Page 136 of Captive Ruin

“Of course I will.”

“Thank you. Talk soon.” Because I can, now.

I slip my new phone in my pocket, not wanting to call Lucy while I’m standing in the corner of an Apple Store. Tony is watching me, his face impassive.

“What? Do I have something in my teeth?”

“No, Princess.” His voice is softer than the tone he usually uses to me. “Let’s just say I’m not very often surprised.”

I suppose he heard the call. What that told him, I’m not sure.

“Why don’t we get some food?” I ask to change the subject. “It’s lunchtime. You two must be hungry, right?”

“We don’t eat on duty, but Cipriani’s is across the street.”

“One, I’m not eating alone,” I say as I walk outside. “Two, I don’t have a reservation. And three, I was thinking a burger.”

“You don’t need a reservation,” Tony argues. “You have his card.”

“That’s one point out of three.” I look around. There must be something quick and simple nearby that the boys won’t mind joining me for. Yet the first thing I see isn’t a bakery-café but someone I know.

He sees me at the same moment, stopping startled twenty feet away, clearly heading into the Apple Store.

“Scott?” Of all the people I expected to run into, my ex isn’t high on the list. This could be awkward.

Yet part of me feels we have unfinished business. That last text of his was uncharacteristically mature, and I half regret deleting it. I take a pace toward him, trying for a smile.

His face drains of color, and he turns and rushes away.

A frown furrows my brow. That’s not right.

At first, I think Tony or Jorge spooked him, but he didn’t even look at them, only at me.

“Wait!” I start after him. This, plus that text? It’s one more weird on top of too much weird, and I want answers.

“Do you know that guy?” Tony asks, keeping up as I hurry after where he disappeared.

“Ex-boyfriend,” I answer, distracted as I try to figure out where he went.

Then I see him, cutting across Fifth Avenue, heading for the park. That works for me, not least because there are food trucks that way. Karma telling me to follow.

But why is he running from me?

I jaywalk past the lights, ignoring the blast of horns as I cut the corner, heading Scott off. Tony curses beside me, and Jorge runs ahead to hold the traffic up as I ignore the rules of the road. I didn’t expect them to go to such lengths, and now I’m feeling guilty. But I’ll fix it with burgers after I’ve caught Scott.

He’s looking over his shoulder, clearly having lost me, then he turns our way. My plan’s worked, and I run through Pulitzer Plaza, cutting him off.

He only notices me as I skid to a stop before him. “Scott, wait.”

I think he’s about to bolt again, but then Tony and Jorge hem him in.

Scott swallows hard, finding himself trapped. I didn’t tell my bodyguards to do that, but Scott speaks before I get a chance to say anything.

“Amelia, wait, please. I can explain.” It’s not just his words that make me pause, it’s the wild look in his eyes.

“Okay…” I reply, letting him lead on this one. I don’t know what he has to explain, but I’m as curious as hell.

“She meant nothing to me, really.” He glances at Tony, who narrows his eyes, and Scott focuses on me in desperation, like I’m his judge, jury and executioner. “I’m sorry I was cheating. I’m really, really sorry.”