Page 91 of The Twilight Theft

“Brie destroyed it,” said Rav.

Red and blue lights bounced off the buildings to the east, the sirens cutting short.

Jayce undid the ties on her dress, and the skirt fell to her ankles. Ripped and smudged with dirt, as well as a few bloodstains from her scrapes, she’d make quite the re-entrance. “Let’s go. Hopefully, we didn’t”—she glanced at me and her gaze dropped—“ruin everything.”

The four of us made our way in. Inside the blown door, I picked up Jayce’s shoes, but she refused my help to put them on. Her limp was pronounced, but I knew better than to say anything about it. Too much pride in that woman.

Once we reached the top floor, we detoured into the office area and took the elevator down to Mosaic’s main floor. The scene we returned to was a far cry from the one we’d left. One of the auction tables lay on its side, as did several of the chairs. The band had left, replaced by recorded classical music.

Half the guests were gone, the other half likely sticking around to find out what else the Tremaines had in store. Or to watch them fall. Or to figure out what sort of leverage the night’s events might grant them.

Rav helped Jayce to a tall stool at the bar. “Marc and I will take Wyatt to the police and return the chip to Gideon. Scarlett and Emmett are with him now, but will be here soon.”

I grabbed a bowl of nuts and a platter of treats for her. Placing them on the bar, I slid onto the stool next to her. “I completely missed that Wyatt was behind it.”

Jayce scoffed, staring out the tall windows to the west, where the fountain lights were on full display. There wouldn’t be as many spectators as earlier, but the automated show didn’t care. “Guess I’m not the only screwup.”

“You didn’t screw up.” I leaned on the bar, trying to get in her line of sight. “You climbed a fucking building. It was amazing.”

“After you told me not to.” She let out a rueful laugh, avoiding my gaze. “Not like I accomplished anything, anyway. He was waiting for a helicopter that never came. If I’d found a way through one of the other buildings in the complex. If I’d waited…”

“If you’d waited, he probably would have opened fire on us the second we walked out.” I reached for her, to run my fingers down her arm, but she pulled away.

I’d almost lost her on the roof.

My emotional locker strained at its hinges, my heart leaping up toward my throat. Thewhole worldhad almost lost her. “You saved at least one of our lives.”

“You should check in with Craig.”

“I will.” That’s what I should have been doing. But the thought of leaving her alone? The memories of Wyatt’s gun to her head? Of her lying limp on the ground? I needed to be near her. I needed to be sure she was all right.

What the fuck was wrong with me?

“Jayce?” Scarlett rounded a wide pillar that separated the bar from the main dining area.

Jayce straightened. “Yeah, boss?”

“Do you have your knee brace at the hotel?”

“I do.”

Scarlett stopped in front of us, Emmett at her side. “You head back and pick it up. Give the knee at least a half hour with ice before you come back.”

“I’m fine.” Jayce slid off the stool, a faint grimace creasing her face as she landed. “What’s the status on Noah?”

“Brie’s trying to track him.” Scarlett cocked an eyebrow. “And Rav says you’re not fine.”

Jayce folded her arms. “Rav was hit on the head. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”

Emmett scratched his short beard. “Can you take her, Drew?”

“No.” Jayce’s voice wasn’t as firm as the previous times she’d declined being anywhere near me. She wasn’t hesitating—she was swallowing back pain.

“Yes.” Scarlett waved a hand over her shoulder. “Rav’s dealing with the police, Malcolm’s interviewing guests to find out if anyone saw Noah, Emmett’s going to join him in a few minutes, and I’m busy coordinating. We all have responsibilities here, but the chip is safely in Gideon’s hands, so the Bishop team’s job is finished. Drew isn’t needed here anymore.”

Jayce’s lips quivered and she blinked several times. She mouthedFine, but no sound came out.

I sighed deep inside. I wanted to hold her and tell her it was all right. Tell her what an amazing job she’d done over and over until she finally listened. “I’ll run upstairs and touch base with Craig, then we can go.”

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