Gold (All that Glitters #2)(46)

“So, you’re really going to go see him? After everything you told me?” Eric asked.

“Yep.” She stood and stretched out her legs. “It probably doesn’t make sense to you.”

It didn’t make much sense to her, except that she was drawn to Jude and too damn curious not to go.

“No. It doesn’t make sense. Do you think this is a good idea?”

“Probably not.”

“And you’re going to go anyway?”

“Yeah,” she confirmed.

“What’s the likelihood that you’ll walk out of this less f*cked up?”

She considered the question. “I’d guess it’s a one-in-a-million shot.”

“And you’re still going to go?”

“Pretty much.”

“How exactly do you plan on getting there?” he asked. His arms were crossed over his chest. His hamburgers were forgotten on the plate he had rested them on.

“I guess if you don’t take me, I’ll have to walk there myself,” she told him defiantly.

He sighed. She could see he was as resigned as she was.

“All right. Can I take you, and when he inevitably pisses you off, kick his ass?”

“You’re not going to fight me on this?”

“I’d love to. Trust me,” he grumbled. “But arguing with you is like trying to move a mountain. You’re set on this.”

“Yeah, I am.”

“Promise to be careful.”

Bryna shrugged. She was never careful. Life was too short. It was better to live dangerously and recklessly or not at all. She had every right to give Jude a piece of her mind, an opportunity that had been robbed from her for a year. He had taken so much and given nothing in return. She deserved this moment.

This time, she wasn’t naive enough to think that he cared about her or that she loved him. She wouldn’t be caught off guard with his presence like she had been on campus. She was too smart to be trapped in his snare.

Eric clearly wanted to argue with her more, but he didn’t. He didn’t pressure her to do the right thing. He didn’t try to tell her that seeing Jude would be the wrong move. He didn’t even say anything about the nerves in his posture. He must seriously think she was going to die after one interaction with Jude. She was stronger than that.

She would have to be.

Eric and Bryna made it to the hotel where Jude was staying. It was a five-star hotel off campus, and Eric knew where it was without her telling him. He drove up to the entrance to let her out.

She took a deep breath.

She started to get out, but he reached out and grabbed her arm.

“Hey.”

“Yeah?” she asked.

“I hope you know what you’re doing.”

“Me, too,” she whispered.

“I’ll wait for you.”

She shook her head. “No. I can’t ask you to do that.”

“You didn’t ask.”

She smiled. “Thanks for being a good friend, but I’ll be fine. I don’t know how long I’ll be.”

“Call me when you’re done then.”

“I will.” She shrugged off his arm. “Don’t worry about me.”

He didn’t think she was fine on a good day, and today was far from that. She almost felt a pang of regret for putting him in this position, but it disappeared quickly.

Bryna entered the hotel and took the elevator up to Jude’s room. Her hands were shaking when she reached his door. She took a few deep breaths until her body was calm and relaxed once more.

She repeated the mantra in her mind that had so often calmed her before, I am queen. I am queen. I am queen.

She knocked.

Someone shuffled around inside the room, and then the door was opening. She’d thought she was prepared. She’d thought this wouldn’t affect her like earlier when she hadn’t expected him. She had been wrong.

The breath whooshed out of her lungs at the sight of him. God, he’s beautiful. Up close, words didn’t do him justice. Dark hair, all-knowing dark eyes, those lips, that jaw—it was too much. He looked perfect in a suit. His tie was missing, and the top button had been undone. Her stomach fluttered.

She would not break. She could do this.

“Bri,” he said. He seemed to taste her name on his tongue.

She wished it had made her cringe, but it only drew her in.

She was f*cked.

“Come on in.”

He opened the door wide, and she entered his suite. It was modest for his tastes, but she suspected he would only be here for the night. He would have gone more extravagant if he had to actually spend any time in the hotel. He clearly hadn’t been expecting visitors. He was a man of many pleasures and liked to showcase them.

“I knew you’d come.”

He walked up behind her. She could feel his presence so close to her. She forced herself to remain still. She was not intimidated.

“I’ve heard that before,” she said coyly.

He laughed lightly in her ear. She felt powerless in that moment, pulled into his enthrallment. She both loved and hated the feeling. This was why she had gotten with Hugh in the first place. She wanted the power. She could have her own exhilarating moments without the inevitable destruction that could follow.