Page 105 of The Rogue

My little blonde fairy looks our way too. Eyes twinkling with delight when Levi pulls me protectively against him as we work through the crowd.

“Yay, you’re here.” She claps her hands, then moves onto business. “Okay, you have to pick a character hat from the round table.” She points to a box on a decked-out round table. “Then we’re going to take pictures, have cocktails, and mingle. There will be children’s reading and coloring upstairs. And we have all sorts of fun giveaways.”

Levi cocks his head. “This is where she gives us a job to do.”

Charlie plants her hands on her hips. “Your only job is to have a good time.”

My phone buzzes in my purse and I flinch. Chills running down my spine.

Levi’s arm loosens as he turns to me. “You alright?”

“Perfect,” I answer a little too quickly.

His jaw is tight as he looks away and nods. “I’m going to grab us some drinks.” He kisses my temple and I thank him.

For more than he knows.

Frank:Last chance, T.

The gall of this guy. I scan my surroundings and quickly type out a reply.

Tessa:The fuck does that mean?

Frank:Good. You're not dead. Call me. Now.

I move to stand behind Jackson, who’s been trying on several hats from the round table. “Hey Wiggles, see if you can find me a cool Cat Woman mask, okay?” I grab a mint from the table. “I’ll be right back.”

I slip an earphone in one ear and sneak away to the low nook under the staircase.

Sucking in a deep breath, I go to my last missed call and dial.

It rings once.

“You trying to get me fired?” Frank’s voice is both soothing and menacing.

Menacing for obvious reasons.

Soothing because he could have passed me along to any other member of his team that wouldn’t have been so understanding to my being M.I.A. for several days after initial contact.

“What’s the emergency? And what do you mean bylast chance?”

“You need to come back to Summer Hill.” He takes a breath. “Tonight.”

“Wh—tonight? No. Absolutely not. I—”

“Tessa. That’s what I meant by last chance. If you didn’t call me back, you would have been unpleasantly surprised when our squad raids the party you’re at.”

My blood runs cold. “How do you know where I am?”

Silence.

“Frank,” I whisper hiss. “Frank, you can’tforceme into witness protection. I refuse. End of—”

His tone is robotic. “A protective custody order has been issued. You are to be detained and remain in custody until—”

“Custody?”

“Teresa. Listen to me—”

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