A minute ago,I felt like I had lost everyone I’d ever gotten close to.But here’s Rex reminding me he won’t leave.It warms me through more than I can say.
Biting my lip, I shoot back a reply.
Me: Maybe I wanted you to take my last name
Sir: that can be arranged
Sir: Shall we hyphenate?
Despite myself,my lips curve into a smile.It’s just so ridiculous.
Sir: Roy-Ramos has a nice ring to it.
Me: NO
Me: we’re not changing our names.We’re not married
Sir: I have paperwork that says otherwise
Didhe really file for a marriage license?No.He has to be bluffing.
Me: get ready for the fastest divorce in history
I pocketmy phone before walking out the front doors of the precinct.
And all hell breaks loose.
10
Inara
The secondI step out of the police precinct, I’m hit with the flashes from a hundred cameras.
“Mrs.Roy!Mrs.Roy!”There’s a mob in front of me, reporters waving to catch my attention, and a row of TV cameras behind the line of photographers.“Inara, over here!”
Shit fuck!I hold up a hand to shield my eyes as another round of bright flashes explode in my face.
“Is it true you’re now married to Rex Roy?”someone shouts.
“When was the wedding?”
“How did you meet?”
Reporters push forward, microphones in hand.
“No comment,” I yell, but my shout is lost in the fray.I am seriously overwhelmed.The crowd surges, driving me back towards the doors.
A man with a camera around his neck presses close.He grabs my arm, and his disgusting breath hits my face.“How does he like to fuck you?”He looks manic and eager, and an oily sensation slides over my senses.I’m gagging, too overcome by his nauseating aura to call on my defensive moves to break his hold on me.
Before I can do anything, someone grabs him by the collar and tosses him aside.The blond twins push through the crowd to flank my sides.“This way,” one barks at me.We move forward as one, and if people don’t scramble out of our path fast enough, they get shoved to the side by one of the twins.One guy refuses to budge, and the twin on my right grabs the guy and tosses him into a bank of reporters without breaking stride.
They get me into the back of Ivan’s waiting car and guard the door until he pulls away from the curb.
“You okay?”Ivan asks.
“Fine,” I clip, too breathless to say much else.I can’t even wrap my head around what’s happening—my name was changed without my knowledge, and the press thinks we’re married.“I need to get to City Hall.The sooner, the better.”
Fortunately, Ivan doesn’t need an explanation.“Understood,” he says cheerfully while accelerating toward a group of cameramen who stand in the street, right in our way.A few of them scream and dive for the sidewalk.At the last second, Ivan jerks the car and swerves to keep from hitting them.
