Page 128 of Petrify

“They are, though. They came here for this—this?—”

“Vibe?”

He raises a brow. “Yes. Thisvibe. Thatyouare helping create with your music.”

He leads me towards his table. At some point, while I was not looking, he procured a drink for me. I reach for it and take a sip—vodka cran. Like I’ve ordered for myself every other time I’ve come to play at this club.

“I like it,” I say. “There’s less pressure.”

He stands close. Too close. A knuckle skimming against my hip. I think if he comes any closer I might have to kiss him.

“Mallary Doyle.”

Violet Lavigne maneuvers through tables, shooting me a conspiratorial smile. She eyes Baz up and down.

“And who is this?”

“Oh! This is…” I realize we never came up with an excuse. I can’t tell her who hereallyis.

Yeah, so you know my former employers who died tragically in the house fire on New Years? This is their son who’s supposed to be dead. Oh and also, he’s responsible for their murder.

“Sebastien Doyle,” he says before I can come up with a lie.

“I didn’t know you were married.”

I didn’t either.

“Good as,” he says. He holds out a hand for her to shake. His smile is too charming. Even though he hasn’t truly socializedin years, he wears that easy, confident mask well. If I had any doubts he was a Beauchene, it’s clear they began molding him into the perfect heir before his isolation. His crooked grin is too similar to Leo’s. “I was away for a bit, but I’m glad to finally meet you.”

“Likewise.” Her gaze lingers on him, maybe trying to discern why he looks so familiar. “Mallarydidtell me about the waltz. You wrote that?”

He grins. “It was a team effort.”

“The song is what caught my attention. There’s something…uncannyabout it. I’m glad I went to the party, to be able to hear you play it.”

“That was all Mallary.” Baz’s thumb rubs against mine. “She could play anything and wow you.”

Violet gestures to the room. “And now look where you are! Funny how things work out that way, isn’t it?”

“Yeah.” I squeeze Baz’s hand.

Violet glances toward the bar. “I have a few friends from Foxhall waiting.”

I blink. “Like, the studio?”

Violet's smile is proud. “You have a few minutes left? Let me introduce you.”

Chapter 56

The Ghost

On a weekendwhere my Mallary has no obligations, I spirit her away from the city.

The temperatures are beginning to rise. Each morning, a heavy fog blankets the city until the cars score their way through. The penthouse is over fifty stories high, completely surrounded by clouds some days. Up there, we have our own little world. No one to disturb us. Just the way I like it.

While she dozes off in my arms one evening, I get a message on the smart phone I was all but forced to purchase—I needed a way to keep track of her at all times once we escaped the bounds of the manor.

But it’s finally time to return where I truly belong.