Page 39 of Peyton's Price

Sighing, Trick slid a hand over his face. “I know. For what it’s worth, I thought Liam was coming to his senses for a minute there when he insisted on putting that charm bracelet on you. But he’s a glutton for punishment. I just hope he doesn’t regret marriage to the ice queen too much.”

Peyton blinked, then snorted lightly. “You’re going to have to stop calling her that. She’s going to be your sister-in-law.”

It hurt less to say it aloud than she thought it would. “And don’t let Maggie be mean to her. I think Caroline is feeling sensitive about the wedding.”

“How do you figure that? It’s all she talks about.”

Peyton shrugged. “Maybe that’s because she senses everyone’s reluctance. It would be hard for her not to. You, in particular, cringe every time she brings it up. And she has to know that’s not a man’s general wedding-talk aversion. You and Maggie planned your own ceremony and reception down to the last detail.”

“I guess I have been kind of a dick.” Trick’s exaggerated sigh reminded her of when they were kids and the cooks tried to get him to eat his vegetables. “You’re not going to leave right away? You have to stay until you figure out what you’re going to do.”

“Whatever that is…Eva called. She held my job open, but Priya is right. I can’t go back to my old life. It won’t be safe.”

Trick grabbed her hand. “We won’t let anyone get you again,” he promised.

“It’s not me I’m worried about,” she confessed. “I came out of that mess relatively unscathed. I know I wouldn’t be that lucky a second time, but the bigger threat wouldn’t be to me. That outfit was professional and well-organized. And they were also careful and ruthless—they wouldn’t be afraid of causing some serious collateral damage if they believed I was on the loose and could cause them trouble. I don’t want anyone to get hurt trying to protect me. I’ve got to be smart about this.”

She sat up with a gasp. “Oh, my God. I didn’t even ask. What the hell happened to Dylan?”

“Don’t worry.” Trick’s mouth turned down. “We didn’t let Liam kill him. Dylan’s in jail.”

“Oh.” She sagged against the couch. “I can’t believe it. Do you think he’ll be safe there? Those dealers wanted to kill him if he couldn’t pay up.”

“He tradedyouto pay that debt. Don’t tell me you’re worried about that asshole?”

“I don’t know.” She sighed. “He was desperate. I won’t forgive him or anything stupid like that, but I don’t want him dead.”

Trick sniffed. “Well, he should be safe enough in prison.”

They sat in silence for a little while. “I need a new computer,” she said after a while.

“I’ll buy you one tomorrow.”

“I wasn’t angling for a handout, Trick.”

He scoffed. “It’s not one. And I hate to point out the obvious, but you can’t use any of your own money, so you better cut up your credit cards when we get them back. I’m sure that’s on the Priya woman’s list of dos and don’ts.”

“I’m sure it is. She was highly organized. Matthias used the expressionterrifyingly efficient.”

Peyton rubbed the rim of her water bottle contemplatively. Behind that ultra-professional veneer was a brilliant and passionate woman. Matthias had been the bank, but the underground railroad had been all Priya. Peyton couldn’t help but admire the other woman’s desire to make a difference in this crappy world.

If only she’d had a little more time, Peyton knew she could have cracked Priya. They would have been friends. As for Matthias, thinking about him sent an unexpected wave of longing through her.

He was another missed opportunity.All that time spent pining for Liam.One chance after another had come and gone. The worst part was, she’d closed the door on them herself. At the time, she hadn’t cared, but that was how she’d gotten to this point—an almost twenty-five-year-old virgin with no job and no prospects of independence. She was going to have to rely on her friends in order to start over. Life had officially passed her by.

“What did you say?”

“Hmm?”

“You muttered something about Matthias.” Trick looked at her out of the corner of his eye. “He’s an interesting man. More fit and a hell of a lot younger than I thought he would be. That look he gave you when we picked you up…did anything happen between you?”

“Of course not.” She was an idiot hell-bent on wasting her life on unrequited love. “And it never will. He’s gone now.”

Trick glanced at his watch. “Yeah, he should be by now.”

Peyton blinked. “Matthias left two days ago. TheOrmen Langewas pulling up anchor and getting the hell out of Dodge on Friday.”

Trick rubbed his nose. “Something must have delayed him because Liam’s guy at the port said the yacht was still there this morning. I didn’t think anything about it, but Liam seemed anxious about it. I didn’t tell him I tried sending Matthias a message, inviting him to brunch, but I’m glad he ignored it now. Caroline does have a way of spoiling things, doesn’t she?”

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