Page 5 of The Devil of Hollywood

“But…” I looked between the main entrance and the side door. “That’s the private signing room. For VIPs.”

“I know.”

More, he smiled as he pulled me into a jog. By the time he was sweeping me inside and presenting our tickets, I could barely contain myself. The banner in the distance. The buzz of excited squeals. The name on the banner.

“You didn’t. Oh my God, you didn’t.” I jerked to a stop, smoothing down my hair and straightening the dark green dress I wore. “It’s her. How do I look? What if I forget to speak? What if I make a fool of myself? I forgot my book!”

Drayton’s smile grew as he eased the tote from my shoulder. “Open it. I slipped Slade inside when you weren’t looking. And you’ve been wanting the newest edition, plus the rest of the series. We’ll get those for you too. Happy Birthday, Marian.”

I didn’t open my bag. I launched myself into Drayton, wrapping my arms around his neck as I pressed my lips into his. Surprise only lasted a moment. The kiss he returned was scorching. His tongue pushed into my mouth, and his fingers dug into my back. I was holding to him so tightly, lost in the way his tongue was massaging into mine. Had that been my first real kiss? Our first kiss? It hadn’t felt like it in that moment. I was made to kiss Drayton. I was perfectly in sync and at home with him.

“…Marian? Earth to Marian?”

I blinked hard, shaking my head.

“Are you okay?”

My mouth would barely move as I nodded, dazed. “Yeah. Wow. Memories.” I grabbed Slade, pulling the paperback free. I couldn’t bear to open the book and look at the message or signature. I had it memorized.

“To Marian and Drayton, the cutest couple I’ve ever seen.”

“Start here.” I handed it over, not missing the sickness that took me over when I did. “Just… protect that book with your life, Penny. To the death.”

“I will. I promise. You should probably get going.”

“Yeah.”

It was all I could manage as I turned and headed back for my room. Penny hovered in the background, but I couldn’t stop seeing that smile. Those eyes. The… happiness Drayton held. I ruined that. I ruined him. Hell, who was I kidding? I ruined his entire family, just like my mother said I would. The Penningtons hadn’t been the same after that night. For a long time after that, they were looked down upon. Fallen… because of what happened. What he did because of me. His cousin was dead. Others in our circle had been hurt. He was lucky he hadn’t gone to jail. He should have. We all knew he should have paid for that accident. Or… me. Maybe I should have been the one to pay for his crimes. That accident hadn’t been the first in his downward spiral, and it was all my fault for what happened.

“Marian, are you sure you’re okay?”

“I’m great.”

I zipped up my suitcase, turning as I pulled it from the bed. How long had it been since I visited the US? Five years? More? I never stayed long. I couldn’t for fear that I’d see Drayton. But I knew I wouldn’t. He’d left Chicago behind for California. Hollywood, to be exact. That’s who he was now. He wasn’t the Pennington heir anymore. He lost that title because of me, and he gained a new one in its place. One meant to shame him. Too bad it was fitting for the devil he’d become. He was every bit the suave bad boy he portrayed to the public. To the celebrities he governed. Good looking. Sly. Tempting. Evil. Sinn or Mr. Sinn is what they called him. Mr. ‘owner of the most elite club in the world’. Drayton was the fallen. The scandalous. He was, The Devil of Hollywood.

“Penny…” My hand came to rest on my stomach. Just the thought of going back, the thought of Drayton, left me feeling sick. All the ‘whys’. All the blurry memories of the big blowout between our families. I’d refused to think about it for years. I always had the weight of the guilt, but I rarely allowed in the details. “Why don’t you pack and come with me?”

“Me? Go to Florida? But I have to work. The agents said⁠—”

“Katia knows you’re safe with me. Besides, I’m the boss,” I smiled. “You said so yourself. Come to Miami with me.”

“Really?”

At my nod, she was running over, throwing her arms around me. Just like I’d continuously done to Drayton.

I was the shark.

I was the shark.

I was not the mouse cowering to my mother.

Not anymore.

I pulled back, trying my best to compose myself. No more old Marian. No more Drayton. Work. Books. Maybe even men. What could it hurt? I’d been so good all this time. So… lonely. “Go pack. We’re going to Miami. We’re going to make this a vacation neither of us ever forget.

“Statistic.” Penny’s lips were parted, and she kept shaking her head back and forth. “I can’t get that word out of my mind. That Prologue. That first chapter! And now she’s been kidnapped? Marian.”

I cringed. “I tried to warn you, Penny.”