NNE'

s a hollow whisper. "Someone

emed to have vanished from the room and from my lungs. My heart pounded,

mine. My lips parted, but no sound came, only sil

ching as she steadied herself. "The police... they said the brakes. They

and she pressed her hand to her ch

m tilte

en bottles, deliberately placed. It wasn't bad luck." Her tears stream

my God..." My voice was barely a wh

't know who yet. They said it could have been anyone who wanted him gone. I don't know why someone would want

kered over me

ere. And until they know who... You must be

e alone. Don't trust easily. And if anything... anything

r of her words. "I... I understand," I manag

*

t of this. That whole family. Did she call her son sweet? Perf

." I s

n, that's why he refused to make love to you. His

ough," I snapped,

d I immediately answered, tearing my g

rm if you would be going to the ch

uld, Rita.

ust arrived at your mansion.

my coat, and turned away from Kalea. "

the car," Rita finished,

boring party to watch rich people ga

is going to be filled with the Carters

. "I ordered a dress for us and there's gonna be

in line, and I could see I

e mirror in the bedroom, the i

like you shouldn't give that up. That's your f

ng back at Kalea before t

ortless folds to the floor. The plunging neckline dipped tast

a secret detail. My hair was pulled back in a sleek ponytail that fell

s, a matching pendant resting

ks, I almost looked like

weren't there yet but she still had this amusement in her eyes. Althou

towering glass structure that glittered against the night sky. Inside, the ballroo

e even better and beautiful, swayed between conversation

ant and so

h mine as we descended the

er us, some curious, some pitying especially because of Jett.

ven't heard from her since the last time she came over. No one in Carter's ma

recise against his lean frame. His tie was done this time, s

, and his expression was almost irritated as

ke a punch to the chest, so blu

rough my arms and pooling low in my belly where guilt already sat heavy. My

delier light. I caught a glass of champagne before he coul

owed too quickly, the fizz biting my tongue, but it was better

to breathe. And yet, I didn't

of my glass as my gaze swept the

s locked on mine, and she

e here," she

, polite smile. Each step toward her f

ed to hold her gaze, pretending not to n

s flicked up, over my shoulder. The warmth in her face blo

d only

n, like he carried with him a quiet domin

voice brushed against

ed my waist barely a t

a tremor through me so fierce I

econd, forcing my lips into another smi

g. "This party is really amazing.

her, polite and controlled. T

e was something underneath it. I turned away at once, pretending to adjust m

ee it. The thing that shouldn't have happened. The kiss. Something I co

even been

eath, I crossed a line with his

lips and the sound of

though it felt brittle, stretched too

softly. "You look