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Now, as I meet Luke’s bewildered gaze as we’re marched out of the ballroom in handcuffs, I know I need to find that thing again. I will hurt anyone I have to—even Donna, even Luke—in order to get him out of this.

Donna runs alongside me. “Juliet, what’s going on?”

In an ideal world, I’d tell her the whole, terrible truth before she hears Grady’s version, but I’m not sure mine sounds much better, and I’m scared she won’t do what I need to if she knows it.

“Luke didn’t do anything,” I whisper. “I know this looks bad, just believe me…Luke had nothing to do with it. You’ve got to get him out of this. Find Harrison. And get Drew to call her attorney.”

I’m not sure if she will. I wouldn’t, in her shoes.

Luke and I are taken in separate police cars. I don’t utter a single word and I don’t cry. I hold my shit together and try to decide who I’ll call when they book me. My agent, someone at the label, my manager, Luke’s agent? Who stands to lose the most money from our arrest? Who’ll work hardest to fix this? I’m not sure.

None of them will work hard enough.

Everyone in the station turns to stare at me as I enter—I guess it’s not every day you witness the arrest of a celebrity in a floor-length satin dress—and I stare right back, looking for one person who can help me. I’m photographed and fingerprinted, and all the while, the only thing I’m wondering is who I can fuck, threaten, or bribe into helping Luke out.

“We’d like to talk to you about the night Danny died,” the cop says.

“I want to make my call.”

“It’s just a few questions.”

I stare him down until he hands me the phone.

I call Ben, Drew’s attorney and my friend. I don’t think he practices criminal law but he’s smart as hell. Between him and Harrison, they’ll at least be able to get Luke released on bond until we can figure something out.

He answers on the first ring. “Juliet, say nothing,” he warns. “Drew already explained and I’m on my way. Your friend Harrison is probably there by now. We’ll fix this.”

Donna did what I asked. For the first time since this went down, tears threaten.

I swallow hard. “Don’t worry about me—”

“When I told you to say nothing, I meant say nothing,” he growls. “Yes, I know who you’re worried about. We’re handling it. Just hang in there and keep your mouth shut.”

Ben sounds confident, but Ben always sounds confident. And he might just be trying to shut me up.

I’m deposited in a room with poor lighting and a two-way mirror. Metal chair, cheap wood table, just like they show on TV. I assume that any minute now, two detectives will walk in to play good cop, bad cop. One will offer me water while the other one throws chairs.

I wait and wait, but no one enters, and I finally rest my head on my folded arms and try to come up with a back-up plan in case Ben and Harrison fail. I’ve got nothing, though. In the end I just think of Luke beside me, swaying in a hammock, telling me it’s all okay. And that’s when I finally start to cry.

I’m not sure when the tears give way to sleep, but I’m jolted awake by the sound of the door opening. I have no idea how much time has passed.

“You’re free to go,” says a guy in a uniform.

I stare at him, waiting for stipulations. Waiting for him to tell me Ben posted bail or that I’ve got to appear in court in an hour. “Just like that?”

He arches a brow. “Were you hoping to stay?”

I’m led to the processing desk, where they return my clutch and heels. Harrison is waiting at the end of the hall, still in his tux.

My mouth opens and he shakes his head, warning me not to say anything yet. It’s only when the door shuts and we start walking down the hall that he speaks. “Luke’s fine.”

“But is he out?”

He shakes his head again. “Not yet, but I think he will be.”

“I don’t understand,” I whisper. “If they had enough to arrest us, what could have changed?”

“Their evidence is entirely circumstantial. Luke’s leash around Danny’s ankle proves nothing. Grady told them about your affair with Luke and your fight with Danny on the night he died—that gave them motive, but they don’t have that anymore, either. Donna took care of it.”