Page 61 of Paradise & Vodka

God, I hated this bitch.

I reached for Ashleigh's hand and kissed the back of it before she replied, "We were taken and held hostage for ransom after the tsunami. Paul and Joss are FBI agents and friends of Nick. They came and rescued us, so please forgive us for not smelling like roses after the hell we've been through. A hellyouwere supposed to be in and not us."

Everleigh balked, while their parents gasped in shock. I nodded that Ashleigh was telling the truth.

"What do you mean thatIwas supposed to be in?" Everleigh questioned.

Ashleigh looked over at me, and I nodded. "It's as good as time as any."

"They thought I was you," Ashleigh stated to Everleigh.

"Me?"

It was my turn. "They knew about you and Dougie. That you live in New York and came in on a private plane."

"They did?" Earl asked.

I nodded at their father. "Yes, so how the fuck—excuse my language—but how the fuck did they know that?"

"I don't know," Everleigh admitted.

"Are you sure? 'Cause it's suspicious you want to leave this island without your husband," I observed.

"We haven't been able to get ahold of Doug or his parents," Everleigh replied.

"Weren't you with him when the tsunami alert went off?" Ashleigh asked.

"No. He was ..."

"He was what?" Ashleigh questioned.

Everleigh looked at her parents and then sighed. "Fine, I haven't heard from him since our wedding night. We had separate rooms since our marriage was for show."

I was grinning on the inside like the Cheshire Cat. We were about to get answers. Answers Ashleigh needed so she could be happy.

Everleigh continued, "The marriage is just a ruse." No one said anything. "You aren't shocked?" she asked Ashleigh.

"I already knew that," my girl replied.

"You did?"

Ashleigh nodded. "Nick saw you and Douglas fighting the night before the wedding. He said he heard something about an agreement between you two because Douglas had to be married before age twenty-six to get his inheritance."

"Oh," Everleigh exhaled.

"But we don't know what the agreement is or why you would want to go through with it," I probed.

Earl took a deep breath. "Because I'm sick."

I blinked as Ashleigh gasped beside me. I wasn't expecting that answer.

"You're sick?" Ashleigh whispered.

Earl turned slightly so he could look at us behind him. "I have lung cancer due to asbestosis."

"Asbestosis?" Ashleigh questioned. "How?"

"Doc said I could have been exposed when I first started out as a mechanic thirty or so years ago. Some brake drums and brake pads contained asbestos back then."