Unbreakable (City Lights, #2)(111)

I could hardly breathe for what I was hearing. Everything was crashing down and I could do nothing—nothing—to stop it.

“Georgia, don’t do this,” I said, my voice shaking. “You can’t do this. You can’t leave her. She’s a little girl. She’s your little girl.”

Georgia smiled sadly. “I never thought I’d be the kind of mother to leave my child. Never. But don’t you get it? It’s not the worst thing I could do.”

She drew near me, stroked my cheek. “And I’m leaving her in good hands. The best.”

I snatched her hand by the wrist, gripping hard. She glanced down at where my fingers dug into her skin. “Are you going to cause a scene? With threats and police and Callie waking up to the kind of shit they show on ‘COPS?’ Is that what you want?”

My grip loosened but didn’t let go, I couldn’t let her go. “She’ll think this is her fault. You know she will.” Tears blurred my vision, thickened in my throat. “Georgia, what am I going to tell her?”

She slipped her and out of mine and went to the door, opened it. “You’re a wonderful father, Cory. You’ll think of something.”

The door shut and another opened behind me.

“Daddy?”





Chapter Forty


Alex



I sat at the table in Craft, listening to a dozen conversations in the private room, which was beautiful and modern at the same time. The striped carpet, smoky glass walls, and rustic paneled ceiling surrounded us in warm caramel shades. The tables were set beautifully, with place cards resting on gleaming china, glowing candles flickered, and silver napkin rings engraved with Andrew and Alexandra, Forever in Love on the dinner plates as parting gifts.

I sat, surrounded by forty of my closest friends, colleagues, and Drew. My fiancé looked so handsome in his dark suit and red tie. He chatted and laughed with those around us, as waiters circulated pouring wine or offering cocktails and plates of cheese and marinated olives. We were waiting on some latecomers, including my parents, and then the party would begin in earnest. And there will be no going back.

I smoothed down my cocktail dress. It was a fire engine red Max Azria: sleeveless and satin and sexy. I had bought it several months ago and I could still remember thinking, on that day, that if this dress didn’t turn Drew’s head, nothing would. Nerves had tingled in my stomach when he’d arrived at my parents’ house to pick me up earlier that night.

He’d kissed my cheek and said, “You look stunning, as usual.”

A wonderful compliment, but I’d wanted his jaw to drop, his face to flush. I wanted to feel his breath in my ear with a whispered a promise to tear the dress off of me the moment we got home. Instead, he’d beamed sweetly, offered me his arm, and said nothing more.

I sighed now, and watched my bosses chat at the second of two tables set up for our guests. Jon caught my eye and held up a leather portfolio, cheekily wrapped in a bright red ribbon. I forced a smile for his sake and quickly looked away.

Drew patted my hand and went to chat with some EllisIntel people when Lilah arrived with her plus-one: a tall, incredibly handsome man with black hair and piercing blue eyes. Alex watched as Minnie’s jaw fell open and she nudged Antoinette beside her. The two of them stared as Lilah steadfastly ignored them, and took her seat opposite me.

“This is Matthew Cross,” she introduced her date. “Matthew, this is the lady of the hour.”

“A pleasure,” Matthew said smoothly, “and congratulations.” He kissed Lilah on the cheek. “Going to track down a cocktails.”

“Whiskey sour, thanks.”

Matthew looked inquiringly at me, but I declined. When he was gone, Lilah laughed at my expression. “He’s not a rental, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

“He seems like a gentleman. Work?”

“A conference in Santa Barbara, and yet he’s local. What are the odds?”

I forced another smile, thinking I didn’t have too many of those left in me. Lilah leaned in.

“Hey. Are you all right? You know, I still held out hope this shindig was going to be cancelled.”

“I should have,” I confessed, the words pouring out on a wave of panic that had been bottled up all night. “I can’t do this, Lilah. I can’t. With or without Cory, this feels wrong. I feel like a stranger among all these people. But it’s too late. We’re already here. So many people...What am I going to do?”

“Breathe, honey. Breathe. And it’s not too late. I’ll help you. You talk to Drew, and I’ll send everyone home. Whatever you want.”

My hands throttled the napkin in my lap, twisting and turning it. “I…”

A waiter approached and bent to speak in my ear. “There’s a Mr. Bishop outside to see you. He says it’s very urgent.”

My heart stopped and then took off at a gallop, like a startled horse. The napkin fell to the ground. I stared at Lilah. “He’s here.”

“Who? Cory?”

I nodded and got to my feet. I ignored the greetings and congratulations of my guests as I passed them—hardly heard them—as I made my way through the restaurant. I stepped out onto the sidewalk.

There was no one there.

My gaze darted about and found Cory’s truck in the valet line, and my father’s BMW just rolling up behind.