A Billionaire's Redemption(19)

Willa took pity as the woman’s face turned red. After all, she was on Gabe Dawson’s arm tonight; she could afford to be generous. “I was more surprised than anyone when the governor called me, Jackie. But it wasn’t like I could say no to my father’s last request.”

Will you go to Washington?” the woman asked hopefully.

The police have asked me not to leave town.” As Willa watched avid curiosity about the charges she’d made against James Ward cross Jackie’s face, Willa added drily, “It’s in case I can help with my father’s murder investigation and the kidnapping of Gabe’s ex-wife.”

Jackie turned to Gabe, placing a solicitous hand on his arm. “You poor man. You must be so distraught over that. Such an impressive and brilliant woman, your wife.”

Ex-wife,” Gabe retorted.

Why, yes. Of course,” Jackie gushed.

Willa’s gaze narrowed. So that was how it was going to be, huh? The good ladies of Vengeance were going to snipe at Gabe for being out in public while his ex-wife was missing, and they were going to come after her for trying to replace Melinda Dawson. She supposed that was better than turning on her for charging James Ward with rape.

But then another woman strolled up, this time landing a snide barb about Willa certainly having come out of mourning in a big way. As that particular cat strolled away, Willa said to Gabe, “Did they expect me to show up in widow’s weeds like it’s the nineteenth century?”

Gabe answered smoothly, “They’re jealous. Take it for the compliment it is.”

She smiled warmly at him. “Good point.”

We can always leave if you’d rather not face the cats and their claws.”

I’m no coward,” she retorted. “And I’ve got to face them sometime. I may as well get it out of the way tonight, when I’ve got this beautiful dress and a knight in shining armor to defend my honor.”

That’s the spirit. I rather like the sound of Sir Gabriel.”

Gabriel? That’s your real name?”

Gabriel Michael.”

Your parents went for the whole archangel theme, huh?”

Fat lot of good it did them to name me after angels,” he retorted. “I’m anything but.”

The idea of him being a dark and dangerous bad boy turned her on more than she could believe. As far as she knew, she didn’t react in any overt way to the thought, but Gabe leaned down to whisper in her ear, “Hold that thought for later, baby.”

Her toes curled into tight little buds of lust in her shoes. “Can we leave now?” she asked hopefully.

He laughed quietly. “But the upstanding citizens of this fine town aren’t done skewering the two of us yet. You wouldn’t want to deprive them of their righteous pleasure, would you?”





Chapter 8

Dinner was served, and Willa spent the next hour dealing with plates and food and drinks and not spilling anything on her gorgeous gown or otherwise making an idiot of herself. But then the tables were cleared and, while the auction was set up onstage, the guests were free to mingle again.

Apparently, the wine with dinner had kicked in or some unspoken signal she wasn’t aware of passed between the members of the ladies’ auxiliary as everyone left the tables. Or maybe it was Gabe excusing himself for a moment to visit the restroom. But the second Willa was alone, the barracudas closed in on her.

You’ve got some nerve showing your face around here after what you did to James Ward.”

Just because you got your father’s job doesn’t give you the right to destroy a sweet, innocent man like James who never did anything to you.”

You lying, pathetic bitch. How dare you accuse James Ward of laying a finger on you! And then you show up with a sleazeball like Gabe Dawson?”

Who’d have guessed you were such a slut? Your father must be rolling over in his grave.”

They came at her so fast and from so many directions she had no hope at all of addressing any of their vicious attacks. And frankly, she had no idea what to say to any of them. Never in her life had anyone spoken to her like this. She was absolutely speechless over the hatred and jealousy in their voices. Had they always hated her this much? Had it only been her father’s power that held them at bay? Or was all this venom directed specifically at her?

And then a voice she recognized all too well separated itself from the others.

What are you doing here? And dressed like that. I’m appalled, Willa Merris. Not to mention your choice of escorts. Gabe Dawson? Are you intentionally trying to rub your family’s nose in the slime that boy crawled out of?”

Willa whipped around to face that voice. “Mother? I didn’t know you were planning to come to this event. You should have told me.”

And when did I have a chance? You’ve been too busy running around accusing nice boys of horrible crimes and grabbing at your father’s wealth and position. If you think you’re going to rob me blind, you’ve another think coming, young lady. I’ll fight you. I’ll get my own lawyers, and I’ll see to it you don’t get a penny of your father’s estate.”

Willa’s jaw dropped in complete shock. What was this? She didn’t want her father’s money...what little of it there was, if Gabe was telling the truth about the Vacarro wells. “I don’t want Father’s money, and I certainly don’t want to steal anything from you.”

Her mother ignored her and spewed, “You’ve disgraced our family. Splashing private business all over the news with your crazy accusations. Then trying to take over Merris Oil, and stealing your father’s senate seat. And look at you. You look like a cheap whore.”

Her mother’s eyes were overbright, maybe even a bit maniacal, as she pointed an accusing finger at Willa. And Minnie’s voice had risen enough that a number of people beyond the cluster of attacking women had turned to listen.

Willa spoke in an urgent undertone. “Mother, this isn’t the place to have this conversation.”

Where else are we going to have it?” Minnie screeched. “You’re too busy shacking up with the man who tried to ruin your father. You traitorous little slut—”

A sharp voice cut across Minnie’s tirade. “That will be enough.” Gabe’s arm went around Willa’s shoulders, and he pulled her tight against his side.

Who are you to—” Jackie Carver started.

Gabe glared around the circle of women furiously enough to quiet them all. “Minnie, you know better than to mix alcohol and your medications. You’re going to regret everything you said in the morning, but at least you’ve got an excuse for your atrocious behavior. As for the rest of you, what’s your excuse for acting like white-trash gossips?”

Shocked silence was his only answer.

He spoke grimly. “Senator Merris didn’t ask for her father to be murdered, nor did she ask to be brutally attacked. I’ve seen the evidence, and there’s no question she’s telling the truth about Ward. I also happened to be present when the governor called her to inform her of her father’s request to appoint Willa to his senate seat in the event of his death. That was entirely John Merris’s doing, not Willa’s. The lot of you should be ashamed of yourselves for acting like a pack of gutter jackals.”

And with that scornful observation, he hustled Willa past the staring women and toward the exit. By the time they reached the long staircase, she’d started to shiver, and by the time they reached the top of the stairs, she was shaking uncontrollably. Her own mother? What poison had people been spouting in Minnie’s ear to make her turn on her daughter like that?

Just a little farther, baby,” he murmured. “Be strong for me.”

A valet held out her wrap, and Gabe grabbed it with his free hand without ever breaking stride as he hurried her to the door.

As they stepped outside, a shockingly bright light illuminated, making Willa lurch against Gabe’s side. A female voice called from the darkness beyond the spotlight, “There she is! Senator Merris, what do you have to say about the health hazards of oil fracking?”

Gabe swore under his breath beside her, then muttered to her, “That’s Paula Craddock. Don’t answer.”

Thanks. I had that one figured out,” Willa muttered back. Why were an investigative reporter and a camera crew waiting outside this non-political fund-raiser?

As if the reporter’s call had been a cue, a crowd of people rushed forward to line the sidewalk Willa and Gabe had to traverse to reach the curb and his vehicle. There were maybe thirty people, but they all wielded cardboard signs and commenced chanting loudly, “Stop the freaking fracking!”

The signs were lurid, claiming that fracking killed kids, that oil companies were satanic and that the government had been bought off by frackers. At the end of the gauntlet of protesters waited Paula Craddock, microphone in hand.

Looks like you’re going to have to make a statement,” Gabe mumbled. “Want me to handle this?”