in horror. “No, not you!” She closed her eyes. “That came out wrong. I just, well, you’ll see it in the news.” She opened her eyes, more tears falling.
“What?” Anger rushed me, and everything was beginning to make sense. It was an unfortunate side of fame, that had ruined reputations and careers with one click.
“What does he have on you?”
She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter.”
I ground my teeth, putting our foreheads together. “Tell me. I can make it go away.”
“Jet, please, you don’t know him. Aggravating him more will only ruin my career more.”
I thought for a moment, massaging her cheeks with my thumbs, then dropped my hands.
“Jet, what are you doing?” she asked, worry laced with her words.
I dug into my bag, finding clothes. “I’m going to make this right. Does he have files on you?”
Her jaw dropped, and I knew I was right.
Pulling my clothing on quickly, I went for my shoes, Regan rushing toward me, grabbing arm. “Jet, please. He has them everywhere, copies on desktops and USB ports, his phone, everywhere. Don’t go start anything. Don’t go get yourself hurt-”
I hushed her, holding two fingers to her lips. “You love me?”
She nodded, and I held her hand, bringing her wrist to my mouth, kissing it gently. “Let me help you.”
A frown marred her brow, and just as I went to let go of her hand, I noticed blue and purple marks her forearm. My eyes narrowed, and I held her arm out, examining the bruises in the shape fingers.
Pure rage consumed me. “He hurt you last night?!”
She swallowed, her gaze never meeting mine.
I dropped her hand and began stroking her cheeks again, reigning in my fury with all that I had. “Stay here,” I said through clenched teeth, kissing her roughly on the head.
“Jet, don’t!”
I swiped Regan’s phone from the table and shoved my shoes on, ignoring Regan’s pleas to stay with her.
There were some things you needed to do for the people you cared about, even if it was against their will.
Heading the stairway, I sent a text to Kyle as bait, and sure enough, he took it.
I’m sorry, I want to talk it out. Where are you?
Kyle: I knew you’d change your mind, Sweet Cheeks. I’m in the lobby restaurant.
I stormed down the stairs, two steps at a time, concocting my plan one calculated step at a time. Calling Calvin, he thankfully answered on the first ring.
“Oh, sweetheart, this is earlier than I expected. You ready for your broken heart mimosa?”
“It’s Jet,” I hushed. “Look, I need you to find Sebastian and tell him to call Hacker Hub, then tell him to meet me in the lobby.”
“What?” He cleared his throat, “where’s Regan?”
“Probably looking for me. Please, I need you to get Seb and tell him to call Hacker Hub. It’s for her.”
“Is she okay?”
“She will be.” I hung up, relying on my dismissal being a sign that he needed to take my request to heart.
Flinging open the exit door from the stairway, I raced down the hallway toward the lobby, spotting the brickhead holding his phone out in front of him while he scrolled. Jamming Regan’s phone into my pocket, I bypassed the hostess and tables of guests, yanking Kyle’s phone from his hand and chucking it into the wall, shattering it into pieces.
His chair came out from under him, his giant self furiously standing over me. “What the fuck!?”
I didn’t back down, standing toe-to-toe with him. “You ever lay a finger on her again, I swear to God, I’ll ruin you.”
“Did you have a sweet reunion?” he coaxed. ”Must not have gotten the job done, because she’s on her way here to beg me to take her back.”
I smirked, goading him. “That was me, Sweet Cheeks, I just got back from hearing how tiny your dick is.”
He scowled, his face reddening.
“Does it bother you that she picked me, a little Goth musician, over you? Someone who wears guyliner?”
“Fuck you,” he spat his fist clenching.
I eyed them, smiling. “I must have a bigger dick, or at least know how to use it.”
“Are you asking for an ass beating?”
“You mean how you get yours handed to you after every hockey game? How does it feel, knowing the only reason you got moved from the minors to the big league is because the coach's daughter loves your girlfriend? Or, ex-girlfriend. If I had to guess, your agent will be calling you the moment they find out you were dumped by the most successful female