Page 89 of The Twisted Beats

Lorna takes Livianna’s place and hugs my ma. “Victoria, thanks for sharing Cash on his special night.”

“I wouldn’t dare keep these two away from each other tonight.” Ma looks Livianna up and down. “You’re so small. How did that happen when everyone else in your family is tall?”

Lorna laughs. “She gets it from her dad’s mother. If you can believe it, she’s shorter than Liv.”

They laugh and talk about how shocking it is that someone so tiny is related to them.

I take Lily into a hug and breathe in her soft powder and floral perfume. “You’re doing it again, vixen.”

“I take it you like my birthday outfit.” She gives me a quick kiss. “Good, because I have plans for us later.”

She steps out of my arms as I adjust my jeans. This girl is killing me with desire and since I can’t act on it, I glance around, looking for Bren, Cooper, and Hawke.

Livianna must sense it. “Let’s go downstairs and find our friends.”

“Sounds good. It feels too”—I lift my champagne flute—“adult up here.”

“Agreed.” She excuses us, leads us downstairs past the bar, the band area, and around a corner into an open entertainmentroom with various video games against one wall, TVs hanging on another, and places to sit scattered around the room.

There’s a fancy guest bedroom I stay in from time to time off to the side with a five-star en suite. It’s a teenager’s dream party basement. Hell, it’s anyone’s fantasy space.

The floor-to-ceiling glass doors fold open to the outside. Tables and large heating lamps line the patio and around the pool. A DJ plays club music, pumping into the area, and the smell of weed drifts around us.

“Callum, it’s a private party and the adults will look the other way tonight.” Livianna points to a catered bar outside. “They have drinks over there if you want to change your wine out for beer.”

“That sounds perfect.” I start to lead us that way with our palms cupped together.

She glances at her phone in her other hand and stops. “Oh, you go without me. My friend Gia just got here. She’s all by herself, so I’m going to meet her at the front door.”

“Okay, but hurry back.”

“I will, love.” Her lusty gaze roams over me. “Damn, you are so fucking hot. I don’t know if I can wait until later.”

“What’s later?”

“You’ll see.” She flashes me a seductive smile and gestures behind me. “Your crew is over there.”

I turn and see my mates huddled at another bar, leaning against it as they casually check out the growing crowd. It’s packed with people in the industry. All way too young to be partying like they are, but who am I to judge?

My stomach spins out a wave of tight heat knowing what my ma and uncle have been teaching me about, but I release the thought. Everyone in our world drinks and does drugs. It’s nothing uncommon. If anything, it’s considered strange if you don’t.

I stroll up to the guys. “Great event, Guns.”

“Happy birthday, Cash.” Bren slaps my arm. “Tonight’s going down in the books.”

Hawke and Cooper take me in a manly hug and rub my head, wishing me a happy birthday. I push out of their clutches and rake my fingers through my hair as I laugh them off.

I change out my wine for beer and enjoy the thick Guinness coating my throat. Then Bren warns me that the cast and crew from Livianna’s show will be in attendance. I get what he’s referring to.

Sebastian. Whatever.

I’ll just stay the fuck away from the prick as long as he stays away from Livianna.

We shoot the shit for a few minutes, talking about Mayhem. Then Bren tells us how wasted the adults are going to be tonight. Meaning we’re free to do whatever the hell we want.

I rest my palm on the bar and glance around the crowd. A couple of girls are talking to a few dudes in the corner near the stairs.

Bren nudges me and gestures in their direction. “Check out the one with the long dark hair. Her legs go on for days, and that ass… What I wouldn’t give to get in that.”