Page 102 of Lady Sings the Blues

“Please, Beau. Be reasonable. You can’t marry her. She’s trash. She’s a whore.”

My husband doesn’t even get the chance to take a swing at his father. Oh, someone does, just not whose fist I expected to see connecting with the man’s chin.

Out of nowhere, Liv lets him have it. And since she was raised in the life, Liv knows how to throw a punch.

I jump out from behind my husband, half screaming, half laughing. “Oh my god,Livvy. That. Was.Awesome.”

“Don’t you ever talk that crap about my friend again.” She seethes at him right at the same time Margo shrieks.

But Margo’s shriek doesn’t come from an ‘Oh my god you punched my husband’ place. And we all know it by following the line of her finger pointing at my small, yet noticeable baby bump.

“Since this is the last time we’ll be speakin’ to one another, I’ll tell you.” Beau takes a menacing step forward. “I’ve already married her.” Another step. “She’s my wife. It’s done.” And another, until he’s standing toe to toe with a visibly shaken George, who smartly steps backward. Though his retreat is thwarted by at least five bikers giving Beau his say.

My husband puts an exclamation on the conversation by pointing a finger at George’s chest. “We’re expectin’. It’s too bad you’re such an asshole who can’t let go of the past, a past which wasnother fault. Because in seven months you could’ve been enjoyin’ your first grandchild from your only son. But you’ll never have that honor, because you never earned it. These people.” He pauses to gesture around to all our guests. “These people will fill in. They’ve already made Elise feel welcome, and they’re looking forward to spoilin’ our kid rotten. So don’t think your absence will be missed. Now get out so me and my wife can enjoy our day with the people we love.”

“Son, this is a mistake.” George almost sounds pleading instead of contrary.Whatever.

That’s the last he says because Blue and Levi take ahold of each of his arms and drag him back toward the door.

When Liv and my other bridesmaid Hannah approach Margo, she turns abruptly, clutching her purse to her chest like she’s in a bad neighborhood and afraid of being mugged, and runs out after her husband.

“So sorry that happened, baby girl. Especially today. Never wanted their stink to touch you.”

I shrug. “You still love me?”

“You even have to ask?”

“You still want this life, this family, with me?”

“Ain’t no life, no familywithoutyou.” This he says with his forehead tipped close to mine, his arms holding me, brushing his lips along my jaw.

“Then whatever. Pothole in our road. But I’m warning you, Candy shows up—it’s on.”

After kissing the tip of my nose, he takes off to see that George and Margo have actually left the property.

I find myself leaning back against the bar watching Liv get the accolades she deserves for stepping up the way she did, when my phone rings. The display says Maryanne Calling. That’s odd seeing as she’s here.

But when I scan the room, I don’t see her.

“Where are you?” I ask after pressing accept and putting the phone to my ear. No hello.

“Elise.” Maryanne’s voice comes at me low and scared. She sounds like she’s been crying.

Then there’s a rustle and the voice I hear next is not Maryanne. “Times up.”

And I wince. “You…you can’t have her. She’s never been with Logan.” Because I’ve heard his voice twice now, there’s no forgetting that voice. I know down to my gut Houdini has Maryanne.

“I make the rules, Hollister whore. Even trade. You for her.”

“She can’t be hurt in any way.” I negotiate while tears run down my cheeks and thicken my voice.Don’t panic. Don’t panic.“She’s alive and unhurt.”

“You have my word.”

“She stays alive and unhurt even after we’ve made the trade.”

“Ah, smart girl. Agreed. Of course I’ll have to knock her out for a bit. But I promise, she’ll wake unharmed.”

I swallow hard. “Where?Where do you want to meet?”

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