Page 130 of Secrets (The Sins Trilogy 2)
Ryder comes up and slaps my shoulder. “Tony, my man!”
Instantly, I’m surrounded by Ryder’s sycophants, who all decide I must be congratulated, whether they know me or not, regardless of how they really feel about my engagement. I look at them and manage a smile. Ryder always had his share of groupies, but it’s gotten worse since he’s become a global star.
Over one of the men’s shoulders, I spot Jill. Finally!
She’s sipping a martini in a corner. She’s pretty, tall and lithe, with cropped hair the color of a brand-new penny. She’s in a tight blue satin dress, which fits her slim frame perfectly.
I gaze at her hard, hoping she notices the stare. She finally looks in my direction and mouths, I can wait.
Maybe she can, but I can’t. I’ve been patient for too damn long.
I make my way toward her at the speed of an anesthetized snail. Every couple of steps, somebody grabs my sleeve to congratulate me. I come to a lurching stop and am forced to smile and respond in kind, when I’d rather ignore them all and cut my way straight to Jill.
When I’m a few feet away from her, sudden gasps rise ahead of me. The crowd parts like a startled school of fish.
I see someone on the floor. A redhead.
Shit. Jill!
The martini glass she was drinking from lies shattered on the floor. She’s clutching her chest, her other hand a white-knuckled fist. She convulses, beads of sweat popping over her oddly pale face.
“Jill!” I say, rushing to her and kneeling by her side. “Jill!”
Her glassy eyes turn to me. She blinks a couple of times. “Tony…” A soft breath slips between her trembling lips.
“I’m right here.” I put a palm on her cheek. It’s cool and clammy. Something is very wrong.
From the look in her gaze, she knows that too. “Have to tell you…”
I lean closer until my ear is almost at her mouth.
“Careful… Your mother…” She gasps, and her whole body tightens. Her teeth clench. The pain and fear of death rip across her face like they did with Katherine all those years ago.
My gut makes the same old knots it did eighteen years ago. “Jesus. Somebody call 911!” I scream.
Jill isn’t breathing anymore. She’s too still. I start compressing her chest. She can’t die like this. No, no way. She’s going to live. She has to.
The muscles in my shoulders ache and my arms feel rubbery, but I keep going. I will her to live the way I willed Katherine. I am not having her die on me. I’m going to save her, and she’s going to be fine. She is not going to die. Not going to. Not!
The paramedics come. People pull me away. The EMTs do their thing and check Jill out. Try to revive her over and over again.
I watch, my heart in my throat.
But eventually, they shake their heads.
And I know I failed.
