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She whispered as if trying to keep Hammer from hearing.
“What about Raine?” Liam sounded at the end of his rope.
Macen’s gut tightened. The concern she’d voiced before they’d passed out in Liam’s bed a few hours ago screamed through Hammer’s head. So she was just going to give up? She hijacked a baby, falsified birth records, came up with a whopper of a lie, and… I don’t see her quitting. It’s a huge fortune.
If Raine had been right, then it was possible Gwyneth had come to the club to play her last, desperate card. Since he couldn’t think of any active way to help Raine right now, Hammer had every intention of making Liam’s ex-wife tip her hand.
“Spill it,” Macen hissed.
“This is between Liam and me.” Gwyneth glared at him. “And I’m not speaking to you. I haven’t forgiven you for what you did to me earlier.”
“You mean what I didn’t do to you,” Hammer sneered.
“Can we talk somewhere privately?” Her haughty tone made Macen want to punch something, preferably her face. Ignoring him altogether, Gwyneth sent her ex-husband a pleading stare.
“Hammer’s office,” Liam barked.
Without waiting for her to reply, he turned and dragged her through the bar and down the hallway.
“Vivian.” Hammer glanced over his shoulder. “Would you please keep an eye on the baby? His name is Kyle.” At least I think it is.
“Really, Sir? Oh, I’d be happy to. I love babies.” She smiled before turning her attention back to the squealing boy, making ridiculous noises at him.
Too bad you weren’t in town when Pike was pulling out his hair.
Hammer watched Liam drag Gwyneth into the office. Stepping in behind them, Macen closed the door, blocking her only exit as he crossed his arms over his chest.
“Tell me what you have to say,” Liam spat. “And be quick. I won’t tolerate any more of your games.” When she slanted Hammer a sideways glance, Liam added, “Anything you say to me about Raine, you can tell Hammer.”
Macen didn’t think he could feel much joy today, but if Liam put Gwyneth in her place, he’d sure try.
Her mouth opened, then closed like a landed trout. “I came to tell you something dreadful.”
“You’re pregnant with twins this time?” Hammer asked wryly.
Gwyneth shot him an icy glare, then pinned Liam with a look of anguish. “My father died just after lunchtime in London. I received the call shortly after we left the hospital this morning.”
“I’m sorry for your loss,” Liam replied without an ounce of emotion.
“Thank you, but that’s not the reason I came to see you. I’ve made a mistake.”
Liam sighed loudly, then drilled her with an angry gaze. “You’ve made many.”
Hammer nearly seized her and shook the words from her throat. “What does this have to do with Raine?”
“Bill Kendall has her,” she blurted out.
As soon as Gwyneth’s words registered in his brain, Hammer knew the bitch was involved. The ice freezing his veins since he’d discovered Raine missing now blazed like lava.
He pushed off the door and lunged at Gwyneth, but Liam already had her pinned against the wall. His face burned with rage, but his eyes looked absolutely arctic. “How do you know that? Did you have something to do with Raine’s disappearance?”
Hammer stormed closer, glaring hard. “You’d better start talking. Do you know where Bill has taken her?”
Gwyneth gave a little cry of fear. “I didn’t plan for things to turn out the way they have. You must believe me.”
Liam waved away her pleas. “Where is she?”
“After you humiliated me, I was outraged that you could me treat me so callously. I was your wife.” She swallowed. “So I tracked the man down and offered him money.”
“I hurt your feelings so you wanted Raine dead?” Liam looked shocked, as if he’d never hated anyone more in his life.
Hammer seconded that emotion. “Tell us where to find her!”
She gaped at Liam. “Dead? I merely asked him to keep her away from you for a few days until we could fly to Vegas and get remarried. But now that my father is gone, it’s all moot.” She wrung her hands. “I didn’t think Raine’s own father would really hurt her.”
“You heard me berating the man in the car park because he beat her as a child and tried to rape her,” Liam spat with incredulous fury. “Did you think he meant to play cards with her? Take her to a fucking movie?”
“I was angry. It was impulsive. I’m sorry,” she screamed. “I’ve spent all morning phoning Bill, trying to stop him. I left messages telling him to disregard the whole scheme.”
“You stupid whore! A message isn’t going to stop that motherfucker,” Hammer thundered as he fought the urge to wrap his hands around Gwyneth’s throat.
“Well, I reached him more than an hour ago and tried to convince him to release Raine. He slurred his words. I could barely understand him.”
