than I had imagined. Having Martine there helped take away from the pure romantic energy that Mum and Harry were emitting. And it meant that at the end, when the two of them were holding hands and staring into each other’s eyes, that I wasn’t left staring into Billy’s.
    We were back at our accommodation by nine-thirty. I was guessing from the loud snores issuing forth from Nick’s room that he was fast asleep.
    Light still shone out from under Salindra’s door but she didn’t come out to see us.
    I put my bag in my room and thought about changing into my nightie, but decided to get a glass of water from the kitchen before I did. I didn’t bother turning on the light as I padded across the cool tiles, expecting my eyes to have refocused in the dim light by the time I got there.
    That was a mistake. If I had, I would have seen that Billy was already there. As it was, I didn’t see him until he turned from the sink and walked towards me.
    I let out a yelp and clutched at my chest where my heart was trying to make its way through my ribs. ‘Didn’t see you,’ I said.
    ‘Thought