She dialed again. Voicemail. She bit her lip. At least the limo was moving again. They’d exited the freeway and were speeding down some local road.
“I’ll set up a trust for Joey,” Griff said.
That got her attention.
“If you can wait one more year for the divorce,” he said, “I’ll make sure he’s taken care of for life.”
She felt like jumping at the offer. Lifelong care for Joey would be a huge relief. Then again, Griff had used her brother as leverage before.
Steph heaved a sigh. “I feel like you’re playing me again. Why should I trust that you’ll do what you say?”
“You know I love Joey.”
“That doesn’t mean you’ll keep your end of the deal.”
“I really want to. A year from now I can have the money lined up. It’s a win-win. You’ll be happy. My people will be happy.”
“You’ll be happy you’re not bankrupt.”
He inclined his head.
“I don’t know.”
“Think it over at dinner.”
She crossed her arms. “Dinner won’t change anything between us. I’m sorry. That’s just the way it is.”
He blew out a breath. Then he surprised her by knocking on the window separating them from the driver. It rolled down.
“Take Steph back to the hotel,” Griff said.
“You need better press,” a feminine voice responded.
“Mandy?” Griff asked, clearly surprised. “Uh, I don’t know what you think you’re doing…” He trailed off. “Where’s Rex?”
“Don’t worry about him,” Mandy replied. “Let’s get you some good press.”
“Forget it,” Griff said. “Just take us back to the hotel.”
An ominous click sounded and a gun appeared, wavering between her and Griff. Steph’s heart stopped and then lurched forward.
“Mandy, calm down,” Griff said gently.
“No one loves you more than I do,” Mandy said.
The gun pointed at Steph. It was shaking as they were still speeding down the street. Omigod, Steph was gonna die in the back of a limo with the one man she’d hoped never to see again. This would be the last thing she saw—Griff, the limo, the white bench seat, psycho Mandy’s gun. There would be no family left for Joey. Her marriage really would be until death do us part.
“Call Dave and tell him you’re not feeling well,” Mandy said.
Steph pulled out her cell and made the call, knowing it would go to voicemail.
“Put the gun away,” Griff said. “We’re all friends here.”
The gun wavered between them. “You think I won’t shoot you, Griff?” Mandy asked. “If you die young, you’re a rock legend. I’d be doing you a favor. Like Elvis.”
“Now, sugar, you know I could never be like Elvis,” Griff returned smoothly. “He was the King.”
“Then I’ll shoot her,” Mandy said with a laugh. “Then you’ll be free.”
“I’m already free, sweetheart,” Griff said. “Let’s make this a real pretty picture with me and Steph at the restaurant. We could be smiling or fighting, your call. But you’ll get the exclusive.”
The gun disappeared from view, and the window rolled back up. Steph’s hands shook so badly she dropped her phone.
Griff pulled her into his arms and held her tight. “I’ll get the gun as soon as we park,” he whispered. “I won’t let you die.”
She nodded, her teeth chattering. Griff tucked her head under his chin, his arms protectively around her, and she clung to him, wishing she’d stayed home. She couldn’t stop shaking. She knew Griff wouldn’t want the cops involved. That would be bad publicity after his stint in jail, but she didn’t care. This was life or death. What if Griff didn’t get the gun before Mandy shot him? How far would Mandy go? Would she shoot them both and take off? Maybe she’d just shoot Steph if she wanted Griff to herself.
She untangled herself from Griff’s embrace. If she was going to die, it wouldn’t be in his arms. She picked up her phone and held it hidden in her hand.
“Where are we going?” she asked.
“It’s this new place,” he said. “The Poppy. Sounds pretty good now, huh?”
Yes, eating dinner with my idiot husband sounds lots better than getting killed by a psycho.
She nodded and looked out the window, biding her time. She wanted Griff’s attention off her. When she felt enough time had passed that he wasn’t completely focused on her anymore, she pressed her cell, intent on dialing 911, when Griff’s hand shot out and closed over hers. They had a brief battle over the cell, but he was stronger and wrenched it out of her grasp.
“No cops,” he said, tucking the cell into his back pocket.
She glared at him. “If I die, I will never forgive you.”
He snorted. “If you die, I will never forgive myself. But calling the cops is just going to make her unstable.”
“She’s already unstable,” Steph hissed.
“I can handle her.”
She lunged for the cell, but he wrestled her away, pinning her flat on her back on the bench seat, her arms pinned at her sides. She struggled to no effect. “If we get through this, I seriously want to kill you.”
He gave her his innocent choirboy face. “How is this my fault?”
“You’re the one that lured me backstage, got rid of my boyfriend, got me into the limo—”
“Didn’t you ever hear you shouldn’t take candy from strangers?”
“This isn’t funny.”
“Do you trust me?”
“Hmm, let me think. No!”
“Steph, you know when the shit goes down I come through. Wasn’t I there for you and Joey when your mother died?”
She blinked back tears at the reminder, but said nothing. He released her arms, and she sat back up.
“I promise I’ll get you out of this safe and sound,” he said. “I’m bigger and stronger than her.”
“And she’s got the gun.”
“She won’t use it.”
“Oh, really. And how do you know this? Did the psycho clear this with you first?” She jolted upright. “Omigod. Did you plan this whole thing?”
“Steph!” he chided.
“What?”
“How can you say that? I’m not a complete asshole. I would never scare you into publicity.” He cradled her face with one hand as he always did when he spoke from the heart. “I promise you that.”
She believed him. She pulled away from him. “She’s still dangerous.”
He shrugged. “She won’t hurt me because she loves me.”
“That’s good for you,” Steph said. “But what about me?”
“Do you love me too?”
She groaned. “Why do I even talk to you?”
He grinned. “Because you love me too.”
She put her hand up in a stop sign. He grabbed her hand and pressed a kiss to the palm. She did not want to spend her last minutes on earth fighting with Griff.
“I hope you don’t die,” she said.
“That’s the sweetest thing you’ve said to me in a long time,” he replied. “Right up there with, oh, Griff, I’m coming!”
She shook her head. “I don’t know how you can be so calm. I’m terrified.”
He gazed warmly into her eyes. “If I had to be with anyone before death, I’d want it to be you.”
Her throat felt tight. This was exactly why she’d fallen head over heels for him in the first place. The way he could reach out with such heartfelt emotion. It was what made his music so powerful.
“Oh, Griff,” she managed over the lump in her throat. She really didn’t want to die. She had so much she wanted to do in life. So much she wanted to share with Dave.
The car slowed to a stop.
Griff took a deep breath. “I love you, Steph. Never forget that.”
Then he got out of the car to face Mandy. Why did he have to say things like that? She felt like they were his last words before facing a firing squad. He did love her, in
his own selfish way. She heard Mandy yell, and Steph quickly ducked down on the seat.
Mandy yelled some more while Griff spoke in low tones. Mandy’s voice lowered. Then things went eerily quiet. Her heart pounded. She might not want to stay married to Griff, but she certainly didn’t want him dead. There was a scuffle, a woman’s voice cried out, and a clanking of metal on metal.
All was quiet again. Sweat ran down her back. Did Mandy still have the gun?
The door opened, and Steph scurried back from it. Griff stuck his head in. “All clear. Get out here, beautiful.”
“Is Mandy there?”
“She took off. Literally. She ran like a frightened deer.”
Steph got out of the limo. They were in front of the restaurant Griff had reserved for dinner in Beverly Hills.
Griff ran his hands through his hair. “Still can’t get used to not having the hair.”
“Where’s the gun?” she asked.
“I tossed it in that sewer grate,” Griff said.
“What the hell, Griff!” Steph hollered.
He wrapped his arms around her. “It’s okay. You’re okay.”
“What if she comes back?”
“She’s a reporter for Stars Chronicle,” he said. “She just wanted pictures and a good story.”
Steph pulled away. “So she tries to kill us? Is she going to pull a gun on other celebrities for a story too?”
“I don’t think she really wanted to kill us.” Griff shrugged. “I think she just wanted to get pictures of us together on a date. That gun probably wasn’t even real.”
“It sure as hell looked real!” Steph paced back and forth on the sidewalk. “That was insane. You know that was insane.”
“That’s show business. Press can make or break your career. She was trying to help me.”
Steph had no idea what to say. She was shaking again, thinking about how she almost died so that psycho could get a story. Where was Mandy? Was she going to show up at the hotel?
Griff pulled her close. “It’s okay. She’s harmless.”
“Harmless?” Steph asked incredulously. “How can you be so casual about it? She pulled a gun on us!”
She extricated herself from his embrace and looked around. People were milling around, walking the sidewalks of Beverly Hills. Was there someone hiding in the bushes getting pictures of her with Griff’s arms around her?
“Should we get dinner?” he asked.
She slammed her hands into his chest. “No! How can you be so calm?”
He held her hands, keeping them on his chest. “Crazy shit happens to me all the time. It goes with the territory. You can’t have the fame without the crazies. Someone once sent me the dried-up umbilical cord from the baby son they named after me.” At her aggravated look, he added, “It wasn’t my son.”
She yanked her hands free. “I’m calling a cab.”
“Hold up. I’ll drive you back.” He gestured to the limo. “We’ve got wheels.”
She let out a shaky breath. “I fucking hate you.”
He tilted his head to the side. “Steph, you do not.”
“I do. My life has been nothing but a roller coaster of one disaster after another since you showed up.”
He reached out to her, and she jerked back. He dropped his hand. “You don’t mean that.”
She felt like crying as the adrenaline drained from her system, leaving her shaky and exhausted. Her shoulders slumped. This was the inevitable consequence of being drawn in by Griff. Everything went to shit. Never again, she vowed.
He took her hand and tugged. “Come on. I’ll take you back to the hotel. Promise.”
She went on shaky legs, unable to deal with any further hassle. “Fine,” she snapped. “Let’s go.”
She slid into the front passenger seat. She left a message at the front desk for Dave. What she wouldn’t give to have the strong, steady Dave at her side right now, instead of the laid-back, whatever-happens-is-cool Griff.
A cheerful Griff caught her up on his life on the drive to the hotel. She knew he was trying to put her at ease again after their scare. He told her of life on the road, all the cities, all the fans, the music. He still loved the music. She would’ve liked to tune him out, but she was so exhausted and drained that she could do nothing but close her eyes and let the words roll over her.
Griff pulled up to the hotel and squeezed her hand. “I’m sorry about all the craziness. I hope we can be friends.”
“Sure,” she said. “As long as I never have to see you again. Very long-distance friends. Like before.”
He inclined his head with a small smile. “I can promise you with absolute certainty from someone that just looked death in the face that I will get the money together and, a year from now, that trust will be set up for Joey. Your brother will be set for life. Just give me one year, Steph. I will make it happen.”
She simply had no fight left in her. And it was all for Joey. If any good could come from this whole ordeal, it was that. “Okay, Griff. Make it happen.”
She got out of the car. It was late. Dave had probably gone to bed. She’d slip into the room quietly, and tomorrow they’d return home together.
~ ~ ~
The cab got stuck in a ton of traffic, but Dave finally made it back to the hotel. The first thing he did was call his sister from the hotel room phone. He needed someone to talk him down from this horrendous situation he’d found himself in because what he really wanted to do was kick Griffin Huntley’s ass and scream at Steph for deserting him. Neither of which would win him any points with Steph. He told Christina the whole sorry tale. Of course she focused on completely the wrong part.
“You actually rode on his private jet?” Christina asked. “How was it?”
“It was lovely,” he said in a voice dripping with sarcasm. “We enjoyed the finest wine and chatted about current events. What do you think!”
Christina let out a long breath that came through the phone loud and clear. “Why’d you go in the first place? He says jump, and you both say ‘how high?’”
“Because Steph was going, and there was no way I was leaving her alone with him.”
“But she’s alone with him anyway.”
“I’m aware of that,” he said through clenched teeth. “I seriously want to rip his head off.”
“Monster Dave,” she muttered, then, “Oh, boy.”
“What?”
“I just Googled Griffin Huntley. There’s a picture of him and Steph in front of a restaurant. He’s got his arms around her, and she kinda looks like she’s hugging him back.”
“Why do you keep telling me this shit?” He paced back and forth. “You know it makes me nuts. Do you want to see me go to jail for homicide?”
“It’s probably an old picture,” she said.
“We just went to the concert.”
“How long ago?”
He glanced at the clock. Time flies when you’re in a panicky state in L.A. traffic. “Two hours.”
“Ah. Nope. Sorry. This is from today.”
Why would Steph go to dinner with Griffin? She knew Dave was waiting for her. She was supposed to sign the papers and meet him at the hotel. Of course, then Griffin had one of his thugs send him away. And his stupid cell phone broke. Still, she could’ve called the room. There were no messages. He was done playing this game with Griffin and Steph. It was humiliating, and he always ended up with the short end of the stick.
“Chris?”
“Yeah?”
“Book me a flight home, would ya?” He pulled out his credit card and rattled off the number. He’d be paying it off for the next couple of months with the ridiculous last-minute price he’d have to pay, but he didn’t care. “I’m heading to the airport.”
“All right. Sorry about this. I’ll see you soon.”
He hung up, got a cab to the airport, and got the last seat on a flight home.
Chapter Eleven
Steph wasn’t too surprised that Griff followed her into t
he hotel. The paparazzi liked to hang around the Sunset Marquis for celebrity sightings. Griff would never pass up the opportunity to be in the spotlight. She was exhausted. All she wanted to do was slip into bed with Dave and forget tonight ever happened. Some paparazzi took their pictures as Griff walked her to the front door, his hand on the small of her back. She hurried ahead of him.
He went inside, stopped, and kissed her on the cheek. “Bye, Steph. I’ll be in touch.”
She walked off to the front desk without a word.
“You too! Take care!” he called cheerfully. Always a performance. She ignored him.
A short while later, she headed to her room. Her luggage should already be there. The room was dark. She went in quietly. It was a suite with a separate bedroom from the living room area. She peeked her head in the bedroom. The bed was still made.
Panic licked through her. “Dave?”
No answer. This was not good. She turned on the lights and looked around for signs of him. She peeked in the bathroom, no Dave, no toiletries. She peeked in the closet. One suitcase. Hers.
She tried his cell again. No answer.
Had Dave left because she was late getting back? Was he that furious that she’d gone backstage without him? Didn’t he get the message from the front desk?
She called his house and left a message. “Dave, it’s Steph. I’m at the hotel. Where are you? I’m taking the jet back home tomorrow.” She quickly decided not to mention the divorce papers still being on hold. That was a conversation they needed to have in person. “I hope to see you then. Bye.”
She got ready for bed and checked her cell one more time for messages. There was a text from Griff: Lay low for a while. Just a few pictures of us. No worries.
She did a quick Internet search and found pictures of them embracing in front of the restaurant. Dammit! Was Mandy just hiding out to get those pictures? Had Griff pulled another publicity stunt? Oh, sure, he’d sworn he had nothing to do with it, but he’d also sworn in front of a minister that he’d be faithful to her for all of his livelong days. She seriously wanted to kill him. She’d been terrified. She didn’t know if he was lying or not about Mandy. She clicked on another link. There was a picture of them walking into the hotel. A shot of when he kissed her cheek goodbye. How did these pictures get on the Internet so fast? They looked like a couple in the pictures. If this had been Griff’s plan, she’d walked right into it. She never wanted to see him again.
Almost Married Page 14
