Page 187 of Fame & Rhythm

“I’m pressing charges!”

“Do it!” I fire back.

“Annie, enough,” Danger cuts in, stepping between us.

The girl scrambles away and disappears from the VIP room.

My chest heaves as I run a hand through my hair, adrenaline still coursing through me. “She deserved it,” I mutter.

A hand grabs my arm, spinning me around.

Aston.

And he looks furious.

“What the hell was that?” he demands.

I swallow hard. “She was all over you.”

“So that gives you the right to attack her?”

“Shouldn’t you be glad I got her off you?”

His expression tightens. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means you didn’t exactly stop her straight away,” I snap.

His shoulders drop slightly, frustration replacing anger. “Annie… no. I didn’t want that.”

“You looked like you were enjoying it,” I push, the words tumbling out before I can stop them.

“Seriously? What is going on in your head right now?”

“You want Amber back, don’t you?” I blurt. “That’s why—”

“Annie.”

My voice cracks as everything spills out. “I’m n-never going to be enough for y-you.”

He pulls me into him instantly, arms locking around me.

I fight it. “Let me go—”

“For God’s sake, look at me,” Aston says, firm.

Something in his tone stops me, and I look up.

His grip softens slightly, but he doesn’t let me go. “You’re it for me,” he says, steady and certain. “I’m not going anywhere. That girl? She meant nothing. You mean everything.” My breathing starts to slow. “I love you. Always have.” His thumbs brush my cheeks, wiping away tears I hadn’t realized were falling. “I don’t want anyone else.”

I nod slowly, trying to ground myself. “I’m sorry,” I whisper.

“I know,” he says gently. “But you can’t react like that every time someone comes near me. That’s part of this life.”

“I know… it was the hair,” I admit. “All I saw was Amber.”

He winces slightly. “Hey… that’s not us anymore.”

I nod again. “Can we go back to the hotel?” I ask quietly.