Page 22 of Her Wedding Night

Gilly smirks. “Last I heard, nobody on this boat was your son.”

I don’t hear Gabriel’s response, but Gilly backs off.

Forrest hisses at his friend.

“What? That guy’s scary.”

“I have a gun!”

“Then shoot him!” Gilly throws his hands in the air. “Or shoot Ethan. This is all his fault.”

“No!” That’s me.

Everyone turns my way. “Nobody shoot anyone,” I beg. “Please.”

The boat is rocked by a rough wave, and Forrest stumbles.

Gabriel moves again, but it’s clearly not Forrest’s—or Gilly’s—first day on a boat. They both get on the other side of the table from Gabriel, and while Forrest points his gun angrily at Gabriel, Gilly opens a cabinet I didn’t notice before.

Well, I guess that’s where the first two guns came from.

He takes a third weapon from it and points it at my would-be savior. “You heard what she said, man. The pretty virgin doesn’t want anyone to get shot, right? So back the fuck up and stop acting like a hero.”

Slowly, Gabriel lifts his hands in the air. “All right. Be cool.”

My heart pounds in my chest and there’s a dull roar in my ears. But I manage to get out, “They want to see me lose my virginity, right?”

Gabriel turns slowly, shaking his head. Like he doesn’t even care that there are now two guns pointed at his back. “Lucy, no.”

But I can’t stop thinking about how he just doesn’t feel dangerous to me. Not anymore. I think about the photo. How he’s had every opportunity to hurt me and he never did.

“They’re crazy,” I whisper. It’s so quiet I’m sure I’m the only one who can hear it, but he gives me a tight nod.

Well, then I just need to be crazier.

I throw my shoulders back and give everyone on board an even look. Trying to match their rich, stupid vibes. “I choose him, then. Ethan’s dad.”

As expected, those words are a direct hit on the person who lured me onto this boat. He goes white—but then he sways on his feet.

Maybe he’s lost just enough blood now to render him useless.

Good, I think savagely.

I look at Forrest again, who seems like he’s in charge now. “Will that satisfy you? Can we get this party started again?”

“He didn’t win her,” Gilly says. “Should we make him pay for her virginity?”

“What’s her price?” Gabriel doesn’t hesitate. He turns to Ethan. “What were you willing to pay?”

He doesn’t answer.

“Thousands?” Gabriel’s voice is clipped. “You think you’re a big man? Tricking a girl into a twisted game, and then it’s only a few thousand dollars that you scrape up?” He looks at Gilly, then pauses. “Send a girl up to the bridge. I’ve brought what I’m willing to bid for the virgin girl.”

Hannah wobbles to her feet, shooting me a triumphant look. “I’ll go.”

Gabriel doesn’t even look at her. “There’s a black duffle bag on the captain’s chair. Bring it down.”

I go cold.

---