Page 108 of Everyone’s a Liar

“Don’t be in such a rush,” Livia teased, moving to stand next to her friend. “How often do you get to lie in bed and be pampered?”

“Pampered?” The hazel eyes widened. “I’ve been poked and prodded and X-rayed until I want to punch someone. Not to mention the fact that they wouldn’t even let me go to the bathroom in privacy. They made me call for a nurse every time I wanted to pee until the doctor finally decided I didn’t have a concussion.”

“That is unacceptable,” Livia commiserated, thankful that her friend had been cleared of any head injuries. It was weird to think that they’d been lucky after the trauma they’d gone through, but it was true. Things could have ended up so different. She shook her head, dismissing the morbid thought. Today was a day for counting her blessings, not dwelling on what might have been. “Do you know when you get out?”

“As soon as the doctor signs the paperwork.”

“Good. I’ll wait around with you and drive you back to Rushville.”

Bryce cleared her throat, looking oddly embarrassed. “No need. Finn just called and he’s on his way to pick me up.”

Livia smiled. She hadn’t missed the sheriff’s frantic reaction when Bryce had collapsed. Or his determined expression as he’d warned the paramedics to take special care of her on the way to the hospital.

He wasn’t going to let Bryce slip through his fingers.

Smart man.

“Lucky girl,” Livia murmured, meaning it with her whole heart. Every woman deserved a man who cared so deeply.

“You’re right,” Bryce agreed in soft tones. “I am lucky.”

“So am I.” Livia reached out to lightly touch the gauze covering her friend’s neck. “If you hadn’t burst into the office when you did—”

“It’s my job,” Bryce interrupted.

“I don’t care,” Livia insisted. “You were shot, concussed, and on the edge of collapse, but you still waded through the swamps to save me.”

“You forgot the alligators,” Bryce teased.

“Were there really alligators?”

“There might have been.”

They shared a weary smile. “You’re my hero,” Livia said quietly.

“Enough of that nonsense,” Bryce said gruffly, visibly uncomfortable. “Are you staying in New Orleans?”

With a sigh, Livia resisted the urge to insist that her friend accept her gratitude.

“I am,” she said. “I couldn’t bear the thought of staying alone at the Willows. The whole family is in jail. Well, everyone but Celeste, who I think went to stay with her fiancé. And it’s not like anyone cares about the rules of my grandfather’s trust fund right now. We’ll have to deal with that stuff later.”

“So the house is empty?”

“It officially belongs to the ghosts.” Livia’s lips twisted with a bitter amusement. “Eventually it will be sold or left to rot. Either way, I never plan to set foot in that place again. I no longer have to deal with the Benoits. It’s like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.”

Bryce clicked her tongue. “I still can’t believe your grandfather killed your mother.”

“And don’t forget running down the poor chauffeur and stuffing his body in the trunk of the limo,” Livia added. Manny had been allowed to disappear because he was a mere servant. She intended to make sure at some point his family was notified and his body returned to them to be properly buried. “Nothing mattered more to Henri Benoit than his reputation. He wasn’t going to let anyone tarnish it. Not even his own child.”

“Such a waste.”

“Yes.”

Bryce studied her with a blatant curiosity. “So now what?”

“I’m going to stop by the office and make sure the repairs are done,” she said, firmly dismissing her clinging connection to the Benoits and their dark legacy. Time to concentrate on the future. “If everything is ready to go, I’ll be back to work tomorrow.”

“You don’t think you deserve a vacation?”