Jaden (Jaded #3)(30)

This was the hard part. Even thinking about that night, I felt tears welling up.

Screw it.

I let them fall. This was my heartfelt speech. I had to make it heartfelt all the way through. I couldn’t hold anything back now. “I was stubborn that night when Grace apologized to me. I told her it wasn’t enough, but the truth is that it was. It would’ve been. I really believe that Grace and I would’ve made things better. We might not have had the closeness we had before, but I would’ve tried. Grace was a genuine person who had lost her way. She realized that fact and she took responsibility for it. I don’t know who killed her. I know the police think I did, but I didn’t.” My voice trembled. “I loved Grace and to whoever did kill her.” I turned so I was looking directly into the camera. I hardened myself. I made sure my voice didn’t wobble. “To whoever killed her, I’m coming for you. I don’t know who you are, but I will find you. I. Will. Make. You. Pay. That’s my promise to you.”

As soon as I finished, a surge of adrenaline filled the frenzy. People started pushing to get closer, knowing I was leaving soon. I could feel their desperation.

“Sheldon,” someone murmured my name. It wasn’t a reporter. There wasn’t a hidden agenda attached to that voice. I looked up, reacting to the intimate concern I heard. It was Denton. The flashes were blinding, and he held a hand up to shield his eyes. He said to me as he tugged at my hand, “Come on. You said what you needed to say. We have to go.”

“Denton! Denton!”

“Sheldon, are you threatening the real killer? Are you going to get revenge for your friend’s murder?”

“Denton, are the two of you a romantic couple now?”

“What about Guadalupe? Is she still with Bryce Scout? Sheldon, what do you think of their relationship?”

“You said you were here to confront who cut your brake lines?”

Hearing that last question, I stopped. Denton stopped as well. We were halfway to where Bryce and Corrigan were. Seeing that I had paused, they started for us. They were going to flank me and pull me from the growing mob.

I saw the determination on both of their faces.

Turning, I looked in the direction of who asked that question. Realizing they had my attention, they called out again, “Did you? Who cut your brakes?”

Everyone held still, waiting for my answer.

I had no idea where Maria was, or Guadalupe. I knew they were furious with me, but I was just as furious with them. Guadalupe took Bryce from me. Her assistant tried to take me away, hurting Corrigan in the process.

Maria was obsessed with Guadalupe, but Guadalupe was obsessed with Bryce.

So I said, speaking my first lie in this whole twisted tragedy, “Guadalupe Ramirez cut the brake lines on my car. She did it because Bryce Scout was going to leave her to renew our relationship. She wanted to hurt me. She wanted me out of the way.”

Then I turned and ducked my head. Bryce froze beside me, but as I moved past him, he and Corrigan formed a wall around me. With Denton, all three of them hustled me from the main lobby. Security staff was waiting for us, and one guy clipped out, “What the hell was that?”

Denton shot back, “Just get us out here. She could be in danger.”

He jerked his head forward and began to lead the way. We were shown down a hallway, through the kitchen, and down into a basement hallway. I had no idea where we were going, but then we climbed stairs, and a set of doors were thrown open. The sun was harsh, and I squinted against it, trying to see where we were.

I had no idea.

We were behind a different building, one that I didn’t recognize from the hotel. A car was waiting for us, and we climbed inside. Before Denton closed the door, the head security stuck his head inside. He looked stern as he said, “I’m warning you. The hotel is not happy with the stunt you pulled in there.”

Denton reached for the door. “Shut it, Deacon. My team will deal with any ramifications your hotel might drum up.”

“So, that’s how it’s going to be?”

“She did nothing wrong. I doubt Maria will press charges and Sheldon only spoke her side.”

“She lied.”

Denton stopped, glared up at him, and said, “Prove it.” Then he shut the door. The guard jerked up out of the way. Once it was closed, Denton pressed a button and ordered, “Let’s go home.”

Corrigan asked, after we had traveled a few blocks in silence, “So, to recap this last venture, was it successful?”

I laughed, emotionally drained. “I put the assistant in a headlock.”

“You did?”

Bryce chuckled. “She did. It was ridiculous to watch.”

I grinned at him. “I was trying to distract her and Guadalupe so you could get her phone.”

Corrigan glanced over. “Did you?”

Bryce held my gaze for a moment. More had happened up there, but I didn’t want to talk about it. He nodded, understanding me even though I had no idea how he could know. He said, “Yes.” He pulled out a phone, but it wasn’t Guadalupe’s.

“I wanted you to get Guadalupe’s phone.”

“It wouldn’t have mattered. She doesn’t keep anything on it worthwhile to us. Maria’s, however, is a whole other story.” He pressed the screen and started to scroll through it. Then he handed it over to me. Right there, on the screen, in black and bold letters was a text from her to Guadalupe. I smiled. I couldn’t hold it back, and it stretched from ear to ear.