Page 41 of Wine, Whiskey, & Lipstick 2

“Unfortunately, this happened a week ago at approximately 10:23pm but was only discovered yesterday.”

Oh shit!Dillyn’s eyes connected with Ben’s. She knew he could read her thoughts that were screamingsomeone had been watching them!It happened right around the time of their rendezvous. Dillyn swallowed hard as she shared concerned glances with her friends. She refocused her attention on what Mike was saying.

“We immediately activated our plan if either of your properties were ever compromised.”

“Do we know who was on the video?” Cat asked.

Palmer nodded. “Did you catch him? Why didn’t you call the police?”

Frustrated, Dillyn asked the obvious question, “And . . . why didn’t someone say anything then?!”

“Those are all good questions. I’ll answer Dillyn’s first. “We didn’t know what was on the camera. We weren’t even sure if it was a person. It wasn’t until we were able to enhance the video that we could confirm a security breach. Unfortunately, it was by more than one individual. We haven’t contacted the police because other than someone trespassing, we don’t have much in terms of a criminal case.”

That explanation made Selah’s face ashen, and she sat at the table. Dillyn went to her and placed what she hoped was a comforting hand on her shoulder. Gently, Dillyn squeezed, hoping it would give her some reassurance. If she were honest, Dillyn was just as scared.

“So what now?” Dillyn asked.

“We beefed up security,” Mike said matter-of-factly.

Cat was more angry than scared, “Beefed up? I thought you were already doing that?!”

“Ma’am, I understand your frustration . . .” Mike didn’t get to finish his statement.

“No! That’s not possible!” Selah stood with so much force her chair almost fell over backwards. By the looks on everyone’s faces, no one was ready for her explosion.

Her fists were balled up at her sides, “You couldn’t possibly understand! I was taken away from my family and violently attacked! I thought I would die and never see anyone I loved again. The only place I’ve felt safe since it happened has been our home! Now you’re telling me I’m not safe here either?”

Ben, Lucas, and Wyatt felt utterly helpless.

The guilt-eating at Dillyn literally made her want to vomit. Deep in her heart, she’d known that she’d brought the entirety of this fuckery to her friend’s doorstep. Dillyn had no idea how to fix this.What can I do?For now, all she could offer was comfort. She placed her hand on Selah’s back and gently rotated it in small circles.

Dillyn spoke softly as she asked Mike, “Have you been able to identify the people on the video?”

“Not yet. Our team is working on it. Until we do, anytime you step outside your home, one of these gentlemen standing behind me will escort you.”

“What are you doing to detect intrudersonthe property?” Palmer asked.

“We’re adding some additional people and more technology to assist.”

“Whose paying for all the additional people and more technology?” Palmer had no idea how they were going to afford that. “We don’t have that kind of money, and Dillyn, I know you don’t. We sunk almost everything we had into buying and renovating this place.”

“That’s being managed,” Mike answered.

Palmer was adamant, “By who?”

Lucas was frustrated that money was even a topic of discussion. “Why do you care as long as it is paid for?”

Palmer snapped, “Because none of us in this house want to be considered kept women!”

“No one thinks that.” Ben worked to calm the waters. “We all have a shared interest in keeping us safe.” Ben glanced at Dillyn. He was not going to lose another woman that he loved. “We have the means to pay for it, so we will.”

Palmer was still being stubborn, “Then set us up on a payment plan.”

“Hold on now . . .” Cat was about to nip the ego and pride thing in the bud. She would not pay for shit if she didn’t have to. “If the guys want to pay for security, we should let them.” Cat was flat-ass broke, and it would take some time before the vineyard took shape and started earning any money. That meant it would be years before they could pay the Cash brothers back, probably long after she’d died and gone to heaven orhell. . . depending.

Dillyn was still pondering Mike’s words about the type of security they planned to add. She understood the technology part well enough but had some lingering questions. “Is that why Tony was checking our cars today?”

Lucas and Wyatt deferred to Ben. They didn’t know if or how much he wanted to tell them.

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