Chapter 22
My head is pounding from a long night of little sleep and spent emotion.
I don’t regret my decision to reassign Ella, but it still hurts. I want to call her, but I know it will only make it worse. I need to give us both time. At least, that’s what I tell myself.
“You set up the extra surveillance?” I ask Gray through the phone, stuffing breakfast in my mouth and trying not to think too much about the lack of texts from Owen.
“Yup. All done. I have your comm, and I’ll be at the bar. Backup will be right outside.”
“Good.”
Though I know everyone is prepared, I still can’t help the sinking feeling in my gut. It’s like I’m missing some significant piece to the puzzle.
“You’re covered, Nova. Don’t worry. Nothing will slip by me.”
“I know. I know. But I have this feeling that something's not quite right. I can’t shake it.”
“You’ve always had great instincts, but don’t let your trial make you suddenly question yourself.”
Is that what I’m doing? Is this assignment going to shit because I don’t trust myself? Or is my gut correct in telling me I’m missing something?
I don’t voice the questions and thoughts rolling through my head, but I do admit something to Gray, needing to tell someone. Someone has to be on my side. “I haven’t told Dec yet, but technically Owen fired me. This is supposed to be my last night.”
“Shit, Nova. But you don’t have the evidence, do you?”
“No. I’m going to get it tonight, though. I have to.”
There’s a long silence on the other end.
“Gray?” I ask, concerned.
“You should tell Dec.”
Oh. Of course. I should have known he didn’t really trust my judgment after what happened in Italy, even if he said the opposite.
“I’m about to call him. Don’t worry.”
“I trust you, Nova, but I’m concerned about the trial. This assignment has to be by the books.”
“I know.”
His career is on the line, too, and I feel like shit for what I’m about to do, but hopefully by sinking myself, he can further throw me under the bus and blame me for everything. He doesn’t even have to accuse me. It is me. All of it is my fault. Hopefully, the judge will see that.
Gray pulls me out of my thoughts. “Niki will be by with your comm later today. I’ll see you at the gala.”
“Yeah, ok. See you there.”
When he hangs up, I slam my fist into the wall next to the fridge. The sheetrock shatters and pain spreads across my knuckles.
I feel the blood—I reopened the scabs on my knuckles, but I can’t seem to find the energy to care.
It’s so much less than I deserve.
“Red. I’m shocked,” Jax says with a smile when I open the door later that evening.
“Don’t be a dick,” Evan says, pushing past both of us. “You look stunning, Nova. You always do. I hold to my previous opinion. You’re definitely the only girl I’d fuck.”
Jax feigns surprise. “I’m sure that’s meant to be a compliment, but somehow it doesn't sound like one.”
I offer a small smile. Evan’s comment was one-hundred percent in jest.
Evan waves off Jax and motions for me to spin around so he can get a good look at my dress.
Jax is right, though. Red seems to be the only color that I wear other than black.
I chose a tight-fitting, satin, red dress with a plunging neckline and a low back.
It falls to the floor and has a thigh-high slit on the right side.
Aside from the cut, it is relatively simple.
When I make a complete turn, I find Evan scowling at me.
“What? Did I get something on it?” I ask, concerned.
Evan laughs. “No. I was just thinking if you were going for subtle with that dress, you are going to be sorely disappointed.” I scrunch my nose, and Evan steps closer to flick it. “You look beautiful, Nova. Unfortunately, you could wear a T-shirt and people would still look at you.”
This time, I scowl, and it makes Evan howl with laughter.
“Ignore him. He’s just jealous there is someone who looks better than him,” Jax whispers in my ear.
“I heard that!” Evan hollers as he heads to the kitchen.
Jax chuckles, pulling me into a hug. “You didn’t tell me you fired Ella,” he whispers into my hair.
I pull away so I can observe his face. “I didn’t fire her. I reassigned her.”
Jax studies my face, and I push the emotion deeper into myself.
“She’s really upset,” he says.
“I know. I am too.”
“I don’t know much about your career, but I don’t want this to ruin your relationship with her.”
“I don’t either.”
“You need to call her.”
“I know. I will.” Jax gives me a knowing look, and I step back. “I promise. First thing tomorrow.”
Jax nods as Evan comes back in with champagne and three glasses. I give him a suspicious look.
“What? I’ve never been to such a fancy party. It calls for some champagne!” Evan beams as he pours us each a drink.
We clink our flutes, and Evan declares, “To the fiercest woman I know.”
“And the only woman you know,” Jax adds with a bit of mischief.
Evan glares at Jax but yanks him into a fierce kiss.
“Let’s go. The limo is waiting,” I say when they finally pull away from each other.
The men both down their champagne in one large sip, and I place my mostly full glass on the counter. With what I might have to do tonight, the alcohol would only hinder my ability.
Evan and Jax don’t say a word as we make our way to the limo, but Evan is practically exploding with excitement, and I can’t help but soak up some of it myself. Even though this is my last night as Owen’s assistant.
And possibly my last night as a CIA agent.
We make it to the Cal Academy of Sciences and wait in a long line of fancy cars unloading their rich guests on a red carpet. There’s a wide staircase that leads to many glass doors at the top. Cameras click all around us, trying to get photos of the rich and famous.
All the commotion, bright lights, and fancy people make me feel a little queasy. I may have always stood out and attracted attention, but this has never been my scene.
“We got you,” Jax says, likely noticing the look of anxiety on my face.
I nod, still a little anxious despite his reassurance, as the limo comes to a stop by the carpet and the driver gets out to open our door.
Evan and Jax exit first, and each holds out a hand for me. I grab onto them and let them lift me to my feet, snaking my arms through theirs as we walk together down the carpet.
Plastering on a fake smile, we pause for a set of pictures. I cross my fingers that these will be the only photos of the evening.
As we continue at a glacial pace, my anxiety rising again, I look up the stairs to find Owen at the top. He’s dressed in a tux that fits him like a second skin, and he’s looking at me as if I’m the only one made for him.
Shivering at the way his eyes pierce through me, Jax immediately catches on to my line of sight. He inclines his head in Owen’s direction, and Evan winks at him.
“Could you two be more obvious?” I grumble. “I feel like we’re at high school prom again.”
Jax and Evan both laugh, the sound easing my jitters a bit.
“He’s hard not to stare at,” Evan comments as we make our way up the stairs. The guests ahead of us stop to chat or take pictures, so our ascent is excruciatingly slow.
“So you’ve said,” I mumble.
“Too bad he only has eyes for you,” Jax comments.
“Shut it. Both of you,” I whisper at them. Only two groups now separate us from Owen.
Evan dramatically pretends to zip his lips, and Jax chuckles, his body vibrating against mine.
I smile despite it all. Somehow, their ridiculousness has calmed the pit in my stomach.
When the final group ahead of us disappears into the building, Owen’s voice is deep and low as he addresses me. “How come I’m not surprised you’re wearing red?”
“I guess I’m predictable.”
“May I?” he asks Jax and Evan, holding out his hand.
The two of them give each other a knowing look before shoving me toward Owen. The next thing I know, my hand is tucked into Owen’s elbow, and Jax and Evan are trailing behind us, arms locked and wide grins on their faces.
Owen leans down and whispers in my ear. “You were right.”
“About?”
“The venue. It’s the perfect spot, and the perfect surprise.”
I angle my head toward him and smile at the compliment. He pauses, and his green eyes lock onto my lips, which are painted the color of my dress.
“It is, isn’t it?” I don’t hide my smugness, and Owen's lips turn up, his dimple making an appearance.
“You know, brother, she’s soon to be mine.” Paker’s voice pulls us away from our silent trance, and Owen’s smile turns into a frown.
I’m taken aback for a moment. Owen must not have told Parker about firing me. But why?
“Where’s your date?” Owen growls.
“Parker’s slept with all the eligible women in the Bay Area, and no woman has come back for seconds.
” I hadn’t seen Noell come up beside us until those words stole everyone’s attention.
She is dressed in a plain black dress. The only eye-catching part of it is the low neckline that shows off her incredible chest.
Evan and Jax try to hide their chuckles at her comment, and I feign a yawn to cover my mouth.
“Pleasure, as always, Noell,” Parker drawls, though his eyes catch on her chest for a brief moment.
She waves him off and continues into the building without another word.
“I hate her,” Parker mumbles.
Owen laughs. “Because she’s right?”
Parker looks at his brother and flips him off. Owen ignores the gesture, and to my surprise, Parker takes my other arm. I’m now sandwiched between them. I almost miss Owen’s eye roll.
“I feel like Nova just upgraded her dates,” Evan interrupts far too loudly, but he doesn’t sound very disappointed.
Owen’s smirk returns at Evan’s comment, and Parker glances behind us.
In the chaos of the moment, I forgot to introduce Parker to Jax and Evan. I stop, halting our entire party right outside the doors to the venue.
“Evan and Jax, this is Parker, Owen’s brother. Parker, Jax is my oldest friend, and this is his boyfriend Evan, who has no filter, especially after an entire bottle of champagne in the limo.”