Rachel wasn’t malicious, and her need to uncover the truth of a story had more to do with her compulsion to help innocent people than to further her career. But that was the problem.
Lisa wasn’t innocent.
Sawyer waited a beat, seemingly considering her silent request, and then spoke directly to Logan. “Someone cut the brakes.”
She sighed. So much for keeping it secret.
“Guys, out,” Rachel said, shooing the men with her hands like she was herding cattle. “Lisa and I need some girl time.”
Surprisingly, Sawyer and Logan listened.
Logan slapped Sawyer on the back as they left. “Time to call the reinforcements?”
“They’re already on it,” Sawyer replied, sliding the curtains shut to give her and Rachel some privacy.
With Sawyer out of the room, Lisa decided she no longer needed to lie in bed like an invalid. Although she remained dizzy, she lifted her head from the pillow and swung her legs over the side to sit beside Rachel. “What reinforcements?”
Rachel looked pensive. “If I had to guess, it means your husband has Oz, Hunter, and Rowan putting their computer skills to work.”
That meant three more people would know about her criminal history. Three more people had the power to use that information against her. Like this room, her life was spiraling out of control. “He should’ve spoken to me before getting them involved.”
Her friend shook her head, a slight smile on her lips. “I’m still having a difficult time dealing with the news that you’re not only married, but married to Sawyer Hayes.”
“Surprise.”
Rachel bumped her knee against Lisa’s. “I only know what Logan told me, but he said Sawyer was pretty wrecked after you took off without a forwarding address.”
She let out an unladylike snort. “Obviously not too wrecked about it. After all, he did have an entire sex club at his disposal.”
“Yeah. Paradise Found is quite a club,” Rachel said with a sigh, as if remembering it quite fondly. She hadn’t given the girls all the details about what kinky experiences she’d partaken in at the club, but she’d told them enough that Lisa knew she’d enjoyed herself. Rachel’s eyes widened as she realized Lisa wasn’t exactly pleased about her husband’s business. “Not Benediction, but it has its appeal.”
She let her friend off the hook. It wasn’t her fault that Lisa’s husband had felt the need to fuck his wife out of his system with half of Vegas. “Right.”
Rachel frowned, her head tipping to the side. “But you know what was odd? The time I spent there, I never once saw Sawyer participate in any of the offerings there. He was all business.”
Lisa cursed the small burst of hope that bloomed in her chest. Because even if her husband didn’t own a sex club, there was no chance that he had remained faithful to her all these years. “You were only there for a couple days, and he was busy helping you.”
“Maybe,” Rachel said slowly, as if not really believing that. “All I’m saying is I wouldn’t assume anything until you hear it straight from his mouth. And their friends? You can trust them. They won’t judge you, and neither will I.” She gave her a quick pat on the leg. “So are you going to tell me why Sawyer called you Annaliese?”
It was so strange to hear her name come out of Rachel’s mouth. Other than her family and Sawyer, no one had ever called her that.
She paused, contemplating how much she should tell Rachel. Could she trust her friend? Maybe it was finally time to find out.
“It’s my real name,” she admitted, her hands sweaty from nerves. “Annaliese Hunt.” No, that wasn’t right. She corrected herself. “I mean, Hayes.” She angled her body toward Rachel, awaiting her friend’s reaction. “But I’ve gone by at least a dozen others. Before I moved to Michigan, I made my living as a con artist.”
Rachel shot up from the bed. “You’re serious? So it is true? You stole millions of dollars from him?” Lines of worry formed on her forehead. “Did you even love him?”
She answered without hesitation. “Yes. I loved him. I still do.”
When Rachel began pacing, Lisa could almost see the hamster spinning the wheel inside that mind of hers. “Then why? Why did you steal from him? If it was about the money, you could have stayed with him and had billions of dollars at your disposal.”
Lisa stood, holding onto the chair in front of her so she didn’t fall. “Please, Rachel. I know the reporter in you wants to sniff out the story, but I’m asking you to leave it alone.”
“You’re wrong.” Rachel stopped her pacing. “Well, you’re not entirely wrong. But I’m not asking you as the reporter. I want to know as your friend.”