One of Jared’s bodyguards meets us downstairs, and we follow him along what appears to be a staff hallway. Several men and women wearing the signature black-and-white uniforms line the hallway to say hi and gawp at the famous rock star. A few inquisitive gazes are directed my way along with some hostile looks.
“I’m going to call Amanda, my publicist, in the morning,” Jared says, keeping his voice low as we approach the door. “She’ll issue a press release tomorrow confirming my broken engagement. I’ll call Toria and tell her about us.”
“Okay.” I heave out a sigh. “But I don’t want anything made public between you and I until after the baby is born. I don’t want to be portrayed as a home wrecker or be disrespectful to Vittoria.” She’s a selfish manipulative bitch, and I don’t like her, but I don’t want to embarrass her in front of the world’s media. She is still the mother of Jared’s child. The usual pain ruptures in my chest, but I’ll have to find a way to deal with it. My first therapy session this week went well, and I plan to attend weekly until I get a handle on my emotions. It hurts that the man I love is having a child with someone else, but I’ll get over it.
He wants me, not her.
And that little boy is half Jared. I know I’ll be able to love him because he shares my love’s DNA. With time, I’m confident I’ll be able to get past this, and then, hopefully, we’ll be able to have a child of our own. One that won’t be stolen from us this time.
The instant the bodyguard opens the rear door, all hell breaks loose. Flashes go off in my face as Jared yanks me into his body, pushing my head down to his chest and cradling me close as we fight a barrage of photographers who were clearly tipped off we were leaving.
I’m jostled and shoved as Jared fights his way through the heaving crowd. I keep my head pressed to his chest even though I can barely breathe, but I’m too terrified to move. The last thing I need is my face plastered all over the internet, but I doubt there’s any way to stop it from happening now. My breaths are oozing out in panicked spurts, and butterflies are running rampant in my chest. Blood pounds in my ears and rushes to my head, and I’m vaguely conscious I’m shivering all over.
“Fuck off,” Jared snaps, alternating that response with “No comment” as he’s bombarded with questions.
“Who’s the blonde, Jared?”
“Does Vittoria know you’re cheating on her?”
“Are you fucking both of them?”
“Is it true you’re in an open relationship?”
“Is she a groupie?”
“Do you share her with your bandmates?”
“I said fuck off,” Jared roars as I’m shoved into the back of a car. I keep my head down, too afraid to look up, as I hear an angry commotion outside. The seat bounces with the weight of a body, and then the sounds are muffled when two car doors slam violently shut. “Get us the fuck out of here,” Jared barks.
Hands reach for me as the car shoots forward, the driver keeping his hand pressed on the horn as he navigates away from the club. “Syd. Baby.” Jared gentles his voice as he lifts me up and onto his lap. “It’s okay. I’ve got you.” He holds me close, rubbing a soothing hand up and down my back.
I cling to him as I try to control my erratic heartbeat and calm my trembling limbs.
“I’m so sorry, babe. Some asshole tipped them off.”
“The alleyway was clear when I came inside to escort you, sir,” a man says, and I’m assuming it is the dark-haired bodyguard.
“They arrived seconds before you came out,” another man says, and he must be the driver. “I didn’t even have time to warn you.”
“It’s fine,” Jared says, sounding defeated. “There isn’t anything you could’ve done. We know the drill.” He dots kisses into my hair. “Put the privacy screen up,” he says, and a few seconds later, a soft whirring sound tickles my eardrums as the screen moves into place.
Wetting my dry lips, I lift my head from his chest and brush hair off my face. Worried eyes meet mine. “We shouldn’t have gone out. I’m so sorry, Sydney. I never wanted to put you in the line of fire. That club is well frequented by celebrities and known for their discretion. I have never had anything like that happen before in there. We thought it was the safest place to go.”
“It’s not your fault. You didn’t force me to go.” I knew the risks, and I still went out in public with him. It was a bad judgment call. and I’m the one who will pay the price. I slide off his lap now I’m calmer and strap myself into a seat belt.
“Does this change things?”
I peer into his troubled eyes as all the earlier euphoria completely disappears. “I want to say no because I know this comes with the territory, but that was scary shit, J. I’m not unaccustomed to the media, but that was a whole other level.”
“It’s why I wanted you to have a bodyguard.” His tone is soft, and it’s not a dig.
“I hate the thought of it. I hoped the extra security measures would be enough, but they only protect me at home.” After I agreed, Jared had guys over the following day installing my new gate, alarm system, exterior cameras, and the snazzy retracting fence. “It’s going to be a shit show. Everyone will think you’re cheating on Vittoria, and I’ll be blamed for your broken engagement. Fuck.” I bury my head in my hands, second-guessing myself all over again. How did I think I could do this?
“I’m sorry. What can I do?”
“I’m not sure there’s much you can do.” I lift my chin and eyeball him. “The damage is done now.”
“They might not have seen your face or be able to identify you.” He’s clutching at straws, and we both know it. If they got a clear pic of me, it won’t take long for them to figure out who I am. Jared sighs and scrubs his hands down his face.
