AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Uh, yeah. It seems we’ve lost the band’s lead singer. She wandered off or some shit, landed in a mental health hospital, and now it’s a public relations nightmare. Somehow, I’m not in the least bit surprised you know about this. I’m not sure I’ll be able to save her ass on social media,” I tell him.
I sound almost bored as I convey the facts of an unaffected social media manager. Right now, she’s not a woman I care about, she’s a job. I wasn’t there when the police showed up since Carrie kidnapped me, and I honestly doubt that she came clean to him about it.
“I’ve called you a few times and it’s gone to voicemail. I’ve explained how important it is for you to answer when I call,”my father complains and I roll my eyes.
“I lost my phone, and only recently found it again,” I explain in an attempt to appease him. I want him to think I’m his perfect soldier, more than willing to fall in line. “It was dead, possibly from the many missed calls received. However, I have it now and will make sure not to lose it again.” I rushed the last sentence because I know he won’t appreciate my sarcasm. I’ve never been so happy for Jordan’s quick work to set up my phone with my original number.
“Fine, fine. My timeline has moved up, and I need to start campaigning now. I don’t know if you’ve been watching the news, but your missing rockstar is now in the tender care of Hidden Hills. I needed a sad, broken example to show how abysmal our mental health situation is in Kentucky, and she fit the bill. Now I need you to resign since you’re no longer needed at your current job so you can come be my campaign social media manager,” he reveals.
I feel sick to my stomach as I realize he orchestrated this all with Carrie. She kept secrets from him, sure, but they are definitely working together. Taking a deep breath, I glance up. I’ve been fighting to be blank faced during this call, so I refused to look up before this. Layla watches me wide-eyed, her hands fisted up by her chest. She looks as if she wants to beat the shit out of someone. Turner is still bleeding on the couch, staring at me fiercely. Refusing to read the rest of the room because I’m not that brave, I look back down at my phone.
“I understand, Dad. When do you want me home?” I ask, if only to continue the conversation. He can’t know that I got distracted, since I’m supposed to be alone right now.
“Immediately. Tell that snowflake Jordan that you’re quitting. I’ve never liked that man. I met him once at an event, and disliked him instantly. No one has nails that pretty and is straight. I don’t need you in an environment catering to homosexual activity while I’m running for office, son. I have big plans, and eventually I’ll tell you all about it.”I can hear his smug tone and grimace in distaste.
Sorry Jordan.I am the last person who should ever discuss someone else’s sexual orientation, but it is why I was so careful whenever I hung out with Lennon and the guys. My father is ruthless, and I didn’t want any gossip to get back to him. I wanted to protect them as much as possible from his anger. Right now, Lennon and the guys are just a job as far as my father knows, yet somehow she still ended up in his crosshairs.Fuck.
“Of course. I’ll buy a plane ticket to come home,” I acquiesce easily. “I’ll see you soon.”
“I’m pleased you’re so agreeable, Derek. I’ll see you at home.”My father disconnects the call abruptly, and I feel the tension start to bleed out of my body.
“Fuck,” I whisper. My eyes fly up and I wince as my eyes meet Jordan’s. “I’m sorry about that, Jordan—” I start to say.
Jordan rolls his eyes. “This is not the first time someone has insinuated I’m gay,” he scoffs. “I’m bisexual, but that doesn’t matter in this conversation. I did meet the great Grant Williams at a fundraiser with your mother years ago, and he was a fucking prick.”
I nod, agreeing. “He is that indeed. Look guys, I feel responsible for Len, and I’m going home to see what kind of information I can get. It sounds like she’s at the same facility my mom is.”
Greg frowns as he leans forwards. “According to anything official, Hidden Hills doesn’t exist. There isn’t any tax information in the company’s name, a business license, or any kind of paper trail. This shouldn’t be possible unless it’s under some sort of shadow company. However, since Mr. Xav is involved, it doesn’t surprise me that this place is flying so far under the radar. Most people won’t think to research this place, just accepting that the future governor of Kentucky wants to make positive changes for its constituents.”
I grimace. “God, my father shouldn’t be in charge of cockroaches, much less an entire state. According to the call I eavesdropped on, my dad nervously promised him the freedom to run experiments on the patients. I remember how horrified I felt,” I swallow as I realize what I’m about to reveal. “I mean, how do you rewire someone’s brain to stop being attracted to someone? To stop loving them? I need to find out where this place is, and find her. I don’t know what my father wants me to do, I’m just going to have to hope I can live with myself at the end of all of this.”
I sigh, turning back to Greg to ask him a question when I hear a growl. Turner leans forward, eyes burning in fury. “We aren’t sacrificing you for Lavender, is that understood? We will get her out… somehow. We need everyone to come back from this.”
Layla sighs, her eyes glassy. There’s no evidence of her tears though as she speaks. “I just started to get to know my sister, but she needs all of you at the end of this. I have no idea what she’s going through right now, but I want to be the voice of reason for her. Greg, what do you bring to the table? You’re here for a reason, and it’s not for Derek to sacrifice himself because he thinks this is his fault.”
Her words are biting, but help to clear my mind. She’s definitely right, but I don’t expect Greg to be a magician either. He couldn’t help his own girl years ago, so I don’t know what he can do now.
Greg clears his throat, frowning reproachfully. “You’re right, and no one is sacrificing themselves. Damn, dramatic much, Layla? Either way, Derek needs to make an appearance to see his father. I’ll set you up with a burner that’s encrypted so that we can still communicate. Find out where the fuck this hospital is, and then we’ll work on getting Lennon out.”
“My mom too,” I say immediately. “I would hope he wouldn’t throw her to Mr. Xav, but honestly my father is so much worse than I thought he was. Who the fuck takes away people’s rights because their existence is… inconsiderate to them?”
Greg sighs. “The rich have been doing this for years, your dad just decided to cash in on this product.” He turns to Turner, who is finally pressing a towel to his cut hand. “Look, I know that I don’t have a great track record when it comes to helping the people we care about, but I have a security team on Tori, Miguel, Link and the kids so you’re my main focus.
“I don’t have to worry about them either, because my house is built like a fortress now and there’s a panic room built in. Same for Tesa, Griff and their kids. So trust me when I tell you that things are different this time, okay? I won’t fuck you over or let you down. Mr. Xav has been a problem the last few years for agencies because he’s such a loose cannon. I need to make a trip into Washington to present my case to put him down, and I’m going to use this to make that happen.”
I take a deep breath because I know what I need to do. I need to find out where Hidden Hills is, find Lennon, and that means going to work for my dad. I can pretend to be his lapdog, even if I don’t know what he needs. He mentioned being his social media manager, which is a job I can do with my eyes closed for his campaign.
“I’m going back to Kentucky, and I promise I’ll be careful,” I say quickly to Layla. “I need to get my mother and Lennon out of Hidden Hills. I need to stop my father from this insanity. He’s always liked being in charge, I just didn’t realize he was this fucking twisted,” I growl in disgust. “My dad needs to go to prison for a long time, and I want to help do that. Do you think Mr. Xav reached out to him or the other way around?”
Greg shrugs as he thinks. “It’s possible he approached your father at one point through a fundraiser or an event. If your dad’s been talking about running for governor for a while, then it would have been easy for Mr. Xav to extend his hand in friendship. And when your father complained about his wife threatening to divorce him, he was there with a suggestion.”
“He’s such a fucking idiot,” I mutter. “I need to go back to the bus to pack, and figure out a few things. Are you staying in Albuquerque or going somewhere else?”
Jordan frowns in thought. “There’s no reason to stay here now that we know where Lennon is. The label is going to be calling me soon about what’s happening, and I’m not sure what to tell them. There’s no tour without Lennon.”
Roark grunts, deep in thought. “Right now, no one has really connected that Layla is related to Lennon. It would cause just the scandal to take eyes off of her, if say… Layla took over her sister’s tour while she was ‘ill’?”
Layla’s jaw drops. “I can’t take this away from her!” she gasps. “I can’t. No one would believe it, and what you’re just going to sing with me? I can’t imagine this happening.”
