Forbidden Serenade

Chapter Twenty-Two

For me to leave a nightclub, I simply walked out the door. For Elijah to leave, it was an entire logistics of security teams and a planned operation. Leaving me seated near Jake on the couch, Elijah left to tell Joel he was ready to go.

My hands fidgeted in my lap as the party continued in front of me. Sterling drank and puffed on a cigar. He and Mason were enjoying the company of several women. Aiden rose to greet some new men. I squinted, realizing they were well-known actors.

Elijah returned a moment later. Taking my hand, he led me from the suite. Joel walked in front of us while another man followed behind. A buzz of excited nervousness shot through me. It felt like we were on some important mission. And we were, in a way. The job of security was to safely escort Elijah from the nightclub to the hotel. It was a difficult situation for my mind to grasp. Elijah couldn't simply go where he wanted, when he wanted. There were overzealous fans and eager women. This aspect of his life was entirely unfamiliar to me.

Approaching the steps, a man rushed towards us. Putting his hands up, Joel and Elijah stopped to talk to him. I stood behind Elijah, gripping his hand and unsure of what was happening.

"You've got to be fucking kidding me," Elijah said angrily as he turned toward me.

"Elijah," Joel said. "We've got options."

Elijah glanced between him and the other man beneath furrowed brows. "Who the fuck tipped them off?"

Joel waved for the man behind me to approach. "You know how they are." Turning toward the other man, they started talking and pointing as though telling directions.

I took a step closer to Elijah. My free hand grasped his forearm. Something wasn't right. "What's going on?"

Elijah's lips pulled down. Anger and hurt dueled in his eyes. Regret laced his voice. "Paparazzi showed up. I can't walk out of here with you without being photographed."

My eyes widened as my face paled. Dropping his hand, I took a step back. The idea of our illicit affair being the headline of every magazine spun in my alcohol-filled mind.

Elijah surged toward me, grabbing my arms as though afraid I'd fall. "It's alright, Riley. We just have to exit separately."

He made it sound so simple. As if my entire future wasn't hanging in the balance. I had no one else to help me in these uncharted waters I felt like I was suddenly drowning in.

"You're sure? I can't have my kids see this. They can't know that their mom is sleeping with someone they listen to. Oh my gosh, Lilly will hate me."

Elijah's jaw ticked as he glanced over at his security guards. "They won't know."

Pain flickered on his face as he turned away. He introduced me to his inner circle, while I worried about others discovering our relationship. I may have more to lose, but that didn't eliminate the hurt. It wasn't fair to him.

Joel stepped toward us and pointed toward the other security guard. "Andre will escort Riley out the back." Turning toward Elijah, he continued. "I'll take you out the front."

After Elijah gave a nod of approval, Andre turned toward me with raised brows.

"Ready?"

Elijah took a step back and shoved his hands in his jean pockets. I stood unmoving for a moment, debating the decision before me. If I went with Andre alone, was I hurting Elijah? The alternative was walking out with him. The world would discover what I was doing, and they would judge me harshly. I knew it.

I opened my mouth to speak but couldn't find the words. I either hurt Elijah or sacrificed myself.

Pulling his hands from his pockets, Elijah stepped closer to me. Taking my face in his hands, he put his forehead against mine. "I'm sorry, Riley. I didn't know they were gathering here and at the hotel. This is the chaos of my life. The price I pay for what I do."