Wrong Car, Right Groom

Tears rolled down Sonia's cheeks as she stood surrounded and shoved around by several women.

Andy's fists clenched instantly as he watched the scene unfold. In the end, he didn't step in. Instead, he turned and looked straight at me.

I knew that look all too well. He wanted me to step in for Sonia again.

Ever since word got out that Sonia had caught Jason Marino's attention, she had become the prime target of every woman hoping to become his wife.

Once, they locked her in a basement wine cellar. I was the one who got her out. Andy wouldn't stop praising me. After that, any time Sonia got into trouble that Andy couldn't handle, it was always up to me to deal with the mess.

And now, he was using me as her shield once again.

"Still wearing a corset on the beach? Who are you trying to impress?" one of the women sneered. "Take it off. Let's see just how slim your waist is and how you got Jason's attention!"

"Please... Not in front of everyone..." Sonia's voice trembled as she hugged herself.

"Acting all innocent now? Weren't you showing off your waist at the club, trying to get every rich man to look at you? And now, you're acting all shy in front of us?"

"So? Are you taking it off, or do we have to help you?"

Seeing Sonia cornered with nowhere to run, Andy gave me a hard shove from the back. "Leona, get over there and make them shut up!"

The push nearly sent me sprawling on the sand. The humiliation burned hot up my neck.

But all his attention was focused on Sonia. He didn't even glance at me.

I shook my head at myself and walked over. As soon as Sonia saw me, she darted behind me.

"Leona, help me!"

I glanced at the women across from us and said coldly, "Do you really want to force Jason's fiancée to strip in public? Aren't you worried he'll come after you after this?"

The leader was a Capo's daughter, and she nodded politely at me. "Leona, we're not trying to be mean. We're just curious, that's all. She's not as innocent as she looks. Don't say I didn't warn you."

"That's right, Leona. We've seen her coming out of hotels with that Consigliere more than once. Aren't you worried at all?"

Sonia instantly grabbed my arm and shook her head. "No, Leona, don't listen to them!"

She clung to me and pulled me backward step by step. I couldn't break free no matter how I tried.

"Don't believe her? I think you just don't want to admit it!"

"Just yesterday, I saw you and Andy going into a hotel together..."

Before the woman could finish, Sonia yanked hard on my arm and threw herself backward into the sea with a scream, timing it perfectly when a big wave hit.

"Sonia!" Andy's shout cut through the air. He rushed past me and dove straight into the water.

A moment later, he came up to the beach, carrying a soaked and trembling Sonia in his arms. "Sonia, are you all right?"

Sonia looked stunned, staring at me in disbelief for several seconds before finally saying, "Leona, why did you push me? Did you really believe what they said? I never thought you were someone who can't tell right from wrong!"

Andy shot me with a cold, dangerous glare. "Leona, I told you to help her! Not push her into the sea!"

In Sonia's eyes, I caught a flash of smugness for just a split second. Only then did I realize why she had been dragging me backward the whole time.

"She jumped in herself," I said calmly.

Sonia quickly interrupted, "Yeah... Leona didn't push me. I just lost my balance..."

She trembled like a victim, as if I had threatened her into changing her story.

Andy pulled her tightly into his arms, his eyes burning with fury. "I saw everything! You pushed her. Don't lie to me."

The disappointment in his voice hit me hard. I realized this had all been Sonia's plan. No matter what I said, he would never believe me.

"If anything happens to her, you'll answer to me!" Andy snarled.

With that, Andy ignored everyone around him, scooped Sonia up in his arms, and walked toward the parking lot.

As they left, Sonia, curled up in Andy's arms, looked back and shot me a triumphant smile.