Frosted (Hate at First Flight #3)

13. The Lost Songbird of Venice Beach

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I didn't know the full details of the plan that I had quickly concocted, but I did know that if I managed to pull it off, I might just be Jace-free after all.

At that moment, I didn't even care that someone might replace Jace and that I would lose the semblance of freedom I had enjoyed in school. All I cared about was freeing myself of Jace Frost.

Elliott and Chloe both watched me, confusion painted on both their faces at my request.

"What type of help do you need?" Elliott asked as he cast a questioning look in Chloe's direction before looking back at me.

I darted a quick look over at Jace to make sure he wasn't looking in our direction. I didn't need him to suspect that I was planning anything or that something was amiss. When I saw that he was still busy in conversation with Yuri, I leaned in front, motioning for both of my friends to do the same.

"I'll be leaving first," I said once they did. "And I need you both to take my bag after ten minutes and go somewhere far away from here."

"Why? What's going on?" Elliott asked as he cast a look around us as if he could find the answers to his questions in our surrounding.

Chloe's brows were furrowed together in worry as she pressed her lips together. "Something's going on, isn't there? Why else would you ask us to take your bag for you?"

I sighed in frustration as I cast another look towards Jace. The longer I would take before I executed my plans, the more likely it would be that Jace would discover it. "Look, I don't have time right now. I'll explain it later. I promise." I pinned them with a look that I could only hoped to be reassuring. "Please I need you guys to do this for me."

Elliott still had a suspicious look on his face. "Phillipa," he began, "Whatever it is, we can help. Just tell us what's going on now."

I shook my head. "It's nothing serious. I just want to do something on my own and I'm worried that Bruce or someone would be able to find me if I took my bag with me. They might have a tracker installed in there," I explained.

I was being honest about it but not fully. I still didn't mention that it was Jace that I was worried about.

"Just promise us that it's not dangerous," Chloe said as she reached over and placed a hand over mine.

I smiled, trying to look as confident as I was feeling at the moment although a part of me was worried about Jace noticing what I was planning. "It's not dangerous, Chlo. I just need you both to take my bag with you ten minutes after I get up."

Chloe and Elliott both sent each other questioning looks and after a couple of seconds of silent exchanges between the both of them, Elliott said, "Okay. But take your phone with you at the very least and some cash. Call us thirty minutes after you leave or I will contact the cops."

I scoffed at him. "The cops, seriously?"

Elliott arched a brow back at me. "Take it or leave it. That's my offer."

After seconds of staring at him and him not backing down, I sighed and nodded. "Fine, fine." I reached into my bag and grabbed my purse before pulling out a couple of notes.

"So what's the plan?" Chloe asked as she finished her rice tea.

"I'll head out the back door," I replied as I looked over at Jace. He was watching us now and I thanked my lucky stars that he hadn't been paying attention when I was trying to convince Chloe and Elliott.