Page 115 of Sweetheart: Part One

Rook wasn’t done, though. “Love, Drake, me, and now…” His eyes trailed to me. “Maybe she counts too?”

Ebony’s sneer was incredulous.

“You can’t tell me you don’t look this shit up?” Rook asked.

“I have a life, Rook,” Ebony said, backing up a few steps to the door. “One that, consequently, doesn’t involve hanging out with you this afternoon.”

Rook chuckled, saluting him. “Run from it all you want, prick. Doesn’t change the truth.”

Ebony turned back to us when his hand was on the door handle. “If that’s your sad little way of convincing yourself I give a fuck about you, carry right on.” And with that, he vanished through the door to the stairs.

THIRTY

Dear Ebony: When you discover the truth, you aren’t going to want me.

I think… you’re going to leave me with them.

VEX

In the late afternoon, I made my way to the foyer to find Ebony was actually waiting for me.

I almost drew up, not ready for the sight of a fully dressed up celebrity mate. His long, silver hair was tied up, and he wore a black dress shirt with few of the top buttons undone, revealing a simple, silver necklace against his dusky tan skin. His white jeans toned the look down just enough for a hint of casual, which was good, because I didn’t do full formal.

My dress was simple and black, with a turtleneck, and a v sliced out below it to reveal my collarbone. There were two thin chains making a mock belt around my waist, and I wore thigh high black boots with heels making an attempt to get me to at least Ebony’s shoulders. In the matching black purse, I’d stashed my locked pouch, phone, and a few stray pieces of makeup in case the night went long.

Ebony was fixing a cufflink when he glanced up at me. He appeared to experience that same moment of pause as he took me in, that I had when I’d seen him. Thank fuck.

We exited through the front doors and were met by one of the limos I was becoming familiar with.

The driver—a skinny blond man in his mid thirties with a contagious smile—was leaning against the front door. He lit up as we stepped out.

“Ebony Starless!” he exclaimed. “Here to take you to the Evening Stars studio?”

Ebony nodded as we took the steps, and the driver opened the door to the limo. Before we could enter, however, he lifted a hand, a shy expression on his face.

“I know I’m not supposed to, but you’re my niece’s favourite. Would you mind an autograph?” he asked. We paused, and I tensed, turning to Ebony in concern, but the smile that lit Ebony’s face was the most shocking thing I’d ever seen.

“Of course,” he said, patting down his shirt, but the driver was already producing a pen and photo, handing them to Ebony.

I couldn’t stop staring, forcibly shutting my mouth as the driver told Ebony who to make it out to. I jumped as Ebony’s hand wove around my waist, his face a mask of concern as he looked at me. “You feeling alright, Vex?”

I couldn’t find my voice through the shock as he chivvied me through the limo doors, which was stupid because I had seenthisman before. This was the Ebony I’d believed he was before I met him. The Ebony from interviews in the public eye. I’d forgotten him, the cold predator I now knew, drowning him from my mind.

“You have a car, why don’t you drive?” I asked, trying to find something to say as Ebony slid into the limo beside me. I could practically feel his delight at my shock, and I wouldn’t give him anymore of it.

“The studio sent the car. Would be rude to decline it—though I would have if I’d known they were sending an idiot,” he murmured. “I prefer driving.”

I flinched, gaze snapping to him, but the driver slipped into the front seat, and Ebony’s warm smile was back in an instant. “A bit of privacy,” he said. “If you don’t mind.”

“Not at all, not at all Mr. Starless,” the driver said, winding up the window between the front and back so we couldn’t see him anymore.

The mask dropped from Ebony’s expression like water from a duck, a little curl on his lips. “Might mention it to the studio. He’ll be fired before my interview’s over. We’ll have a different one on the way back.”

What?

“Don’t do that.” My voice was hoarse.

“Why not?” Ebony shrugged. “He knew he risked his job.”

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