Page 63 of The Billionaire’s Fake Fiancée
When I hesitate, he adds unnecessarily, "From India."
A shiver runs down my spine, and the hair on my forearms stand on end. Fear grips my heart. I don't want to take the call.
But I know I must.
I have to find out who's on the other end.
I take a step, almost stumble.
Eric steadies me, but I brush off his helping hand. I can't take my eyes off the phone the concierge is holding out. Walking toward it, I take it, holding it to my ear as if it's about to bite me any minute.
As I listen to the voice on the other end, I know my life is going to change forever.
I need to leave for Bombay on the next available flight.
31
Jace
* * *
Later that than evening, returning from the stag party, Jace walks up the garden path leading to the hotel. Stumbling over the uneven ground he sprawls. Face down. For a second, he lies there groaning, his arms spread out, hugging the paved stones. Then, the sound of footsteps grows closer, and he's being rolled over.
Eric's anxious face looms over him. "You okay?"
When Jace doesn't reply, Eric hauls him up to his feet, supporting him with an arm around his shoulders. Jace leans on Eric, who staggers under his weight.
The world swims around Jace, and he groans aloud. "Fuck."
"Yeah. Should have thought of that before you chugged down most of that bottle of whiskey," Eric replies, amused.
"Whiskey?" Jace sounds befuddled.
"You didn't even taste it, did you?” Eric says his voice angry yet controlled. "Glugged it down like it was going out of style. It was single malt. Thirty years aged," he says in an exaggeratedly sad tone. "What a waste."
"There'll be more." Jace shrugs, his tone careless.
He stumbles, almost falls again as Eric flings off his arm from around his shoulder. He stands facing Jace, arms clenched at his side.
Jace looks at him curiously. What had set Eric off now?
Jace sways a little on his feet and reaches out to clutch at Eric again.
Eric moves out of his grasp.
"So easy for you to say that." Eric's voice is tight. "Easy come, easy go. Isn't that what you believe in, Jace?"
Something in Eric's eyes makes Jace take a step back, but he's not fast enough. Eric catches him with a swing to his face that has Jace's head snapping back.
"Fuck." Jace gasps aloud. The shock from the hit ripples down his back and sets off an immediate pounding behind his eyes. Before Jace can recover, Eric punches him in the side.
Jace bends over, the breath whooshing out of him.
Eric swings again, grabs Jace around the neck.
"What the fuck's wrong with you?" Jace snarls.
Eric doesn't reply. Just squeezes the arm clamped around Jace's neck.
