Page 14 of The Silent Note

I set my hands on her shoulders and push her so she’s sitting back down. I’m slightly annoyed that I couldn’t beg, threaten or lure her into marriage without using her best friend as bait.

It’s a blow to my ego.

There’s a knock on the door.

“Zane!” Cadey’s voice calls. “Can I come in? We’re running out of time.”

“Cadence?”

“Come in.”

The door opens and Cadey struts in with a long, black bag. Sparkly white cloth poofs out beneath the hem, as if trying to escape and explode all over the room.

My sister-in-law stops abruptly. “What’s with this vibe?” She sees Grey side-eyeing me and hisses, “Zane, don’t tell me you still haven’t asked her.”

I ignore Cadey and pull out my phone, showing Grey the picture I took of Slavno earlier. Her eyes widen and she snaps a hand out, intending to grab the phone.

I pull it back. “You want to know what I know? Put on that dress.”

“What’s the guarantee that you aren’t lying to me?”

“There is none.” I slip my phone back into my pocket. “At some point, Grey, you’ll have to trust me.”

Her eyes narrow and it’s like I asked her to jump off a cliff.

“I’ll see you at the altar.” I make a sharp turn and approach Cadey, murmuring, “Keep an eye on my bride. She tends to run away.”

“Zane!” Grey snaps.

“But let her know,” I keep talking to Cadey but my words are for my fiancée, “that if she runs, I will find her and drag her to the altar.”

Cadey frowns at me in clear disapproval.

“See you out there.” I give Grey a little smirk and walk out of the room.

Chapter Five

GREY

“He’s deranged,” I grind out, but the words are absorbed by the three layers of tulle that Cadence is slipping over my head. “He’s certifiable.”

She works quietly, lacing up the corset.

I snap my fingers around her wrist, stopping her. “Tell me the truth. Did Zane really talk to Sloane’s murderer? Did that creep finally accept visitors?”

“I don’t know. Zane didn’t talk to me about that.”

I chew on the inside of my cheek.

“But…”

I perk up.

“He does talk to Dutch and Dutch tells me everything because he values his life.” She tips her chin up, a picture of confidence.

I’m still spiraling with a million thoughts, but that expression of hers makes me smile.

“Dutch confirmed it.” Cadence slides her finger along the length of the corset lacing. “Zane really did have an appointment at the prison today.”