“Do we really care about his feelings after what he’s done to us?” Leonidas chimes in.
“Just a bit,” Elijah admits. “I don’t like being a mean person.”
“Me neither,” I say to everyone around the table.
“What other choice do we have? We’re not actually going to expose Dad. We’re just going to lead him to think we are.” He shrugs, leaning back in his seat. “I think it’s a genius idea.”
I swear, by the way Leonidas is looking at his girlfriend, it’s like he’s fallen in love with her all over again.
Actually, I’m pretty sure we all look like that right now. We just feel super guilty.
“Are you sure this is our only option?”
Leonidas’s eyes meet mine after I question everyone out loud.
“What other options do we have? He’s so money hungry that the thought of being exposed to our fan base and losing all his money will scare him to death.”
I start coming around to the idea the more I think about it. Leonidas is right. What other choice do we have?
“Oh my gosh!” Elijah gushes, reaching for Trinity’s cheek. “You’re a mastermind! I knew I was rubbing off on you.”
Elijah and I run around the table and cuddle the cute couple, all genuine smiles on our faces. And for the first time, I’mhopeful. I see a happy future.
“Operation Get All the Footage You Can Find and Be Your Inner FBI Agent … has started,” I say, laughing as the four of us squeeze each other.
I’m not sorry, Dad, because you’ve never been.
CHAPTER22
LEVI
Since I’ve been fake dating Amelia Drakos, my social battery has officially drained. I haven’t been present on social media—or out in public for that matter—as much as I’ve been this past month. A big side effect of when I get tired is that I get irritated easily.
So, you can imagine how furious I am when a bunch of paparazzi crowd around my Mercedes-AMG GT R, flashing their expensive-ass cameras through my windows.
If I find a scratch on my matte-black wrap, I will go feral.
I watch a handful of people go crazy to get a picture of me just sitting in my car.
Do they really think I’m that interesting? Fuck me.
The team recommended that I now travel around with a bodyguard after all the attention coming my way, and I’ve never said no faster. I understand where they’re coming from. We’ve gained millions of followers and made millions off of our songs since my and Amelia’s scandal. But I don’t need another man to look out for me. I’ve done that my entire life. That’s not needed now.
Reaching for my door handle, I take a deep breath before I exit the car and enter this madness I now call my life. They all stagger back once my door swings open, and I don’t spare them a glance as I stride into the club, where my fake girlfriend awaits me.
The first thing I notice when I walk into the club is the intense smell of alcohol. I see a handful of people taking shots, talking and sipping drinks, and dancing with glasses in their hands. This is definitely the worst-case scenario for a recovering alcoholic.
And I hate that the team forced us to come here tonight. I would rather be at home with my little sister. But I have to suck it up. I can have fun without drinking. Lots of people do.
I can do this. I’m learning how to cope.
Trying to hide the trembles in my hands, I swallow tightly, avoiding even looking at the bar, like it’ll set me on fire if I do.
Placing my phone to my ear, I squint, looking through the crowd. I don’t spot the certain girl I’m looking for.
“Hello?” her sweet voice, which is as smooth as honey, says over the line, making my traitorous heart clench in my chest.
“I’m here. Where are you?”
