Page 20 of The Devil of Hollywood

“Again, I’m sorry for everything that happened. Have a nice life, Drayton.”

She turned, heading for Bastian as he took quick steps. I felt myself move forward just as he wrapped his arm around her and went to lead her away.

“I came to London.”

Marian jerked to a stop, spinning to face me.

“Every year for five years. I still come when I can. Did you ever wonder why they had you live in the same building you work in?”

Full lips parted, and Marian’s brow creased as she scanned my face. I knew that look. She was thinking. Analyzing.

“You’re impossible to reach. To see. To get ahold of. Thousands of rejected calls. I can’t even email you. Not even from fake accounts. They show undelivered every time. There are more guards on you than you probably even know. Where’s Elliot? He hasn’t been with you since you returned to the hotel this morning.”

Marian’s head turned to the end of the hall, only to come back to me. She was looking everywhere in-between.

“How do you know that?”

“Answer.”

Marian blinked through her thoughts. “He left a message on my phone. He had an emergency meeting after we returned. I promised him I wouldn’t leave the room. I lied, obviously.”

“And you haven’t heard from him since? Is that normal?”

Marian shifted. “Something must be wrong.”

“Or maybe he’s not worried since Bastian is here with all of his guards. Those two at his side. Please, they’re all for show. The real ones you can’t even see. I’m surprised we got as far as we did before they were alerted. The extremes everyone has taken to keep us apart would blow your mind. You don’t want a life with the Allards.”

“And you think she wants a life with you?” Bastian gave an incredulous laugh. “The Devil of Hollywood? You raped her. Of course they kept you away. You’re lucky you’re not rotting behind bars.”

“Stop it!” Marian’s voice echoed loudly in the hallway. “Enough of this. He didn’t rape me, Bastian. I already told you that. I’m going to my room. Away from both of you.” She turned to me. “Are you staying at this hotel?”

Perfect.

Fucking fate.

A confession…

“No. I’m at the Miami Blues.”

“Room number in case I want to call?”

“Twenty-two-twelve.” I took another step forward. “But do me a favor. I recently got a very special phone. I want you to try to call it first. If it doesn’t work, call the hotel.”

“What’s your number?”

My face hardened at the truth. “It’s the same number it’s always been, Marian. I never changed it. Not when there was a chance you might call someday. And you will call. We’re not over. We never were.”

Tears. They were back in her eyes as Bastian began pulling her away. She was questioning everything, and I loved it. Soon, Marian would be mine. She wouldn’t have a choice. I’d break her. She’d pay for destroying me and my family, and with the resources I had, there wasn’t anyone who could stop me.

Marian

This wasn’t happening. It couldn’t be right. My mind was spinning, and it was taking everything I had to make sense of what Penny was whispering.

“He saw me the moment Quinn and I entered the bar. Marian, he was already looking for you. I swear I didn’t tell him anything. Not even when he asked. But he knew Quinn. The look he gave him… that’s all it took for Bastian to rush from the room. Then… chaos.”

“What? What do you mean, chaos?”

“There were so many men and women. People who were eating just… stood, watching him with alarm. I think Drayton was telling the truth. It looked like a scene from a movie. People talking in earpieces. Hand signals. I didn’t know what to do but rush after Bastian.”