Fallen from Grace (24 page)

Judas stared at his phone. He had just ignored Grace’s third phone call in forty-eight hours. The past two weeks had been torture, but seeing her name on his phone, and not answering and hearing her sweet voice, forced an agonizing ache to form in his chest that was beyond comparison. He didn’t know if he had the willpower to ignore her call again.

Grace: I need to talk to you. Please call me.

He was standing in line at a coffee shop around the corner from W&W’s building when he received the text. Maybe she had called off her engagement to Ellis. The mere thought of
his
name made Judas’s blood boil. His finger hovered over her name, he couldn’t take it anymore. He had to call her.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”

Judas pivoted on his heel. Ellis was standing behind him, his dark brow furrowed, and his grin chagrined.

“What do you want?” Judas ground out.

His savage tone caught the attention of the people in front of him, and their heads turned curiously. Ellis’s expression softened, no doubt because of the audience, but he didn’t respond—not here when people were within earshot.

Judas stepped out of line and walked toward the corner of the coffee shop where several tables were vacant and Ellis was hot on his heels. “How did you know where I was?” Judas could barely contain his anger, but he reminded himself that assaulting a public figure with so many witnesses would be stupid.
Though possibly worth it.
“Do you have one of your security details following me?”

“Just since Grace started calling you two days ago. I wanted to make sure you didn’t break our deal.”

“And if I did you were going to do what? Leak the photos of us together?”

“Yes,” Ellis deadpanned.

“You are one sick son-of-a-bitch.”

He slipped his hands in his pockets and shrugged. “I’m only ensuring I get what I deserve.”

Judas balled his fists at his sides. “Look, I haven’t talked to her. She’s called a couple times, but I haven’t answered.”

“She’s called you
three
times and just
texted
you.”

“Are you monitoring her phone?” Judas couldn’t hide the disgust in his voice.

Ellis stared impassively. “Just make sure you remember what the consequences are if you do take her call.”

“How could I forget?” Judas spat. “I haven’t answered her phone calls, and I don’t plan to, so if there’s nothing else you would like to say, I’d like to get the fuck away from you.”

Ellis lifted a hand in the air. “Unfortunately, I don’t think it’s going to be that easy. For some reason, she’s having a difficult time letting you go.”

His gaze raked over Judas, and an abhorrent scowl occupied his expression. “Though I still don’t know why. Nevertheless, it’s a problem, and I would like to deal with it right away. We’re going to the opera tonight. Two tickets will be reserved in your name at the box office.”

“Why?” Judas asked, and then it dawned on him. “You want me to bring a woman. To make her...” Judas’s stomach churned as words failed him.

“To make her jealous…resentful,” Ellis offered. “Whatever it takes to sever this ridiculous affection she holds toward you.”

Judas clenched his jaw and contemplated knocking Ellis on his ass.

“Assaulting a congressman is a felony, and this time, I might not be so helpful.”

“Fuck you.”

“Again with the language. I truly don’t understand what she sees in you. However, after tonight it will no longer be a problem, correct?”

Judas felt helpless, and while his instincts told him to fight, his heart told him to agree for Grace and her safety.

“Fine,” he snapped bitterly.

Ellis flashed his winning grin and buttoned his jacket. “That is good to hear, Judas. Until this evening.” He turned on his heel, and after taking a few photographs outside with supporters, got into a black SUV and drove away.

T
HE
M
ET
WAS
FULL
OF
its usual assemblage. The lower class typically wasn’t enthralled by the opera, so the bourgeoisie ruled the house.

Judas had to stay strong for Grace. If he were to break, her life would be ruined, and he wouldn’t be able to live with such guilt, so here he was at The Met with a date, and trying to make Grace hate him.

He’d brought Jolene, his assistant. She had always wanted to go to the opera, so she’d texted her boyfriend and faked a late night meeting with Judas to attend. Jolene was a great employee, and she’d covered his ass multiple times.

The only other person he could have asked was Rebecca, but he wouldn’t bring her because Grace had seen him with her. He didn’t want her to think he was actually with Rebecca.

“Thank you, for bringing me,” Jolene said, her smile beaming from ear to ear. “This is so amazing, Judas. I don’t know how I’ll ever be able to repay you.”

He chuckled; her excitement provided some light in his dark mood. “It’s you doing me the favor.” His gaze returned to the heavy, ivory drapes over the stage. “As I said before, I’ll need your help convincing a client of our compliance.”

“Just tell me what I have to do.”

He looked at her. “You’re already doing it. Just enjoy the show.”

She looked confused but she didn’t question him. She began reading the leaflet, and he heard her murmur several things intermittently.

“Norma…it takes place in 50 B.C.E. Wow, that’s a long time ago. It’s about a love affair, and it’s in Italian. I don’t speak Italian.”

Judas leaned over and pointed to a blank screen on the chair in front of them. “This is a translator, but you don’t have to understand them. The vocals and acoustics evoke emotion, and your heart will relay their story.”

Jolene was in awe as she commented on the room and the orchestra. They were sitting six rows in and to the far left, and Judas knew their position was premeditated. Ellis and Grace were nearby, possibly in one of the box seats on the upper level to his left, but he didn’t want to look up. He didn’t want to see her because if he did, his
will
might crumble.

Ellis knew what he was doing. This was
his
plan, and Judas was playing right into it because he would do anything to save Grace, including making her hate him, but at least she would be safe.

As the curtains rose, the lights dimmed, and the orchestra opened with a quick and agitated piece. It wasn’t his first time seeing
Norma.
Judas had seen it once with his mother when he was fourteen. She had loved the opera, and it had been the one thing Jack would take time out of his busy schedule to attend. She had always insisted they bring Judas along— the only thing they’d ever done as a family.

The cast in this rendition was extremely talented, and Judas caught himself relaxing and enjoying the show. As the hour passed, and intermission was announced people began chatting and rising from their seats. Judas risked a glance to the balcony, and his worst fears were confronted like a Mack Truck head on. Grace was on the first level to his left and staring at him. His heartbeat quickened, and the familiar excitement warmed his blood. He couldn’t tear his eyes away from hers, and if it weren’t for movement next to her, he would have remained speechless and motionless in his chair.

His eyes drifted to the right of Grace, to Ellis. He was watching Judas like a cheetah watches his prey, waiting to attack. His hand cupped his chin, and his finger smoothed back and forth over his mouth.

Make her jealous. Resentful. Whatever it takes to sever this ridiculous affection she holds toward you.

As Jolene was getting up from her chair, Judas grabbed her wrist with one hand and her hip with the other, then yanked her down onto his lap. Her eyes widened with surprise, and as she opened her mouth to protest, he wound his fingers beneath her shoulder length blond hair until they were against her neck and kissed her as if he were kissing Grace. While his right hand secured her from pulling away, his left hand slid up her thigh and beneath her dress. He was surprised Jolene didn’t fight him, but instead placed her hands against his chest and kissed him back. Judas pulled away and pressed his lips together. When he looked up, Ellis was smiling, and Grace was gone.

Jolene clambered out of his lap. “I think we should leave, Judas,” her voiced sounded breathy.

“Of course.” He stood and watched as she smoothed her white dress back down to knee length.

They were going to miss the second act of Norma, but all that mattered tonight was the show Judas had just performed.

G
RACE
HAD
BEEN
TRYING
TO
contact Judas since Rebecca Meyers walked out of her office. It broke patient client confidentiality, but after she realized she was in love with him, she knew she’d risk everything to keep him safe. And if Rebecca truly cared for Judas, and there was something Grace could do to protect him, then perhaps her betrayal could be forgiven. Or at least that’s what Grace hoped.

She’d battled her feelings for Judas and tried to ignore them, but it was as impossible as denying air to her lungs. A big piece of her feared Ellis’s reaction. He’d been working with an ADA for the past few months, whom Grace now identified as Rebecca’s father. They were trying to expose Jack and Judas, but this wasn’t Judas’s fault, and he didn’t deserve to go to jail.

Jack, on the other hand, deserved whatever he got. She hated him for blaming Judas for his mother’s death, for forcing him to forfeit his dreams and become a lawyer, and for manipulating him into betraying women. Maybe it was her love for Judas that made her stray from the black and white legalities of this disaster and bleed into the gray area or her hate for his father, but she’d rationalized his behavior. She loved Judas, and she was going to do whatever she had to do to save him from a life behind bars.

Grace decided she would tell Ellis tonight, after the opera, but she wasn’t going to mention Judas. Ellis didn’t need to know he was the reason she was calling off their engagement.

Ellis ended his phone call. Grace looked at him and forced a smile. “You’re awfully quiet this evening. Is something bothering you?”

Grace shook her head. “I’m just tired.” She had to lie to him, now wasn’t the time to tell the truth, not when Ellis had just spent an ungodly amount of money on two boxes for the opera and had a couple prime contributors meeting them.

“As soon as this is over we can go home and I’ll run you a bath.”

She nervously glanced at him. “Actually, I was thinking about going back to my place tonight. I have a lot of things I still need to pack.” It was partially true; she wanted to go home afterward, but it was to begin
unpacking
because she wasn’t ever planning on going back to his apartment.

“If that is what you want,” he responded skeptically. “Is there something
else
I should know?”

Ellis was extremely perceptive, and Grace wasn’t a good liar. She shook her head, and watched as his lips thinned into a tight line; his dark brows furrowed and his eyes danced with questions. He was about to say something, but their limo came to a stop and Robert opened Grace’s door.

Grace glanced up. “Thank you, Robert,” she said as she exited the car.

Ellis stepped out, and as he came to stand beside her, she looped her arm through his and laid her hand on his soft cashmere jacket. Photographers eagerly snapped their photo as they walked into the well-lit, glass edifice. Inside the opera house, a balcony twisted to the top level. White marble was at the base of its wood railings, and chandeliers that looked like exploding fireworks hung from the high ceiling. People were scattered around and staring, fascinated by the opulence of the opera house.

Ellis led them to a private box on the second level. Standing behind her, he gently placed his hands on her shoulders as she shrugged out of her jacket. Grace took a seat, then glanced around the grand room blanketed in red velvet. The subtle background music was provided by the orchestra. People were sitting in the dozens of rows below or attempting to find their designated seat.