Chapter 4

I got to Le Crown at eight on the dot.

Nothing but scraps and cold leftovers.

Eliana looked pissed.

"I said eight, and you seriously show up at exactly eight? You couldn't come a little early?

"You made everyone wait. That's so inconsiderate."

Austin gave her a light tap. "Enough. I'm just glad Rafael showed up. Cut him some slack."

There were no seats left, so Austin squeezed me between two girls I didn't know.

One shoved a glass of wine at me. "You're Rafael, right? You're late to Austin's welcome-home dinner. Drink this and we're even."

I picked up the glass and tipped it back.

Then the wine blasted straight into my face.

It hit my eyes and nose, burning like hell.

My eyes watered instantly, and I could barely breathe.

The room erupted.

Then everyone started cracking up.

Austin slapped the table, doubled over laughing.

"Told you! Rafael's way too easy. No chance he'd catch the trick glass.

"I win again. Ten bucks each. Pay up!"

Everyone groaned.

"Damn it! I knew I shouldn't have bet on Rafael figuring it out!"

"Eliana and Austin seriously know him best. Dude's so clueless, anyone can mess with him!"

Austin suddenly jumped in. "Okay, chill!

"Rafael's sensitive. He can't handle you guys talking like that. Apologize, or you're dealing with me."

Eliana wheeled over, pulled me up, and wiped the wine off my face.

Everyone immediately went along with it, still laughing.

"Sorry, dude. We were just messing with you."

"Didn't know you couldn't take a joke. And you're Eliana's husband? What a buzzkill."

Anger surged through me.

I slammed the glass onto the floor and walked out.

Eliana yelled after me.

I didn't stop.

Didn't even look back.

At home, I grabbed my packed suitcase and headed to pick up Daisy.

But when I got there, the owner told me someone had already taken it.

I froze.

Then I called Eliana.

The second she answered, she went off.

"Rafael, are you out of your mind?

"What was that little stunt with the glass supposed to prove? You seriously had to embarrass Austin in front of everyone?"

I ignored her. "Eliana, did you pick up Daisy?"

A beat of silence.

Then Austin came on.

"Sorry, Rafael. Forgot to tell you.

"My brother lost a glove skiing, so I had Eliana send your dog up the mountain to find it."

My head buzzed.

My whole body locked up.

Austin's brother had been skiing at Aspen Ridge.

The place was freezing, buried in deep snow, with brutal terrain. Even skiers stuck to the slopes near the base.

And they'd sent Daisy up there.

Alone.

"Daisy's a retired police dog. Its heart and lungs are shot, and one leg barely works." My voice shook. "It's old. Sending it up there could kill it!"

"It's supposed to help people," Eliana said coldly. "And yeah, Rafael, I made the call.

"Daisy needed to learn a lesson after barking at Austin."

"Eliana, it could die!" My voice came out raw. "Please bring it back. I swear Austin will never have to see it again."

"Too late."

Her voice was ice.

"There was an avalanche on Aspen Ridge. Everyone got evacuated safely.

"But nobody said anything about bringing down any animals."

My heart clenched.

I bolted out of the boarding place and headed straight for the airport.

Then I ran into Austin wheeling Eliana toward me.

Neither of them looked surprised.

Eliana scowled. "Rafael, you embarrassed Austin at his welcome-home dinner. What happened to Daisy should teach you a lesson.

"Apologize to Austin, and I'll send someone up the mountain to get Daisy."

The way she looked down on me made my whole body shake with rage.

I kicked her supposedly paralyzed legs.

"Done pretending yet? Was screwing with me really that fun?

"Eliana Hodson, we're done.

"And Austin Brock? We're not friends anymore."

The kick knocked Eliana sideways.

She almost fell—then scrambled to her feet.

So much for being paralyzed.

She and Austin just stood there, totally busted.

I didn't give them another look.

I went straight to the airport and caught the next flight to Aspen Ridge.

As the plane climbed above the clouds, something in my chest finally loosened.

That toxic three-person mess?

Finally over.