Page 4 of Gathered Sparkle

CHAPTER TWO

Novalee

The elevator doors slide shut, cutting off the sight of Nicholas, but the image of the hurt in his eyes is burned into my mind, refusing to fade.

My body is trembling, adrenaline is surging through me, the elevator walls are too close—everything is too close.

I can’t…

Ineed…

I grab my phone from my purse, my thumb barely managing to hit Sylus’s name. The ringing fills my ears, blending with the frantic pounding of my heart, my breath painfully hitching as I wait.

Please.

Finally, his voice crackles through the line. “Baby, I couldn’t—”

“Sylus.” His name breaks from my lips. “He caught me.I got caught.”

The elevator seems to crawl, and I feel like I’m suffocating in the small space. There’s a muffled sound through the phone, footsteps, something crashing, and then I hear Sylus’s frantic voice. “Koen!”

“Sylus,” I urge again, but there is no answer.

What the fuck do I do?

“Sparkle…” he pants out, ragged and panicked, and it sounds like he’s running. “Hold tight. I’m coming.”

The call ends, and I’m left staring at the screen, my stricken reflection looking back at me. The elevator finally comes to a stop, and the doors open into the lobby filled with bright lights and tourists, even though it’s late.

But there’s not a sign of the security that I half expected would be waiting for me.

I step out, my knees feeling like they could give way at any second, but I force myself to keep moving, slipping through the crowd while I can barely think.

No one stops me—no security, no police. So, I keep walking, trying to keep my head down and my breathing even. Outside, the bright lights of the Strip are a kaleidoscope of color that disorients me. I hesitate, not sure which direction to take before deciding on impulse, pushing through the tourists.

Ezra said to get away and hide.

I need to keep moving.

The city blurs around me, strangers’ faces merging into a chaotic, overwhelming rush. I quicken my pace as the instinct to run builds in my chest, even though I have no idea where I’d run to. I check my phone. Nothing. No messages from anyone.

Have they abandoned me?

It would be fitting after I put them all in danger with my incompetence.

Minutes stretch into what feels like hours until a low rumble cuts through the noise of the street. I lift my head and catch sight of a familiar black motorcycle speeding down the road, tires screeching as it comes to a sudden, reckless halt on the street next to me.

Sylus.

He’s bare-chested, wearing only sweatpants, not even shoes, and his dark hair is a wild mess. “Come on, Sparkle!”

I break into a run, my legs pumping as I cross the pavement and reach him. Sylus leans over, his arm outstretched, and I grab hold, swinging myself onto the back of the bike before wrapping my arms around his waist. I squeeze my purse between us while burying my face against his bare back as he revs the engine and speeds off.

The wind whips at my face and hair, the city blurring around us as Sylus takes us away from the chaos. My tears spill freely now, the adrenaline and fear unraveling into exhaustion and relief. I squeeze my eyes shut, and the feeling of Sylus’s warm skin beneath my hands is the only thing grounding me as the world rushes past us.

Eventually, he pulls into a narrow alley, bringing the bike to a skidding halt, the engine cutting off with a shudder. He puts the kickstand down, swings his leg over, and turns to me, his eyes wide with panic as he pulls me off the bike and cups my face, his thumbs brushing away the tears staining my cheeks.

“What happened? Are you okay?” He crouches down a little to meet my gaze, his face inches from mine. “Did he hurt you?”

---