Rumor (Renegades 3.50)
Josh’s hand closed on her arm, drawing her gaze. “Grace,” he hissed, “what is he doing here?”
“Get your hands off me, dude,” Isaac said. “I don’t want to hurt you, but if you touch me again, you’re going down.”
“Jesus.” Grace turned toward the mayhem, but Josh pulled her back, and when she looked at him again, hurt and fury flushed his face.
“Last time I talked to him he was halfway around the world,” Josh said. “Grace, what in the fuck…?”
“I’m sorry…” She put a hand to his chest. “Let me go take care of this before someone gets hurt.”
He ignored her, searching her face as the facts took shape in his mind. “You knew he was coming.” He released her and stepped back but blocked her path. “When? When did you know?”“Josh—”
“When?”
Grace jumped at his bark. “He called last night—”
“On the drive to the hotel.” Realization filled his voice, and hurt crept into his handsome features. “You talked to him on the drive from your mom’s to the hotel.”
More voices joined the fray near the back door. “Please, Josh—”
He gripped her arms, his expression shifting to one of accusation. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I don’t know.” She couldn’t think. “I…I—”
“You didn’t trust me,” he finished, his hands tightening. “You knew he was coming, and you thought I’d bail again if I had to face him. You thought I’d choose my loyalty to him over my love for you.”
The betrayal in his eyes broke her heart. He was 100 percent right. She’d been 100 percent wrong. She should have trusted him.
“I’m sorry—” she started, interrupted by Isaac’s bellow.
“I’m not going anywhere until I find Grace.”
“Josh, please let me go before this gets out of hand.”
He hesitated, then released her, his expression a mix of fury and pain. She hurried toward the main dressing area and found Isaac blocking the rear door as if he were guarding the president.
“Stop yelling,” she ordered.
“What in the fuck, Grace? What are you—” He broke off, his gaze shifting over her shoulder, and by the look in Isaac’s dark eyes, she knew Josh had come out. “Marx, what in the fuck are you doing here? You’re supposed to be in Philadelphia.”
Grace stepped up to Isaac and pushed him backward. “Let’s talk about this outside,” she ordered. “Now.”
“You lied to me, you fucker.” Isaac stabbed a menacing finger toward Josh. “You told me she wasn’t stripping.”
“I’m not stripping, Isaac.”
“Then why are you dressed like a hooker?”
“Do you hear those sirens, Isaac?” she asked. “Those are coming for you. And I sure as hell won’t be bailing you out. Now take this outside, or I’ll let them take you to jail.”
Isaac spun on his heel and stalked
through the door, shoving Theo aside.
Grace squeezed Theo’s forearm and murmured. “I’m so sorry.”
“I’ll be right here in case you need me.”
Josh pointed at Theo. “You’re going up front to steer the cops clear. If you don’t, things will get extremely ugly. I’ve got this handled.”