Page 96 of Gathered Sparkle

The Belmont Plaza rises in front of us, all glass and steel. The midday sun bounces off its reflective surfaces, almost blinding me as I glance toward the rooftop bar, which isn’t visible from the street.

Here we are, waiting like ordinary tourists trying to gain entry to a fancy restaurant. Except we’re not tourists, and this isn’t a casual outing.

Ace shifts beside me, his hands clenching into tight fists at his sides as he breathes through his teeth. His discomfort is shown in the slight twitch in his fingers and the subtle rocking of his weight from heel to toe.

I want to take his hand and give him something solid to hold on to, but I hesitate.Would that help?Or would it push him further into his head? Before I can decide, Sylus reaches for Ace’s clenched fist. He pries it open with casual ease and places it into my hand, linking our fingers. “She’s here. We’re here. This is real, and you’re safe,” he tells him firmly. Then Sylus takes my other hand, wrapping it in his own.

Ace’s shoulders drop, his tension bleeding out slowly as his grip on my hand tightens, letting me know he’s usingour connection to ground himself. He exhales deeply, his jaw relaxing as his gaze flicks between Sylus and me. For the first time since we got here, he doesn’t look like he’s about to bolt.

“You okay?” I ask quietly, my thumb brushing against his knuckles now that I know my touch helps.

“I will be.” He lets out another long breath. “I have to be. This is good training. I need to fucking desensitize before the show.”

“We used to do this shit all the time with Oscar, Ric. You can do it. We’re with you. You’re safe. And if it gets too much, we’ll go home. You’re in control.”

Ace’s lips twitch, not quite into a smile, but not the blank mask he’s been wearing either. He straightens a little, his grip on my hand still firm as he nods. “Thanks, Sy.”

Sylus nods back, and I turn to scan the sidewalk. “She should be here any—”

Then Annabelle rounds the corner with her usual energy, her blonde ponytail bouncing with every step. She spots me and squeals, rushing over without a care for who might be watching. Sylus lets go of my hand and steps back to make room for her.

“Oh my God,” she exclaims, throwing her arms around me while I still hold Ace’s hand. She kisses my cheek loudly, then steps back to give me a playful once-over. “I missed you, babe. Thank you so much for the invite. Life’s already boring without you.”

I laugh, squeezing her arm with my free hand. “Missed you too. And I couldn’t let you wither away from boredom, could I?”

Annabelle steps back fully, her sharp eyes flicking between the two men flanking me. Her gaze drops to where I’m still holding Ace’s hand, and her brows shoot up, a sly grin spreading across her face. “Sooo,” she drawls, tilting her head. “I see you’ve got some news to share?”

Sylus smirks, his easy charm sliding back into place. “Hey, Blondie.”

She raises an eyebrow, smirking right back. “Hey, Hottie. Fancy seeing you in daylight for once.”

“His name is Sylus.” I chuckle. “And this is Ac—” I start, then correct myself quickly. “Alaric.”

Annabelle’s grin softens as she meets his gaze. “Alaric. Nice to meet you.”

Thankfully, she doesn’t offer a handshake or try to touch him. I made sure to warn her about that in advance, asking her not to touch each of the guys, and her response was to laugh.“I didn’t peg you for the jealous type, but don’t worry. I’ve got my own man, thank you very much.”

Ace nods, his expression polite but cautious. “You too.”

“Ready to head up?” I ask, glancing between the three of them. Annabelle nods eagerly, looping her arm through mine as we make our way into the lobby.

The Plaza’s interior is as opulent as the exterior, with marble floors, gold accents, and a chandelier that looks like it cost more than I’ll ever make in a lifetime.

Sylus leans in as we walk, his voice low in my ear. “Cameras,” he mutters, nodding subtly toward the corners of the ceiling. “Two near the entrance, one by the concierge desk and another by the elevators. Stick close to the walls to stay in their blind spots.”

I nod, following his lead as we weave through the lobby, making sure Ace is on my side next to the wall so I can shield him from the people walking past. Annabelleoohsandaahsat the decor while Ace is tense and keeps his focus on our surroundings.

When we reach the elevators, Sylus leans closer again. “These have an emergency override setting,” he explains. “It’s common in buildings like this. If you hit the floor button in a specific sequence, it bypasses all the other stops and takes you straight to the top.”

“How do you know that?” I whisper, genuinely curious.

“Because I’m good at what I do.” A smile ghosts over Sylus’s face. “And because I used to pull this trick all the time to sneak into places I wasn’t supposed to be.”

Ace presses the call button, his posture still tense but more composed than before. When the elevator doors slide open, we step inside, and Sylus immediately starts punching in the sequence. He presses the ground floor button twice, then the rooftop button once, followed by a long press on the close-door button.

The elevator hums to life, bypassing every floor as it ascends smoothly.

“Emergency setting,” Sylus repeats with a wink. “Designed for staff to use during urgent situations. Works like a charm if you know the sequence.”

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