Page 53 of The Twisted Beats

I remember thinking I saw something move out of the corner of my eye but ignored it. She was about to come and I wasn’t going to stop for the life of me.

Andrew relaxes his stance. “At the New Year’s Eve party. Iwent looking for you because I thought you were in your office working and were going to miss the clock striking midnight.”

I half roll my eyes and subtly nod, acknowledging him. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

“You obviously don’t want people to know, so I figured it was none of my business.” He pauses for a moment. “Sorry I didn’t knock.”

“Forgiven, but don’t make that mistake again.”

“Already made a note of it.”

As I plan how to approach this, I run my palm over my nicely trimmed beard. “Our relationship is…”

“A secret, but why? Nobody would care.”

“Her dad would.” My throat nearly closes.

Greg Hemmings knows too much about my past and the danger that comes with it. He wouldn’t approve of Livianna being with me when there’s so much risk involved.

Thankfully, my enemies haven’t been able to trace me, so Livianna has stayed safe. That doesn’t mean there won’t come a time when she’ll be in their reach. I shudder just thinking about it.

The server comes over and refills Andrew’s coffee cup. I order one for myself and sink back into my chair. Just knowing I can talk to someone about this has my muscles loosening.

Andrew stirs cream into his drink. “Why would her dad care?”

“He’s a friend and business ally. I’ve known him for years.” I puff out a fake laugh. “Livianna was sixteen the first time I saw her, and she’s been screwing with my head ever since.”

Andrew’s eyes round. “You got involved with his daughter when she was a minor?”

“Fuck no.” I scowl. “I saw her in their driveway and thought she was in her mid-twenties. She was dressed to kill, and I was a thirty-one-year-old man who had only focused on my career. Let’s just say it had been a while since I had been with a woman.”

“That paints a much better and clearer picture. But I’m still confused about why it would bother him now. She’s a consenting adult.”

“That first day I saw her, I asked her dad who the hot older chick was leaving with his eighteen-year-old son. I thought he was going to kill me right then and there. All I did was suggest I thought she was attractive. Can you imagine what he’d do if he knew I was sleeping with her?”

Andrew gives me a knowing look. “Yeah, it doesn’t sound like he’d be too keen on the idea.”

“How would you feel if your daughter was in a relationship with someone fifteen years older than her?”

“I see your point, but age isn’t that big of a deal to people anymore. At least if they’re an adult and consenting.” He takes a drink, then places it down. “Why don’t you tell me what happened with her this morning?”

“I called to say hi and tell her I miss her. She was at Coachella to see her brother’s concert.”

“What’s wrong with that?”

“While we were talking, some guy named Callum interrupted. He called her vixen and Lily. He told her to hang up so they could go somewhere where they could have some privacy.”

“No way!” Andrew leans in with much more interest. “They haven’t been seen together in years. Damn. I wonder?—”

“Wait. Who haven’t been seen together in years?”

With big eyes and a sharp movement, he pulls back. “How much do you know about Livianna?”

“More than most.”

“I’m not sure you do.”

My stomach rolls into a tight ball. “Why do you say that?”