The Men with the Golden Cuffs (Masters and Mercenaries #2)(106)

“Regina, hi.” Serena shook her hand. “Thank you so much for coming. I can’t tell you how much I love your site.”

The older woman beamed. “It’s a labor of love, dear. And I think you’ll find a great review for the new book in next week’s posting. Lara was kind enough to make sure I got an advanced copy. I loved it. I can’t wait for the next one. Where is Lara, anyway?”

Lara was in hiding. Serena was going to have to deal with her. She just wasn’t sure how to handle it yet. There was a big part of her that wanted to forgive and forget, but could she really do it?

“She’s around,” Serena said. “She’s been doing all the background work.”

Which was really not at all like Lara. Serena had been to many conventions with Lara, and her agent was usually a whirlwind of activity at these things.

“Serena?”

Serena turned. Brian Anderson stood in his dress shirt and tie, a sad expression on his face. “I think I’m going to take Lara home. You have enough books. All the promo is out, and the party seems to be going well. Is there any way I can get you to come in the back and say good-bye to her? I can’t get her to come out here.”

Serena sighed. Lara had taken a real chance on her. Lara had been a sympathetic ear. Lara had been her guide into the business world of publishing. And Lara had set this party in motion. She should at least make an appearance.

“Please, Serena, if it gets out that you and Lara are on the outs, it could really hurt business. She’s trying to sign another up-and-coming author. And she knows she did something stupid.” Brian stared down at her, his eyes strangely emotional. She’d heard he and Lara were having trouble, and this situation couldn’t have helped. The least she could do was make a goodwill gesture.

“All right. I’ll get her to come up here.” She moved toward the door to the back room. Maybe the relationship was salvageable, maybe it wasn’t, but she couldn’t make the decision now, and she owed Lara at least the chance to talk it out. She glanced over at Chris. He was in a deep discussion with a reviewer. Bridget had gone out to get a drink. Adam and Jake were nowhere to be found.

Grace’s husband Sean walked up, his earpiece in his hand. “Something’s wrong with the coms. Don’t go anywhere.”

She wasn’t sure where she would go. It was her party, after all.

She opened the door to the back room and stepped in. “Lara? Why don’t you come on out and join the party?”

The door closed behind her. She turned around. Brian was standing in the doorway, blocking the way. A little chill went through Serena.

“Where’s Lara?” Serena asked. She didn’t like the nasty suspicion creeping across her spine.

Brian’s eyes looked cold and predatory in the dim light. “She’s in here somewhere. Maybe you should check the bathroom.”

“Tell her I’ll talk to her later. I have to get back to the party.” It was too quiet here, and something was wrong with Brian.

Brian didn’t move out of her way. He stood there, six feet of fit male blocking the door. And then she saw the gun. “Don’t scream or I’ll shoot you right here, and Bridget won’t have a chance to live. You want your friend to live, right?”

“Bridget?”

“Look behind the boxes, Serena. Or should I call you Amber? Amber is the one who ruined my life, after all.” He pointed the gun to the left toward a stack of boxes. “Go on. She doesn’t have a lot of time left.”

Fear clawed at her. She took a step back and looked to her left. “Bridget!”

Bridget lay on the ground, her dark hair covering her face. She’d been wearing a white maxi dress, but Serena was horrified to see it was covered in bright red blood. Was she dead? Her friend? She couldn’t be dead.

Serena dropped to her knees and reached for Bridget’s hand. It was still warm. The blood was coming from a wound in her abdomen, right above her pelvis.

Bridget’s eyes fluttered open. “You have to run. He’s crazy. I think Lara’s dead.”

“Move away from her, Serena.” Brian’s voice was low and cold. “I can put a bullet in her, too. The silencer works quite well. Get up and move toward the back. We’re going to get in the car or your friend is sure to die. Right now, she’s still got a shot. One of those bodyguards is going to charge in here soon.”

Serena got the message. If she went out that door, Bridget might have a shot. If she didn’t, Bridget was dead.

“Don’t go,” Bridget said. The words were said on a low moan of pain. Bridget was loving and loyal and so talented. The world would be dimmer without her unique energy.

“I’ll go.” Serena stood and started toward the back door, her legs shaking. The heels were hampering her movements. “Is Lara alive?”

There was a low chuckle from behind her. “No, Serena. Lara is dead. I stuffed her body in the bathroom to be found along with a note from your so-called stalker. Open the door. My partner is outside.”

If she got in that car, she wouldn’t get out of this alive. And she really wanted to be alive. It was so clear now that she was facing that gun. She wanted to live, and she didn’t want to waste another single minute being afraid. Maybe it would all end up going wrong, but she wanted to try.

She opened the door and got ready to run. She fumbled with the doorknob as she stepped out of her shoes. She couldn’t run in them. She would have to go barefoot.