Typhon

Chapter 20

Rylee~

My buzz died a quick death on the side of the Field House. Stone had broken off our engagement, and I had no idea why. I had no idea of anything right now.

I wasn't sure how long I stayed leaning up against the side of the house, but soon, the cold had sent me back inside. Looking for Laney, I found her still on the couch with Jay, and thankfully, my purse had still been nestled safely with them.

"Where's Stone?" she asked when she saw me approach.

Reaching for my purse, I told her the truth. "He left."

She looked confused. "Why?"

There was no way that I could tell her the truth. Even if I wanted to-which I really didn't-I couldn't discuss the contract in front of Jay. While I was still trying to process Stone's threats, even without the hate that he'd just spewed, I still knew better than to discuss anything about our engagement around anyone outside the group.

So, I lied.

"He was...uh, double-parked," I told her, even though it sounded stupid even to my ears. Like Stone Lexington would care about a parking ticket. "I need to get going."

"Oh, okay," she said. "Is he waiting for you?"

"Yeah," I lied again. Whatever was going on, something was preventing me from being honest with Laney about Stone, but I wasn't going to question it. I was going to trust my gut on this one, so I just gave her a quick grin. "I'll catch up with you later."

"Can't promise I'll be home tonight," she quipped as Jay's arms tightened around her compliant body, and I doubted that she'd be home, too. So, I just waved at them, then made my way outside.

A few feet down the block, I called for an Uber, then prayed that Stone was home. The more that I sobered up, the more confused I became. I had no idea what had happened between this afternoon and Stone showing up here, but I supposed that it didn't matter. As much as I could admit that my feelings were hurt, and that there was also a tinge of heartache because I had really started liking Stone, he had every right to end our engagement if he thought that he was making a mistake. Maybe he realized that this was moving too fast, and that the chemistry between us wasn't enough to get married.

Whatever his reasoning, I still needed to know what this meant for me and my family. I knew the repercussions for violating the contract and the NDA that I'd signed, but what if it was the member that had broken the contract? Where did that leave me? Would The Order still hold me responsible somehow? Would they still go after my family for something that was beyond my control? I was free from the marriage, but was I free from the breach of contract?

That was the only reason that I'd given the Uber driver Stone's address. I needed answers, and he was the only person that could give them to me. Had I not been as tipsy as I'd been, I would have demanded answers when he'd had me up against the house, but surprise and alcohol had numbed my brain a bit. My only hope was that he was home and was willing to talk to me.

When the Uber pulled up in front of Stone's condominium complex, I immediately felt underdressed. The building looked like an upscale business front that you'd find in the middle of Manhattan or Chicago. It was a sleek silver with reflective glass used for the windows, and it screamed money.

I hurried out of the idling car, then wondering how I was going to get inside, I noticed someone leaving the front entrance. I raced to grab the door before it shut, then sent an apologetic look at the person leaving. "Left my keys at my boyfriend's."

The girl gave me a sympathetic look. "I do it all the time," she chuckled.

I waved at her before making my way inside the lobby, and if the outside appearance of the building screamed money, then the inside screamed class. Still, as much as a part of me wanted to take in the classy décor of the slate blue, marbled greys, and reflective glass, I wasn't here to tour the place.