Page 104 of Passenger Princess

A fuck up this big, you'd think they'd hire a new security company or just have the event security take me to and from the room, then throw me on a plane to go home.

And most of all, if Jaime is off the case because I broke the code of conduct, why hasn't anyone said anything to me? Why haven't I been dethroned already?

But these are all things I have to worry aboutlater.

Much later.

Right now, I have to calm Jaime down and get to the green room and smile through this final event like nothing has happened because I'll be damned if I let Regina and Anne win.

"What's the update?" I ask because after they brought us here, hestepped out of the room to ask thenewguard what was going on and called his boss.

"I'm off the case. It seems Five Star sent out a new guard to take over," Jaime says, and my stomach drops at the confirmation that Jaime is done. "He's not one of my favorite guys, but fine enough. I talked to him briefly—he got a call late last night to pack for a few days and get on a plane immediately. He landed three hours ago."

Well, at least this wasn't planned well in advance.

"Apparently, the pageant called Greg and complained. Wanted a new man sent out instantly." That still makesno senseto me at all, but I don't mention that right now. It won't fix anything or change anything at this moment. "I helped onboard him, and he worked for Hank for a few years before he sold the business. He's been solid for a few hours, and he's going to let me walk you up to the room with him, so I can see where you are."

A small consolation for him, I'm sure. He's been at my side no matter what since Georgia, so I know not being there is going to mess with him.

I step to him, putting a hand to his jaw, and give him a small smile. "You wouldn't have been able to hover over me while we got ready anyway, Big Guy. All the girls are getting ready in the same giant room, and even if somehow the pageant okayed you being in there, I wouldn't have. That wouldn't be cool, having a random guy in the room while fifty girls are doing their makeup and getting dressed."

"But I could have stood out in the hallway," he grumbles.

"Yeah, you could have, but unfortunately, that's not an option. Right now, we're working with this version of reality."

"I don't like it," he says, and I slide my hand down, resting on his chest.

"I don't either, but with everything they're doing, everything they'retryingto do, I refuse to let them win. So you're going to agree to walk me up, and when you confirm I'm safe, you'll call Miles, see if he has anything new to tell you. Unfortunately, you'll probably have to call Five Star, then call Hank. I'll take Peach since we don't knowexactly where you'll be, okay? Oh, and find whatever you need to take down that fuckwad Preston Smith," I finally add.

His lips tip up with my words.

"Out for blood?"

"Oh, absolutely. But he's just first on my list." I move to my tiptoes, holding his face with both hands and pressing my lips to his. "They'll all pay for fucking with you."

"For fucking withus, Ava. They're fucking with you, too. They have this entire time, and we're a team." That makes me smile wide.

"We're a pretty great team, aren't we?" I ask in a whisper, and somehow, despite everything, he smiles wide, something I couldn't have expected thirty minutes ago when everything broke.

"The best team," I whisper against his lips before he kisses me, making all right in the world for just a moment.

All three of us walk in silence up to the green room, where I'll be getting dressed. As I do, I force my mind to empty of everything that just happened in the last hour.

Hell, the last twelvehours since we were at Hank's house and Preston ambushed us.

"This is it," the new Five Star guard, Landon, says. “Sorry you can't stay with her, but I'll be up here while she gets ready, then escort her to dinner."

Jaime's face is hard, and it's strange to see that look again, the one he had in the early days and weeks of this tour, only to move to something much softer for me.

"Ava, you do not leave that room for anything but the event. After, you're being brought to me, and we're headed home. Nothing matters but getting through this in one piece, yeah?"

I roll my eyes. "I'm going to be fine. No need for?—"

"I'm serious, Ava. I need you to promise."

I see it then—the nerves, the panic. I step closer and nod.

"Okay, big guy. I'll be on my best behavior." One of his big hands moves to the back of my neck, sinking into my hair and tipping my head back to look at him.

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