Page 28 of Tell Me Your Lies

Nothing.

I remove the sleeping mask and peer into the dim light. “Linc. Stop messing around.”

Nothing.

I sit up and throw my legs over the edge of the bed. The pounding on the door continues. I wonder if we’re sinking but a glance out of the window tells me we’re fine. The ocean is calm and the sun is just peeking above the horizon. I grab a robe and fling open the door to find Lucas staring at me. “What the heck do you want at this ungodly hour?”

“I wanted to see if you’re okay.” He looks around me. “Where’s Dad?”

I shake my head. “Not here and don’t bother calling him, he left his phone here.” I sigh. “I locked my door, maybe he crashed somewhere else?” I stare at him. He has a guilty expression and behind him Alani hovers, her face sheet white. She’s wearing one of his band shirts. I want to tear out my hair—if he’s started something with her the press will make a field day out of it—she works for me, dammit. I look from one to the other and notice Alani’s hand tremble as she pushes hair from her face. “What’s happened?”

“Nothing, really.” Lucas shrugs nonchalantly. “We thought we heard a scream and figured we’d better check up on you is all. Go back to bed. It’s a little after six.”

I pull my robe around me. “No way. I want to find Linc and check on Mia and Oliver.”

“Mia is fine.” Lucas glances over his shoulder at Alani as if they’re in some type of conspiracy together. “I’ve already seen her. She’s asleep in her cabin.”

They’re not fooling me. Something is up and they’re trying to cover it up. Has someone threatened the family? “Fine but we need to make sure Linc and Oliver are okay. Are you sure you heard a scream?”

“Maybe, I was singing a song for Alani at the time, in my cabin.” Lucas exchanges a knowing look with Alani. “Maybe it was just gulls.”

I turn my attention on Alani. “Didn’t Allison tell you where to sleep?”

“No, I haven’t seen her since we first boarded.” Alani’s dark blue eyes bore into me. “I didn’t sleep with Lucas, if that’s what’s bothering you. I crashed in his room after I fell asleep on the party deck. He woke me and we jumped into the hot tub⁠—”

Anger wells up inside me. “Oh, for heaven’s sake. I don’t want all the sordid details.” I push past them and out into the passageway. “Let’s get this over with. Oliver should be in his cabin too. He went to bed early. You know he hates these parties.”

Rage smolders through me. Linc always promised me, when he’s at home, he sleeps in my bed—no exceptions. It’s bad enough he allows any female over the age of twenty-one to give him a full body massage when they dance but as that is all “part of his act” I let it slip. My stomach rolls at the thought of finding him curled up with a nubile fortune hunter. I grind my back teeth as I catch my reflection in a mirror along the hallway. I look my age and then some. Even cosmetic surgery doesn’t hide it but Linc—well, he just gets better looking and his body is as hard as a rock. He works out, he needs to keep fit for the tours but next to him I look like an old woman.

We find Oliver sound asleep and slowly move through all the guest cabins on the VIP deck. None of the beds have been slept in, which is usual. No one is allowed up here. It’s our private sanctuary. The lounge is empty and clean—no one partied in here last night. I turn to Lucas. “Did you happen to see where your father ended up last night?”

“He was on the upper deck jamming with the guys, last I saw him.” Lucas pushes a hand through his bed hair and smiles. “I was entertaining a few ladies in the hot tub at the time, not watching what Dad does. I’m not his keeper.”

I glare at him and he glares right back. “You should watch each other’s backs.”

“That’s what we have bodyguards for, Mom.” He shakes his head. “Who would want to cause trouble? Being invited to one of our parties is a privilege, and our bodyguards don’t allow anyone in unless they’ve been checked out.”

I consider the number of people I didn’t know on board last night. Let’s say I recognized less than a quarter of them. The others were just hangers-on, party girls and the plus-ones who usually come along to get laid by a member of the band. Where is Linc?

THIRTY-EIGHT

Alani

My mind is in turmoil as I follow Isabelle and Lucas down the steps to the main deck. We move through a door that’s marked “Private” and Lucas shuts it behind me. The number of people inside the lounge surprises me; bodies are spread out everywhere, some even into the dining area, sitting with their heads cradled on their arms on the tabletops. Many of them are snoring, and the smell of stale champagne and old perfume lingers along with a slight undertone of vomit. I turn to Lucas. “Is it always like this?”

“Most times.” He shrugs. “We have plenty of guest cabins but most of the people seem to party until they drop.” He turns to Isabelle. “I’ll need to alert security if you plan on searching the guest cabins for him.”

“He wouldn’t dare—not when I’m on board.” Isabelle’s eyes flash with anger. “I’ve had my suspicions about him since the last tour.” She turns on Lucas, and her mouth twists into an ugly grimace. “Tell me—is he seeing other women when he’s on tour?”

“It’s none of my business, what Dad does.” Lucas shakes his head. “Yeah, there are women, tons of them. You know that it’s part of the business but that doesn’t mean he hooks up with them and you know it.” He pulls out his phone and calls security. “You need to know if he’s here, so we’ll wake everyone and see if he’s on this deck.”

My heart beats so fast as the negative replies come from the occupants of the rooms. As the security guard turns with a shake of his head from the final cabin, I’m trembling so much, Lucas slips a hand around my waist. I lean into him, glad of his support. “Where is he?”

“Go and check the bridge.” Lucas waves the security guard away. “If he’s not there, we’ll check the party deck but it’s not somewhere he would crash. Just wait in case he’s on the bridge.”

“Look at you two getting cozy.” Isabelle glares at me. “You can’t have Lucas; he’s not getting involved with a member of my staff. Just because Linc put you in a room on our floor, it doesn’t change your position in my house.”

“Your house?” Lucas pulls me closer and rests his chin on my head. “The house belongs to Dad and me—not you.” He glares at her. “Why do you make everything so nasty? Can’t you see she’s upset? We’re friends, and I’m supporting her is all.” He turns as the security guard comes down the steps shaking his head. “Okay, keep searching. We’ll search on this deck. You head down to the other decks and call me if you find him.”