The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Author:Jennifer Lynn Barnes [Barnes, Jennifer Lynn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Published: 2020-08-31T18:30:00+00:00

There was nothing discreet about the scene that greeted us when Oren pulled up to the drive, past a verifiable horde of press. Up ahead, I could see Drake’s form outside the wrought-iron gates. There were two other men standing near him. Even from a distance, I could make out their police uniforms.

And so could the paparazzi.

So much for Alisa’s friends on the police force being discreet. I gritted my teeth and thought about the way Drake would guilt Libby if there was footage of him being dragged down the drive.

“Stop the car,” I snapped.

Oren stopped, then turned around in his seat to face me. “I would advise you to stay in this vehicle.” That wasn’t advice. That was an order.

I reached for the door handle.

“Avery.” Oren’s tone stopped me dead in my tracks. “If you’re getting out, I’m getting out first.”

Remembering our little one-on-one that morning, I decided not to test him.

Beside me, Grayson unbuckled his seat belt. He reached for my wrist, his touch gentle. “Oren’s right. You shouldn’t go out there.”

I looked down at his hand on mine, and after a heartbeat, I looked back up. “And what would you do,” I said, “what lengths would you go to in order to protect your family?”

I had him there, and he damn well knew it. He drew his hand back from mine, slowly enough that I felt the pads of his fingers skim my knuckles. My breath coming quickly now, I opened the car door and braced myself. Drake was the biggest story the press had on the Hawthorne Heiress front because we hadn’t given them anything bigger. Yet.

Chin held high, I stepped out of the car. Look at me. I’m the story here. I walked down the drive, back toward the street. I was wearing boots with heels and my Country Day pleated skirt. My uniform blazer pulled against my body as I walked. The new hair. The makeup. The attitude.

I’m the story here. The chatter tonight wasn’t going to be about Drake. The eyes of the world weren’t going to be on him. I’d keep them on me.

“Impromptu press conference?” Oren asked under his breath. “As your bodyguard, I feel compelled to warn you that Alisa is going to kill you.”

That was Future Avery’s problem. I tossed my wave-perfect hair and squared my shoulders. The roar of reporters yelling my name was louder the closer we got.

“Avery!”

“Avery, look over here!”

“Avery, what do you have to say about rumors that—”

“Smile, Avery!”

I was standing right in front of them now. I had their attention. Beside me, Oren raised a hand, and just like that, the crowd went silent.

Say something. I’m supposed to say something.

“I… ummm…” I cleared my throat. “This has been a big change.”

There were a few small laughs. I can do this. The instant I thought those words, the universe made me pay for them. A fight broke out behind me, between Drake and the cops. I saw cameras starting to angle away from me, saw the long-distance lenses zooming in on the gates.

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