The chauffeur picked me up at seven outside the apartment block, and there it was again – the paranoia as soon as I stepped outdoors. That feeling of eyes on me was burning bright, making me shudder with every step. Hell, how I wished the coke withdrawal would get the fuck away from me. I was twitchy, looking out of the windows, trying to convince myself I was safe, but it only made it worse. A car was following us to Crane’s place, and I was convinced the eyes were from that. Paranoia fresh over paranoia. The Power brothers would never follow me onto my family’s home turf. They weren’t dumbass enough to risk the backlash. So, who was it? Who would be stalking me across New York and out into the suburbs?
As it turned out, the car wasn’t following me. It kept on going down the street as we pulled into Crane’s driveway, carrying on quite innocently through Bishop’s Landing. Damn my muddled mind. Damn it.
The event was dull. Laughter was a thin guise over the dirty business conversations Mom was having with Crane and Newton, and it didn’t distract me from any of them. I knew what they were talking about. I knew they were talking about causing harm to anyone they wanted to destroy for the sake of their profits.
Once again, I bailed on the place as soon as it wasn’t going to cause any shit from the others. They were trying to keep a sheen over Mom’s blatant disowning of me, but it was a poor show. She barely looked at me that evening, and when she did, it was like I was a piece of crap on her shoe.
Harriet tried to keep me talking. She failed.
Silas tried to talk with me about what happened with Lucian Morelli at Tinsley’s ball. He failed.
I was in the car and heading back to the city with barely a wave of goodbye to them all, letting out a sigh of relief as I slumped into the backseat.
But there it was again.
That paranoia.
I was stupid. Crazy and stupid.
I glanced through the back window, just to assure myself how stupid I really was . . . but it was there again. That same car was following us back towards the city.
It was then that I realized I wasn’t being stupid at all. Of course I wasn’t being stupid. The Power brothers were coming for me, for real this time. My days of giving them the brush off were coming to an end, and I was done for. This time I’d be truly done for.
I should be happy. Finally. The people who’d end my world.
So why was I terrified? Why was I terrified of giving my last breaths to anyone other than the evil god who should be the last person on earth I wanted to give them to?
I wanted to give them to Lucian.
I dashed out of the car as soon as the driver pulled up outside my tower, not even giving him the time to open the door for me. I was inside and in the elevator up to my suite, barely catching a breath before I was through my front door.
The Power brothers wouldn’t get me in here. Nobody could get me in here, not with all the security on the ground floor.
I checked my diary, and the rest of my week was mostly with Harriet. The Power brothers wouldn’t come after me around Harriet, that would be striking too much of a blow against my family to risk the comeback on that score.
I was so churned up thinking about the Power brothers that I jumped in my seat when my cell sounded out with a ping. Tristan. It was Tristan.
Still coming on Saturday night? Blue Hawk was great in bed, you know. Hope you can meet him again. Want your approval.
I hadn’t actually liked Blue Hawk that much. He was an arrogant little shit, dangling Tristan by a thread. I did like his support act though. That inspired my reply.
Is hot Stephen going to be there?
The response came within seconds.
Sure is. Hopefully he can keep you distracted from your Morelli fantasies.
He shouldn’t have put that in text form. I deleted it before I replied.
I’ll be there.
At least it was something to look forward to. I had no idea if or when I’d ever see Lucian again before I got taken out by the host of other assholes after my blood, so at least I could enjoy staring at a guy who reminded me of him.
Tristan sent me a reminder of where I was going, and I put it in my diary before I could forget it. Spirit Club. Another dive downtown. Another place I wouldn’t be telling anyone I was going to. At least the Power brothers wouldn’t think to find me there.