His Pawn (The Manhattan Tales Book 1) (23 page)

16. Jillian

I tore through the masked crowds, nearly bumping into people as I ran.  I was blinded by my tears, by the roaring pulse that hammered in my ears.  I needed to get far away from Mason Woodward.  I needed to find Elyse.  With my small stature, I couldn’t see over the crowds.  I weaved through the guests as I searched for Elyse. 

Soft music was playing from an orchestra near the front stage.  The party was truly magnificent, but I couldn’t even enjoy it anymore.  Elyse was nowhere to be found, so I climbed the grand stairwell and looked over the balcony that wrapped around the entire marbled floor below.  I watched the guests dance to the music while hanging lights glittered from the railing.

I looked for the gorgeous girl in the burgundy and black lace gown.  Her mask was a black feathered lace, and she looked like something out of a fairytale, much to her objection.  I let out a shaking breath, as I searched for her.  She was not on the floor below. 

I did spot Mason emerge from the opposite corridor on the floor below.  His cousin, Piper was behind him.  I watched him scan the floor and whisper words to his cousin, most likely orders.  He couldn’t function without being in control over everyone around him.  I whipped away from the railing before he could see me. I was so irate; I didn’t want to hear any of the lies and bullshit he tried to feed me. I crept around the balcony, still searching for Elyse.

I pulled my cell phone from my clutch and dialed her.  It rang until I reached her voicemail.

“Ly, it’s me.  Please call me.  I’m on the balcony.  I need you.” 

At that moment, my phone vibed and I saw that it was Mason calling me.  I rejected the call and within a minute, a voicemail was waiting for me.  He continuously called my phone, but Elyse was not to be heard from.

“Ly?”  I called out, walking around the plush carpeting. 

I made a right turn into a dimly lit corridor.  I still called for my friend.

Good grief, where was she?
I bit my lower lip, hard.  As I walked, searching, memories haunted my mind.  I suppressed the thoughts as best as I could.  I needed clear eyes in order to spot my best friend.  The doors were each locked in the dimly lit corridor, which I understood, considering the party down below.

I sucked in a deep breath as I dialed Elyse one more time.

“Hey babe,” She finally answered.  She sounded very breathless.

“Hey… are you ok?”  I asked, noting her breathy greeting.

“Yes,” she answered, but she sounded unusual.

“Where are you?”  I asked. “I need to go leave.  Please, can I stay at your place?”

Elyse was very silent for what seemed an eternity.  I walked aimlessly at this point and found a closed-off set of wooden steps that led up to the attic.  That was my guess.  This house was massive and it was a maze.

“Yeah… Sweetie, what’s wrong?” She finally answered, followed by a slight gasp.  “I said stop.”  I heard her playful whisper away from the phone.

I scrunched my nose, realizing she was with someone. 
Interesting.  She didn’t really care for socializing.  With anyone.  Especially men.  I was still surprised that she’d warmed up to Mason.

I climbed to the top of the wooden steps.  The staircase was shallow and the steps were blunt and old. The wood had been maintained in past years, but everything was a little dusty.  There was a musty smell coming from the small hall that greeted the top.  I wondered if these were at one time the servants’ quarters.  The house was clearly very old.

“Jill?”  Elyse asked, and I realized she’d been talking to me and I hadn’t heard anything she’d said.

“I’m sorry.  I just need to get away.  I… I had a fight with Mason.  I-”  I was interrupted when a burst of fresh tears erupted. 

“Ok, ok. I’m coming to you right now.  Are you downstairs?”  She asked.  Her question told me she was somewhere upstairs, but where?

“I’m at the top of some very old stairs, just off the balcony.  I think these are old servants’ quarters.  I just don’t want Mason to find me.”

“Alright…”  Elyse said quietly, obviously trying to figure out where I was located within this gigantic house.  “I’ll be there soon.”

I ended the call, and removed my heels.  Then, another wave of thoughts and emotions washed over me.  Everything in the past two months had been a lie.  I thought he could actually like me for
me
.  I shook my head.  He only had one motive, this entire time. 

He’d been a man who dated women far above my league.  How could I have been so foolish to think he’d go from that to.. me? I thought about the things his sister, Zara, had said to me that night.  She’d said he was incapable of loving anyone… among other things… She didn’t understand what he saw in me…

Hot tears streamed down my face.  I was stricken with anguish.  Never in my life had I been so angry.  Never in my life had I suffered from such a shatter as I did now.  I was used and manipulated by the first and only man I’d ever fallen in love with.

I’m not letting you go because I love you!
  The thought of what he’d said to me made me shake.  
What a lie.
Even in that moment, he had to continue the game. 
The contract, the sex, the intimacy he displayed had all been a trick. 
I thought back to all the times he’d been so dear to me while I was just a kid in high school.
No.  I can’t think that anymore.  It’s over.
I took several gulps of air, trying to calm my nerves.

“Jill?”  I heard Mason call my name in a frenzy from the carpet of the balcony, some distance away, and I silenced myself.  My phone continued to vibe repeatedly, and I silenced it.  When I sensed that he was gone, I wiped my face.  My cheeks were now irritated from the tears, and my eyes burned.   I needed to find a bathroom so I could switch out my contacts and put on my glasses.

Suddenly, I sensed that I was not alone.

“Mason?”  I asked.  Nothing.

“Ly?”  There was nothing but eerie silence.

Not even the floorboards creaked, but my skin prickled.  The fine hairs on my arms stood on end.  Shivers ran from my scalp down my spine.

Quickly, I stood without grabbing my heels and picked up the silk of my dress so I could leave quickly. I was not typically superstitious, but this did not feel right.

My foot made one step, before I suddenly felt incredible force against my back.  Before I could process what had happened, I felt myself thrown fiercely down the wooden steps.  The fall was merciless.  I hit the wooden floor at the bottom with a thud and my head was thrown back. 

Everything went black.

Continue on for an excerpt from Book 2: Queen In Play

Queen In Play

Book 2 in The Manhattan Tales Series

Jillian Pryor has learned a thing or two since she was swept away by the handsome Mason Woodward.  For years, she had him on a high pedestal… until she learned the dirty truth about his plans for her.

Two months later, Mason is still determined to have her, but Jillian isn't about to give in that easily.  The problem is, Jill hasn't been able to get him off her mind either. 

Still, there’s more at stake than past transgressions and painful secrets.  Mason will have to make a choice that Jill knows nothing about.

Excerpt:

“Jill?”  I asked.  I needed to hear what she was thinking.  Her silence, pale face, and troubled expression was disturbing.

I rounded the table and grabbed her hand, pulling her to her feet and against my body.

I breathed in the soft scent of her lavender shampoo as her head pressed against my chest. I wrapped my arms around her tightly.  I could feel her chest heave up and down as her breathing picked up. 

“I
love
the way our bodies fit together,” I breathed into her ear as my hands raked up and down along the sides of her body, over her luscious, round hips.

She let out a shuddering breath.  “Yeah. I like it too.”

Like? She likes it?
  I was agitated by her response.

She never pushed away from  my hold on her, but she was still rigid and stiff against me. 
Inhibited
.  Afraid, and for good reason.  But, enough was enough...

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Willa Thorne