Page 86 of Fool's Gold

Us? Tonight is for me. It’s supposed to be for me and Marcus, and he’s in trouble.

I tug at my hand, but he doesn’t release me. “Jacob, I’m leaving,” I say sternly.

He bends down to whisper in my ear, “There’s no fighting against Maxim. Do you understand? If Marcus made a deal, then he’s as good as gone, and good riddance. So stay with me. It’s better this way.”

Wait. A. Minute.

I whirl around, tugging my hand back with such force Jacob has no option but to let go. “You’re with them.”

His bullshit act of feigned innocence… Man, he’s good. He’s so good he’s had me fooled from the start.

He blinks, another calculated maneuver, before slipping the mask back on that I’d gotten so used to seeing, thinking it was real. “I’m doing what it takes for myself. You should, too.”

I glare at him, pressing my wrist to my chest and rubbing a hand along my bruised skin.

“Stay away from me,” I hiss between clenched teeth. “Stay the fuck away from me, Kessler.”

Grabbing my dress in one hand, I storm toward the door, cutting my way through the throng of A- and B-list celebrities and influencers. My name is on too many lips, but I don’t stop. Marcus and Celeste have a head start, and with so many people here, it’s going to be hell on earth getting out.

Surely the car is parked somewhere with the driver waiting for us. Or did Marcus take the driver?

Fuck!

Growling, I stomp outside despite hands reaching for me to stop me. At least Jacob isn’t there.

He’s probably on his phone calling to let Celeste or Stanic or whoever the hell he works for know that I’m on the move. Which means I have to try to get to the apartment faster than them.

That’s undoubtedly their first stop.

She wants to rub things in my face. To make it as uncomfortable for me and Marcus as possible, she’ll want to take him for the first time in a space we’ve been together.

She wouldn’t be stupid enough to go to my parents’ place.

The apartment is closer.

The tiny clutch I brought with me is barely large enough to stash a phone and a container of lipstick, and I’ve got both crammed in there. Growling, I stop, diving for the cell. I pull it out and click through to call an Uber.

There’s no way they’re getting through this mess.

I’m forced to walk toward a less crowded cross street, alone and at night, which isn’t the best idea in the world. I’m spitting mad and terrified. Maybe that’s the winning combination to keep people away from you.

You look like a freak, and in this town, they purposely look the other way.

I don’t give a shit. The guards Marcus hired are probably still at the premiere looking for me. They’ll be looking for a long time.

The lift service eventually pulls up with a young dude blasting punk rock, waving for me to get in the back.

The ride to the apartment takes a thousand years, and damn, I’m lucky the dude doesn’t try to take me somewhere and engage the child locks. I’m on the edge of my seat with my knees bouncing and my fingers pulling at every tiny bead sewn into the front of the dress. Empire Stone to the rescue, right? It sounds like the beginning of a really bad joke. I’ve got nothing on me to act as a weapon and the threatening nature of a kitten.

How in the world do I think I’m going to pull this off?

Love isn’t enough.

I’ve learned it the hard way.

I’d never forgive myself if I didn’t try.

“Stop here!” I yell.

---