“I’m fine,” I reply. “But feel free to rat me out to Dan. We both know you’re always looking for an excuse to call my brother.” I flash a sarcastic smile.
Let her call. Maybe that will remind Dan that I exist. He hasn’t bothered to check in on me since I got here. Two minutes in Grandpa’s shadow and he is a changed man. Like a bot took control of his mind.
“You’re fine?Really?” She tilts her head. Her eyes flick down my arm. “Nice top. Isn’t it a bit… warm here forfull sleeves?”
My jaw tightens. I can’t believe she just said that. In front of Thea and Penny? Thea, quick as a whip, starts appraising me, one layer at a time.
“Leave me alone,” I grit out.
Grace opens her mouth, but then decides otherwise. She lets out a deep sigh and stomps off, clacking her stilettoes.
“What the actual hell?” Penny slaps the table with the authority of an officer demanding answers from a suspect. “How the hell do you knowGrace Cavendish?”
I groan, rubbing my forehead with my fingers. “Family friend,” I mutter.
They both stare at me, unsatisfied by my clipped response.
“Our mums are best friends. Technically, she’s my god-sister, but we aren’t that close. She’s a year older, and Mum loves her like she’s her first daughter…” I trail off when I catch Penny and Thea exchange a look, wearing deep frowns. “What?”
Penny pouts and starts pulling on the violet ends of her platinum hair, avoiding my eye. Thea clears her throat and turns to me.
“Penny is a big fan of Grace’s blog.” Thea gestures toward her. “I think she’d trade with you. Right, Pen?”
“Not if she’s a bitch to you.” Penny crosses her arms on the table and shrugs. “I’ll unfollow her tonight. Loyalty means everything to me.”
I giggle and shake my head. This girl is so strange. I didn’t know her a week ago, and she’s already swearing loyalties.
A bartender appears in front of us and plops an overflowing tray of cocktails on our table. I stare at him in question. He points at the group of guys, who grin at me from the bar. My cheeks burn, but I throw them a wave, holding up a mojito.
“Score!” Penny cheers, pulling the Bloody Marys andmargaritas toward her, then blows kisses at the guys, earning herself more grins and licked lips.
I stay in the booth with Thea and Penny, avoiding frequent scans from Jack and fake smiles from Londoners whose ingratiating flattery is no better than the locals’ detestable glares. They are only interested in me for my name. No thanks, I’ll stick to my two favorite people at Fort. Grateful that they haven’t kicked me out despite Jack’s relentless security checks. Yet.
As the night moves along, The Vault gets busier, and people keep flooding in large groups until midnight. Is the whole of Fort here tonight? Not that I’m complaining. The more the better. Every new addition allows me to shrink further—a brief deliverance. The deafening sound of chaos is exactly what I needed tonight. It’s not the same as Manchester. Notmychaos. But it’s enough to dull the one inside my head.
I try to ignore my clutch that quakes with persistent texts and calls, but when the relentless vibrations don’t stop, I pull it out and freeze.
Grandpa
21 missed calls
At this time? What the hell?
My mind starts flipping through a catalog of scenarios, none of which can be short of disastrous to earn me this many missed calls at this hour. I don’t wait to interrupt Penny or Thea in their intense conversation about cocktail alcohol percentages, or to give Jack a heads-up.
I hit dial and dash toward the fire exit.
The phone cuts off after nine rings. No answer.
A group of men entering the club shoulder-barges me, almost knocking the phone out of my hands. No apology, not even a courteous grimace.
“Rude,” I mutter to myself.
Thankfully, the staircase is quiet, apart from slight chatter on the floor below. But at least I can hear my own voice. Another call. No answer. I’m sick to my stomach, dread creeping up my spine, my imagination spiraling out of control. My next call is to Grandpa’s Chelsea flat. His housekeeper answers on the fifth ring, her voice calm and composed as always.
“Kate, it’s me.” I stop pacing up and down the landing, rubbing my chest. “I need to speak to Grandpa.”
“Elton’s asleep, dear. Can I take a message?”
