Page 155 of The Twisted Beats

My mom pushes off the couch and goes upstairs.

“John, would you like to share what you saw?” My dad peers over at John.

His gaze darts around my face. “Livianna was in the room alone, but there were security people from the hotel there.”

I steel myself. He’s going to tell them and I have no way out of this now.

I place my hand on my dad’s knee. “Daddy, it was nothing but a little disturbance. Nobody was hurt and we quieted down right after the hotel staff left.”

My mom and Bren return to the room.

Bren scratches the back of his head. “What’s this about?”

“Sit down, Brendan.” My dad points to a space on the couch. “We need your help with something.”

Dammit!

It’s obvious my dad doesn’t believe me. Usually, I can get him to listen to my side and at least go easy on me. This doesn’t appear to be the case right now. My mom finds a seat next to me.

Bren sits next to her. “What can I help with? I wasn’t there today. Hell, I didn’t even know Cash was going to the studio.”

“This is about New Year’s Eve.” Ms. Mayze cups her hands together and rests them in her lap. “Please help us understand what you and John saw that night when you returned to the hotel. It will be great information to assist Bubba in getting out of these ridiculous charges.”

Bren bites down on the corner of his mouth and stares my way. I try to remain neutral since everyone is analyzing every move I make. My mom nudges Bren.

His shoulders fall. “John and I came back to the room thinking Cash would be there. He wasn’t, but Livianna was with the hotel staff.”

“We already know that.” My dad’s irritation level is becoming obvious. “What did you see when you returned? Not as in who was there, but what was going on with Livianna?”

“Her clothes were torn.” Bren gives me an apologetic shrug. “She was a mess. Her makeup and hair were all overthe place. Once everyone left, I realized she had been cutting on her wrists again.”

I lower my head as my chest caves in. I want to cry, but I shove it down. It won’t help. If anything, it will only prove to everyone that something did happen.

My mom runs her hand over my back. “Why were your clothes ripped?”

I stay frozen, my gaze stuck to the floor.

“Livianna, the studio wants to press charges against Bubba.” Ms. Mayze’s voice cuts in. “He says the man provoked him by telling him some inappropriate things about what took place in your hotel room. Please help my son by exposing the truth.”

His future rides on me. I can only imagine what the evil guy said to him that would’ve made Callum act the way he did.

Nothing in me wants to say it, but I gather all my strength for his sake. “The guy assigned to me that night forced himself on me.”

“He did what?” My dad towers over me, shaking.

Bren rises to my dad’s level. “He tried to rape her, but Livianna stopped it somehow. That’s all any of us know.”

“Why wouldn’t you tell anyone?” My dad spins and stumbles to the fireplace. “You’re only fifteen, Livianna. You don’t need to take on the world’s problems at your age.”

“I don’t?” This time I get to my feet. “I’m expected to do everything an adult does, but when it comes to making decisions that are right for me, I’m told I’m too young. Which one is it? Am I an adult or a kid?”

My dad’s stunned silence is enough to tell the room I’ve made my point. I turn to Ms. Mayze and John.

“Anything Callum needs, I’ll do. He was only defending me.” I cup my hands over each of my wrists, crossing them. “We already know New Year’s Eve is going to be a he-said-she-said issue since I didn’t say anything to anyone, but I’m sure you guys can come up with a plan.”

“Thank you, Livianna.” Ms. Mayze comes over and hugs me.

John stands and takes a step toward me.