Page 129 of The Sun and Her Star

I run a hand through my hair and wish I could pull it out strand by strand. Who cares about my fucking endorsement deals? Why thefuckam I here when my woman is out there somewhere looking for me? I didn’t get her back just to lose her because I’m worried about contracts. I’m not a brand. I’m aman,and right now I want to check on the people I love. My woman. My fucking friends.

I’m done with this.

“Hey, Jenn… You guys go wi—”

“You and your crazy girlfriend are going to owe me a vacation in Bora Bora by the time this week is over.” Dean reconnects to the call with a bone-weary sigh.

“Apollo?” Alarms burst in my chest like a grenade and I shoot to my feet. I hit the power button on my phone. “What do you mean?”

“She’s been arrested,” he deadpans.

The world stops.

“Be serious,” I say. There is no way that’s right.

“Do you think I would make a joke right now? She’s at the ninth precinct. She was arrested for malicious destruction of property and third-degree assault.”

My knees buckle. I fall back into my chair. This can’t be happening.

“She just got back to New York City. How the hell was she arrested for that in the last hour?” I ask dazedly.

“Well, apparently it’s all on video. She and another woman went to Nanette’s hotel. With a fucking baseball bat,” he says.

My stomach plummets to my toes and then shoots back up, and I bend at the waist, my head between my knees.

Jenn gasps. “Oh, dear Lord, what happened?”

“Well, Apollo smashed a table or ten chasing Nanette all over the hotel’s restaurant. The friend broke Nanette’s nose. With her fist.”

Jenn gasps again. I can’t seem to catch my breath.

Dean rolls right on. “I don’t know how they knew where she was. But those charges are serious. They all carry minimum sentences that include jail time. I’ve sent a criminal lawyer over. He’s one of the best. I’ll make sure he sendsyouthe bill.”

“Over where?”

“Huh?”

“You said you sent a lawyer over there. Where?” I demand, my impatience peaking.

“They’re at the ninth precinct. Being booked. Graham, I know you’re going to want to go there. I advise you very strongly not to. The lawyer will see them through arraignment and booking. They’ll get bail. You should just sit tight until she’s out. If you go there now, it will turn into a media circus. Your usual baseball cap and casual clothes disguise won’t be enough. People will be looking for you. Please. Just trust me to handle this and get Apollo out as quickly and safely as possible.”

“Noted.” I hang up and stride toward the elevator. I look down at my phone while I wait

My notifications are going crazy. I ignore all of them and call home.

By the time I get out of the elevator, I’ve pulled my hair up and tucked into my jacket. I book it to the Duane Reed on Madison Avenue at Forty-Second and grab what I need off the shelves and duck into their bathroom.

When I’m done, I stop to pay for the things I bought and dump the shopping bags full of my hair into the trash.

When I step out into the street, no one spares me a second glance. I hail a cab and give it the precinct’s East Village address and start reading my texts.

I open the texts from the unknown number next.

“This is Lucas. Apollo has gone crazy. She’s trying to kill Nanette.”

His next text is less than five minutes later.

“Apollo is being handcuffed. Hope you’re happy.”

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