Page 112 of Pervade Montego Bay

“Boom indeed,” said Louis.

Within a few minutes, Emily took to the stage with her violin. The crowd hushed and guests gathered closer to the stage.

James pulled out a chair and sat beside me. “She’s playing?”

“Champagne?” Louis offered him.

James accepted the glass from him. “Thank you.” He turned his attention to the stage, where Emily was poised to begin. His look of concern deepened as he scanned the crowd for Trevor.

“He’s on the yacht,” I said without looking at him.

James let out a sigh of relief and patted my back.

I’d do anything to make Emily happy. I’d lost her once. During that time, I might as well have had my oxygen supply cut off.

The fine hairs on my forearms prickled as her bow caressed the strings of her violin, eliciting an unearthly magic, her instrument an effortless extension of herself. Notes escaped like an incantation set free as she mesmerized the audience. She began with the piece she’d played just before we’d first met in London—Niccolò Paganini’sCaprice No. 24,and I knew she was playing it for me.

Louis shook his head in awe. “Have you ever heard anything like it?”

“Honestly, no.” James’ tone was filled with pride.

I saw the way he looked at Emily with adoration, his face haunted with misery as though only now realizing what he was losing.

He’d hurt her to protect her from himself. James was being crushed by the weight of his own convictions. He rose from his seat, perhaps too overwhelmed to listen any longer to those beautiful endless notes. With a touch of his forearm, I asked him to stay.

Emily would want him to.

James gave me a nod of understanding and sat down again, grabbing his glass of champagne. He finished it and Louis poured him another. James quickly finished that one off, too.

“I know,” I whispered.

James refused to look at me—he was too choked up to answer.

Xavier

Louis handed me the shot glass of espresso with a look that told me it would hit the mark. He really did make the best coffee. It tasted bittersweet, and the buzz made me blink. I savored the rush despite it being 1:00 A.M.

James leaned against the kitchen counter with an inquisitive expression. The last of the party guests had left and we were starting to wind down. He looked over at Louis who was drinking champagne from a bottle.

“It went well tonight,” said James. “Are you happy?”

Louis took another swig. “We have a lot of great toys to drop off. Will you help me deliver them?”

“Of course,” said James. “Wouldn’t miss it.”

James shifted his stance, as though ready to havethatchat.

Louis became worried. “Problem?”

“I’m tightening your security,” he said.

Louis’ smile faded.

“Just for a while.”

“As long as I don’t see them.” Louis tipped the bottle and finished it off.

James turned to me. “Get Emily.”