The Dragon's Fate - Roxie Ray Page 0,21

something happened to him. It seemed like he was dying or something.”

“Hang on.” She must’ve put her hand over the phone or something. I heard rustling, then Skye yelling, muffled through my earpiece. “Anthony! Have you talked to Jace?”

I couldn’t hear her boyfriend’s response, but she came back on the line a few seconds later. “He’s fine. Saw a doctor. Apparently, it’s anxiety.”

I gasped. “That makes perfect sense. Anxiety can mimic a heart attack and other things. It’s good that he knows what it is now.”

“Yeah, he’s fine now.” She still sounded so strange. Maybe I shouldn’t have joked so much about the whole cult thing.

“Skye,” I whispered. “Do you need help? Are you safe? If you need to be saved from the cult, cough three times.”

Her laughter seemed genuine enough. “I’m fine. There’s no cult. No blood sacrifices. I wish I could tell you the backstory with Jace and his anxiety but it’s not my story to tell. I won’t betray that confidence.”

I didn’t like the sound of that, but I wouldn’t put my friend in an awkward position on who to be loyal to, so I let it go.

Another week passed, and I never heard a word. I’d put my number in Jace’s phone but didn’t get his. The only way I was going to learn anything was by asking Skye, which I didn’t want to do after she’d acted weird. She might think I was totally into him.

But he’d said he’d let me know he was okay, and he hadn’t. It was rude.

I tried to put him out of my mind. He wasn’t my business or my concern. He’d been nice last Sunday when he’d seemed like he was dying, but before that he’d been nothing but a total jerk. Why did I care if he’d figured out his anxiety?

Lisa had called and asked if Hayden could have a sleepover with Tori, and I’d allowed it. There was no reason that Damon would know where they lived, and just to be safe, I took a long, circuitous route to take Hayden there. I hadn’t been followed. Lisa knew the drill anyway, and had promised to lock up tight and keep an ear out for anything strange.

On my way back home, I had to drive past Jace’s Place. I slowed down, just curious, and spotted Jace’s truck parked in the back, near the spot where Damon had confronted me.

So, he was at work. I looked down. I’d thrown on jeans and a pretty enough top and had actually slapped on a little makeup. I might as well go in and see if he had the nerve to say anything.

When my eyes adjusted to the dim interior of the bar, I spotted Kaylee. Jace was nowhere in sight, so I walked over to Kaylee, who was at the bar and looking like she wanted to punch someone. “What’s wrong?”

“You know me,” she said.

I nodded. “I do. Are you okay?”

“And do I have serious relationships?” she asked.

I raised my eyebrows. “How many have you had?” The bar wasn’t busy yet, but she seemed like she’d already been there a while.

“Just a few. Do I have serious relationships?”

“No. You don’t do strings.” It was something Kaylee made apparent from the get-go with all her suitors, of which there were many.

“One of my boyfriends is stepping out of line and wanting to be exclusive.”

I shrugged. “They’ve done that before.”

She snorted and sipped her drink. “It’s more than that. He asked me to stop filming my show.” She threw her head back, her elegant neck craning, and laughed. “He wants to take care of me,” she said with air quotes. Her laughter faded and she glared at me. “I don’t need taking care of!”

“I know you don’t. You’re the most independent woman I know.” I rubbed her arm. “Don’t let him get to you.”

“It’s not about the money,” she declared. “I love what I do. I’m good at it. It makes me powerful and makes me feel so good. I’m an entertainer; an actress in my way. This is more than a paycheck.”

“Hey.” I caught her attention and pushed Jace to the back of my mind. “If this guy doesn’t know all this already, then he’s not for you, is he?”

She clamped her lips shut. “No. He’s not.”

“He’s not good enough for you.”

She slammed her glass down on the bar. Thank goodness it was one of those with a thick bottom or it would’ve shattered. “No, he’s not good enough for me!”

“What’s your