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I'm reduced to begging. "Please. I can't handle it if I don't know you're safe. I'll stay away from Noah and work with Kalim behind the scenes."
Another tense moment passes. She finally answers, "Okay. But if you don't keep your word, we're done."
"Done?" I ask.
Pain crosses her features, along with determination. "Yes. You already lost part of my trust. If you disappoint me on this issue, we won't be able to repair us."
More sickness fills me. I tug her against my chest and murmur into her ear, "Don't give up on me, pet."
She tilts her head. "Then don't let me down."
"I won't. Now, please tell me you're letting me come to the party with you," I state.
She shakes her head. "No. I meant it. Neither you nor Noah are invited."
Disappointment and fear grow stronger. "There's going to be everything you hate there. Tons of booze, drugs, and people desperate to do whatever they can to befriend you. It'll be just like the L.A. parties you despise," I argue.
She takes a deep breath and retreats from me. "I'm not a child, Riggs. Go to the hotel. Get some rest. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?" I seethe.
She nods. "Yes. Tomorrow. Don't wait up for me. I'm not your child."
"I know. You're my wife," I grit between my teeth.
She exhales deeply, as if fed up with me. She lifts her chin and declares, "I'll see you in the morning. Have a nice evening."
I take a step to follow her, but she spins, threatening, "This is the point where you respect me enough to not fight me any further."
Something about her warning makes me freeze. She disappears out the door, and the hardest thing I've ever done is stand there and watch her leave without me.
9
Blakely
Kalim leads me through the arena. Three of his guys wait at the exit. He asks, "Ready?"
The hairs on my arms rise. "For what?"
He arches his eyebrows. "There's a crowd out there."
My nerves escalate. I blurt out, "Do I need to worry?"
He shakes his head. "No. We'll protect you. Just keep moving."
I lift my chin and nod. "Okay. Let's go."
His blond, twenty-something guy opens the door. Reporters and fans swarm the small alley, held back by a red rope. The three men form a barricade around me. Kalim and another guy are on either side. One is in front, and one steps behind us. They move in tandem, pushing past the screaming fans toward a black SUV.
Lightbulbs flash so brightly that I lower my head to protect my eyesight. We're almost to the vehicle when there's a breach over the rope. A crowd of people move toward us. Kalim shouts, "Get back," but no one listens.
The guy in front of me steps to the side, and the door to the SUV opens.
I slide inside next to Colton, relieved when the door shuts and the lock clicks in place.
"Welcome to the land of insanity," he chirps.
I glance out the window as the front door slams shut. The SUV nudges forward and people bang on the windows. It stops, then moves another inch. Then it stops again.
