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We cut through the thick crowd of drunk, rich assles, and I narrowly avoid a ht At first I felt like a chu Alex again, I’ht the tailored outfit

Except, she’s not here

I take in the table, spilling over with the usual guys and a fe ones, plus a slew of young, pretty girls, some of whom may very well be paid escorts Priscilla is in the mix, attached to Viktor’s side, his ar the top of her tits that are practically falling out of a plunging neckline He’s , which makes me think that Alex isn’t due to arrive anytihts?

Unless he’s bashed her face in again

"Happy New Year!" Rust stands to pat his nephew’s back as if he hasn’t seen hiht lately I have a feeling Miller will be out of a job co "Jesse!" He offers me his hand

I put up with two minutes of small talk before I excuse myself to use the restroom Really, to text Alex

I’m at The Cellar Where are you?

She hasn’t returned the three texts that I sent her since the night at the restaurant This ti well so I stayed home

Dread swells

Did he hit you?

I’m fine, Jesse

A moment later:

Have a Happy New Year

Fuck that

I round the corner and nearly plow into Viktor

"Jesse" That snakelike sht slur twists his words

I force my jaw to unclench "Another club I proht," I lie I alas a good liar

"You should reconsider We have a few extra girls here tonight"

"Too rich for my blood I like the low-hi up the car rebuild he wants ood night"

I speed through the croithout a second glance back

I’ve been buzzing the gate for tenWhen I see her run out the front door in her pink coat and head for her car, I know Alex isn’t willing to deal with me here Not with Viktor in the sa to see me

I tail her BMW for ten miles, until she finally pulls into an e her door open before she has a chance "What happened?" I de her face in my hands It’s even more drawn than before and pale, but otherwise, it’s unmarked

And yet the fear in her eyes is unin to streanant"

Tords, whispered so softly, punch me in the stomach "Jesus" I didn’t expect that I take a few steps back, inhaling the cold air It’s too cold to be out here without a jacket and gloves, but I barely feel it My eyes autoh I can’t even see it, buried within her jacket "Does Viktor know?"

She shakes her head "When he heardup my lunch today, I told him I have the stomach flu That’s why he didn’t le for what to say

"I’lossy eyes

I nod slowly Of course she is I’ll bet she’s going to make an incredible mother, too I think I’ God that we used condothat up

"Viktor doesn’t want to be a father, does he?" I re s there, whatever words are sitting on her tongue left unspoken as hesitation swi to find out" She pauses "Viktor is always handingI’ve been saving it all since I found out And I’ve been quietly selling off soh to cover rent and basic necessities for the next two years, if I live really cheaply I’h of his cheating I can’t risk confronting hial divorce will have to co have you known?"

Her steady gaze answers ht at the restaurantshe knew That’s what she wanted to tell ?"

"In the next feeeks, before I start to show"

As if things weren’t hard enough for her before, now this? I crouch down in front of her "Are you afraid?"

"Terrified," she whispers, her eyes searching mine, an unreadable look in the to go?"

"I don’t know yet I’on Viktor can’t ever find out about this baby"

I don’t blame her She’d have the assle in her life forever, then Even if he doesn’t want kids, he seeuy ould keep tabs on it

Butfar away from Viktor means far away from me

My heart sinks

"Why didn’t you tellyou into this," she adhs and then tunes the radio, just in time to hear a crowd cheer fro "Happy New Year, Jesse," she whispers, sayingdown, she skates her lips over ht I stopped to change her flat tire for her

I guess soed o," I hear myself blurt out I can’t lose her

I think I’m in love with her