Chapter 20

CHAPTER TWENTY

P iper's heart was racing, and her adrenaline spiked as she waved and called Jessie's name again. She hadn't even thought before acting. The minute she'd understood what was happening, she knew she needed to help, and she knew what she was good at.

Jessie's gaze shot to her, her face confused, while her husband looked over at Piper, his eyes narrowed.

"Jessie!" Piper gave her a big hug, using her body to break Dick's grip on Jessie's elbow. "So sorry it's taken me this long to get over to you. I had a bunch of clients to meet with here. This is my busy season for events!"

Jessie stared at her. "Um, that's okay?—"

"Thank you for your understanding!" Piper beamed at the circle standing around Jessie. "I need to steal her. I'll have her back in a few."

Dick opened his mouth to protest, and Piper waved him off, turning her attention to Jessie, speaking loudly enough to be heard over the music. "The planning for your husband's surprise party is going great! I'm so glad he's not here tonight so we can finalize the details. "

Dick stared at them, and then she saw a smug smile on his face, his ego clearly jumping to the forefront of his perception of the situation.

Jessie still looked confused. "Um?—"

"I was thinking about the musical guest. I checked with all the names you gave me, and I can get any of them, so we need to decide who is his ultimate dream band, and I'll book them."

Dick's smile widened, an indulgent smile as if he were humoring his wife by letting her dote on him.

Jessie glanced over her shoulder at Dick, but he was grinning. He waved her off, his chest practically puffing out at the idea of Jessie planning a party for him, at besting a party planner too stupid to know that the husband was right there.

Men with egos were astonishingly easy to manipulate, especially those who underestimated women.

Piper tucked her arm around Jessie's. "I'm with Eliana," she whispered.

Understanding dawned on Jessie's face, and she pivoted instantly. "My husband's here. He was next to me. Do you think he heard you?" She also said it loud enough for him to hear.

Piper looked back over her shoulder, and Dick immediately turned to the person next to him to chat. "No, I think we're good. But let's talk in the conference room so he doesn't overhear. I have so much good stuff to show you!"

"Awesome! I can't wait to see his face!" Piper hurried away from Dick, guiding Jessie through the crowded room.

As she moved, Declan walked past her, headed toward Dick. He winked at her, then continued on, moving into the little group to talk.

Piper got Jessie out into the hallway, where Dylan was leaning against a wall, scrolling on his phone. "Okay," Piper said to Jessie. "Tell me you need to run to the bathroom, and then you'll meet me in the conference room."

Jessie saw Dylan, and she nodded. "I have to run to the bathroom," she said loudly as she stepped away. "I'll meet you in the conference room."

Piper put her hands on her hips. "But we have so much to talk about." A couple nearby looked over, and a few others glanced their way. "This is my window!"

"I'll be right back," Jessie said. "I promise!" She turned and strode down the hall, and around the corner. Dylan levered himself off the wall and ambled after her, his body relaxed, giving off a chill vibe that didn't begin to explain what he was up to.

He nodded at Piper, then disappeared around the corner after Jessie.

Holy crap! Piper's hands started shaking, and she broke into a sweat. What had she just done? No, she wasn't finished yet. She needed to complete this, to give herself an alibi and Jessie more time.

She looked around, and saw Kitty walking by. "Kitty!"

Her future mother-in-law spun around. "Piper! There you are. I have someone I need you to meet."

"Come with me." She grabbed Kitty's arm and dragged her down the hall until she found an empty conference room. "Come sit."

Kitty grinned at her. "I sense drama. What's going on?"

Piper pulled out a couple chairs and sat them both down. "A woman named Jessie has been sitting with us going over plans for her husband's surprise party. She just stepped out to go to the bathroom, and she'll be right back. Got it?"

Kitty's smile faded. "Oh, bloody hell. I recognize cop stuff when I see it. What is Declan up to?"

"Her life depends on this, and so does my reputation."

Kitty folded her arms across her chest. "It's always someone's life at stake," she said. "It never stops. It just sucks you in deeper and deeper. Don't let my son endanger you."

Piper blinked. "He's not. I wanted to help?—"

Kitty snapped her fingers. "So it is cop business. Dammit. Is he back at work? Did he lie to me?" She shoved to her feet. "He knows how I feel about him being a cop. Do you know that his wife was killed in the line of duty? I don't want to lose my son. Or you?—"

At that moment, Dick walked into the room. "Where is she?" His energy was cold, hard, and coiled.

Piper's heart started to pound. He felt like a threat. Dangerous. Where was Declan?

Kitty whirled around. As soon as she saw Dick, her entire demeanor changed. Her irritation vanished, and she gave a twittery laugh. "Well, hello." She walked up and held out her hand. "My name is Kitty Jones. I'm a benefactor for this event. How is your evening?"

He didn't even seem to notice her. He just kept his gaze on Piper. "Where is she?"

Piper leaned back in her chair. "Who?"

"Jessie."

"Jessie? She ran to the bathroom."

"Which one?"

Piper raised her brows. "I'm not paid to keep track of my clients' bathroom habits. She'll be back in a minute. Can I give her a message?"

He glared at her, then spun around and stalked out of the room.

Kitty frowned. "Is that who is after that woman?"

Piper put her finger to her lips and nodded.

"He feels like a monster. I get that." Kitty took a deep breath and turned to Piper. "When I see a man with that kind of energy, I get it. I do. But here's the thing. The list of men like that is endless. It'll never stop until it sucks you dry or kills you."

Piper inclined her head. "I wasn't in danger. And neither is Declan. We're just helping out?—"

"No." Kitty held out her hands and made a wiping motion. "Stop!"

"But—"

"Don't let Declan drag you into that world, Piper. I like you. Being in love with a cop will destroy you. As much as I want my son to find happiness, I can't in good conscience stand by and watch you fall into a trap that will wreck you. I thought he was done being a cop, but he isn't, is he? He'll never stop." Tears filled her eyes. "Dammit!"

Kitty's anguish was visceral. Piper knew how much Kitty wanted Declan to have a relationship, but in her mind, she would rather warn a woman off from him than let him find happiness, because being in a relationship with a cop was that bad, in her mind. "Kitty," she said softly. "Help me understand."

"Understand?" Kitty pressed her hand to her forehead. "There's so much, Piper. Wondering every single day if it's the last day you'll ever see him. The obsession with the job, never able to stop thinking about it. People's lives depend on them, so a good cop like Declan or his dad can never step back from it. If they take a break, or miss a clue, people will die. It's what they live for, and anyone else in their lives are secondary."

Piper's heart ached for Kitty's pain. "Kitty?—"

"And what if you want kids? You'll give them a dad who won't be there for them? Who might die at any moment?" Kitty stared at her. "When Diana died, I was so grateful that they hadn't had kids who would now grow up without a mom. I quit touring when my kids reached school age and couldn't come with me. They deserved a mother who wasn't on the road ten months a year. I never regretted it. But their dad couldn't even make it home for dinner most nights. We were all secondary, and we knew it."

"I'm so sorry," Piper said gently. She didn't know what else to say.

Kitty sank down onto the chair across from Piper. "I see how you and Declan are together. I see how much you love each other. Talk to Declan. Make him walk away. It's the only way it will work." She paused. "I can't go to bed every night, wondering if I'm going to get a call that he got shot. Like Diana. Like Hank."

"Hank?"

"My husband. That's why he quit the force." She paused. " Declan didn't tell you? He was shot in the back and almost died. It took a year of rehab to even walk again. He was never the same, losing his mobility and the job he loved. His work stole everything from us. If you love Declan, if you love yourself, if you love the kids you might have some day, talk him out of being a cop before it's too late."

Kitty's pain was real. Born from a place of unconditional love. But the impact was too much. "I can't steal his purpose in life, Kitty. I can't steal his joy."

"Then you'll let him steal yours." She stood up. "I'm going home. I didn't need this tonight." Then she turned and strode out of the room.

Piper leaned back in her seat and clasped her hands behind her head, breathing in through Kitty's pain. Her heart broke for Kitty, but at the same time, now she better understood the complexity of Declan's relationship with his mom.

She understood it, because it was the same that she'd had with her family. They hadn't understood what she'd needed to do. Why she'd needed to leave. Why she couldn't keep living the life she'd been born to.

With the exception of Piper's mom, they'd never understood. Never supported her. They'd never understood or supported her mom, either, which was why Piper had had to get out. She'd had to live the life her mom hadn't been able to get.

But in Piper's family, the ones she'd left behind were the ones with the high likelihood of death, not her, but still. She understood the conflict.

Dick walked back in the room. "Is she back yet?" His jaw was hard, and anger radiated off him.

"No." Fear rippled through Piper. Not fear for herself, but fear for the woman who was racing toward a billionaire's private jet to keep herself and her kids safe. Piper was suddenly intensely, gloriously grateful for people like Dylan Hart who were out there helping women. Making a difference.

And she was exhilarated by the role she'd had in it .

Kitty might not understand what drove Declan, but Piper did. Because she felt the same need to make a difference. By bringing joy with her weddings, but also, surprisingly to discover, by helping women walk away from men like Dick.

He swore. "When she comes back, make her wait for me."

She raised her brows. "And you are…"

"Her husband."

"What?" Piper bolted upright, feigning surprise. "Oh…hello."

"I know about the party. I'm not an idiot."

Piper grimaced. "Don't tell her you know. She was so excited to surprise you. We've been working on this for weeks."

He flexed his jaw, and Piper could see him warring with distrust and delight. "What are your plans?"

Piper shook her head. "No way. There has to be some element of surprise. But trust me, I'm excellent at what I do. It's going to be fantastic."

"When is it?"

She grinned, forcing herself to act as if she were speaking to a normal husband, not one who was so bad that his wife had needed to hire Eliana and Dylan to help her escape. "Ah…you don't know, do you? Perfect. There will be an element of surprise."

He walked over to her. "Tell me when the party is." His voice was low, full of threat, and warning prickled down Piper's arms.

Instincts made her want to bolt to her feet and face him down, but she knew her job right now was to play party planner. When it came out that Jessie had gone missing, Piper needed to be sure her alibi as an innocent party planner was intact. "You know, I totally get that," she said easily. "You're super busy, and I'm sure you want to make sure you're available." She cocked her head, giving him a flirty smile. "You won't tell her, will you? Just between you and me."

He narrowed his eyes, and his gaze went to her chest, then back to her face. "All right."

"Wonderful." She beamed at him, even as she fantasized about taking the electric pencil sharpener and whipping it at his well-coiffed head. "It's three weeks from tonight."

"Where?"

Crap. That was something he could confirm. "Your house, of course. That's part of the plan. How we're going to get you away from the house all day so we can set up. It's going to be fantastic, but you need to go with it when you get an invite that gets you out of the house all day. Okay?"

A small smile finally played at the corner of his mouth. "What's the invite going to be?"

"I don't know yet. Any suggestions?"

"Golf."

"Great. Golf it is. Then what? That won't take you all day."

He paused for a moment, rubbing his jaw. Now that his anger was subsiding, she could see that some people would find him handsome. He had that air about him that would draw people into his web with ease, like a spider who would then take them prisoner and destroy them whenever he felt ready to do so. "Breakfast at the club in the morning. Then golf. Then…" He paused. "Call Jack Schott. Tell him that you need me out of the house all day. He'll know what to do."

"Jack Schott. Got it." She pulled out her phone. "What's his number?"

Dick rattled it off, and Piper put it in her phone. "Fantastic." She stood up. "I need to go meet with another client. When you find Jessie, tell her I had to run. I'll give her a call tomorrow to reschedule." She poked his chest as she walked past. "But make sure to ask her who I am, because you need to pretend you don't know about the party!"

He nodded, his eyes far too interested in her for her own comfort. "Will do."

"Great!" She couldn't believe she'd managed to get out of there without him asking what her name was, but she knew he'd notice soon that he hadn't asked, hadn't figured out a way to track her down. "Have a good night. "

As he nodded, she stepped around him and then strode out into the hall, her heart racing. She saw Declan walk out into the hall, and she shot him a look to follow her.

His gaze went behind her, and she knew he'd seen Dick walk out of the room she'd just exited. Since he'd jumped in to distract Dick when Piper had spirited his wife away, they couldn't be seen together.

She walked past Declan, not even looking at him. "Going to my car," she muttered under her breath. "See you at home."

"Meet you there." He kept walking the other way, calling a greeting to Dick as he passed him.

She glanced back as she rounded the corner, relieved to see that Declan had managed to stall Dick long enough for her to slip out of sight without him following her. Relief rushed through her, and she hurried down the hall, cutting back through the kitchen toward the front entrance. She waved at a few of the staff, who she knew from the weddings she'd put on there, then emerged in a back hall.

She bolted down the empty corridor and then slipped out a side entrance.

The parking lot was eerily empty, and as she raced across it, she thought about Jessie and her kids, racing along the highway toward Dylan's jet. She knew they would make it, because they had a head start, but it was still nerve-wracking.

She couldn't imagine needing to run away from her life so completely that the only option was to disappear. Because that was what Eliana did. New identities, new lives, never to be found.

Piper's car was where she'd left it, and there was no sign of Dick, so she ran over, got in, locked it, and started the engine. She pulled out quickly, and didn't relax until she was on the road and there were no headlights behind her.

As the night settled around her, she thought about Jessie. Did she have parents she was leaving behind? Did she have to go into hiding forever? Would she lose every bit of her life forever, just because she'd married the wrong man ?

Suddenly, Piper's throat became tight at the idea of never seeing her family again. She'd left them behind, worked hard to disassociate herself with them, but in her heart, she always knew they were there.

She stopped at an intersection, then looked down at her phone. It had been so long since she'd spoken to anyone from her family. She didn't want them back in her life.

But she suddenly needed to know they were all right.

"Hey, Siri. Call Roman." She hit the gas and eased through the intersection as the phone rang. Would he even answer? It had been so long.

It kept ringing, and sadness crept into her heart. What if something had happened to them? She'd changed her phone number so they couldn't find her. What if she couldn't find them either?

Finally, a familiar voice answered. "Roman here."

Her throat tightened at the sound of her older brother's voice. "It's me."

There was a long pause, then he said, incredulously. "Piper?"

"Yes. Hi." She suddenly didn't know what to say.

"Where the hell have you been? Shit! We've all been so worried! You just disappeared."

Tears filled her eyes. "I'm sorry. I had to go."

"You didn't have to go like that. No one knew what happened to you. Fuck. I thought that someone had—" He stopped, but she knew what he'd been about to say. He'd been worried that one of his business associates had killed her.

"I had to get out, Roman. I did it the only way I knew how."

"I thought you were dead, Piper."

"I know. I'm so sorry."

"It's been seven years. Seven years since anyone has heard from you. What the hell?"

Piper pulled into her driveway and parked the car. "Roman," she said, trying to hold her emotions together. "I'm sorry I worried you and the others. I just…I was going to die if I stayed there, and I knew it. If I told you, I never would have gone. You wouldn't have let me go. None of you would have."

"You underestimate us," he said. "Is that really what you think of us?"

"Well, I don't mean you would have chained me to my bed. I just meant that you would have talked me out of it." Dragged her down, just like he was doing right now. Making her feel guilty for taking care of herself, and doing what she needed to survive.

"You so sure about that? Or do you think that it's possible we would have been glad that you made it out? That you had a chance to be more? Did that occur to you?"

She closed her eyes. "No."

"Maybe it should have." There was so much anger in his voice, so much blame. Which was why it had been seven years since she'd talked to him, or the others.

"Roman. I need to go, but I called tonight to tell you that I love you. And the others. You'll always be my family, and I will always hold you in my heart." She almost added that she would always be there to help them out if they needed it, but she didn't.

Because she knew what kind of help her family would want from her, and she wouldn't give it to them.

There was a long silence.

"Roman?"

"You coming home soon?"

"No."

"Ever?"

She couldn't make herself say "no," even though that felt like the truth. "I don't know."

He was silent again.

"This is my cell," she said finally. "Call me if you need to."

He was still silent.

"Okay, um, so that's it, then." She paused. "Tell the others I love them."

More silence.

Should she just hang up? Roman was the one she was closest to, the one she really missed, but also the one who was the most dangerous to her because of that very reason. "Hello?"

"I missed the hell out of you," he finally said. "You always have a home here, little sis." He paused. "I'm sorry I drove you away. I love you."

Tears filled her eyes. "Roman?—"

He hung up before she could say more.