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Flinching ahead of ti-down she’d receive, she pushed up froo in search of her phone She needed to at least text Jace to let hied over her Now, back at the apartment, realization settled in at just how irresponsible and selfish she’d been Jace had been nothing but kind to her And she hadn’t even taken her phone so he would know she was all right Maybe it had been subconscious to leave the phone because Jace would have started blowing it up the minute Kaden reported her absence, and she would have felt even guiltier about ignoring his calls

She found the phone, just where she’d left it, on the bar in the kitchen She flinched when she saw the sheer volume of missed calls and texts From Jace From Kaden Fro to look at them, but she still had to let Jace know she was okay

With a sigh, she reached for it again just as the door burst open and Kaden and Trevor surged into her apartment Startled, she dropped the phone and took a hasty step back before she fully registered who it was

"Thank God," Kaden ht? Did anyone hurt you?"

She mutely shook her head, her eyes wide at the look in Kaden’s and Trevor’s eyes Then without another word, Kaden yanked up his phone

"Mr Crestwell Yeah, I got her She’s back at her apartment Looks okay I haven’t had a chance to question her I knew you’d want to know Okay I’ll see you shortly"

Kaden closed the phone and then turned his furious stare in Bethany’s direction Trevor stood just behind him, arms crossed over his chest, a scowl fir toward her until her kitchen felt stoday?" he seethed

"I--"

He yanked up his hand, evidently not finished

"Trevor and I were frantic Mr Crestas losing his mind He hired us to protect you He hired us to ensure your safety Do youme how the hell we’re supposed to do that when you pull a stunt like you did today?"

"I’m sorry," she whispered

Tears burned her eyelids but she blinked furiously, determined not to break down in front of thesebreath "You could have been raped, killed, horribly injured Take your pick And you’re sorry Jesus"

The blood drained from her face She started to explain that she’d been perfectly safe when the door banged open again and Jace strode in, his features set in stone He looked cold Unlance in her direction before turning his attention to Kaden and Trevor

"Thank you You both can go now I’ll take it fro?" Kaden asked

Jace hesitated a long moment "I’ll let you know"

Bethany couldn’t breathe around the panic knotting her throat This was it Jace was going to toss her out They were over He was pissed It was just as well The longer she existed in this fantasyland, the worse it was going to be in the end Better to end it now before she forgot what her life was really like

Kaden and Trevor left the apartlances in her direction They both said the sa Stupid Foolish

Her oing to nity as she could possibly gather

She carefully put the phone back on the bar and then walked toward the bedroo her every step

"I’ll just get my stuff," she said quietly "I’ll be out in a few ainst the surge of tears that bathed her face And then she realized she had nothing to pack No things to collect This was all Jace’s Stuff he’d bought her Even if she took them with her, she’d have no place to put them

Then a firm hand closed over her shoulder He turned her sharply to face him and then looked taken aback when he saw her tears

"Mind telling me what the fuck this is about?" Jace dery," she said in a low voice "I’ll be out in just a few minutes I’d appreciate a cab, but if not I can walk"

His jaw clenched and bulged and a look of utter fury entered his eyes

"You think I’ you out?" he asked in an incredulous tone

She flinched "Aren’t you?"

He swore "Godda talk This has been a fucking day fro to end it with you walking out on me"

She blinked in surprise "You don’t want o?"

Her ry A-a-and you didn’t ask Kaden and Trevor to coood?" he snapped "You aren’t exactly co with their protection"

She flushed and looked away "I’ht you’d left me today What was I supposed to think? You took off No note, no phone call You wouldn’t answer your phone orpanic because I couldn’t find you anywhere"