AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I nodded. “I’m fine.”
She bit her lip and put a hand on Hugo’s back. “Amber, couldn’t you just delay it?”
Ronnie stiffened next to me. “No, she can’t.”
“It’s got fuck all to do with you.” Jimmy had spit forming at the corners of his mouth and his face was red with rage. “You lot have made your money.”
“Listen,” Beau said, stepping forward, edging in between the two men weaved intricately into my life. “This isn’t going to affect how much money you make. Amber’s already agreed to continue with the photo ops and appearances, just like Concepta asked.” His eyes were narrowed and there was an edge to his tone when he mentioned the record company.
“Why don’t we all just go back to our breakfasts,” Brandon suggested. “Maybe you and Amber can talk about it later when you—”
“No,” I said. “I don’t want to talk to talk about it.” I looked directly at Amelie. “And I don’t want to delay it either. I’ve made my decision. I’ve contacted my solicitor and I want a divorce.”
“Amber, why—”
Amelie tried to say but Ronnie cut her off.
“No, she’s made her choice.” He pointed at the members of the Blind Devil camp in turn. “And you lot need to fucking leave her alone. Now, go back to your breakfast and, Fox, you stay the fuck away.”
Ronnie, Beau, and Joey formed a line in front of me, guarding me, and the tears started to prick at my eyelashes. I’d never in my life had a man protect me, never mind three. It was so much more than I’d expected when I began being friends with Ronnie.
Jimmy breathed heavily and gave me a look of disgust, before turning around to walk away. Hugo and Brandon tried to put a hand on each of his shoulders, but he threw them off and strode out of the dining room. Amelie watched them go and turned to me.
“I know that you deserve to have a life without him,” she said, “but I think maybe your timing could have been better.”
She was the one who’d encouraged me. “Weren’t you the one who said I should go?”
“Leave him, yes, but divorce, Amber,” she said with a shake of her head. “Especially when you know the affect it can have on the rest of the band if he loses it.”
“He’s a total prick, how much worse can the stupid fucker get?” Joey said and then let out a laugh. “Actually, forget I said that. I obviously misjudged him.”
Chewing on my lip, the sadness I felt at Amelie was overpowering. It wasn’t only sadness but also disappointment. I knew her loyalty lay with Hugo, but she didn’t have to say it out loud. She could have tried to find it in herself to support something she’d urged me to do.
I swiped at the tear which was creeping down my cheek. “I’ve spent years with that man degrading me, Amelie, well no more. I think it’s clear that I need a fresh start, with more than just Jimmy.”
She shook her head. “I get you, Amber, I do, but you have to see ho—”
“Just leave it, Amelie,” Ronnie snapped. “You’ve made your point.” He turned to me. “Why don’t you go back to your room and order some room service.”
His eyes were soft and gentle and told me so much that his words didn’t. He was with me and would always be there for me, no matter what we were to each other. I nodded and swallowed hard as I left and made my way back to the lift. I didn’t know if Amelie was following but I did know our friendship was behind us. That thought was sadder than the end of my marriage, especially because it had evidently been a one-way thing. A lot like the vows I’d made with Jimmy.
CHAPTER35
RONNIE
Every damn interview or appearance that we’d done throughout the day seemed to have taken ages. Joey told me to fuck off at one point. He’d said if I couldn’t concentrate then he may as well be on his own. I did buck my ideas up for a little while, but it wasn’t long before my mind was back on Amber.
After what had happened at breakfast, I was worried about her being in her room alone with Fox prowling around the corridors of the fucking hotel. As soon as the last press junket ended I was out of there, leaving Joey rushing to catch me up to get in the car.
Finally, I was back at our hotel and banging on Amber’s door. Almost instantly she yanked it open and threw herself into my arms. Cautious about being seen I walked us back inside.
“What’s happened?” I asked. I tried to move out of her arms, but she was holding on tight. “Hey, what’s wrong? Did he come here?”
“No.” She sniffed. “I haven’t seen anyone since breakfast.”
“So, what’s wrong?”
I was finally able to move back and look at her face. It was tear-stained and pale. Not that she’d been able to smile much over the last few months, but it wasn’t the happy face thatI’dbecome used to.
