Page 3 of Tail, Dark and Handsome: Celestial Mates
Well, shit. Bet that wasn’t in Tomas’ star chart.
Valerian looked over Mari’s shoulder and made a noise that sounded like a wounded beast. “That man! And to think I aligned his chakras.”
“Do you have an alternate form of payment?” the woman asked.
“Um, hold on,” Mari muttered. Disbelief numbed her. Tomas not only left her at the altar, but he ran off with their savings. She logged into her personal account only to find it equally empty. “Son of a—”
Joseph grabbed the comm from her, scrunched his brows, and passed it to Valerian. “That bastard robbed you,” they announced together like they had been practicing for such an occasion.
Mari needed a drink. The room was too crowded, and she needed to get drunk out of her mind. Mostly, she needed this day to end. “How about a refund? The wedding obviously isn’t happening.”
“Sorry, no refunds on last-minute cancellations.” The woman grinned like she was having the time of her cold, hateful life.
“Well, I’m not getting married today. I’m the victim of a con man. I need to file a police report and…and…” Change all her passwords. Get new accounts. Run a credit check to see if Tomas ran up any debt while using her name. Probably. He always had such nice clothes and expensive tastes, but he also had a good job as a pilot, so he claimed. She never questioned where he got his money.
Oh, and make an effigy of Tomas to toss in the incinerator along with his expensive clothes.
How had she been so trusting? Tomas used to whisper in their tender moments that he loved her trusting nature, that he loved how she viewed the universe with innocent wonder. Those words used to make her melt, but now it felt like he had been laughing at her. Silent guardian spirits, he had droppedcluesand practically waved his plan in her face like a red flag.
The crystal dug into her palm as she squeezed tight. There weren’t enough crystals in the galaxy to protect such a naïve, lovesick fool.
Her stomach rolled with stress. Empty or not, the contents of her gut would not stay put.
She dashed for the small toilet attached to the dressing room, her enormous dress barely fitting through the door. Kneeling on the ground, she retched and gagged on the taste of bile.
While busy maintaining her dignity in a ladylike fashion, she heard Joseph settle the bill. “I paid for a party, so we’re having a party. We’ll skip the ceremony and go straight to the reception,” he said.
“I’ll inform the staff. And the police?”
“Give her five minutes. This is a shock, you understand.” To put it mildly.
Mari rinsed out her mouth and scrubbed off the ruin of her makeup. She did her best to avoid her reflection because she just didn’t know if she had the strength to stare into the eyes of the woman who got screwed. Hard.
He always seemed so glad to be with her, holding her hand even when they were just sitting on the couch watching a show. He smiled and teased her in the sweet, subtle way, like they were the only ones in on a wonderful joke.
Apparently, the joke was on her.
Shit. All her money. All their plans…
Were those even real? Had he always been planning to abscond with her pitiful savings, or was it a crime of opportunity? She didn’t care about the money—okay, she wasn’t an heiress, she obviously she cared about the money—but she loathed the dirty feeling that crawled over her. Tomas and Sandria violated her home, her trust, and her heart. She felt…wrong, like her mother needed to smudge her aura to clean away the negative energy.
What a disaster.
Joseph handed her a glass as she exited the tiny toilet. Valerian snatched at the clumps of negative energy in her aura.
“Thanks, Mom. I hope this is vodka,” she said, taking a gulp.
“Water, but I understand someone is paying for an open bar. I suggest we put a hurt on the sucker,” he said. He watched her drain the glass, concern evident on his face.
She hated that look on her baby brother’s face. Joseph was the fun, carefree one. She was the responsible one. Everyone said so, especially when they were kids. Joe was a great guy. He’d make someone very lucky when he eventually settled down. Someone deserved to be lucky.
Sweet celestial bodies, she sounded maudlin. “You sure that was water?”
“Positive.”
“I’ll tell the guests about the change in plans. Take your time,” Valerian said, giving Mari and peck on the cheek and a hug.
Mari leaned into the hug. Mom hugs were the best. “Thanks.” She did not look forward to the pity and condolences of a hundred people, most of whom were her mother’s friends and business contacts.
