Page 41 of Lethal Lover

He shrugs. “What, like this is really gonna be forever? Besides, it’s what you want anyway. Once we’re done, we’re done.”

Words catch in my throat because he’s right.

It really isn’t forever.

It’s just one more sham, one more cover, one more job to do.

The biggest one.

And I just complained to Alek that I wanted out of this stupid bullshit marriage, so why does it feel like a knife is stabbing my heart when Quinn says it?

My eyes narrow as he turns back to the table.

I don’t know. But I definitely don’t like it.

I tuck a stray strand of hair behind my ear, my gaze latching back on to the girls in the bachelorette party. More specifically, the bride.

A group of guys has wormed their way into the girls’ circle, and one is hovering very close to the bride-to-be. The water is no longer in her hand and she’s swaying left and right, teetering in her high heels. Her expression is vacant, her eyes fluttery. The others in the group seem oblivious to her, or they’re just completely plastered and zoned out.

A tall brunette guy snakes an arm around the bride’s waist. She collapses against him. He walks away from the girls and his friends, holding the bride tight.

My throat tightens. I want to scream but my mouth isn’t getting the signal from my brain. The guy practically has the bride in his arms at this point and finally, my mouth remembers how to form sounds. I shake Quinn’s arm and he groans.

“Damn, I just seven’d out.”

“I don’t know what that means, but I have to use the ladies’ room.” The words tumble out, laced with angst.

Quinn furrows his brows. “Hang on, I’ll come with you.”

I shake my head. “No, I’ll be fine. Remember? I’m always prepared.”

At least, I am now.

I wasn’t that night at the arena in Miami.

The night I lost Charly.

The night I failed her epically.

I can’t let it happen again. I can’t let something bad happen to another girl.

It isn’t something I can explain to Quinn. It’s just something I know I have to do.

Panic rages through me. I follow behind them, my heart pounding fast and hard. I round a corner, the ominous feeling clenching my gut.

He could be her fiancé for all I know.

Except she went from sober to damn near comatose in a hot second.

I bet he drugged her.

Pushing my way through the crowds of gamblers, I keep my eyes on their backs. And even if I wanted to call for help, there isn’t any security anywhere.

What the hell? How is there no security?

I pass by a bar and a huge fight, and I suddenly get where they all are.

The guy walks faster as he carries the girl out of the casino and toward a side entrance, away from people. I passed it earlier. There’s a short hallway that leads to a door around the side of the hotel, away from all the taxis, Ubers, and limos. He hooks a right and my leg muscles tense as I pick up the pace.

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