Broken Trust(Devastation Duet #2) - Winter Paige Page 0,22

this together!” I fume. “Why am I being left out of the fucking loop?”

“Why, Costin? Why?” He stomps over to me. “Because you can’t see clearly when she is involved. How many times have I had to tell you this? How many times do you have to be told to take a fucking step back? I heard about what happened when we left her with you. Are you trying to get yourself killed? Are you that stubborn that you can’t let someone else take care of her?”

“No, Abel, I’m not that stubborn, I love her that much. Every time I step back, she gets hurt. I want to wrap her up, take her away from all of this shit, and never fucking look back.”

Deflating, Abel places a hand on my shoulder. “I know you love her, man. You know that isn’t an option right now though, right? She can’t… she won’t walk away. She needs this closure, and Andrew will never let her go. Not to mention we don’t even know who the other enemy is yet. You really want to spend the rest of your lives looking over your shoulders?”

“She really needs this?”

“She does, Costin. We can help her, or we can watch her burn. I am done just watching,” he huffs. “What about you?”

I nod.

“So play the part, Costin.” He walks to the door, calling out to the cleaners. Turning back, he adds, “Worry about the rest later. You have waited this long for her. What’s another few months?”

An eternity when I have to watch her with someone else.

“Uh, Costin? Seems we have a situation. We need to roll.” Abel pokes his head back into the room.

“What? She okay?”

“Ummm, well. Depends,” he says with a grimace.

“Depends? On what?” I look over his shoulder at his cell. “Fuck.”

“Yeah, seems the media found E at the bridal shop, and they are clearly hashtag team Jonah. Let’s roll.” Abel storms from the room, shaking his head. “She couldn’t have picked some nobody to play around with?”

“Princess never does anything small, Abel.” Never.

Eliana

Spinning slowly in a beautiful off-the-shoulder, lace, mermaid, Vera Wang gown, I smile when I hear Jaxx’s quick intake of breath.

“You quite literally took my breath away, baby.”

“You like it?”

“You look stunning, Eliana.” He walks up to me, holding out a hand to help me down from the pedestal.

“It is lovely, isn’t it?” I reach for his hand but gasp when he swoops me up in his arms, spinning me.

“Yes, you are.” He laughs, “We’ll- what the fuck?!”

We turn and are suddenly bombarded with cameras and yelling.

“Eliana, who is this?” one man yells.

“Eliana, where is Jonah? Are you eloping? When is the wedding?” a women shouts from the back.

“You bitch, he’s mine!” A girl shouts from the door.

“Fucking hell.” Jaxx curses, pulling me into the back room.

“I’ve called the police; they’re pulling up out front now. The photographers were sticking to the sidewalk, but when they realized you two had come in here, they pushed through. Sorry, I didn’t want to ruin your day.” The clerk approaches us, handing me my clothes. “You can change in my office. I’m afraid the whole world will have seen you in your dress soon, though.”

“Fantastic.” I walk into the office and lock the door, quickly changing back into my Gucci dress and Louboutin heels, and head back out to Jaxx.

“Costin and Abel are here, baby. They had the car brought around back and are going to help get you out of here. Head down, and walk fast, okay? I would carry you, but-” He shrugs.

“Yeah, no. I can walk just fine.” I force a smile. “It’s not my first rodeo.”

“Let’s do this then. Ma’am, have the dress delivered to the address I gave you. We have other plans for the evening.” Jaxx hands her a tip, and we quickly make our way to the employee entrance. When we step out, Abel and Costin are immediately at my side.

“We’ve gotcha, Princess.” Costin places a coat over my head, and the guys surround me, walking quickly to the waiting car. I flinch with each flash but make it in one piece.

“Well, that sucked.” I pout, sitting in the limo, looking at three smirking men. “What?”

“You are the one who decided on the rock star.” Abel laughs.

“You are all garbage humans. Truly.” I laugh, flipping them off as we pull away, and then hold out my hand. “Give me your phone, Abel.”

“Better idea.” Jaxx hands over a phone. “Yours. Try not to put this one in