Page 262 of The Invite
“Why am I so broken, August?”
Tilting my head back, he asks, “Did you pass out?”
“No.”
“Did you slip away from me?”
I shake my head. In the past, I would’ve done both.
“Then you’re not broken, Nessa,” he softly but firmly says. “You’re getting stronger. On the days you don’t feel that, you lean on me. I’ll be your strength.”
Augustus is both to me.
My strengthandmy weakness.
CHAPTER – 66
Nessa
I stare at my flushed face in the bathroom mirror, worry and stress trickle into my brain. I’m on edge for an entirely different reason.
Augustus and I are about to meet the others to put our plan into motion. Thank God it’s night time and I’m wearing a mask because otherwise, my eyes would give everything away.
I need to stay alert yet my mind is diverted wondering if Michael and Arjun succeeded raiding the house. The skintight outfit didn’t allow me to bring the burner phone. For a minute, I was contemplating hiding it in my skirt, which I’m glad I didn’t. It would’ve taken less than a second for Augustus to catch it, earning me an interrogation I wasn’t prepared for.
Taking a deep breath, I push the worry to the back of my—
A flash of red snaps my attention to one of the stalls. The familiar helmet rests on the floor, visible through the short doors of the occupied stall.
Huntress.
She must be in there.
The line at her booth gave Augustus and Ace serious competition. I wouldn’t have minded if she had beat the boys in terms of popularity. Call me a feminist because I loved seeing her rock. Excited at being in close proximity with her, I wait to hopefully talk to her. Maybe get an autograph.
I tug another tissue paper from the dispenser just as I hear the flush and turn around.
The door cracks open.
“Hi, I’m…” I blink back in shock and stutter, “Scarlett?”
Oh my Gosh!
Scarlett is Huntress?
She does a double take, seeing me standing there. One second, we’re both staring at each other in stunned silence, the next I’m being slammed against the nearest wall with a hand against my throat.
“Scarlett,” I choke out. She’s freakishly strong.
Her eyes breathe fire as she glares at me. “You’re becoming the bane of my existence, Miss Davenport. Everywhere I go, you’re there.”
“Let…” I slap at her arm futilely. “Go!”
Her grip tightens, cutting off my air. “You will not breathe a word about this. Or I swear to God I’ll put every other threat in your life to shame. You’ve already stolen the only person who mattered to me. I have nothing left to lose. Do you understand?”
I nod slightly.
Squeezing me once, she lets go and storms out of the bathroom.
