Page 85 of Tattletale

“It was ridiculous and far-fetched and had so many plot holes.”

“Literally one of my favorite movies, but okay…”

“And I loved it so much because it made me feel close to you. I’m so sorry for wasting time being angry. I could’ve lost you.”

I stroke her cheek. “No more apologies, Cricket. You can’t lose me. I still love even the absolute worst version of you. Being angry doesn’t mean I’m done with you. Don’t you understand how my love works by now? You can hate me until it hurts; I’ll only love you harder. When I said I was ready, I meant it. Forever.”

She nods. “Thank you for saving me, even from myself.” She puts her hand flat against my chest.

I put my hand over hers, holding it tightly against my heart so she can feel the sturdy beats. “Come on. Let’s get out of here. Let’s go home.”

Cricket shakes her head. “I can’t. I want to, but I told Gabriel I just wanted to freshen up and make a call. I have to get back before he notices I left. The restaurant is a ten-minute cab ride from here.”

“You can’t tell him something came up?” I ask, really starting to get agitated with this guy.

“I’m going to get through the night, then go to Vesper tomorrow. Gabriel’s clean. Vienne’s off her fucking rocker. I’m done snooping around. There’s nothing to uncover here. My part of this assignment is over.”

“I don’t know, C. There might be more to the story. Vienne told me something disturbing tonight, but she asked me not to tell Vesper. It makes sense, but it also doesn’t. I don’t know who to trust.”

“I have no right to ask but…” Cricket rises on her tiptoes and kisses me on the cheek. She pauses for a moment to breathe me in. “Trust me.”

“I do,” I answer like a knee-jerk reaction.

“Brief me tomorrow?” she asks. “I’ll meet you at headquarters. We can figure it out together.”

“Okay. I’d drive you, but I got dropped off here myself.” I pull out my phone from my back pocket and turn it back on. “I’ll call you a ride.”

“So chivalrous. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome, sugar.” I wink at her.

She pinches her brows together. “What did you just call me?”

I cackle at the disgust in her tone. “The President of the United States gave me some advice tonight. He told me to never stop opening car doors for my lady. He and Vienne are a sweet couple, actually. He calls her sugar. I thought I’d try the nickname out on you. Swing and a miss,” I say distractedly as I try to navigate the rideshare app. It’s struggling to find our location.

“Sugar,” Cricket repeats with a shocked expression on her face.

“What’s wrong?” I study her conflicted expression.

“I don’t know. Maybe something…” She takes in a deep breath and places her hand on her hip. “Then again, maybe nothing. I’ll see what I can find out.”

TWENTY-FOUR

CRICKET

Traffic was nightmarish.After figuring out Lance was at Martinis, I got to him in a hurry, but getting back to the restaurant took three times as long. By the time I arrived, dinner was over and the cake had been served. President Baker left, as well as Gabriel. I purposely left the phone he texts me on behind, just in case he was tracking it.

Right now, I have no way of contacting him.

The phone Gabriel gave me has a special encryption system. He pops up as “Unknown” but I can still call and text him from that particular phone without knowing his actual number. He said it was a security measure for both of us. I’m more convinced it’s Gabriel’s way of staying in control of the situation. He decides how and when I can contact him. He decides when he can completely cut me off.

With no other options, I had to head back to The Crusader. The novelty of living in a fancy hotel has worn off. It’s been almost a month. I’m over it. I’m ready to move on—from the hurt, the heartbreak, and the devastating truth that I’ve spent the past ten years on a fool’s errand chasing down Luca. Revengeis not sweet. It’s dark and twisty. It’s poison in the veins. It starves me of air.

Lance breathes life right back into me. He loves me so much that he was willing to become my enemy if it meant saving me.That’s love.I walk to my room with a sleepy, sheepish smile on my face, the taste of Lance still in my mouth.I’m loved.

I pull my hotel key out of my clutch and press it against the censor, but instead of the little green light, I see an angry red dot flashing back at me. I try it three more times before I’m convinced I can’t fix this. I make my way down to the front desk to request a new key.

“Good evening. You look so lovely,” the front desk receptionist says. Her name tag reads Crystal. Her dark skin is beautifully smooth and flawless. She has her pitch-black hair tied into a short, neat ponytail. She’s the one who looks lovely, even in her hotel uniform. I glance down, having forgotten I was still in my formal attire. My designer dress has stains and streaks from being discarded on the dirty ground earlier this evening.

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