Jaden (Jaded #3)(28)

I shook my head back. “Yes. I want you with me.”

“Rick, don’t let her go. This will be handled with the hotel only.”

Wait—what? The elevator doors opened, and we were led inside. As they slid closed, the guard holding onto me, Rick, pushed the lobby button. The office was on the main floor. I tucked that information to the back of my mind and asked, “You guys aren’t going to call the cops?”

He stared at me, but didn’t respond.

The other guard, Nelson, ignored me. He was staring straight ahead. Maria was on the other side of him, leaning against the wall. She was staring right at me.

I rolled my eyes. “Stuff your hostility. This had been coming for a while, and you know it.”

She shot back to her feet. “Stay away from Bryce! That’s what I know. He broke Lupe’s heart when he tossed her away for you.”

I frowned, confused for a moment. That’s right. She was angry with me because of him. This was about Corrigan to me. “Fast forward. That’s completely over between them. There’s no shot for her.”

As I said that, some of the flames from before awoke again. I remembered the press of his body against mine. The warmth, how he felt with his hands on my hips. His touch had been intimate. A tingle started again, remembering the hunger I always used to feel for him.

My throat became dry. Before I caught myself, I wet my lips, envisioning that almost-feral look in Bryce’s eyes again. It was there, but it had been banked for so long, but the stoic, no-nonsense Bryce was still there.

A sick laugh drew my attention from my thoughts. Maria was shaking her head as she smirked. “You’re the one with no shot. Lupe and him. It’s been destined. They’re supposed to be together.”

The guard’s hand tightened on my arm. “Enough! Stop talking, both of you.”

“No.”

Maria shot him a withering look as well.

Then the elevator doors slid open, and we were led into a hallway. I could hear sounds from the lobby growing clearer so I knew we were heading toward it, then our hallway intercepted another hallway and there it was. But my guard kept going forward. We were going past the main lobby.

That couldn’t happen.

I started to go for the lobby. Rick stopped and pulled me back. Maria looked confused, too.

I strained against his hold, but again, he jerked me back. “The office is this way.” He started forward, but I dug my heels in. My thoughts were swirling. I needed to break free from his hold.

“What are you doing?”

I still didn’t move.

“Look.” Rick shook his head at me. “We’ll handle this internally. I know both of you want to press charges against each other, but our boss is back there and will talk sense into both of your parties. This hotel does not allow scandals to happen.” As he was speaking, he was studying me, weighing the impact of his words. “I’m sure you don’t really want the police to be called.”

“He’s right,” Maria called out. Her guard and she were waiting for us farther down the hallway. “Think about this. You’re being an idiot. I’m heated too, but you’re wanted for murder. This can be dealt with quietly. You can press charges later, if you really want to.”

She was scared.

Her eyes were more focused. She was thinking clearly again, but so was I. I heard what she was saying. I heard what the guard was saying, too. They wanted this to go away, both parties. Maria and the hotel. This would hurt Guadalupe. That was Maria’s main concern now.

I needed the press. She did not.

I’d have to make a run for it, an abrupt break from his hold. I needed to do it, surprising him, or he wouldn’t let me go.

Maria saw my intention and shook her head. “What are you thinking? Think about your murder case.”

“I am.”

Then, with a quick prayer thought in my mind because I had no idea what consequences might come from this, I burst forward at a sprint. I tore from the guard’s hold and the chase was on.

CHAPTER TEN

There were two reporters by the front door. They were just inside the lobby and hiding in a back corner. A fountain and a row of trees were helping to cover them so the staff wouldn’t kick them out. There wasn’t much to identify them. One was dressed in business pants and a professional looking silk shirt, while the other had on a business skirt, a similar shirt as the other one. It was in how they were made up. Their makeup was flawless, but heavy enough to be noticed in person. Not on camera. On camera, they would’ve looked perfect. Their hair was also styled to frame their faces, but there was enough volume added to their hair to make it known it wasn’t holding up by itself. There were also two guys behind each of them, dressed in other clothes, clothes that weren’t meant to be seen on camera, but to be comfortable off camera. I didn’t know where their cameras were, but the fountain and row of trees were probably hiding those as well.

I made sure to sprint right past them, and as I did, I heard their gasps. One said, “That’s Sheldon Jeneve!” I heard them scrambling, but I went to the front desk. I got their attention; that’s all I wanted. Once at the front desk, I stopped. One moment. One breath. I had no idea what would happen after this, but I held onto the front desk as my knees buckled, whatever would happen—was going to happen.

I raised my head up. I was going to make this count.