“I remember that. I’m sure I made a fool of myself.” She sounded ashamed, and I knew I should have been, too, when my cock twitched in my pants.
She’d been so much fun, and as soon as I could tell the guy was getting much too comfortable licking salt off her stomach and chest, I decided to step in. She had liked it, too, throwing her arm around me like we’d been that cozy forever and her slurring voice telling me she’d already had too much.
“Yeah, well, you liked hi
m well enough, and I think he liked you in a different way. I wasn’t sure he’d treat you right, so I stepped in.”
“Thanks. I feel so stupid for drinking too much. I’ve never been drunk in my life.”
“Well, I had a feeling, but I will admit by the time we started gambling, I was pretty lit and feeling things myself. The mouth thing was you tying cherry stems, but if it makes you feel any better, we had a great time.” I remembered my first time drinking and the kick in the pants felt when first sobering up.
“I’m not sure it makes me feel better. Besides, you’re my boss, and like I said, I know we kissed. I don’t understand why I’d do something like that or why you’d let me.”
“I know. I guess I let things get a little carried away, but that’s what I wanted to talk to you about.”
“Oh God, please tell me nothing else happened.” The desperation in her voice was overwhelming and I hated to have to be the bearer of more bad news, but before I could bring up how we’d ran off to the chapel across the street and gotten married on a whim, she continued.
“I don’t remember anything, Gabriel. I wish I did, then I could help you, but I don’t know what happened. I think it is best I tell the police what I do remember and go home.” She was panicked again, her words spilling out so fast she had to take a deep breath to recover.
“It’s okay, but I need you to come here and stay with me. I need your help.” Dammit, I needed her support. Not to mention the woman was my wife, even if she didn’t actually remember that part.
Thinking back to the night before, she’d seemed alert as we stood in front of the Blues Brothers look-alike duo and said our vows. Though her words were a tad slurred, and she needed a steady hand to help slide my ring on, I had no idea she’d forget everything. Especially me trying six times to get our rings from a broken vending machine.
“You don’t understand, Gabriel. I need to know nothing sexual happened.” Ah, this was the reason for her freak out.
“No, we just kissed a few times.” I didn’t know whether to be offended or not when she gasped.
“A few?”
“You weren’t so repulsed last night, I assure you.”
“You weren’t wanted for murder last night. And, you’re not listening to me, I can’t help you, Gabriel. I don’t remember anything, especially after I passed out in your bed.”
Now it made sense. She wasn’t a good alibi, and worse than that, I wasn’t so sure she believed I was innocent. “Luna, I was with you the entire night. Regardless of what you might think, we had a wonderful night.” Almost too damned good, I wanted to say. “I was with you the entire night. I held you until we both fell asleep.”
The silence that followed my voice solidified my belief. She wasn’t sure of my innocence, and she might even be a tad afraid of me. I needed to know what she felt. Her silence was chafing my ass.
“Luna, say something.” As she continued to be silent, I was afraid my commanding tone wasn’t doing me any favors. She thought I was capable of murder and now being harsh wasn’t winning her over. “Please.”
“I don’t think you did it, Gabriel, but I don’t think my testimony is going to help. What are they saying you did?” More doubt steeped in her tone, and my brows dipped in anger.
I swallowed the lump in my throat. “They were strangled. They think it’s me because I knew them and because the security cameras were down during the murder.”
“That does seem a bit suspicious.” Her blunt tone raised my back.
“Thanks for the vote of confidence.”
“No, sir, that’s not what I meant. I mean it sounds a little too suspicious. Like someone wanted things to point to you.” She was a smart cookie for sure, which is why I hired her; that and her professionalism. Funnily enough, I married her the moment she threw that to the wind.
“My lawyer seems to think that, too, and since I know I didn’t do it, I agree. But why would someone frame me?”
I hoped that with a clear head, I’d be able to concentrate on things, but that would take Luna coming to stay with me. She was so important to my work and keeping things in line for me that I needed her to keep me grounded. If anyone could help me figure it all out, it was her.
“So when are you sending a car?” My heart filled with relief at her question. I needed her. She’d helped me through so much with the recent layoffs. She’d always gone above and beyond for me.
“Give me a second.” I pulled the phone away from my ear and texted Mason. He could swing by to get her and have her back in no time. He was bound to have most of my things already given he wasn’t fucking around. Luckily, he responded quickly telling me he was on his way.
“I’m sending Mason Whatley. He’s on his way. I appreciate your help, Luna. I want you to know your job isn’t in any kind of trouble and it’s here as long as you want it, so don’t worry about that. I’ll stand by you like you’re standing by me.”