Page 70 of The Billionaires' Gamble

My whole body sags with relief, and my careful grip on my emotions loosens. “Shon?”

Melting away from my dad, I meet my best friend in front of the midnight SUV and throw my arms around her.

“I got you. I got you, babe.” Her hug is so fierce my bones protest, and fresh tears tumble down my cheeks.

I don’t care.

I’d take a thousand hugs just like this one and never complain.

“Come on.” She turns me, arm around my waist, holding my free hand in a tight grip. The scent of her vanilla body butter soothes my jangled nerves. “Mr. Montgomery, good to see you again. Ford. You three, I’ll talk to later.”

She sounds very mother hen right now, and I wish I could see their faces, but she’s positioned herself between us. We pass Sutton on the way inside. He’s grim-faced and silent, watchful as always. I’m glad he remained a part of our family even after his mother passed away.

We’re barely in the foyer when Shon asks, “What do you need first? Food? Shower? Sleep?”

“Miss Katherine!” Marissa rushes forward, no sign of her trademark apron. “We were so worried.”

“I’m sorry to keep you up so late.”

She waves off my apology. “I’m not on the clock. Just trying to keep Mr. Pierce and Mr. Ford from climbing the walls.”

“Well, in that case, I hope they weren’t too much trouble.”

“You’re too polite,” Shon grumbles.

“What can I get you?” Marissa asks, sizing me up.

I put a hand to my stomach. I’m starving but don’t trust my nerves yet. “Tea? Maybe some crackers and a bit of fruit.”

“How about you, dear?” she asks Shon. “I made snickerdoodles today.”

Shon moans. “I thought I smelled cinnamon.”

Marissa looks back at me, clearly wanting guidance. Unfortunately, my decisiveness is out of stock at the moment. And I feel a little lightheaded.

“I’m gonna take her up to her room,” Shon says.

Saint Shon.

I’m so thankful for her arrival. I don’t know if I could stand having the guys hover and fuss right now. And I know they’ll want to. King will need to find me a new kind of cereal and probably bring home a plant that he says “needs me.” Alex will want to hold me, if not to know that I’m okay, to make himself feel better. I don’t know what’s going on with Gabe. He looks wounded.

And I just don’t have the spoons to deal with any of that at the moment.

“I’ll bring a tray,” Marissa calls as Shon guides me up the stairs.

King

Katherine and LaShonda disappear through the front door, and Sutton follows. She’s safe. I know that, and at the same time, I don’t want to let her out of my sight. Which means I need to give her some breathing room.

“Dad, this is Gabe Rothburn,” Ford says, interrupting the quiet. He extends a hand toward Gabe. “You know King. And Alex Hunt.”

“I’d say it’s nice to meet you—” Pierce says, leaving words unspoken.

“Understood,” Alex says. “I wish it were under better circumstances.”

Pierce’s gaze rakes over us one by one before settling back on Alex. I feel faintly like a bug under a glass, and I’m not at all used to the sensation.

The rumor mill has been working overtime. I haven’t looked at my phone since we left Alex’s office, but I have no doubt the tabloids are making up all sorts of insidious stories by now.Gabe’s phone has buzzed no less than a hundred times in the last hour. Alex’s is even worse.