The Protector (Game of Chance, #1)(77)

“I don’t know,” Susie said nervously.

“Maybe I could put him in the bathroom?” Carlise mused. “I could put his bedding in there and maybe even his food. That should keep him busy.”

“I guess that’ll work,” Susie said. “The door is sturdy, right?”

“Yes. He’ll be fine in there. Hang on.” It didn’t take long to get Baxter and bring him inside. But instead of the dog relaxing when he saw Susie on the couch, the hackles on the back of his spine rose once more. It took a little bit, but eventually Carlise got him settled in the bathroom. He wasn’t happy, but thankfully he didn’t try to get out of her hold or attack Susie.

“There, that’s better. What were we talking about?” Carlise asked as she finally sat back on the couch with her friend.

“How much you love this guy you just met, even though you said you loved Tommy,” Susie said, almost accusatorily.

Carlise sighed. “I want you to like and get along with Riggs, Suz.”

“And I can’t do that until I meet him. When is he getting home?”

Looking at her watch, Carlise said, “I don’t know exactly, but according to his estimate when he left, maybe another forty-five minutes or so—”

Susie stood abruptly, and Carlise looked up at her in surprise. She blinked in confusion . . .

Then her eyes went wide when her friend reached into the pocket of the coat she hadn’t bothered to take off, pulling out a gun—and pointing it right at her.

“Get up,” Susie said in a voice Carlise didn’t recognize.

“What?” she said, struggling to understand what was happening.

“Stand up. I need you to get a piece of paper. You’re going to write Riggs a note—and we’re leaving.”

Carlise laughed incredulously. “You’re kidnapping me? I think that’s going a bit far, don’t you?” she asked. “And can you please not point that gun at me? It’s not loaded, right?”

“Oh, it’s loaded. And I’ll absolutely use it,” Susie said. “Now get the fuck up and get a piece of paper.”

At that moment, she realized this wasn’t some really poor joke. Fear instantly flooded Carlise’s veins. “Susie?” she asked as she slowly stood. “What’s happening?”

“You’re so goddamn stupid,” Susie scoffed, shaking her head. “First for dumping Tommy. You’ll never find a man as good as he is. You hurt him—and you didn’t even care! Well, don’t worry about that part. I stepped into your shoes. The only problem is, he still thinks about you . . . which is unacceptable.”

“What?” Carlise asked, her brain swirling in confusion as she tried to keep up with what she was saying. “You’re dating Tommy?”

“Yes. And we’re going to get married.”

“No,” Carlise whispered, shaking her head. “You can’t, Susie. He’s abusive! He’s going to hurt you!”

“No, he isn’t!” Susie screeched loudly. “He’s mine! I’ve always wanted him! When you two started dating, I tried to be happy for you. I really did. But you never deserved him. And you’re a bitch for leaving him like you did! I comforted him after you snuck your shit out of his house without warning, and one thing led to another. He loves me now. Regrets not choosing me in the first place.

“But every now and then, he still brings you up . . . said he regrets hurting you and making you leave. He even admitted he had hopes of patching things up with you before we got together.”

Susie barked out a deranged laugh. “But that’ll never happen. You dumped him. Accused him of terrible things! And since we’re friends, you’ll keep coming around, like a bad fucking penny. The only way to help him realize how much he loves me is to get you out of the picture once and for all. Then he can concentrate on me—and only me.”

Carlise shook her head. “But . . . he’s yours already. And I have Riggs. I’m hoping to move here, to stay with—”

“But that’s not enough!” she interrupted, ranting. “People are talking! Saying bad things about him! When the cops delivered the restraining order—at his workplace—it got him in trouble. They automatically assumed he’s a dirtbag, and he almost lost his job! You’ve ruined his reputation by spreading your fucking lies about being abused. He was never going to hit you. Your screwed-up childhood just made you see something that wasn’t there. You’re a liar—and you’ll never get him back!”

Carlise wanted to tell her friend that she didn’t want him back, but she didn’t get the chance before something unbelievable occurred to her. “Wait . . . was it you?”

“Was what me?” Susie asked.

The woman in front of her looked like her friend, but the gun pointed in her direction and the angry words were nothing like her best friend. “The notes. The texts. My tires.”

Susie smirked. “Yup.”

“Why?” Carlise asked, truly shocked and appalled.

“You tried to ruin Tommy! That wasn’t fair. I thought it was only right that you got some payback. Didn’t you say this Riggs guy would do anything to protect you? Well . . . I’m doing the same for my man.”

“I was terrified,” Carlise said, trying to wrap her mind around the fact that the woman she considered a sister was the person who’d been threatening her for weeks. “I confided in you.”