My throat became dry. Before I caught myself, I wet my lips, envisioning that almost-feral look in Bryce’s eyes again. It was there, but it had been banked for so long, but the stoic, no-nonsense Bryce was still there.

A sick laugh drew my attention from my thoughts. Maria was shaking her head as she smirked. “You’re the one with no shot. Lupe and him. It’s been destined. They’re supposed to be together.”

The guard’s hand tightened on my arm. “Enough! Stop talking, both of you.”

“No.”

Maria shot him a withering look as well.

Then the elevator doors slid open, and we were led into a hallway. I could hear sounds from the lobby growing clearer so I knew we were heading toward it, then our hallway intercepted another hallway and there it was. But my guard kept going forward. We were going past the main lobby.

That couldn’t happen.

I started to go for the lobby. Rick stopped and pulled me back. Maria looked confused, too.

I strained against his hold, but again, he jerked me back. “The office is this way.” He started forward, but I dug my heels in. My thoughts were swirling. I needed to break free from his hold.

“What are you doing?”

I still didn’t move.

“Look.” Rick shook his head at me. “We’ll handle this internally. I know both of you want to press charges against each other, but our boss is back there and will talk sense into both of your parties. This hotel does not allow scandals to happen.” As he was speaking, he was studying me, weighing the impact of his words. “I’m sure you don’t really want the police to be called.”

“He’s right,” Maria called out. Her guard and she were waiting for us farther down the hallway. “Think about this. You’re being an idiot. I’m heated too, but you’re wanted for murder. This can be dealt with quietly. You can press charges later, if you really want to.”

She was scared.

Her eyes were more focused. She was thinking clearly again, but so was I. I heard what she was saying. I heard what the guard was saying, too. They wanted this to go away, both parties. Maria and the hotel. This would hurt Guadalupe. That was Maria’s main concern now.

I needed the press. She did not.

I’d have to make a run for it, an abrupt break from his hold. I needed to do it, surprising him, or he wouldn’t let me go.

Maria saw my intention and shook her head. “What are you thinking? Think about your murder case.”

“I am.”

Then, with a quick prayer thought in my mind because I had no idea what consequences might come from this, I burst forward at a sprint. I tore from the guard’s hold and the chase was on.

CHAPTER TEN

There were two reporters by the front door. They were just inside the lobby and hiding in a back corner. A fountain and a row of trees were helping to cover them so the staff wouldn’t kick them out. There wasn’t much to identify them. One was dressed in business pants and a professional looking silk shirt, while the other had on a business skirt, a similar shirt as the other one. It was in how they were made up. Their makeup was flawless, but heavy enough to be noticed in person. Not on camera. On camera, they would’ve looked perfect. Their hair was also styled to frame their faces, but there was enough volume added to their hair to make it known it wasn’t holding up by itself. There were also two guys behind each of them, dressed in other clothes, clothes that weren’t meant to be seen on camera, but to be comfortable off camera. I didn’t know where their cameras were, but the fountain and row of trees were probably hiding those as well.

I made sure to sprint right past them, and as I did, I heard their gasps. One said, “That’s Sheldon Jeneve!” I heard them scrambling, but I went to the front desk. I got their attention; that’s all I wanted. Once at the front desk, I stopped. One moment. One breath. I had no idea what would happen after this, but I held onto the front desk as my knees buckled, whatever would happen—was going to happen.

I raised my head up. I was going to make this count.

“Miss?” The front desk clerk looked stunned.

“Sheldon!”

I turned. One of the reporters was coming right for me, and there was no hiding on her part. Her microphone was extended toward me, and the camera was perched on the guy’s shoulder behind her.

The front desk staff went into action then as well. “No press allowed.” The front desk clerk had gotten over her stunned spell. She pressed a button, then lifted her phone.

“Sheldon Jeneve, why are you here in this hotel?”

The second reporter asked, “Did you come with Bryce Scout or Denton Steele? Are you dating either of them?”

The front door slid open, and two more reporters ran inside. That was when the security guard, who’d been after me, cursed and veered for the front door instead. He grabbed one reporter and physically carried her back out. More guards were streaming into the lobby by then, along with other hotel staff.

Crap. They were going to snuff this before it even began. I had to talk quickly. I leaned into the closest microphone and looked straight at the camera.

A hush went through the room then. They were all waiting for me to speak. Not even the reporters dared make a sound.

A tickle started at the back of my neck, and I turned, pulled by some invisible force, and I saw Corrigan standing in a side hallway, just off the main walking ways in the hotel. He caught my gaze and a small, so tiny and ever so slight smirk formed as he nodded to me. That was his approval. He was giving me a nod of encouragement. I felt it, warming all of me, filling me up and tears threatened to spill. I blinked rapidly, holding them back, but then I saw Bryce appear beside Corrigan. They were both waiting in the shadows for me.

That was enough for me. Both of them there together.

I turned back around and spoke, closing my eyes and not giving a shit how ridiculous I looked. I was speaking from my heart.

I said, “I came here today for one reason, to confront the woman who cut my car’s brakes last spring. That incident was buried by the police department and ignored. It resulted in one of my best friends, who was driving the car, being put in the hospital—”

Light bulbs started flashing as I talked and someone asked from the side, “Can you give us a name?”

“Who cut your brake line?”

“Do you have proof the police covered it up?”