The Power Trip

Chapter Seventy

‘Are you Skylar?’

‘Huh?’ Skylar Byrne took a step back from the girl with the crazy green streaks in her short black hair, and the most uncomfortable-looking piercings in her nose and eyebrows. ‘Who’re you?’

‘Name’s Radical, an’ I get it, ’cause I’m like just as pissed as you.’

Skylar took another step back. Was this a case of mistaken identity? Who was this girl and what did she want?

The two of them were standing at the Fifth Avenue entrance to Central Park, Skylar dressed for jogging in yellow shorts and a pale blue T-shirt emblazoned with I vote for puppies, Radical in ripped jeans and a grey hoodie over a red T-shirt with hate splashed across the front.

‘Do I know you?’ Skylar asked, hopping from foot to foot.

‘You don’t hav’ta know me,’ Radical replied, squinting. ‘’Cause I know you.’

‘You do, huh?’ Skylar said, standing up a little straighter.

Radical reached into the back pocket of her jeans and pulled out a crumpled pack of cigarettes. She extracted one and offered it to Skylar.

Skylar shook her head.

‘Suit yourself,’ Radical said, rummaging for a book of matches and lighting up with a defiant flourish. ‘Sooner have a joint,’ she remarked. ‘Only like not in public. You smoke grass?’

‘Who are you?’ Skylar repeated. ‘What do you want?’

‘I want for us to make money. Big bucks,’ Radical stated matter-of-factly. ‘An’ if you’re down with it, I know exactly how we can do it.’

Skylar couldn’t help herself. Commonsense informed her that she should be walking away, but curiosity got the better of her. ‘What are you talking about?’ she asked.

And Radical began to explain.

Chapter Seventy-One

Flynn, Taye and Cliff spent the morning working out in the gym. Flynn, because he needed to purge all the angst he was feeling. Taye, because he loved keeping his ripped body in fantastic shape. And Cliff, because he hadn’t been in such a good mood in years. Besides, he was heading towards fifty and had to keep everything in working order, especially since he had a much younger girlfriend — a girlfriend he planned to hang onto.

Taye chose the music — Tinie Tempah, Jay-Z and Wiz Khalifa. The sounds were fast and furious blasting out — full of pounding energy.

Flynn would’ve preferred the Stones or a laid-back Dave Matthews. Cliff was more into old-school classics such as Sinatra or Tony Bennett. However, they both went along with Taye’s choice since he seemed so into it.

The three of them had a competitive time sweating it out. Three guys with nothing else to do except work on their bodies. It was a bonding experience.

* * *

Meanwhile, Bianca, Luca, Ashley and Lori lolled by the pool, soaking up the sun and sipping on ice-cold frozen margaritas. It was one of those lazy days, and everyone felt very relaxed. Everyone except Jeromy, who was sulking in his room, for he was acutely aware of Luca’s withdrawal and yet helpless to stop the inevitable. He knew it was coming. He knew the signs.

He decided to leave his room and find Guy. He had a need to release his pent-up frustration, and Guy was the only one capable of helping him out.

Too bad if he didn’t want to. Guy was the entertainment director. Let him entertain.

* * *

Aleksandr was engrossed in making plans with Xuan about the orphanage he’d decided to build outside Moscow. Xuan had many innovative and intelligent ideas, and he was interested in hearing them.

It wasn’t long before he found himself revealing details of his own miserable childhood, things that he’d never told anyone. It was a cathartic experience to expose so much of himself, and he found it to be most comforting. He was more and more drawn towards her as he shared memories of an horrific childhood — a childhood he’d not even revealed to Bianca, since she’d never shown any interest in hearing about his roots.

Now that he was talking about it, he felt a burden lifting, freeing him from his past.

In return Xuan started telling him some of her early stories. He soon realized that they were even more harrowing than his. Watching her as she spoke, he was starting to feel true compassion for her. She was so different from any woman he’d ever known. She was nurturing and clever, also very sensual in a low-key kind of way. There was nothing overt about Xuan; her sexuality was a private thing.

Aleksandr started wondering about her and Flynn, and exactly how strong their relationship was.

Not that he was thinking of doing anything about it… or was he?

Xuan was the first woman who’d stirred his sexual interest since being with Bianca.

Why was it happening now?

Was it because Bianca was acting like such a spoiled bitch? Over nothing?

Aleksandr was angry. At Bianca. And at himself.

He was planning on asking Bianca to marry him. Surely he shouldn’t be thinking about another woman at such a special time?

* * *

‘You stay here,’ Hammond ordered his wife. ‘I’m going to call Eddie, see what’s so goddamn important that it couldn’t wait until I get back.’

‘I should come with you,’ Sierra suggested, not wanting to be by herself and face the temptation of popping Xanax again.

‘Why?’ Hammond said harshly. ‘So you can make eyes at your boyfriend?’

Sierra sighed and shook her head. ‘For the last time, Flynn is not my boyfriend. I have no feelings for him whatsoever. Please believe me.’

‘Just remember what I told you I can arrange to have done to him,’ Hammond taunted. ‘I am not joking.’

‘I know you’re not,’ she said dully. ‘What happened between Flynn and me was a long time ago. You have no need to worry.’

‘Me? Worry?’ Hammond scoffed. ‘Believe me, dear, it would take a better man than Flynn Hudson for me to worry about.’

Sierra hoped she’d made it clear to Hammond that she cared nothing for Flynn. If he thought she cared even one little bit, who knew what he was capable of? She had to tread carefully, maybe even warn Flynn if that was possible.

‘As I said — you stay here until I get back. Then we will go to lunch and present a united front,’ Hammond said, opening the door and stepping out. ‘Perhaps you can be charming for once. Wouldn’t that make a pleasant change?’

Sierra watched him go with hate in her heart. He’d trapped her once again with his vile threats.

Would she ever be free?

Deep down she knew it was up to her.