“I just want my bed.”
Creighton’s expression shifts into something unreadable. “I’m afraid that’s not possible.”
“What?” I choke out after swallowing down a gulp of water.
“I couldn’t take you back to New York. The paparazzi are going to eat you alive after your little Twitter stunt.”
So I’m being stashed somewhere again. “Where are we?” My brain flips through the possibilities. “Nashville?”
Creighton shakes his head. “No. There are way too many paparazzi in Nashville these days. But you’re close.”
I come up blank. I don’t know any other places in Tennessee.
“Where?”
“Kentucky.”
Kentucky? It might as well be another foreign country for as familiar as I am with it.
“Why?”
“Because we’ve kept up Holly’s grandma’s house and it’s vacant. No one is going to come looking for you here unless you blast out your location to the press.” His expression hardens when he adds, “Which you better not do.”
“I’m sorry, I—”
“Didn’t think before you acted. I’m getting that loud and clear. I’ve also watched stock prices fall by three percent in the last two hours.” Creighton crosses his arms over his chest. “You’re an adult. A professional. When are you going to realize that your actions have consequences? Your money is at stake here too, Greer. You’re losing millions with every stunt you pull.”
“I’m not trying to pull stunts—”
“And yet you are. I don’t know what the hell happened to the sister who was worried more about her job than her social media accounts, but when you find her, let her know I’m waiting for her to make an appearance.”
It’s a low blow, and Creighton knows it.
“Maybe I decided it was time to start living? Maybe I realized that work isn’t the only thing I have to look forward to in life.”
“Then fucking act like a responsible adult. I have a pregnant wife and a multi-billion-dollar empire to run, and I can’t keep chasing after you to clean up your messes.”
Ouch. Another direct hit.
“Look, I’m sorry. This . . . hasn’t been the most normal time in my life. Everything shifted and I can’t keep a grip on it.”
“Then how about you lay off the booze while you’re plotting world domination with Banner. That’d be a start.”
I nod. I have nothing further to say because he’s right. I’ve fucked up royally, and I have no explanation for my actions other than emotional terrorism and alcohol.
“I’m sorry.”
“Come here.” Creighton pulls me in close and hugs me hard. “You’re my baby sister, and I want nothing but the best for you. We’re going to clean this up, and then we’ll find you some decent guy who isn’t going to cheat on you or lie to you. Maybe even someone you can build a life with. I know you’re looking for the same thing I was, Greer. Our childhood was fucked. Our sense of family was completely screwed up. But when you find the right person, that shit all fades away and the future becomes a hell of a lot brighter.”
The idea of my brother finding me a guy straight up terrifies me, but I decide to keep my own counsel on this one. Besides, I don’t want to talk this close to his face because I just puked up a lot of vodka.
“Thank you,” I say instead, aiming my words at his chest. “Consider the stunts done, especially if you can get me to a bed where I can pass out for the rest of my natural-born life.”
Creighton squeezes me tighter before releasing me.
“You got it.”
Holly’s gran’s house is cute and welcoming, but I don’t spend much time poking around before I head up the creaking stairs and spot the bed Creighton directed me to. I climb under the covers fully clothed and force my brain to quiet. I just want sleep and to forget this entire day.
It can’t be real. None of it can be real.
“What the fuck do you mean, she’s not here?” My voice is low, humming with rage. I’m fresh off the jet and determined to find Greer and set things straight.
From the way his face pales, I’m scaring the shit out of the doorman, and I couldn’t care less.
“I mean that Ms. Karas hasn’t been in the building in several days. I’m under orders to keep collecting her mail and locking it up until further notice.”
Where the hell could she have gone? Or, the better question is—where the hell did her big brother stash her this time? To find an answer to that, I have to dig deeper than this doorman. I have more resources at my disposal than Creighton Karas gives me credit for, and it won’t take me long to find her.
I walk out of the building, heading for my past.