AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“What about her?”
“She was one of Megan’s posse back in high school. I remember her always being around whenever Megan would try to get Luca’s attention at football games. Then when we would wait on him outside the locker rooms, this chick would always be off to the side, waiting with Megan.”
“Okay…?” I still didn’t understand what the brunette had to do with Shaw being stalked and ambushed.
“She works for one of the gossip magazines in New York,” Shaw informed me. “I didn’t really pay attention to who was who when they were all flashing their cameras at me, but I did see several familiar faces every time I went out. A few guys who have always followed me in hopes of getting some details on my latest comings and goings, but she was the only woman at every incident.”
“You mean one of Megan’s minions is stalking you to get shit on Vi?” I gritted out. I was beyond pissed. Not only had this person been harassing Shaw, but she’d been trying to bring down our sweet, precious Violet in the process.
“Probably to stir up shit between Vi and Luca. That’s what Megan lived for.” She dropped my phone on the bed and reached for her own. “But Megan couldn’t get close enough to either of them, because most of the family has an order of protection against her. Although that might not still be valid if Megan dared to get close to Luca tonight at the club.”
“Fuck, I need to call Ma.”
“Yeah, you do that, and I’ll call Mieke. Maybe she can get this shit taken down before Vi sees any of it.” She already had her phone to her ear.
Acting quickly, I called Ma. It took a few rings, but she answered. “Jagger?” she demanded, sounding as alert as always, not even a hint of sleep thickening her voice. She was in mom mode, alert and ready to deal with anything I might throw her way.
“Ma, I’m sorry if I woke you up,” I apologized. “But something’s come up. Do you know if the order of protection everyone has against Megan Hawthorn is still in effect?”
“What?” she growled. “You’re getting married in less than twenty-four hours. We’re supposed to be at the airport in a matter of hours, but you’re asking me about some crazy little brat from years ago?”
“I know, but it’s important, Ma.”
There was a brief pause on her end before she sighed heavily. “To be honest, I don’t know. She faded into the background once we took out the last few restraining orders. I was told that her parents sent her away, to quietly get her some mental health help. I haven’t even thought about her in so long, I forgot she existed.”
“Unfortunately, she’s trying to make a comeback,” I said with regret. “I’m sorry, but I think you’re going to have to deal with her before we can leave. Otherwise, there might be some serious drama. Megan tried to approach Luca at the club tonight, and now she is trending at number three on social media, right behind Luca. And Vi is number one. Shaw caught sight of one of Megan’s friends in a picture and recognized her as one of the paps that has been following her around.”
It all made sense, though. I’d gone to the same high school as Luca, Lyric, Megan, and the brunette—whose name still didn’t click in my head. She just hadn’t been important enough to remember. If Megan hadn’t caused so much trouble for Luca and Vi, she wouldn’t ever have been on my radar either. But apparently the brunette thought I might recognize her from school, which would explain why the press never bothered Shaw when I was around.
“You’re telling me that the bullshit from the paps showing up everywhere for the past few months has been about Violet and not Shaw?” Ma muttered. “How did I not see this one coming?”
“Because you’ve been so focused on making our wedding perfect that the press turning this into anything to do with anyone other than Shaw or me didn’t enter your mind?” I suggested, trying to soothe her. “And it shouldn’t have. No one would have imagined Vi was the target of the paps when the ambushes related to our wedding. Plus, there aren’t many papers that would accept gossip about Violet with Aunt Harper still in charge of the most popular music and political magazines in the world. They had to do this with stealth, making it look like Violet was just a bystander, when in reality, it was firing up the trolls to drag Vi through the mud.”
“It does make sense,” she gritted out. “Okay, I need to get off here to take care of a few things. You get some sleep. Tomorrow is a big day for you and Shaw.”
“Ma…” I glanced over at Shaw, who was whisper-shouting into her own phone, not paying me the least bit of attention. “I’m sorry I’m adding more stress to your load, but tomorrow has to be perfect.”
“Baby boy, have I ever let you down?” she asked softly.
“Never.”
“Then don’t you worry about anything from here on out. Your wedding is going to go flawlessly,” she promised.
Chapter 7
Shaw
I didn’t know how Mieke did it, but every trace of Megan at First Bass, along with any signs of Vi and Luca trending on social media, was gone by the time I made my way down to the kitchen the next morning. There wasn’t a lot of time to waste, so I grabbed one of the muffins Mrs. Briggs had set out and a travel mug of coffee as I flipped through my phone one more time, ensuring that my best friend wasn’t anywhere on any of the feeds.
Taking a giant bite of the huge, fluffy muffin, I strode out to where three blacked-out SUVs were already waiting. Jagger, Luca, Lyric, and Cannon were already in one. Mila and Violet were waiting on me in another, with all our luggage in the third.
“Mia texted me earlier to let me know everyone made it back to their houses safely last night,” Vi said, fighting back a yawn. “She assumed we just went to bed, and I didn’t correct her.”
I stuffed another bite into my mouth, noticing Mila already had a half-eaten one in her lap, along with a travel mug of coffee in her hands. “Piper got back to her parents’ house safely, according to my brother.”
“I have to admit, I had some qualms when he insisted on driving her back to Malibu personally,” Vi commented. “I was a bit fearful for his life the way Piper was throwing threats his way all night.”
“Meh,” I mumbled around the food in my mouth. “It wouldn’t have been anything he didn’t deserve.”
