My heartbeat kicked up a notch.
He closed his eyes for a second, his eyebrows drawn together. “I want to kiss you again,” he whispered. “And I don’t know if it’s because I like you. Or because I want to make Rachel feel like I did when she kissed Matt. Or because you remind me of what Rachel was like when we first met. Before my world corrupted her. Or because I’m still mad at her. Or if it’s because you’re hurt. I don’t know why.” He opened his eyes and they bore into mine. “But I want to.”
I stared back at him. “Making a second mistake doesn’t right the first one.”
“Kissing you wasn’t a mistake, Brooklyn.”
Yes it was. “I was actually referring to Rachel kissing Matt.”
“You really think it was just one kiss?” he asked. “You really believe him?”
“I do.”
James’ eyes travelled back to my lips. “I don’t. I don’t trust a word out of his mouth. And I still want to kiss you.”
I knew he didn’t mean it. He was just hurting. “I think you’re just scared that Rachel doesn’t love you back anymore,” I said. I knew the feeling. I was currently worried that Matt wouldn’t love me back once I told him about Miller. “And maybe you think I could fix that feeling. But I can’t.”
“Maybe you could.”
I looked up at him. “I’m not going to kiss you again. But I won’t turn down a hug. I could really use one.”
He laughed. “Yeah. I can do that.” He pulled me into his arms. “You’re going to be okay, Brooklyn. I’ve got you. Everything is going to be okay.”
I didn’t know if anything would ever be okay again. A revenge kiss hadn’t made James feel any better. Would revenge against Isabella be just as bitter? I wasn’t sure if I cared if it was. I wanted her to feel the same way I had tonight. I wanted her to suffer.
“You’re safe now,” he whispered against my ear.
I wasn’t safe. I wasn’t sure I’d be safe unless Isabella died before she had a chance to kill me. But I wasn’t a murderer. I wasn’t her. So why did I so badly want her to die? I closed my eyes tight. I just wanted to wake up from this nightmare. I wanted to be back home with my mom. I wanted to rewind time.
A loud bang on the door made me jump. Oh God. What if Isabella had already found me?
Chapter 3
Saturday
I backed away from James and the door. “How did she find me?” It felt like my lungs wouldn’t inflate. Was Kennedy okay? Had Isabella already gotten rid of her? I can’t breathe.
James put his hands out like he was dealing with a crazy animal instead of me. “It’s probably just Mr. Pruitt, Brooklyn. The front desk said he would be right up.”
Whoever it was started knocking harder and I jumped.
“It’s okay,” James said.
It sounded like someone was hitting the door with a gun. “No, it’s her. James, don’t answer. Please just let me spend the night. Please.” I was gasping for air. I shouldn’t have let him call downstairs. Isabella had eyes and ears everywhere. She knew. She freaking knew.
He lowered his eyebrows. “Brooklyn, it’s okay.”
I tried to tighten my map around me, but instead it started to tear down the middle. Shit. I didn’t want to die half-naked in James’ hotel room. Everyone would actually remember me as a prostitute. I didn’t want that to be my legacy.
James moved toward the door.
“No! You can’t.” I couldn’t breathe.
He looked out the peephole. “It’s one of Mr. Pruitt’s bodyguards.”
Oh my God, it was probably Donnelley. Isabella must have sent him to finish me off. “Don’t answer it.”
“Brooklyn, you’re being ridiculous. He’s here to take you home.”
“I can’t go home! She’ll kill me!” How was he not getting this?
“It’s fine,” James said. And then he completely ignored my pleas and grabbed the door handle.
“Please, James. I’ll do whatever you want. Just don’t answer the door. I’ll kiss you, okay? Don’t answer the door and I’ll kiss you.”
“I’m not going to kiss you when you’re freaking out. Let’s put a pin in that for now.” He started to open the door.
Had he lost his damned mind? I would have run into the bathroom to hide if Rachel wasn’t already hiding out in there. So I did the first thing I could think of and ducked behind one of the curtains. My heart was beating so fast, I swore it was the only thing I could hear.
“Where is she?” said a deep voice.
Donnelley. I didn’t know him that well, but it sounded like him to me. Isabella had sent him to kill me. I threw my hand over my mouth so he wouldn’t hear me crying.
There was a long pause.
“I don’t know where she went,” James said. “She was right here a second ago. Brooklyn? It’s okay, you can come out."
Right into Donnelley’s trap? No freaking way. I felt behind me for the latch to the window, but I couldn’t find one. Wasn’t this a fire hazard? What kind of fancy hotel made their rooms death traps?
“Brooklyn,” Donnelley said. “You can come out. I’m not here to hurt you.”
Like hell you’re not. Why was he doing this? I let Isabella abandon me in that parking lot in part to keep his secret. I ran miles in my bra to protect him. And now he was going to kill me? Fuck this guy.
I could hear footsteps getting closer to my hiding spot.
No. No, no, no. I was too young to die. But I knew better than to believe that. Life could be cut short. And I was going to do my best to hold on a little longer. I tried to take a gulp of air and my throat made a squeaking noise. Crap.
The curtain flew open and Donnelley was standing there frowning at me with what I assumed was a murderous expression.
Not today. I did the first thing I could think of and threw my map at his face.
He yelled and I slipped past him.
“What are you doing?!” James yelled.
Donnelley lunged for me and I dodged him by hopping onto the bed.