But I couldn’t stop. “I think about her. All the time. I think about how you saved her. It was unbelievable. I couldn’t move. I was too scared—too afraid to risk my own life—” My gratitude got caught in my throat, and I couldn’t go on. A tear rolled down my cheek.
“Hey, don’t cry.” He wiped away the tear. Cupping my jaw, he tilted my face toward his until our foreheads touched. Potential hummed between us. “And don’t put yourself down. You’re incredible. I knew it the day I met you, and I’ve been wanting to get you alone ever since.”
“Are you speaking your inner monologue?” I asked as the augmentation shifted around us. Stars fell from the sky in bursts, twinkling in my periphery like fireflies.
“Sort of. Though I can’t say everything that’s on my mind…” His eyes dipped to my lips.
I really wanted him to kiss me.
But he didn’t.
Instead, he broke the connection, sinking back against the lounger and pulling me down with him. Wrapping me in his arms, he cuddled me to his chest, resting his chin on my head while we watched the wonders of the universe unfold overhead.
Engulfed in the safety of his warmth, I relaxed against him, until, too soon, his wrist screen vibrated, jarring us back to reality.
Groaning, he checked the alert. “I’ve been offline too long. My investors will be missing me. We should probably get back in there.”
“Me, too.” I sighed.
Adam stood and helped me to my feet.
“Ready to let everyone in on our secret?” he asked, making a show of switching his Life Stream to “live.”
As I understood that this meant we were together, that he was mine and there was no going back, happiness flooded me. I nodded and set my stream to “live,” too.
Hand in hand, we walked back to the party, caught up in the bleary daze of possibility.
Deena was onstage when we arrived, but her eyes went straight to us, her expression murderous.
She stormed over. “What are you doing with him?”
My hopes evaporated, my voice sticking in my throat and coming out sounding like a cough. “What are you talking about?”
“Don’t play dumb. You knew this was supposed to be our night. Mine and his.” She leaned in so her nose nearly touched mine.
A crowd formed around us, and I realized I was her drama. Me. The betrayer. My heart stalled. Did they set me up?
“Deena, don’t do this,” Adam said. “It was never going to be our night.”
Relief rushed through me.
Deena glared at him, clutching her chest like she’d been stabbed. “Do you know what it’s like to wake up every morning thinking about someone? To look for them everywhere, to dream about them at night?”
His eyes flitted to me. “Yes. I do.”
I cringed. This is all part of her plan…
“First Jax dumps me, now this.” Deena’s huge eyes glistened. “Ella, you knew I always had a secret crush on Adam. How could you?” Crocodile tears slid down her face, streaking her makeup. Her lower lip quivering, she wiped her cheek.
She’s the one who should be the actress.
“Deena,” I said softly, trying to mask my anger, to save face knowing the world was watching. “You said you weren’t interested in Adam—you know I would never hurt you. And nothing happened. Adam and I are just friends, and you’re my best friend.”
“Was. Was your best friend. It doesn’t look like nothing to me.” She waved a hand, and all the screens at the party lit up with images of me and Adam cuddled together on the chaise longue.
“Where did you get that?” I asked.
“There are cameras everywhere. When are you going to learn you’re never alone? Someone is always watching.” She cocked her head, pity flashing across her face before she dissolved into tears again. “You’ve ruined my birthday. I’ll never get over this. Don’t ever talk to me again.” Whipping her hair over her shoulder, she stomped away.
“What do you want from me?” I yelled to her back, seeing red. “Do you want me to stay away from him? I will. If that’s what you want.”
“Not so fast, Ella,” Adam said, sounding genuinely alarmed.
Deena couldn’t quite contain her serpentine smile as she peered over her shoulder. “No. Be happy. You deserve each other. I’m sure there’s someone better out there for me.”
Pointing her chin to the sky, she exited, her buff bodyguards falling in line behind her.
Adam put his arm around me, and I leaned against him, a mixture of disgust and anger colliding in my chest.
In the morning, the numbers supported Deena. Even pretty girls get their hearts broken, have fickle friends. Poor, poor thing. She painted me as the bitch who stole her boyfriend.
She won.
And that’s when my life began to unravel.
Chapter Nineteen
February 20, 20X5
Truth: Trust no one. They will only hurt you.
…
“I’m sure it will be no surprise to you there’s been a major sell-off.” Dad’s voice boomed across the terrace the second I walked through the door.
Mom and Dad were eating breakfast outside. Within their virtual bubble, a soft breeze cooled the slightly humid air, and waterfalls gurgled behind them next to the augmented Hollywood sign.
Having stayed awake all night with Adam, wrapping my head around Deena’s betrayal, I was drifting in a haze. I didn’t have any tears left, but the hurt was still raw. It took me a minute to get what he was talking about.
Dad’s eyes were far away, scanning a virtual world visible only to him through his AMPs. “You stole Deena’s boyfriend? Can’t you give him back? Give her what she wants.”
“No,” I said quietly. “She never wanted him—she wanted the drama. She sabotaged me.”
“Then sabotage her back,” Mom said, crunching on seaweed. “You need to find a way to fix this.”
“That’s your answer? Stoop to her level?” Irritation rippled through me.
Mom shrugged. “This is war.”
“But she’s my best friend. You’re best friends with her mom. We have history. I don’t want to throw it all away. I don’t want a public fight.”
“She’s not looking out for your best interests, honey. She’s not a real friend,” Mom said. “You can’t get close to people. They’ll only hurt you.”
“That’s not true. You run a business with Deena’s mom. She knows everything about you.”
“Not everything,” Mom said. “No one knows your origins,” she mouthed the last statement, probably fearing Quinn was judging her. “I’d never tell anyone that.”
I swallowed hard. “Never?” I asked.
“Absolutely not,” Dad said. “We can’t trust anyone with that sort of information. Sure, we trust her enough to let you spend the weekend at her house, to befriend her daughter, but never with our closest secrets. That kind of knowledge claims too much power. You know this, and we’re wasting time. What we should be talking about is how we’re going to get your stockholders back.”
Sickness rose in my throat. You can’t trust anyone. Me included.
“What is it, sweetie?” Mom asked, her voice saccharine. “You’re pale as a ghost.”
I don’t want to play this game anymore. Maybe if I tell the truth they’ll ban me from the Networks and I can spend all day surfing with Adam…
I raised my eyes to hers. “I did a bad thing.”
Chopsticks frozen in the air, she waited. Dad’s eyes bored into the side of my face.
Finally, Mom spoke, starring in the role of concerned parent. “What is it? You can tell us anything. We’ll figure it out.” But she couldn’t act around me. I saw right through her. She was scared.
Breathing deep, I confessed. “Deena knows.”
“I hope you’re no
t saying what I think you’re saying,” Dad said through clenched teeth.
I stayed locked on Mom. “And she told Kylie and Lily. It was part of our trust circle. We knew one another’s secrets, and we agreed to protect them, to protect one another. Deena can’t tell. If she does, I’ll tell everyone she had her stomach stapled.”
“Oh. My. God.” Mom dropped the chopsticks and buried her face in her hands. When she looked up, her eyes were wild. “That secret isn’t worth yours. Your life isn’t worth that secret. Do you realize this scandal could destroy us? Trust is our biggest commodity. If the public loses faith in us, we lose everything. Life as you know it could end.”
My stomach clenched. “That sounds like a threat,” I said.
“Oh, you best believe it is.” She rose to her full height, all five feet, four inches of it.
“Calm down, Tia. Let’s think about this rationally,” Dad said. But a moment later, his face was turning purple, the ramifications pulsing through him. “How could you be so stupid?”
“I’m sorry,” I said, examining my toes. I didn’t know what else to say. There were no words. “I wanted to be honest with you… Maybe I should lay low for a while. Take a break from the Networks.”
“Ha! Nice try.” Mom paced the deck. “Quinn, what should we do?”
“Oh, you guys. This is a hard one. I really feel for you.” Quinn’s voice sounded across the deck. “Sweet Ella, why didn’t you come to me with this? If you would have asked me, I would have told you hooking up with Adam was a bad idea. Oh…” Her voice broke, like she was on the verge of tears. “I’ve run all the possible scenarios, and the only thing you can do to save yourself is leave. You have to start over before any more damage is done. If you go now, people will forget. You still have a chance—you just need a new narrative.”
“There you go,” Mom said. “What you need is a change of scenery. A fresh start.”
“I’ll pull some strings,” Dad said. “Get her a part in a movie—an indie—something edgy, interesting. On location.”
“Oh!” Mom gasped, grabbing Dad’s hand. “And we can use my cancer.” Tears sprang to her eyes. “We’re so blessed. Even in the dark, there’s always light.”
“It’s perfect,” Dad said. “Your fans will sound the rally cry.”
“Your cancer is the answer!” Quinn chimed in. “Make that the focus, and they’ll forget about Ella.”
“Cancer?” I asked.
“We were going to tell you tonight,” Mom said, drying her cheeks with the back of her hand. “This morning, when I went to the restroom, the toilet reported a protein in my urine that’s a precursor to thyroid cancer. Left untreated, I might develop cancer ten years from now, but the doctor says if we do a day of radiation, I’ll be fine. It’s going to be hard on my body—like having the flu—but I will fight. I’m a survivor. At least I will be.” She smiled.
I blinked, shocked at her audacity. “Mom, I know you’re afraid of pain, but don’t you think you’re incredibly lucky to beat cancer before you get it? Most people can’t afford that technology.”
“I’ll be creating awareness, sweetie. That’s my job.”
“And Ella, your job is to fix your price,” Dad said. “While you’re on set, cozy up to the director, the lead actors. Be seen having a great time.”
“But won’t it look bad if I leave Mom in her time of need to go film some dumb movie?” I was grasping at straws.
“No,” Dad said. “I think it’s best you distance yourself from us while we go through this. Your mother is sick. She doesn’t need extra stress in her life.”
His words had the power of a thousand beestings. Get close to no one. Including your daughter. “But I don’t want to go. It’s my life. Don’t I have a choice?”
“No, you don’t have a choice,” Dad growled. “You’re sixteen. You have no say. You’re going.”
“But what about Deena?” I sniffed, my head aching.
“We’ll take care of her,” Mom said almost gleefully. “You can never go back to Intersection, you silly, little fool. You’ll have to break all ties with your friends there.”
“But I can’t leave Adam. He’s the only good thing in my life.” My heart squeezed, and a sob caught in my throat, last night’s brief happiness slipping through my fingers.
“Too bad,” Dad said, unmoved. “Above all, you will end things with him. Having a relationship with him will only provoke Deena. You’re getting on a jet tonight. You will not see him again. Is that clear?”
Desperate to hold on to the shreds of my almost life, I pointed my chin to the sky. “No. I’m not going. You can’t make me.”
Mom’s eyes narrowed to slits. “Watch us.”
Chapter Twenty
January 2, 20X6, Keystone
“Good morning, Scarlet Spy.” Rayelle’s too-cheery voice sounds from across the room.
I groan. The winter sun rising over the strawberry fields is an interrogator, streaming through the windows. The flat, white light assaults me, demanding last night’s memories surface.
You’re my prize.
Irritated by the bolt of electricity the recollection sends through me, I yank the covers over my head.
“Don’t remind me.” I peek at her from under the blanket. “Everyone who bet on me probably hates me now.” And they’ll never know how close I came to winning. I realize I want everyone at Keystone—and beyond—to know I can beat Garrett, that I’m good at this. Ugh. The Influencer in me will never die.
“You’re too hard on yourself. They knew what they were doing. It’s called gambling for a reason. You were a long shot.” She jumps out of bed, surprisingly perky after last night’s celebration. I barely remember her coming in; I finished crying myself to sleep hours before she returned. The post-Quest adrenaline dump combined with journaling really did a number on me. It couldn’t also be because I lost… I’m not that pathetic, am I? I went after something I wanted, and I lost, but I tried my best. It should be enough…
“And you beat Kyran and Chloe. That’s something,” she says, rummaging through her dresser drawer. “Kyran wouldn’t have come close if he hadn’t followed you or if he’d had to crack Tut’s lock by himself. Think about that.”
“I don’t want to think about any of it.”
“Too bad. You’re what everyone is talking about. I don’t think you can escape it.”
“Wonderful.”
I watch her pull on tall black boots and a full skirt. Today is a rare street-clothes day. After our partners are announced at the assembly this morning, we have the day free. It’s our last break before it’s full steam ahead on our heists.
Rayelle examines her backside in the mirror and smiles. Seeming satisfied with herself, she fixes her eyes on me. “Come on. Get up.” She marches over and rips the covers off me. “We don’t want to be late.”
“I do.”
She rolls her eyes. “Get dressed. You’ll feel better. What are you going to wear? Don’t you want to look special for your partner?”
“No. I’ll probably get stuck with Liam.” Grimacing, I snatch my blanket back. “Besides, I don’t have anything to wear.” Except for the Balenciaga, and that’s not happening. “I didn’t know we were ever supposed to look normal.”
“You can borrow something from me.” She tugs on my arm. “You have to go to the assembly. It’s mandatory.”
I sigh, wishing she wasn’t right. “Fine.” Heaving myself to the floor, I rummage through Rayelle’s open drawer, selecting a pair of baggy jeans and a Cirque du Soleil T-shirt. Not bothering with makeup, I tie my hair into a squat ponytail and plop back onto the bed, waiting until she finishes.
Rayelle frowns. “That’s it?”
I shrug. “I’m not trying to impress anyone.”
“Clearly. How can you not care who your partner is? I’ve been dying to know since
I was twelve.”
“Maybe it’s not the same without the buildup.”
Peering into the mirror, she fluffs her hair and dots purple gloss on her lips. “I wonder who Garrett will pick.”
Closing my eyes, I hope he’s changed his mind, even though my instincts tell me it’s a done deal. “I have no idea.”
…
The Lodge is buzzing when we arrive. Everyone is dressed in the latest fashions, and this could easily be an Intersection assembly, except for the Disconnect makeup. I feel a little out of place in my casual outfit. Fortunately, my stalling has successfully made us late, and we’re the last to arrive. Robie appears at the front of the hall just as we settle into the back row.
Garrett is sitting in the front row, Chloe’s hand resting on his knee. She’d burst into the Summit last night seconds after Garrett “claimed his prize,” and he’d dropped my arm immediately. Again, hope that he changed his mind surges through me and is instantly squelched by a thud of disappointment at the possibility he did. I don’t want him to choose me, do I? No. I try to convince myself.
Rayelle leans over. “Remember, no matter what happens, we’re meeting in the Vault at the Acropolis this afternoon.”
“I’ll be there,” I promise.
“Good morning.” Robie clears his throat, silencing the room. “I won’t waste your time by prolonging this—you know why you’re here. We’ll be giving you the details of this year’s Initiation Heist and assigning partners. If this is your first heist, remember the Initiate is in charge. You will do as they say. You are to follow their directions explicitly, no matter what. This is their final test, and they are the responsible party. The rest of you are here to learn.”
Giggling, Chloe whispers something in Garrett’s ear. He won’t choose me. She’d never stand for him spending so much time with another girl.
“The assignment is real,” Robie continues. “No one you interact with will be privy to your mission, unless they’re one of our former students working undercover as a contact. It will require using all your skill and knowledge. You may get caught. If you do, you will not admit any affiliation with Keystone or implicate us. If your identity is exposed, your life as a thief is over. In exchange for your silence, we will do everything we can to establish you as a Maker, but you will no longer be welcome here. Any secrets you hold must be taken to the grave.”
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