Rapture (Renegades 7)

Her very next thought was I can’t wait to tell Chase the news. He’d be so excited for her.

A waiter passed, and Jax picked up two champagne flutes, handing them to Zahara and Lexi. Then he took one of his own, and the three of them toasted to success.

She sipped from her glass and looked for Chase again, but it was so crowded. She sought out other familiar faces, promotional posters, anything to tell her what this event was about. “What movie is this junket for?”

“Siege,” Lexi answered. “With Lila Carson.”

The name of Chase’s ex-fiancée turned the butterfly in her gut to lead.

“We’ll be doing some stunt work on the film,” Jax told her.

“That’s great.” And it explained Jax’s and Lexi’s presence at this junket, but not Chase’s. “Why is Chase here? Did he get a—”

Her gaze landed on Chase across the room. Excitement sparked her heart. Then someone shifted in the crowd, revealing a woman at Chase’s side. A woman held in the curve of his arm.

Please call as soon as you can. I need to talk to you about something important.

A chill spread through her belly. Her throat squeezed. But she held out hope that there was an innocent explanation for the very public affection he was showing his ex. “What’s going on there?”

Lexi followed her gaze. “He and Lila got back together.”

Shock hit Zahara first, an icy fist in the pit of her stomach.

Her gaze swiveled back to Lexi. “What?” As soon as the vehement word exited her mouth, she realized she had to change her tone. “I mean, that’s…”

That’s what? Inconceivable? Idiotic? Insane?

Please call as soon as you can. I need to talk to you about something important.

A sinkhole opened beneath Zahara’s feet. She had that terrifying, gut-wrenching sensation that haunted the occasional nightmare. A nightmare of cables snapping and plummeting her to her death. Of jumping only to see a deflated airbag awaiting her on the ground. Of hitting the brakes in a speeding car, yet plowing into a wall. Nightmares that startled her awake, panting and sweating, her chest tearing in two.

“W-wow.” Her voice came out breathless and shaky. “I… I thought they were over.”

“Looked that way for a while.” Lexi smiled toward Chase and Lila. “But I think it’s great.”

“That’s because you’re a hopeless romantic.” Jax slid an arm around Lexi’s waist and drew her close. “Which is ironic, since you won’t marry your Prince Charming.”

“I never said I wouldn’t marry you.” She smiled up at Jax, her expression filled with love. At least that was what it looked like to Zahara. But she’d also seen that smile on Chase’s face when he’d looked at her over their weekend together, and now he was with another woman.

“You still haven’t said yes either,” Jax said. “I’m still willing to elope. But the offer expires at midnight.”

“Appropriate.” Lexi laughed and pressed a hand to his chest. “You definitely make me feel like Cinderella every day.”

Normally, Zahara loved watching Jax and Lexi together. They couldn’t be any more perfect for each other. They were best friends, confidants, lovers in the true sense of the word. They supported and trusted each other. Theirs was a beautiful demonstration of a healthy relationship, something Zahara had never known until she’d been included in the Renegades family.

Weeks ago, Zahara had believed she and Chase might have a chance at that kind of relationship. Now… Now darkness crowded in. Now, she was right back where she’d been before she ever met Chase, believing she’d never find a man she could trust.

She was relieved when Jax turned the conversation back to business, but only half listened to him talk about the Burned movies and the stunt work involved. She watched Chase from the corner of her eye. Watched him slide his arm from Lila’s shoulders to her waist. Watched him pull her close to his side. Watched photographers snap pictures. Pictures that would be all over the media in hours.

She and Chase were over. Or maybe they’d never really started. Maybe she’d completely misunderstood him. Maybe he was a narcissist or a psychopath. Maybe she was just genetically coded to fail with men.

She pretended to listen to Jax, but couldn’t hear anything through the rush of blood in her ears. The thump, thump, thump of her heart against her breastbone.

Why in the hell would he have gotten back together with Lila? She and Chase had talked about their turbulent relationship over the weekend. He’d said it wasn’t all the tabloids made it out to be. That they’d talked about marriage but never been engaged, a lie leaked by the media. Everyone who followed any entertainment news had heard about Lila cheating on Chase with the man she then married.

A man she was still married to, as far as Zahara knew.

Chase said he’d looked at the affair more like a favor than a betrayal, and Zahara knew they’d remained friends. But that didn’t explain the pair acting far more romantic than friendly now.