I nod, giving the man a smile, as I rise to my feet and, recalling my father’s face when I spoke my parting words, I murmur into my cell. “I hit him where it hurt. That’s what matters.”
Vaughn starts yammering in my ear as I step out onto the air stairs, but a sixth sense I’ve honed over my years in private security makes me freeze before I can put my foot on the firststep. Instead, I take a slow step backward, and two things happen at once.
A loudpingsounds to my right, followed by a burning sensation on the side of my neck. I put my free hand up to touch the area, my eyes blowing wide when I see bright red blood on my fingertips.
“Burton, I’ve just been shot at. Get security to Teterboro and drones in the air right the fuck now.”
Another shot is popped off, and my cell shatters as it’s knocked from my hand. I step fully back inside the jet, pressing my hand over my neck to staunch the bleeding. My eyes flicker around the space, landing on the terrified air host as I wonder what the fuck is going on and how the hell I’m going to get out of this mess.
I exhale heavily before taking several deep breaths as I center myself, and a vision of Emmy walking into that premiere alone, without my presence, flashes before my eyes. I clench my jaw, wincing at the throb in my neck as I focus on the one thing that matters.
Getting back to my Tink. And the knowledge that I’ll move heaven and earth to do just that.
CHAPTER 35
EMERSON
My shoulders sagwhen my call won’t connect to Ford’s cell, and a million and one negative thoughts run through my mind.
I’ve only just gotten him back, universe. Please don’t take him from me.
“You…umm, you can’t go, Miss Hart.”
“What do you mean, I can’t go?” I stare askance at Thom, grateful when his cheeks color slightly, but he remains firm.
“Mr. Burton said you are to carry on as normal, and we will be updated in due course.”
Kyle speaks up, attempting to diffuse the situation when my frustration ripples off me in waves. “For what it’s worth, Mr. Burton has a security team procured by Boss Man already on the ground, and it’s second to none?—”
I move to push past both men with a snarl. “I won’t be kept from him?—”
Beck grips my shoulder lightly, but enough to stop me from going any farther, and I swing around to him. “What?”
“Let’s go to the first party venue. It’s Tryst, so it’s not even far, and by the time we get there, I’m sure we’ll have an update.”
My chest feels tight as my breathing becomes labored, and I feel a wave of dizziness wash over me that threatens to pull meunder. I twist about to regard Thom and Kyle, watching as both men shuffle uncomfortably, clearly ill at ease with the direction this evening has taken.
“If there’s no update by the time I make it inside Tryst’s front doors, I’m going straight to Teterboro, and not one of you will be able to stop me, Iswearit.”
Then I march past Ford’s Sentinel’s staff, not stopping until I get to the waiting limousine. Cameras continue to flash left and right as a cacophony of voices chime.
“What’s happened, Emerson?”
“Why are you crying?”
I ignore them all, slipping into the backseat beside Hayley before I dissolve into floods of tears. She gathers me into her embrace, holding me as I let my emotions get the better of me.
Please don’t leave me again.
It isn’t until we’re about to pull up outside Tryst that I pull myself together enough to speak.
“Ford’s been shot.”
Hayley’s eyes blow wide, and she yanks out her cell.
“I’ve tried calling. There’s something wrong with his cell.”
She shakes her head, typing frantically before holding up the screen to show me. “Nothing on the news yet. That’s something.”
