Page 94 of The Promises We Break

We pull up to the front of the club, and the building is lit up from top to bottom. Spotlights shine from the ground up, over the building, and criss-cross on the front, bringing attention to the all capital letters, AFTERBURN, in a deep red. A white back-light snakes around the back of the letters, bringing more life to it. Again, just like Ember.

I can’t help but smile seeing all of this come together, all because she had one idea and a big vision, with an even bigger ambition.

Cruz exits the limo first, his arms flying straight to the sky, waving at everyone outside. There is some media here, but no one famous is showing up other than some social media influencers. Or I guess, perhaps some famous people, but I’m sure their intention is like mine. Anonymity, or as much as possible.

Fortunately, Cruz is an attention whore, and they don’t pay much attention to me, as I slink out behind him, walking straight to the front door of the club.

Seamus, who is part of one of two teams hired to run security for the event, is at the front.

He typically doesn’t do private events like this one, but when Ember told Dietrich she knew him, he agreed to do it as a favor for her, for me, knowing the potential crowd it would draw with how much protesting was going on.

He’s not wearing a mask, but he’s in all black like me. His dark hair is a tad longer than the last time I saw him, but he is completely clean shaven, wearing a scowl that would scare off a lion.

I walk up, holding out my hand as we slap them together with a quick chest bump hug and pat on the shoulder. His death stare as he surveys the crowd doesn’t falter, even during our bro hug, and he grabs the large brass handle to the door, pulling it open for me to enter.

“There’s a lot going on here with the crowd.” He nods into the building. “I’ll catch up with you later.”

He seems a bit on edge, as his eyes bounce in every direction. I can’t imagine how difficult it is to try to keep order. Especially with some of the protestors and monitoring who is trying to get in the building.

I nod and give him a quick salute as I walk through the door. Cruz follows right behind me.

The environmental change is instant. Like walking through a portal into another dimension. Once the door shuts, the media crowd shouting for pictures and protestors disappear, and the music from the entrance of the dimly lit club scales itself.

It mixes with the sound of the floor to ceiling waterfall that sits behind a welcome desk. The “XConnect Live” appears through the middle of the flowing water, and the name of the club, in big bold, over the top.

There are two people at the front who check our IDs and hand us glasses of champagne.

“Feel free to walk around and explore for yourself. Anyone with a red mask with glowing “X” on it is an employee. You can ask for anything you might need. If you’re here to meet someone from the app, you are welcome to wait in theChat Room.”

“Thank you.” Cruz downs his champagne like a shot, then hands it back to her. “I’ll have another, Jasmine.” He lifts his mask and winks.

“Oh my god, Cruz. I didn’t recognize you, otherwise I wouldn’t have been so professional.” She blushes as she leansin, giving him a kiss on the cheek, and gives him another glass.

“Thanks, baby,” he replies, with another wink.

Cruz is gay, right? Maybe he’s bi. I have no idea now. That whole interaction just confused me.

I instantly forget about it when I round the corner of the waterfall and see the vast open space of the main area of the club.

Ember’s vision coming to life is truly unbelievable. It has the same bones from when I saw it a few weeks ago, but with the ambient lighting and music bringing the entire space to life, it’s surreal. The centrally located bar, mirrored with glass and up-lighting, gives birth to the club spreading throughout the entire area. It’s full of people; some standing around the high tables that surround the bar, others that are seated around it.

My eyes hone in on one guy leaning against the corner of the bar. He’s wearing a mask, but I’d recognize that stiff, arrogant body language even if I were blindfolded.

Henry stands sipping his whiskey, taking in the people all around the room.

You’ve got to be fucking kidding me. I knew the moment he found out he would do his research. He’s way too resourceful when he has an agenda that he’s blinded by.

I have no idea what he’s up to, what his intentions are, or what he decided to show up here for, but I refuse to let him get to me. I spent far too many years allowing him to ruin moments like these.

As if he knew I was here, he glances over in my direction, smiles as he lifts his drink in a distant toast, with a quick dip of his chin, then turns around.

The usual Henry would already be heading in my direction, trying to rile me up. But he seems uninterested. Which is bizarre.

Taking Ember’s advice, I’m going to give him the benefit ofthe doubt. He’s trying to turn a new leaf, rekindle the volatile relationship that has defined us our whole life.

Forgiveness starts with a choice, and I’m choosing to do that. But later.

Right now, I have a gorgeous wife to find.

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