Page 121 of Glorious Rivals

Jameson’s stride never even broke.“Prague.”

Chapter 87

GIGI

In the time it took Gigi’s beloved-against-his-will former teammate to deliver her to Alisa Ortega on what appeared to be a yacht the size of a sprawling sportsball field, Gigi ascertained three things from He of the Grumpiest and Most Inscrutable of Pants.

One: Knox had looked for her.He’dbeenlooking for her for more than a day.

Two: He’d been paid to do it.

And three: Even though Knox had heard every word Gigi had told Jameson and Alisa about the Woman in Red, even though Knox was the one who’d placed the call to Alisa in the first place, he clearly wasn’t going to ask.

About Calla.

Gigi just kept thinking about the scar at the base of Knox’s neck, the one he’d called aCalla Thorp good-bye.She kept thinking about the way the Woman in Red had insisted there was no Calla Thorp anymore.

“It appears our business arrangement is at an end,” Knox told Alisa, handing Gigi over.

“Yes, yes,” Alisa replied curtly, “you’re heartless and driven only by greed and weren’t worried about Gigi here in the least.Ridiculous premise accepted.I have another job for you, Mr.Landry.”

“Not interested, Ortega.”

“You will be.”

Gigi felt a bit like she was watching two sexually repressed mountain lions playing Ping-Pong.

“I was just notified by security,” Alisa continued, “that Brady Daniels has disappeared from Hawthorne Island without a trace.I can’t help but wonder if he had help.”

Knox scowled.“You think he’s with Calla—or the other one.”

Zella, Gigi thought.

“I think,” Alisa told Knox, “that our business arrangement is not at its end.”

Chapter 88

GIGI

Gigi found Savannah standing on one of the yacht’s open decks between a hot tub and a pool.She stood with her back to Gigi, who still wasn’t used to her twin’s haircut, wasn’t used to being able to see the back of her sister’s neck—the tension in it.

“You won, didn’t you?”Gigi said.That was such a nonsensical way for her to start, but she couldn’t take it back now.“The Grandest Game.”

“Winning rarely matters as much as I think it will.”Savannah did not so much as turn.Gigi could tell just by the tone in her sister’s voice that Savannah’s walls were all the way up.

Solid ice.

Gigi was not without discretion or the ability to take a hint, but Savannah’s walls were always highest when she was hurting most.

“I’m going to hug you,” Gigi announced, walking toward her sister.“It’s probably a very bad idea, but you’re going to let me, because if you don’t, I will be forced to find something else to dowith my arms, and we both know that my arms and I should pretty much never be left to our own devices.”

“Go away, Gigi.”Savannah’s voice broke, and that broke Gigi.

“It’s okay if you hate me.”Gigi’s voice broke, too.In response, Savannah said nothing and nothing and nothing.

And then: “Believe me, Juliet.I’ve tried.”

Tried to hate me.“Now.”Gigi slipped her arms around Savannah.“I’m going to hug you now.”