“Fifty-thousand dollars!” she blurts, a feral hunger in her eyes. “And that’s a bargain, considering you stole my inheritance out from under me like a common thief. I don’t know what you said to my mother to make her change things in your favor, but I wouldn’t get too used to that money — your father and I are contesting the will. She was a sick woman, and you took shameful advantage of her.”
My spine stiffens. “I didn’t do a thing except love her. Gran left her estate to me because she loved me, too.”
“How could anyone loveyou?” she seethes.
I flinch, despite myself.
“Enough!” Ryder barks. “Get her out of here.”
Linden and York strong-arm her away without another beat of hesitation. She struggles this time, turning to lock eyes with me before they drag her into the crowd, out of my life.
“You should’ve dealt with me, Felicity.” Her grin is chilling. “Now you’ll have to deal with him.”
Long after she disappears from sight, the words ring in my ears.
* * *
Carly passesme a cup of chamomile tea. The whole band is gathered in the bus’s small galley kitchen and dining area, eerily silent as they watch me take a scalding sip. The only sound is the slight rumble of the bus beneath us as we careen down the highway through the dark night. I’m feeling steadier with each passing mile we put between us and LA.
“You can all stop hovering,” I murmur. “I’m not going to fall apart or skip out on the tour.”
I’m done running.
Surprisingly, it’s Lincoln who breaks the silence. “We’re not here because we’re worried you’ll abandon ship, Felicity. We’re here because when your friends are in a rough spot, you show up.”
My smile is soft but warm. “Thanks, Linc.”
“No thanks necessary.” He shrugs, pushes to his feet, and heads to the back of the bus, where six luxury bunk beds line the walls. “On that note, I’m gonna crash. And when we wake up — viva Las Vegas, bitches.”
He winks and disappears down the hall.
Aiden starts to follow, but something stops him. There’s an unreadable expression on his face as he turns and stalks in my direction. My eyes, wide from his abrupt change of course, go even wider when he leans down and plants an unexpected kiss on my forehead.
“Tomorrow will be better,” he says simply.
My eyes are smarting as he walks away, leaving me alone in the kitchen with Carly and Ryder. The former, seated on the plush leather couch beside me, is worriedly gnawing on her lip. The latter, leaning against the wall, looks lost in thoughts I can’t begin to decipher.
“We should all get some sleep.” I set down my mug and rise to my feet. “I need to change out of this dress and wipe this makeup off my face.”
Carly jumps up. “Let me help you.”
“Carly, I’mfine.”
“I never said you weren’t.”
“You didn’t say it, but you’re treating me like I’m made of glass. I’m not going to break. I’ve been putting myself to bed since I was four. I’ll manage just fine without your assistance.”
“Honey—”
“I don’t want to talk about this anymore, okay?” My eyes press closed. “I just want to crawl into bed and forget it happened.”
She doesn’t say a word. She just leans in and wraps me up in a warm hug.
“What was that for?” I ask when we break apart.
“I need a reason to hug my best friend?”
I laugh lightly. “I guess not.”