Chapter Nine
Alice's entire body shivered. Her mind replayed the bullet that blasted through the door and shattered the glass above her head. John had protected her with his massive, muscular chest by shoving her against the wall. She could have died.
Everything else right now was a complete blur.
John's strong arm was still on her back, and his presence helped steady her fast-paced heartbeat. She rubbed her arms with both hands. This whole day was like a dream come true. Vicki was alive. Her childhood crush now held her.
A bullet to the head wasn't part of that fantasy. She sighed. The others were talking about what had happened. Perhaps John was wrong about the threat against those he loved. Who knew what happened to Victoria and how she'd escaped to come home?
The beat of her heart overshadowed her hearing. She moved closer.
Peter Morgan was on the phone with someone and Jennifer stroked Vicki's hair. Alice stayed near John and asked, "Vicki, did your dad kidnap you and keep you from all of us?"
"No." Victoria averted her gaze and looked toward both her brothers. "I faked my death."
Alice turned to John as his mouth formed the shape of an O and his eyes grew wider. His hand stayed on Alice's back.
John asked, "Why would you do that?"
Victoria's face grew white. "I had to get away from Dad and everything he'd done."
Peter stepped in and blocked her view as he took his sister's hand. "What happened between you two?"
John snorted. "You don't know?"
Peter shook his head and then turned toward them. "When it came to our sister, Dad never said anything."
"You weren't surprised to see Vicki today." John's accusation caused silence all around.
"I saw him an hour before the funeral. He was surprised then," Vicki explained. "He couldn't track you down for a private meeting. I'm sorry."
John's fingers pressed into her arm and Alice turned to take his hand. "You don't have to pretend our family is normal, Vicki."
Vicki rocked on her feet and hugged her waist.
Alice stepped away, but John's fingers circled the small of her back. If he needed her right now, she'd stay. She needed his strength, too, as her mind was a whirlwind, and she couldn't quite feel or think.
John said, "Peter, in many ways you are just like him. You should have told me when we were walking in."
Peter stood still. "Vicki wanted to surprise you."
John's palm heated. "Dad would have said that too."
"He trained me since birth to be who I am." Peter returned his attention to Victoria. "I never thought to escape as you did."
Vicki's face paled until she almost matched her all-white dress, but then she licked her lips which had the only trace of pink color. "I see my brothers both decided to keep my friends as girlfriends."
Alice's face flushed. "John and I are just friends."
Jennifer rolled her eyes. "Sure, and I'm applying to be a nun next week. Alice, we're adults now. You don't have to pretend to be an angel."
Alice clenched her hands. Jennifer was too much. "Not everyone is like you, Jenny."
Jennifer's nose curled at her old nickname. Alice bit her lip and then realized she had nothing to be guilty for. One kiss didn't make a relationship. This whole thing was crazy. She had avoided Jennifer for years and would again, once they all left this room.
Victoria smiled and nodded at how John and Alice held hands. "I approve of you two, if that means anything to either of you."
Alice broke into a laugh. This was a ridiculous conversation. Someone was out to kill someone—her—and they spoke about dating. They were no longer teenagers.
