“No one,” Jace sneered when I said nothing. “She’s making shit up, preying on your victim complex, Rhett.”
“Shut the fuck up, Jace; let her talk.” Rhett gave me a reassuring nod, urging me to tell the truth.
My palms were sweating something awful now, and my pulse was thumping so hard I was getting lightheaded. If I didn’t tell him…fuck. My eyes darted from Rhett to the big man, then quickly over the pink-haired girl and skinny guy who hadn’t said a single word since I’d emerged. Finally, I returned my gaze to Jace. Ihadto believe he was still in there somewhere. That he still cared if I lived or died. Even just the smallest bit.
“Angelo,” I whispered. “Angelo is trying to kill me, Jace. Please. I need help, just to get out of the city. The second we reach New York, I’m gone. You’ll never see me again.”
If I’d thought he was cold before, it was nothing on the chill that settled over him as Angelo’s name left my mouth. Not just over him, but over the entire room.
At first no one else reacted, but then I noticed some subtle movements. Rhett was closer to me than he had been a second ago, and Aquaman on the couch was sitting straighter, looking a little like a coiled panther about to leap forward.
The only two not moving were punk chick and skinny guy, who continued grinning so hard it was actually starting to creep me out.
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me right now. Angelo? You never could leave that bastard's side,” Jace seethed. “You made your bed with him, princess, and now it’s time to get back in and take it like thewhoreyou are.”
Against my better judgment, I flinched. I wasn’t sure I’d been called a whore so many times in my entire life, but from his perspective—given our history—I supposed it did look bad.
“Whether you believe me or not,” I started, finding some of the strength in my voice waning. Why was this happening to me? Seriously. Who had I killed in my last life? Karma was majorly punishing me forsomething. “Last night was the first time I’ve seen Angelo in almost seven years. Somehow, fate thinks it’s fucking funny to reunite me with the worst parts of my past all in one night.”
His jaw twitched, and it took him a few minutes to form words again. “Idon’tbelieve a fucking word out of your lying mouth.” Shocker. “But since you’ve already conned one of the few people in the world I give a shit about, then I guess it’s your lucky day. I won’t fight with Rhett over something asinsignificantas you. But I have rules.” His jaw was so tight that those last words came out as a snarl.
I could feel Rhett’s heat, and I turned to find he was closer than ever. “What rules?” he asked, his focus firmly on his friend and bandmate.
Jace pulled his enigmatic gaze from my face then, and I let out a ragged breath, my heart slamming in my chest at the intensity of being locked in the eyes of a predator. It was probably lucky he did shift his gaze… My faked strength could only last so long.
“She will need her own damn room. Not yours,” Jace started. “Out of sight and with a clear purpose as we make our way across the country.” Without looking at me, a sneer lifted the corner of his lips. “You said she’s got nothing. No money, clothes, decency, morals…” Funny fucking asshole this one. “She can’t do her usual and trade sex for board; I won’t fucking tolerate her sleeping around with our crew. So, she’s going to work to pay her way. I heard the cleaning crew has an opening.”
He thought he was punishing me, but he’d just handed me a fucking gift. I’d feel much better if I could work off some of the debt I owed Rhett. Already, the thought ofearningmy keep was loosening the tension in my spine.
“No,” the turquoise-haired guitarist snapped. “Billie has been through enough. She doesn’t have toworkin order to deserve a helping ha–”
“It’s okay,” I interrupted quickly, trying to ignore the sour taste in my mouth when he called meBillieinstead ofThorn. When I placed my hand on Rhett’s arm, his attention jerked toward me. “I would prefer to work on my way there. It will keep me busy, and I won’t feel like I owe you as much. I mean, I already owe you my life, probably, but this goes a small way toward repaying your kindness.”
Jace scoffed, and I jerked my head toward him, some of my fire returning now that it seemed I was going to be safe for the next few days. “You better cut that shit,” I shot at him, and then for some stupid reason, I decided to remind him of a few factors that might scare the asshole. Even if I never intended to follow through on one threat. “Or I might start exploring the legalities of you usingmyname andourlife story to make billions of dollars. I also seem to recall co-writing a few songs that somehow appeared on the radio without my permission.”
Jace’s expression didn’t change, but his eyes turned darker. The magenta-haired emo girl gasped, shooting a shocked look at Jace, and Aquaman’s brow dipped in a frown. I guessed this was news to them, then.
The skinny creep on the couch leaned forward, though, some of the amusement on his face fading. “Bellerose has everything tied up legally,” he said, his voice too smooth. Matched the leer in his expression. That and the overly slicked back hair would have been huge red flags if I’d ever ran into this dude in a dark alley.
“Public perception is everything,” I told him softly. “My story would interest many people when it comes to the most famous rock band in the world. Don’t you think? Wouldn’t Page Six just love to hear all about how Jace hadhelpon that single that shot Bellerose to stardom?”
No doubt the rest of the band thought I was an asshole for threatening not just Jace but all of them. Rhett’s was the only opinion I could find myself giving a shit about, though, and when I caught eyes with the guitarist, I gave a tiny shake of my head in an effort to reassure him that I was bluffing. The gesture was small enough not to ruin my threat, but he understood and seemed to relax.
He was the only one, though. The skinny creep leapt to his feet, a frantic look on his face. “Could you give me a minute with the band,Billie?” he asked like he was forcing polite words out, sneering my name in lieu of screaming obscenities.
I was tempted to tell him to go fuck himself simply because he gave me bad vibes. But Rhett sighed and touched a gentle hand to the small of my back. “Head back into my room, Thorn. I’ll bring breakfast in when it arrives.”
nine
BILLIE
The Bellerose “team meeting” took way longer than I’d expected. For a while I just waited, thinking it would be a quick chat around whether Jace had left them all open to being sued for withholding royalties and denying co-writer credits. But eventually I got bored with trying to listen through the door—fucking penthouse had to have solid doors that muffled the words of each speaker—and turned on a movie to watch.
Rhett came in about twenty minutes later carrying a room service tray.
“Sorry, Thorn,” he murmured with a pained smile. “Shouldn’t be too much longer. Tom is just… being thorough. And our legal team has no sense of urgency; you know how lawyers are.”
I shrugged. “Not really, but I’ll take your word for it.” I licked my lips, smelling delicious food on the tray. “Rhett… you know I was only—”
