Merc looks so miserable. I’m seriously thinking about going up there and rescuing her. But then there’s a commotion, and all the cameras start swinging to the left as Asher Knight walks onto the red carpet.
“Asher! Asher, over here!”
He ignores all of them and instead walks up to a stunned Mercury. He whispers something in her ear, and she laughs and nods. Then, they turn together, and the cameras begin flashing.
“Did I miss something?” I ask, watching the two of them.
“What?” Pres looks at me, then at them. “Oh, no. Asher is just a family friend. He’s just being nice.”
I watch how Merc glances up at Asher. Mostly gratitude, for sure. But there’s something else there too. Longing, maybe? I would know, I guess. “You sure?”
“Yeah. I mean, Merc had a crush on him when she was younger, but she’s over it now. Besides, can you imagine her with a rock star like Asher? She’d never handle that kind of attention.”
Hendrix and Zara go next, and the camera goes crazy as the two make eyes at each other. “Your brother looks happy.”
She smiles. “I’m so glad he found Zara. Not just because she helped diagnose him so early, but because they’re so good together.”
I nod, understanding what she means. “They bring out the best in each other.”
She looks into my eyes. “Exactly.”
When it’s our moment to step into the spotlight, I do exactly what Hendrix told me to do. I focus on my wife.
I mimic Hendrix and stand slightly angled toward Pres with my hand on her hip. She beams up at me and then faces the cameras.
And then it’s over.
We head inside, where we’re ushered into a VIP room reserved for family and guests. Champagne and fancy hors d’oeuvres are being passed around. Lance is shaking hands with someone as Tilly beams with pride for her husband.
We barely step two feet inside when Hendrix grabs my arm and tries to pull me aside. But I raise a hand, halting him.
I turn to Pres. “Are you okay if I talk to Hen about this?”
She nods. “He already knows, thanks to that guy outside.”
I take her hand. “Doesn’t mean I have to discuss it with him, or anyone else, if you don’t want me to.”
She brushes her thumb over mine. “No, it’s okay. I think it’s time we stop hiding everything.”
My brow lifts. “Everything?”
She laughs. “Maybe we just start with this.”
She heads over to the bar with Zara while Hen and I find a quiet spot in the corner. His expression looks almost murderous by the time he finally speaks. A softie, Pres? Really? “Is that what that asshole did to her? A sex tape?” he hisses. “I thought you said it was taken care of.”
I scrub a hand down my face. “It was. It is,” I stress. “I don’t know how this guy knows. There are no rumors?—”
“He seemed to think there were.”
“There aren’t. Believe me. I hired a digital intel guy who’s been monitoring the internet since the day we filed the report. It’s been quiet.”
“And Jace is still in jail?”
“Yup. No one posted his bail after his arraignment, so he’s rotting in there until his trial. Our lawyer thinks she can get him at least three to five, even if he asks for a plea deal.”
“Good.” He pauses, then asks, “Does Pres know you’ve got a guy cyber stalking her?”
I scoff. “Of course she does. I don’t keep things from my wife.” He arches a brow. “Well, not those kinds of things.”
