Rachel couldn’t imagine how deep his anger at their deception ran. She wished she could help him somehow. He turned his back on Preston and finished tapping away. Finally, he glanced at Rachel and through his anger she saw a little of the softness he had for her. “The money’s been transferred back from Preston’s offshore account to the Paradise Retreat. Can you text Luke to transfer it back to my credit card?”
“For sure.” She gave him what she hoped was an encouraging smile, pulled out her phone and texted Luke quick.
Abe shot a spiteful look at Preston. “There’s only a few hundred thousand in this account now. Is this the money you embezzled from this resort or is it in another account?”
“No!” Preston yelled. “I earned that money.”
“I don’t think so. I’ll transfer it back to the resort as well.” Abe seemed to take pleasure in doing just that.
Preston clenched his fists, a vein popping in his neck, but he clamped his mouth shut as Abe had instructed earlier.
Rachel got a thumbs up back from her brother quick. “He’s got it.” She texted him that Abe had also recovered three hundred thousand he thought was stolen from his resort.
Abe pulled out his phone. He pushed a button and a second later said, “Lisa?” He turned his back to talk to her.
Rachel found her gaze drawn back to Angel. The woman was staring openly at Rachel’s scars. Rachel instinctively grabbed her hair and pulled it around her face. Her neck burned, humiliated that she’d done that. Angel arched her delicate eyebrows, gave her a sympathetic smile, and then glanced away, as if she were as embarrassed for Rachel as Rachel was of herself.
She forced herself to shake her hair back from her face and stand straight and tall, but it felt like it was too late. Preston and Angel were both focused on Abe, as they should be. It wasn’t like Rachel’s scars or embarrassment mattered to the two of them.
Abe turned back and Rachel was secretly glad that he hadn’t seen her reaction to Angel staring at her face. He nodded tightly at Rachel. “It’s transferred back.”
Preston’s face looked ugly and terrifying but he smoothed it out quickly and splayed his hands. “No harm, no foul. Angel and I will just disappear. You can at least give us the dignity of not pressing charges, for an old friend.”
Abe’s dark eyes glinted dangerously. His fists clenching and unclenching. “There’s plenty of harm and foul. You werenevermy friend.”
“And we’re not letting you disappear with the money you’ve been skimming from the employee funds,” Rachel chimed in. “You wouldn’t run with only two million and change. I’m sure Abe’s credit card company stopped you taking all you wanted to but I’m also sure you’ve hidden millions more. Which account is the rest of the money in?”
Preston looked at her and arched an eyebrow. “You have no clue what you’re talking about and I would think you’d want to be quiet and not risk that ugly face being splayed all over social media.”
“Don’t,” Abe roared, finally seeming to break. He rushed across the space, grabbed Preston by the arms and shook him. “Don’t youevertalk to Rachel like that.”
Rachel’s heart was racing, and it was all she could do to not pull her hair back in front of her face or run out of the room. The vicious storm was preferable to Preston and Angel looking at her like she was a lesser species. Preston with contempt and Angel with compassion.
Abe looked like he wanted to keep yelling, or possibly hit Preston. Rachel held up a hand. Even though Preston deserved to be pummeled, for so many reasons, she didn’t want Abe to lose his self-control and regret it later.
“It’s all right, Abe. This loser isn’t worth getting upset over.” They were brave words and she tossed her hair and tried to act as confident as she used to be. She might’ve been able to pull it off but instead of derision in Angel’s eyes there was pity. Rachel looked away.
Abe stared at her for half a beat, then his shoulders relaxed and he gave her a grim smile. “You’re right, Rach.” He looked back to Preston and any semblance of a smile disappeared as he growled at him, “Where is the rest of the money you stole from the resort?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Preston jutted out his chin, his dark eyes flashing.
Rachel was surprised at his bravery. He’d been Abe’s friend a long time and knew how impressive Abe’s self-control was. He must be banking on Abe not cracking completely.
Abe studied him then said, “You have no clue how much I want to beat the truth out of you, but I’m not a scumbag like you.” His mouth pressed into a thin line. “I’ll let the police get the truth out of you and I’ll rest easy knowing you’re both in prison.”
Preston swallowed hard but wisely didn’t respond.
Abe released one of Preston’s arms but clamped his hand tight around the other and forcibly jerked the man toward the front door. “Kelton,” he commanded. “You bring Angel.” Kelton stood, his face glowing as if the prospect of holding on to Angel wasn’t bad at all. “And please be advised that she is the devil, or on her very best day one of his minions. Don’t fall for any of her tricks.”
“Abe,” Angel said in a soft voice. “Please. You have to believe I am innocent of all of this.”
Again Abe simply ignored her. Rachel didn’t know what to think. Angel could have been tricked or kidnapped. She truly looked angelic and she had only given Rachel sympathetic or kind looks. If she really wanted Abe, wouldn’t she be glaring daggers at Rachel?
“Rach,” Abe’s voice was much gentler than it had been. “Can you please come on my other side?”
Rachel nodded, grateful he was still worrying about her and that he had stayed in control. Though Preston deserved it she didn’t want to watch Abe hurt him. She walked to Abe.
“Where are we going?” Preston demanded. “You can’t just take charge and make us your prisoners.”
“Luke Jewel says I can,” Abe said roughly, yanking on his hood on. “We’ll wait out the storm with the rest of the staff and guests in the main building and then we’ll get you turned over to the authorities.” He dragged Preston to the door, unlocking the deadbolt and flinging it open. Rachel had gotten so used to the rain pelting the house she’d started ignoring it and almost forgotten how vicious the storm raging outside was. It howled into the open doorway, rain and wind stinging her through the raincoat. “Come closer, sweetheart,” Abe said gently.
Rachel pulled on her own hood on and cuddled close to him. He shoved Preston out the door then he and Rachel went through. Abe wrapped an arm around her, sheltering her from the storm as best he could while dragging Preston along the path back to the main building. Angel and Kelton were close behind them, huddled together. Angel didn’t appear to be giving him any grief, but Rachel couldn’t imagine anyone wanting to fight much in this storm.
She was so confused about Angel and her seeming innocence. At least she wasn’t confused about Abe. She cuddled into his side, loving his strength and his self-control. Most people would’ve at least taken a swing at Preston. Abe was singularly impressive and she was falling in love with him. She could hardly wait to get through tonight and be with Abe nonstop. She had no plans of leaving his side anytime soon.