Page 26 of The Devil of Hollywood

“I don’t know w-what’s—I just need—Wait… Where did he go?” She looked around wildly as she slowed, letting out a small cry as she turned and forced herself to look back at me, but not for long. Her hand rose to her chest, and she swallowed hard, shaking her head. “That wasn’t him. It wasn’t. And he’s gone.” Deep pants. “I’m not afraid. I’m… I’m not. It wasn’t him. I just… I have to go.” Her eyes finally tore from the room to come to me. “Maybe you should stay.”

“What? No way.”

I led us to the double doors, but Penny pulled back.

“I just want to go to the room. You’ve been planning this for months. I won’t ruin that. Stay here.”

“I’m not leaving you alone. You’re terrified.”

My voice was stern. Before I could continue, a man I quickly recognized as one of Bastian’s guards stepped in from not two feet away. Penny glanced at him but put her focus on me.

“I just want to be alone. I know it wasn’t him, but the thought startled me. I’m already getting better. I just want some time by myself.”

“I can take Ms. Taylor back to the room. I can stand outside the door and make sure she’s alright. And she can call if she needs you.”

My lips parted in confusion even though I was already shaking my head. His intentions may have been honorable, but I wasn’t on good terms with Bastian or his men at the moment.

“Thank you for the offer, but I can take Penny to our room.”

“No.” Penny’s hand settled on my shoulder. “Stay, Marian. I’m getting tired anyway, and I need to process. We’ve been walking around for a few hours now. I think a nap and alone time would do me good. Have fun. Tell Jenn I said hello and that I can’t wait to read Blake.”

“Are you sure?”

Her face softened. “You take such good care of me. I’m okay. I promise. I need this time to myself. Please.”

I forced a smile. “Alright. But I’m not staying long. An hour. Two, tops.”

“You’ll stay until…” She glanced at the guard only to turn back to me. “Stay as long as you need.”

My lips tightened as I ultimately nodded. Penny gave one last look around the room, shuddering the smallest amount as she spun for the door. The guard followed, and I felt my shoulders sag as I turned back to head for Jenn. I passed two display tables, not able to stop the concern I felt over Penny.

“Hi, I’m sorry.” A touch to my shoulder had me turning to look at a man with blond hair. Something about his eyes and voice stopped me in my tracks. The tall man had his arm around a woman a few inches shorter than him, but he didn’t look familiar. Both towered over me. It took a moment to focus as he began to talk again. “Hi, sorry to bother you, but we were wondering if you could take our picture?”

I smiled, looking between them as my brain kept stalling. “Absolutely.” I took his phone, noticing the camera was already pulled up. I stepped back as the couple stood next to an author’s banner. She wasn’t at the table, but they didn’t seem to mind as they posed, pointing to the sign. And where the man had me questioning why he seemed oddly familiar, I found my gaze fixated on what the couple was wearing. It had me laughing. “I love your shirts. Stalked and Stalker. That is so awesome.”

“It was his idea.” The woman laughed. “After Jenn’s last book, he couldn’t resist. It was truly genius.”

“Your Jenn fans?” I nearly squealed. “She’s great, isn’t she?”

“The best! We were so happy she was attending here in Miami. We love this convention. We come every year.”

“Five years now,” the husband added. “But I’ve been a fan for nearly a decade. I got Susan hooked.”

They smiled at each other, and my heart warmed. I found my eyes going to the entrance as I searched for Drayton. “I love that. Her male audience has really picked up lately, but it seems you’ve been there from almost the beginning.” I held back the phone, but the man’s hand lifted, stopping me.

“I have. Actually,” He paused. “Can you take one of us in front of Nadia Michelle’s table too? It’s over there by those doors in the back. We were going to get one earlier, but everyone was so busy.”

My lips parted as my stare went to where he had gestured with his head. Jenn was on that side of the room, and I needed to head in that direction anyway. And Drayton would know I’d gravitate to her. He’d come there looking for me.

“Sure.”

“Great.” The wife clapped as her husband pulled her in closer. My stare almost lingered, but I forced it ahead, trying to push away the conflicting feelings that were circling my chest.

The crowd thickened the further we got in the room. Readers lined up at tables while others crowded around a booth in the center of the aisle, awaiting the announcement of a giveaway. My smile stayed in place as I took in how everyone here was in their element. They were excited. Happy. Well… everyone but Penny. My worry had me looking back to the door, and the man seemed to catch my concern as I once again took in the surroundings.

“Is your friend okay? She looked a little pale when she left.”

My eyes connected to his, and I couldn’t help but furrow my brow as I tried to put my finger on what felt off. “I’m not sure. I hope so.”