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“No. I can’t. But I can cast doubt,” I tell him. “If you go after Adira, I’ll come after you. I’ll go to the police. I will tell the whole world about you. That along with Rochelle Kitt’s tell-all… no one will believe you. You’ll be done. Your career… gone. Your reputation as a good guy… gone. And then what… I can’t imagine it’ll stop there. You prey on people, like you did me. Like you did Rochelle. Because you think we’re weak and easy to manipulate. But we’re not. The things you’ve done… it'll come out. If you go after Adira. Or anyone that I care about…trust me, I’m not the same scared little wallflower I once was. I will end this, Alec. So help me, I don’t care that you’re genetically related to me. I don’t even care about myself. But I will not let you hurt anyone else.”
“I’m going to the police,” he says. “You’re unhinged. Do you think anyone will really believe you with your history? You’re a danger to yourself. And to others. You should be locked up again.”
I’m shaking but I’m calm. So calm inside. He could tell everyone I’ve lost my mind. But he has to realize we’re at an impasse. He has too much to lose, and I would risk everything. “I don’t believe you will.”
He hangs up without another word.
My heart is pounding so hard. Hammering away like I’ve ran a marathon. It takes a minute to get it under control. I leave my phone on the bed and go into the bathroom. Splash water on my face and brush my teeth. Just to take the time to calm down. Run a brush through my hair and put it up in two messy space buns.
Do I look different now? Because I feel different. It’s like I went round for round in the boxing ring and came out the winner.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Rogue
My coffee machine is doing double time under Rebel’s watchful eye while Summer unloads multiple takeaway boxes that smell like happiness on the countertop. She flips the lid on a box of cinnamon donuts, but it’s the aroma of country fried chicken that has me drooling.
“You brought hangover food?”
“We need to cover what you remember,” Summer says as I grab one of the containers and liberate its contents.
Half the sandwich sticks between my teeth while I try to remember anything at all after I’d started drinking at the strip club. I tap my knuckles against my temple. “I have a brain like a sack of potatoes after last night. Care to fill me in?”
Rebel punches the air in victory beside the coffee machine. “I get to keep Emmy. Who cares what he doesn’t remember?”
“Keep Emmy?” I scratch at my scalp. What on earth is he on about?
“Doesn’t matter,” he says quickly.
Summer rolls her eyes. “He made a bet with Ivy that you wouldn’t remember. If you did, she would have owned Emmy.”
“Damn. I almost wish I did remember. Just so I could see your face when you handed over the keys.”
Summer sips her coffee. “Okay, time to get serious. We need to deal with a few things. Firstly, that video.”
Ivy walks into the kitchen and straight into my arms. She fits perfectly against my side.
“Everything okay?” I press my lips to her hair. That phone call took a long time. I wanted to give her space. I still hate that I have no idea who she’s talking to. Or who she’s having those dreams about. But my jealousy shouldn’t be her issue. Fuck, my jealousy almost ruined everything.
“Yes.” She smiles. Sniffs the air. Her stomach growls like mine did when the aroma of fried, fatty deliciousness hit my nostrils. “Oh my God, what is that?”
“Fried chicken sandwich.” I hold what’s left of the burger in front of her face. “Wanna bite?”
“Do I ever.”
Summer shakes her head and pushes a container across the counter. “I bought you one too.”
I slam another quarter of the spicy chicken on bread in my gob and smirk. “Summer, you’re my favorite.”
“Thank you.” Ivy opens the cardboard box and tears hers in half delicately before nibbling on it. “Please continue. I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
“Obviously the girl in the video…” Summer pulls a face like her next words taste like dirt. “Isn’t Ivy. And while we haven’t released a statement about your relationship status there are photos of you and Ivy together. Some of them quite intimate. Enough that it’s obvious you’re together even if somehow you’re still the mystery girl.”
“I’m astounded by the fact that no one has managed to get a clear shot of your face until yesterday.” Rebel places a cup of coffee in front of each of us. “What are you, part vampire? They’re supposed to not show up in photos, right?”
“Vampire or no, we basically confirmed your relationship status last night,” Summer says.
“Oh right. When we were wrangling your drunk ass into a car.” Rebel nods. “Speaking of, did you pick up any random animals between the club and arriving home last night?”
