Wicked Heart (Starcrossed #3)(94)

Josh winces. “Please rephrase that to be less weird.”

Liam rolls his eyes. “You got the package I sent you.”

“Yes. It’s all charged and ready to go. I even know how to use it. I guess all those hours in high school AV club are finally paying off.” He shoots a glance at Angel. “Actually, forget I said that. I was too cool for A.V. club. They wished I spent most of my lunch hours there.”

Angel tries to stop herself from smiling. “That’s a shame. Geeks are sexy.”

Josh tilts his head. “Is that right?”

“It is.”

After a few more seconds of them staring each other down, I clear my throat. “So, Angel, you sure you’re okay with your part in this?”

“Absolutely,” she says. “Hell, I’d let Kent go all the way if it meant getting us out of this situation. Besides, I paid a crapload for these boobs. Might as well get my money’s worth.”

“What if he calls our bluff?” Josh says. “You’d be in the firing line with him.”

She smiles. “Oh, don’t worry about that. After being saved by Liam in four movies, I’m great at playing the victim. If Kent insists on doing anything but killing Angeliam when my sister interviews us tomorrow, I’ll make sure he regrets it for a very long time.”

“My offer stands to murder Kent,” Liam says, his face tight with anger. “I have experience pouring concrete, and plenty of contacts in the New York construction scene. His body will never be found.”

I glance at Angel. “Can we swap seats?”

“Sure.”

After a mid-car mess of dresses and limbs, we swap positions, and when I’m seated next to Liam, I take his hand between both of mine.

“This will all be over soon,” I assure him. “One way or another.”

He brings my hand up to his mouth and presses warm kisses against it. “I know. I just hope this works.”

We all go quiet as the limo gets closer to the theater. We’re all thinking the same thing. It has to work.

There’s no other option.


Because Josh and I can’t be seen fraternizing with the stars of the show, the limo drops him and me off at the back of the theater before driving Angel and Liam around the waiting throng of press and screaming fans. By the time we get to the front, the celebrity arrivals and red carpet are in full swing. It’s not as lavish as a film premiere, but Broadway still knows how to throw a party.

“Is all your gear inside?” I ask as Josh scans the crowd.

“Yep. Set up and ready to go. As soon as Liam and Angel finish with the press line, I’ll go get into position.”

“Make sure he can’t see you.”

He rolls his eyes. “You act as if I’ve never taken secret blackmail photos before. I got this.”

We stand to the side and watch as New York’s elite schmooze with one another and pose for the cameras. When waiters appear with trays of champagne, I almost break a heel getting to them in record time.

“Lissa. Look.” Josh gestures toward Angel, who’s rushing down the red carpet, ignoring all calls for her to stop. She shoots us a wink on her way past.

“Showtime,” Josh whispers, then follows her into the foyer of the theater.

I down my champagne in two mouthfuls. “Okay. Let’s do this.” The trap is set. Now we just need to wait for our prey.

I’m halfway through my second glass of bubbly when Anthony Kent appears beside me.

Speak of the devil and he shall appear.

“Miss Holt. I didn’t think you’d be here tonight.”

“Marco invited me. Is that all right? Should he have asked your permission? I can leave if you like.”

He gives a slight smile, then looks me up and down with a predatory expression. “On the contrary. I’m glad you’re here. You look ravishing.”

“Thanks. You look like a snake in a suit.”

He laughs and moves closer. “I’m pleased to see you heeded my advice about staying away from Liam.”

“You didn’t give me much choice.”

A photographer steps in front of us. “Mr. Kent. A photo with your date please.”

I’m about to spit that I wouldn’t date this man if you put a gun to my head, but Kent blithely puts his arm around my waist and pulls me closer. “Of course. Smile, darling.”

I think I smile. I’m not sure. Maybe I just bare my teeth in a horrifying way.

The photographer clicks off a few shots. “Wonderful. Thank you.” He moves on to his next victims.

When I squirm away from Kent, he chuckles. “I can see what Liam sees in you. Beautiful. Feisty. Intelligent. I like you, Elissa. Current circumstances may be painful, but there’s no need for things to become unpleasant between us.”

I give him my most condescending smile. “They don’t need to be, but they are. That’s what happens when you ruin my professional reputation, get me fired, blackmail me and my friends, and try to keep me from the man I love.”

He shrugs. “It’s just business. Nothing personal.”

I lean into him, and touch his chest. “Well, since business is so important to you, perhaps you’d be interested in a proposal I have to offer.”

He looks down at my hand before returning to my face. “I’m listening.”