Page 142 of Her Wicked Plan

“One more week.” There is a beat of silence before I speak again. “Will you be all right?”

Veronica shrugs. “I’ll be fine. Especially knowing you are waiting for me in the light.”

A faint smile tugs at my lips. A gesture that feels real. “I’ll be there.”

I lightly kiss her forehead before leaving the room, shutting the door behind me. It’s not locked yet, but I know she isn’t dumb enough to escape. As I ascend the stairs, all I can think about is how she said she’d be there for me when everything fell apart.

How lucky yet damned am I to have her in my life?

The guard is where he said he’d be: standing at the top of the stairs. When he sees me approaching, he removes the earbud again.

“Turn a fucking light on for her,” I demand with irritation.

Pure shock overcomes the man's face from the harsh tone, but my words get the point across. He nods frantically before rushing back down the stairs to lock her in and hopefully turn a light on for her.

There is no way I can allow her to remain down there for another week in the darkness. One week is fine, but two? That would drive even the sanest person mad.

As I make my way down the hall toward my room, I get interrupted by a redhead walking in my direction. The sound of her heels tapping aggressively against the hardwood sends splinters into my head.

All I want to do is lie in bed and drown in my sadness. Sighing to myself, Scarlet approaches with a wide smile that dims the closer she gets to me.

She must see it in my eyes. The hurt. The despair.

“Leo?” She stops before me, scanning my face.

“Hello, Scarlet.” I try to play it cool because I don’t know what I’ll do if I lose it around another person. I’m afraid I’m slipping out of the sadness part of my feelings and will eventually enter the anger part of it all.

And for that, I’d rather not be around people.

“Are you okay?” Her voice is kind. It annoys me. Myles must not have texted her to tell her the news. Why would he? It’s not like they are even dating. He only just got her number. “You look⁠—”

“Broken?” I finish the sentence for her. She only blinks, unsure of what to say. “Probably because I am. Now, if you don’t mind, I’d like to go to my room and wallow in my pity by myself.”

I step around her body as her mouth opens to speak. I’m almost at my bedroom door. I'm almost rid of her until I hear those loud footsteps heading my way. Outside my door, I shut my eyes and inhale a deep breath.

“We can talk about it, you know,” she offers. My hands clench into fists at my side. “I’m a great listener, and maybe I can help.”

“I don’t want to talk about it.” I turn to face her, hoping my gaze's coldness will make her drop it.

It doesn’t work. She steps forward, taking my face in her hands. “Then we don’t have to talk about it. I can help... distract you from what’s bothering you.”

My brows dip, then I soon realize what she means. With her heels, she is tall, meaning it doesn’t take much for her to press her lips to mine. I don’t kiss her back. I’m too in shock that she’d be doing this.

Sure, I’ve shown interest in her before Veronica, but now? This woman hit on my best friend in front of me, which I was okay with, seeing that she took the hint that I wasn’t interested anymore.

That’s the thing. She hit on my best friend.

Scarlet got his number and planned to talk with him and maybe do more. And here she was, kissing me.

I unclench my fist, bringing my hand to her jaw, and rip her off of me. While still in my hold, her eyes are wide, but she holds heat, and when my fingers tighten, the fire goes out as a cold wave hits her.

“No offense, Scarlet, but I don’t need your help.” I release her with a light force, causing her to stumble backward. Those confident steps she had moments earlier now faltering. The only help I want from anyone in this place in this sort of way would be Veronica, but I can’t tell Scarlet that. “If I wanted it, I’d ask.”

“I’m sorry. I...” Her fingers lightly press to her lips when the realization of her actions hits her.

“Don’t fucking do that again.”

“Please don't tell Myles.” She begs, tears forming in her eyes. “I like him.”