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“Stuff this shit. I’m not talking through a door to you.” Barrett pushed the door wide open and barraged through the now large enough gap before tutting at me. “I know you’re pissed about all this,” he said while throwing his hands around in the air. “It’s not but the guys are right about needing to escape what’s going on in LA. You need to find an even ground, mate. All this hate isn’t helping anyone.”
“Even ground.” I grabbed Barrett by the shirt with my one hand and pulled him closer to my face. “You think you have the nerve to tell me to accept this? If anything, I should be telling you to get out of my life.”
“Xander…”
“Don’t Xander me.” I let go of his shirt and ran my hand over my unshaven mess of stubble across my jaw and paced in a circle. “You were by her side, Barrett. You…”
I felt myself crumble as I sat on the edge of the bed. I gathered my face in my palms, hiding my emotions away as I felt the weight of the mattress shift beneath me and his hand grip my shoulder.
“We’re all missing her,” he admitted. “She’ll always be with us Xander, but the hit was planned. The guy fucking took his own life after.”
“But that just makes the whole thing ten times worse.” I lifted my head to meet his gaze. “He’ll never actually pay for what he did.”
“I know but you’re making sure that everyone else does.”
“So what should I do?” I stood up and looked at him. “Pretend that I’m fine and just go on with my life?”
“I never said that but you can’t make yourself ill. It won’t help anyone,” Barrett reminded me. “Now, get showered and changed and meet mI in the restaurant in an hour. I’ve booked a booth.” He watched me open my mouth but stopped me quickly. “Xander, it’s secluded. We’re just going to eat. You need to eat. That’s it.”
I nodded, knowing he was right as my stomach growled in protest. “Okay, one hour.”
I jumped into the shower and cleaned myself up before grabbing a fresh black shirt and jeans out of my suitcase which still remained packed in the corner of the room. I didn’t see the point of unpacking the damn thing. I didn’t even know what was in it. I’d just gone on autopilot and scooped clothes into the case on Barrett’s command while the cab had honked his horn, demanding for us to hurry. I wasn’t bothered about styling my hair or trimming my stubble. The basics had just seemed like frivolous expectations which were no longer of importance to me. What mattered was why I’d been lacking in protecting Lily and how I’d rectify it. I needed a plan to move forward and that was the only thing forcing me to open my eyes in the morning.
I took out my keys and my phone and slid them into my trouser pocket before putting on my shoes and headed out to the restaurant to meet Barrett. If I played it right, I could devour a meal in an hour and be back in my room alone, letting the time pass me by.
“Do you want a drink?” Barrett asked the moment he saw me enter the room. “We’ve got a ten minute wait for our table.”Fan-bloody-tastic.
“Beer, please,” I forced out as I took a seat on the bar stool next to him. I watched him raise two fingers to grab the bar attendant’s attention.
“Two beers, please,” Barrett requested, placing his money down on the bar-top. “Keep the change.”
We waited for a moment and as soon as our drinks were place in front of us, I reached for my beer and brought it to my lips, taking a sip of the cool freshness. We were disturbed as my phone started to ring.
“It’s not stopped all day,” I began as I pulled it out of my pocket and I glanced down at the screen. Normally, I’d have wished I’d not turned the damn thing back on to loud but I wasn’t that man. I needed to be able to be reached should someone need me. I just didn’t realize it would be at this moment. That it would be now. I especially never expected to spot a name from the past, one I thought I’d never have a need to speak to again.
Cassandra Draketon.
“Who is it?” Barrett questioned. “If it’s the media again, just divert their calls.”
“It’s not,” I began. I ran a hand through my slightIy too Iong brown hair. “I…”
“Xander…”
“It’s Lily’s make-up artist from the first tour we did together with her,” I muttered, forcing the words out.
“Fuck. Well, you better answer it because Cassandra Draketon doesn’t call anyone. She’s a recluse and ignores the world,” Barrett announced. He raised a brow at me before he grabbed his drink and brought the glass to his lips, taking a sip of the cold liquid.
“I know and that’s why I don’t want to pick it up. Whatever Cassandra wants won’t be good.”
ChapterThree
Charlotte
Was that real blood? Surely not.
I dropped the piece of paper through my fingers to the floor by my feet, unable to keep hold of it any longer. I couldn’t understand why someone would send me a verse like this. I watched as Cassandra reached down and retrieved the note. She cautiously watched my gaze as she scanned the words before she placed it back on top of the other letters.
“Cass…” I choked, forcing out the words. The sudden realization hit me straight in my gut and I felt like I was falling. “I… I can’t…”
