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Prologue - New Year's Eve

The Chaput New Year’s Eve party is famous in Denver I’m not a party person and for me New Year’s Eve is a time to be alone, so I’ve only ever been once besides this year I wouldn’t even be here tonight if eren’t fil for the season finale of Shrike Bikes, but Rook disappeared almost the entire month of December with Ronin First the GIDGET runway show in LA, then a week in Cancun, then Christmas

So, here I aet this over with

I’d rather be anywhere but here I’d rather talk to anyone but her

The entire studio has been cleared of equipment and replaced with tables and a dance floor The band is playing, the lighting is moody and atmospheric, and there are almost three hundred people here all dressed in black I’ve finished the exit interviews for everyone except Rook, but she’s conveniently made herself scarce

A waitress walks by with a tray and I tap her on the shoulder as she passes “Have you seen Miss Corvus?” I ask politely I creep her out, I can tell, because she immediately pulls away from me and then points wordlessly over the crowd to Antoine’s office

She’s gone before I can thank her

It’s quite difficult to be polite and when I’m handed rudeness in return, it makes me want to morph back into the old me

I drop that thought as I s of people and spy Rook standing just inside the door with Veronica They are thick as thieves these days If I were Spencer I’d watch out They will be into trouble soon, if they’re not already

Ronnie is wearing a short black dress with very high heels Her look says she takes her fun seriously

Rook, on the other hand, is dressed like a dark princess Her dress is not a dress It’s a gown A long own that breaks the black only rule, but no one cares because she is stunning The dress has a tight strapless bodice and elaborate skirts that touch the ground Her hair is flowing down her back in long waves and atop her head is a shiny blue cardboard tiara

Just as she turns and spies ht catches the blue of her eyes and her crown at the same time It’s like a flashbulb and my mind takes a picture

“Rook,” I say loudly and with a s o” Veronica pats her on the shoulder like she needs her syh that eer

“Ford,” she starts “I’ I’m sorta drunk I’m not ready for this I’m—”

She goes on and on like that but she follows like a good girl and I just tune it out We exit the studio and walk down the hallway to the rooh the doorway she’s still talking about waiting guests and Ronin