Scandal Exposed (The Lust List: Kaidan Stone #4) (6 page)

“Do it,” Luis says.

Carlos and the others take out their weapons and empty their cartridges on the concrete floor. The pings echo in the silence. Then they place the guns on the floor. Rowan and Charles kick them far out of reach.

After another tense moment, Luis finally lets me go and empties and lowers his weapon to the floor. I stumble forward a step, but the second Rowan kicks that gun away, I whirl around to face Luis.

My knee connects with his groin, and the look of shocked pain on his face makes everything worth it. He sinks down on the floor, grabbing himself, his face twisted in a livid grimace.

I give him a smile and pluck the diamond from his jacket pocket. “Oh, didn’t I mention? I’ll be
keeping
this.”

I saunter away from him and stand next to Rowan. The diamond cuts into my damp palm, and I’m suddenly heady from the adrenaline and maybe my almost blackout.

Rowan retrieves the briefcase full of money from Carlos and passes it off to Charles. Then he holsters his gun and, without warning, slams a fist into Beefy’s face.

I purse my lips and watch, unflinching, as bright red blood gushes from Carlos’s nose. He looks like he wants to attack Rowan, but with all the guns trained on him, he can’t.

“That’s for Hayley. And me,” Rowan says.

“You shouldn’t have gotten involved,” Luis spits at Kaidan. “I know who you are. You’ll pay for this.” He looks like he’s in pain as he stands up.

Kaidan steps into Luis’s space and leans close. “If you know who I am,” he says, his voice low and threatening, “then you know I have far more friends than you do.”

Luis licks his lips and doesn’t answer.

“You
ever
fuck with Hayley or Rowan or anyone I know ever again, or even breathe a word of any of this… that breath will be your last.”

Luis clenches his jaw but doesn’t say a word in reply.

Kaidan narrows his eyes. “Do. You. Understand?”

“Yes,” Luis chokes out.

Kaidan wipes his hands together like he’s brushing away filth, then takes the briefcase from Charles and heads for the exit. Rowan holsters his gun, and he and I follow Kaidan out. The guards stay behind so we have time to get to safety.

The second we’re back outside in the gray light of day, all the adrenaline drains from my body, leaving me weak, shaking. The Jag and another SUV are waiting, parked behind my car. We need to get out of here.

Rowan wraps me in a tight embrace, and I hold on to him like I might drown if I let go.

“You did great in there,” Rowan says. “It’s over.”

I give him a smile. “So did you.”

“You’re shaking,” he says. “Let me take your car. You ride with Kaidan.”

I glance at Kaidan. He’s a few feet away, watching me with an expression I can’t read.

I tear my gaze away. “I can’t,” I whisper. “He hates me.”

Rowan rubs a hand down my arm and leans close. “No. Trust me,” he says, his voice low. “He really cares about you. He’s trying not to show it, but he was a complete wreck back there in the car. Okay?” He pulls back to meet my eyes again. “If you care about him, too… I think you can work it out. Go with him.”

I swallow hard and give him a grateful smile as I hand him my keys. The Stone guards emerge from the building.

“Everyone in the cars,” Charles says, his voice urgent.

Two of the guards take the SUV, and Kaidan and I get in the back of the Jag.

Kaidan sits close to the window, and I sit as far away from him as I can. I know Rowan said he cares, but I don’t see it at all. He won’t even look at me.

Rowan pulls out with my Mercedes the second he sees I’m safe in the Jag, and we all follow.

I clench my hand around the diamond I’m still holding and watch Kaidan as he gets his phone out and dials someone.

My mouth drops open as he tells the police he has a tip about a drug operation. Then he gives them the address where they held Rowan hostage.

After he puts the phone away, I close my mouth and hand the diamond to him.

He plucks it from my fingers without touching them, without looking at me.

“I didn’t know you were gonna tip the police off. Do you think they’ll catch them?”

“I have more contacts than they do. They’ve got a dozen warrants on them. They won’t bother you again.”

“Kaidan… thank you.” I say, my voice small. I want him to look at me so badly that I risk gently touching his arm.

He glances over, but there’s no warmth in his brown eyes, no affection. “You want to do something to thank me?”

“Yes. Anything. What can I do?”

Kaidan shifts in his seat so my hand falls away. “I need to clean up my family’s reputation after this scandal. We just signed a new artist and have a huge PR event this Saturday.” He pauses for a moment, then averts his eyes. “I need you by my side for it.”

“But… we’re not…?”

“Together anymore? No. We’re not.” He says it like it’s a business arrangement he’s making. And I guess it is. The knife that’s already been bleeding my heart for days twists a little deeper.

“So… why do you want me there?”

“For PR purposes, we’re still together. It has to look like we’re handling this well and that you don’t blame me, my father, or the law firm for the loss of your inheritance. Once the embezzlement scandal dies down in a few weeks, we’ll quietly release a statement that our relationship has ended amicably.”

I try to ignore my pain as I nod. I owe him for cleaning up my dad’s mess.
My
mess. What did I expect would happen after this? It’s a miracle he even wants to see me one more time. “I’ll do it. Thank you for helping me with this. And for… getting the diamond back to Serena.”

He slides the diamond into his pocket and looks down at his phone. “I thought you’d like to know the FBI has James Nordstrom in custody. They’re working on recovering all our clients’ money, including yours. But it could be tied up for weeks, even months, due to the investigation.”

“Thank you. And for what it’s worth… I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.”

Kaidan makes a noncommittal grunt in reply, and I wait for a real response, but it never comes.

And now there’s nothing else for me to say. I can’t even bring myself to care about the money anymore. Or anything, for that matter. I’ve already made plans to move out of the penthouse and in with Rowan tomorrow, because there’s simply no money left to pay what I owe on my apartment. I wonder what the tabloids will think about that.

Kaidan ignores me completely for the rest of the drive back to my penthouse. I stare out the window, sadness enveloping me. Rowan must have said all that to make me feel better. Because whatever he thinks, it’s clear I’ve lost Kaidan.

How could he ever trust me or love me again after how I lied to him?

The drug dealers may be out of my life for good, but the relief is bittersweet.

Because I’ve also lost the man I love.

There’s something to be said for living simply. I think I finally get why Rowan walked away from the wealth, the lifestyle. While it’s true the paps have just followed me to his apartment, while I’m inside, I can pretend my life is normal. That I’m normal, and my name isn’t all over the tabloids.

If I found a way to get rid of the paps, I could start over. The way I think Rowan was trying to do. I know my presence isn’t helping, but he’s taking it all in stride.

I curl deeper into his threadbare couch and hug my phone to my chest, staring at the blank TV screen across from me. Rowan took all Dad’s electronics and coffee table when I left the penthouse, but he refused the rest. We sold it for a tenth of what it was probably worth. But at least now we have grocery money.

Row’s music drifts out from under his bedroom door. It’s the same song he’s been working on all week. There’s something incredibly haunting about it. Sad. And it hasn’t done much to lift my mood, but I can’t deny how good it is.

I check my phone again. No message from Kaidan. It’s five p.m. on Saturday, and I’m running out of time to get ready for whatever event he wanted me to attend. I’m going to have to get up the courage to call him soon.

My phone beeps. A text from Char. We spend the next five minutes texting back and forth.

Are you going to the Stone label party tonight?

I think so.

Tell me everything!!! I’m at the salon right now.

I’ll fill you in. Eventually.

I can’t believe you didn’t tell me!

You were having fun with Matt. It’s fine. See you tonight! :)

I hope it seems like I’m excited to see her and go to this party.

See you there! Btw Check Lust List!

That’s intriguing, and I’m too bored to keep myself from checking. I pull up
ScandalLust
and let out a sigh when I see who it is. They’ve got a new #1.

Rowan Wade – Up and Coming Producer

So much for the simple life. There’s a paparazzi picture of him walking in Santa Monica. I recognize it, because it’s the same one they used a few days ago to report I’d moved in with him. Only they’ve cut me out of it this time.

I go over to Rowan’s room and knock. When he doesn’t answer, I gently push the door open and get to hear the melancholy song at full volume again.

He looks up at me from his computer and pauses the music. “What’s up?”

I hand him the phone, and he groans. “Should I be flattered?”

“At least you’ll have your pick of women now.”

He winks at me. “I didn’t need any help.”

I have an unwelcome flashback to the girl in the DJ booth and feel my face flush. “I don’t need to be reminded.”

He hands me back my phone like he barely cares, and I look at his computer screen.

“So what is this song for?”

“Just something.”

“Come on. Tell me.”

He shrugs and doesn’t look at me. “Well. There’s this book series I love. It’s being made into a movie. They haven’t picked the producer for the soundtrack yet.”

“That’s cool! Which movie?”

“It’s called
Better World
.”

“Wait…” I think back to the HIT awards. “Zoe North is supposed to star in that, right?”

“Maybe. It’s not official yet.”

“And… I thought Ethan Beckham was doing the soundtrack.”

Rowan shrugs and doesn’t look at me. “Nothing’s official.”

I give him a quick half-hug. “I have to say, the song’s super-depressing. But it’s also really,
really
good.”

Rowan looks up at me from his chair, and there’s a glint of something in his eyes. “I’m sorry I was such an ass to you when you came back. I should’ve been there for you.”

“And I shouldn’t have judged you for your career choice. I think you’re
meant
to be doing this.”

He smiles at that, but then our happy sibling moment is broken by a knock at the door.

“I’ll check.” I bound back out to the living room, and when I open the door, I find the stylist who came to my penthouse. She and her clothing rack are crammed in the narrow hallway, and she looks extremely stressed out to be here.

“Dresses for you, ma’am,” she says, exasperated. “From Kaidan Stone.”

I move out of the way as she and her helper drag the rack into Rowan’s living room and try to make it fit between the coffee table and TV.

I try not to laugh out loud at the look on the stylist’s face. She snaps at the guy helping her, and I try to help with the rack. “Thank you. I’m sure they’ll be perfect.”

She looks around the room and seems to be trying to hide her dismay. “Indeed.”

The guy she’s with hands me a sticky note with an apologetic smile. “Hey, this was on your door.”

“Thanks.” I go back and open the door wide so this snooty stylist can show herself out.

When they’re gone, I look down at the note.

I’m so sorry, Hayley! I didn’t know! I swear I didn’t say anything to the tabloids. If you need anyone to talk to, we’re just across the hall. I promise I won’t invite you to any more auditions.

~Jade

I shake my head, amused. Maybe I
will
go talk to her sometime.

I put the note down and examine what the stylist brought over. Even with the end of me and Kaidan hanging over my head, nothing can ruin the feeling of excitement I get at the prospect of putting together a stylish ensemble.

***

There are half a dozen gorgeous party dresses, but a deep purple one stands out in a unique way, and I know without looking who made it. It’s a Calypso Day, like the amazing dress I wore to the HIT Awards. I’m not sure how I know… I just do. I drag the clothing rack into my new cramped bedroom and get ready in front of the closet door, which thankfully sports a full-length mirror.

The dress is form-fitting and caresses every curve I have. It’s a dark plum taffeta with braided gold straps and a bust that drops down in a deep V between my breasts. No bra tonight, then. The dress is gathered at my lower back, and gorgeous deep plum flower shapes cascade down the back to the mid-thigh hem. A thin gold thread is woven through the flowers to give them life and shape. The same gold thread is used on the bodice for contrast. I throw on some gold heels to match, then check out the jewelry.

There’s a gold choker in the hanging jewelry case and a few chunky gold rings inset with natural stones. I pick the ones sporting the purple stones. My eye catches a thin armband etched with scrollwork. Perfect. It twines around my arm several times and completes the look. Calypso certainly knows how to start new trends. I’m going to have to meet her someday.