Page 150 of Triggered By Love
She tried to keep her face taut, like she’d been taught as a model, but the exuberant spirit, the pulsing music, and the high energy mood she’d set infused her with a rush of emotions and a sense of well-being she’d never experienced before.
She kept one foot in front of the other, trying not to trip up as her breath was snatched away by the magnificent night view from the sky deck. Lights up and down the grand Hudson River, the towers of lower Manhattan all the way up to the George Washington Bridge up north, and the dizzying heights at The Point.
Her love carried her away, and she threw up her hands, trailing streamers of silk. She snapped her head back, exposing her slender neck and puffed out her chest, giving her heart, and shouted, “I heart New York! I love you all.”
And then, she was on the center of the transparent triangle, walking on nothing but air, with tiny headlights on the street below and the twinkling stars above.
She prepared for the fireworks, but nothing happened. Confetti flew like snow flurries, blown by wind machines over the cheering crowd, and colorful spotlights crisscrossed the entire sky deck.
It was a laser show!
She’d done it.
Her models walked out and surrounded her, standing on the solid floor around the glass area.
“You did it, kid.” Jason handed her a mic and patted her back.
The laser show flashed to its grand finale, and the spotlight was trained on her. She waved at the guests who wanted her to make a speech. She wasn’t afraid. Her heart wasn’t flailing, and her vocal cords weren’t frozen.
She could do it. She did it. No more stage fright. No more anything-fright.
She took a deep breath, beaming at all the people around her, and she spoke.
“Thank you, everyone, from the bottom of my heart. We’ve made this show about heroes, in honor of Brando Bonet, but the real heroes are all of you—the people who serve, who protect, and who work and take care of our community. You all are the heroes whom I dedicate my Cocky Heroes line of clothing to. Thank you for making this evening at the Manhattan Fashion Show a walk on The Edge. I love you all.”
Chapter Forty-Nine
Jason hadno time to enjoy the aftermath of Avery’s show. He and Finn had to keep an eye on the after-party. Finn circulated out on the deck while Jason watched backstage.
Avery was so beautiful, dressed for the mid-summer night in a multicolored white sheath dress featuring speckled splashes of pinks, teals, and tangerines. Its stretchy fabric clung to her curves, and the well-tailored darts accentuated her breasts and slender waist.
He would rather stare after her, but he knew he’d be distracted by the back slit showing her shapely legs. He was so proud to see her strut down the steps and out onto The Triangle despite wearing a pair of fire-orange snakeskin stilettos.
Even though Avery’s show was a success, and so far, nothing had gone wrong—especially at her moment of glory dedicating the show to her beloved Brando—Jason had the nagging feeling he’d missed something.
“Have you touched base with Blade?” Finn asked through the earpiece. “Did he explain why he asked Trent to join us?”
“Blade says he knows Trent from his dance class.”
“Dance class?” Finn’s voice cracked with amusement. “In our day, we joined fight clubs. Tell me, do they shave their legs?”
“Yeah, well, he’s in a fight club, too, but he claims dancing lets him meet hot chicks,” Jason said. “Keep your eye on Blade. I’m watching Trent right now, and he’s talking to Ivanna and Saul. I have a bad feeling about those two.”
“Roger that,” Finn said. “Kerry is not leaving Avery’s side, and neither are Matt Swanson and Alida Adams.”
“Matt and Alida only want to bask in Avery’s spotlight,” Jason said. “As long as the killer isn’t after them, Avery should be safe.”
“Joan Bonet is with them, too,” Finn assured.
“Good. Let me see who else speaks to Trent, Ivanna, and Saul. At least the three of them are in one cluster where I can watch them.”
“Over and out,” Finn said.
Jason put his mic on mute and wandered toward the private cabana that Diamante Steele had vacated. It would give him a vantage point to watch without being seen.
The president’s daughter had been whisked away by Secret Service as soon as the show was over, and everyone got their cell phones back.
He checked his messages and saw he had a missed call from his college lab partner, Riley Jewell, who now worked at the crime scene lab.
