Page 1 of Give Me Forever Love

Chapter One

Kathrine

My heart punches through flesh, trying to jump out of my chest. Anxiety swims in my veins, mixing with a high dose of dread.

“Don’t worry,” Bryce says to me. His blazer is bunched up from his arms stretching behind his back and I wonder what his Mad Hatter tattoo has to smile about now. Bryce’s blues look calmer than they should, and he looks tougher than I’ve ever seen.

But still, this is not okay.

The cops shove him forward and my feet jerk.

Jace holds my arm, keeping me from going after Bryce. My jaw tightens and my blood sprints. My hands shake and my stomach rolls as sweat rivers down my spine.

What do we do?

Panic takes on a new form, growing wild, twisting around the veins in my neck and constricting my windpipe.

My eyes look around the room in a frenzy, but everything seems to be in slow motion. Like a scene in a movie when the shit hits the fan and the director wants you to notice every moment as it plays out, but this isn’t a fucking movie.

People climb the stairs, and some slip through a back emergency exit, causing an alarm to go off. It rings throughout the basement, piercing my eardrums and adding to the frenzy. “Shut that shit off!” someone yells out.

I look toward the bar as men in suits scramble from their stools, looking for their own bodyguards to get them out of this mess, and then I see a man with gold chains around his neck.

The feds yank his hands behind his back, causing the cigar from his lips to fall to the carpet. Fire ash bounces, burning tiny fibers in the red rug, and my eyes jump up as they handcuff him.

His stomach slips out from under his black silk shirt, revealing powdery skin. He looks over at me, and I remember him. That day I came looking for Bryce in Red. He was sitting beside Ben. He obviously works for Bryce, too.

My head whips back to Jace as tears distort my vision. His expression matches mine. He says something, but my ears are ringing. I look away from him, staring up, watching as Bryce reaches the top of the stairs. His all-black suit stands out against the red carpet. Hair that is longer than when we first met falls across his forehead and I see the tightening in his jaw.

The walls start to crumble around us, the ground shakes, and pieces of the ceiling crack, sprinkling devastation down upon us.

Like a castle losing its foundation, this place falls to the ground. The alarm stops and Jace’s voice filters through.

“He’ll get out of this, Harrison.”

I blink back to him. “How?” I ask. “How will he get out of this?”

“He just will. I know…” his voice trails off and I notice his pupils dilate as his eyes focus, narrowing slightly. I follow his gaze and my hand shoots up to my mouth.

Oh my God.

Michelle stands in a green dress, holding on to the stair railing. The soft light above her reflects off something metal around her neck.

A badge.

My mind plays catch-up. Thoughts bounce like a pinball rebounding inside of a pinball machine.

The questions. The interest in Red and the boys. My feet step forward, but Jace grips my arm firmly. I look back at him, holding on to my arm and I jerk it.

“Don’t,” he says. “This won’t end well for you.”

“She did this, Jace. She did this to us.” I yank my arm again, getting free from him. “You fucking bitch!” I yell. Anger bubbles like a thin layer of plastic melting from fire. Black blood flows through my veins and my heart turns monolithic. A frosty feeling passes through my soul. This is a debacle for us, but what a triumph for her. Even so, she doesn’t look satisfied.

Some of the guests look back at me as they slip out, trying to be unnoticed by the feds. But can’t they see? They’re not here for them.

They’re here for Bryce. The other half of my soul. It reaches for him, pushing through inner tissue, popping blood vessels, fabricating more scars. I’m starting to suffocate.

Why does life always fuck with me?

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