Betrayed, I Rise novel · Chapter 7 of 32

Chapter 7: Rice Won't Work

"Trespassing," I repeated.

"His words, Miss Wexford. Not mine."

Two security guards had come out through the lobby doors. They were walking slowly.

"Hotel's private property," the older one said, almost apologizing. "We've been asked to see you to the street."

"My father owns this hotel."

"Yes, ma'am," he said. "That's who asked."

Skylar giggled.

Vincent picked my wet sneakers up off the deck and held them out to me with two fingers.

"Here. Don't forget these, Cinderella."

I took them.

I didn't let go of the drive to do it. I trapped the shoes against my hip with one arm.

"You're going to regret this," I told him.

It came out small and wet and he laughed.

"Babe. You're going to call me crying by Friday."

The guards walked me through the lobby.

Past the front desk. Past the tall windows. Past the painting of my grandfather that hung by the elevators.

Guests lowered their menus in the restaurant to watch.

A little boy pointed at the puddles I was leaving.

The doors opened, and the heat hit me, and there was Troy's rust-red truck in the fire lane with the engine running.

He was leaning on the hood.

He looked at the guards. At my wet clothes. At the drive.

"Get in," he said.

I got in.

The dog put his big head in my lap and got his ears wet and didn't care.

We didn't talk for a long time.

Then, near the watermelon water tower, I said, "She dropped it in the pool."

"I figured. When you walked out swimming."

"Barely a few seconds, maybe. It wasn't under long."

Keep reading free with an account. Start Betrayed, I Rise from Chapter 1, then sign up free to read the rest of this chapter.