Page 111 of The Twisted Beats

“You know it didn’t.” I get to my feet with my world falling apart and feeling as if I have no control. “You were supposed to be at my concert.”

“And yet you denied me access.”

“You and your crew really messed up, Cash.” Bren growls and points at me. “Do you know what the fuck she went through last night?”

“Bren, stop.” Livianna glares in his direction and motions to his room. “Callum and I need to talk. Believe me, it’s better for Mayhem if you aren’t a part of it.”

“I couldn’t give two fucks about Mayhem at this point.Not after?—”

“Bren, it’s your dream and the rest is none of your business.” She breathes in quick, shallow breaths. “I already told you we won’t be discussing that ever again.”

I spin to her with a sick feeling in my gut. “What happened last night?”

She keeps her eyes on Bren until he relents, cursing as he leaves. He disappears into his room.

I scan her arms, knowing exactly what I’m searching for. And with one sweep over her wrists, I have my answer. They’re both covered in bandages.

“Why did you do that to yourself?” I step to her, wanting to give her the comfort she needs.

She flinches away from me. “Where have you been, Callum? You obviously haven’t been in your room given you’re still wearing the clothes from yesterday.”

My heart drops. “I can explain that.”

“Um-hmm. But you don’t have to.” She grabs an orange blanket off the couch and wraps it around herself. “My mom called. They have pictures of everything.”

I hope I’m wrong, but I need to make sure. “Who? Tell me what you’re talking about.”

“The gossip sites. They’re getting ready to run stories on last night’s fascinating occurrences.” She flashes me a smile like she couldn’t care less. “See, I don’t need your fake words. I already know.”

“Anything you think you know, you don’t.”

“What I know isMayhem is already living up to its name. You’re building quite a reputation for yourself and you’ve only performed once. Good job,mate. Well done.”

Her apathetic tone makes me see spots. My chest turns into fire.

“Tell me what the hell went on last night. Why weren’t you at the show? Why didn’t you find me after? Where the fuck were you?”

She tilts her head. Her usual bright blue eyes are muted and almost gray. “Why don’t you ask your uncle?”

“What does he have to do…” It slams into me like a bat to the face and almost knocks me out.

The tabloid stories.

Livianna just said they have pictures and she knows everything. My uncle’s plans to give me a bad boy image so I can get out of Ur Boyz have been put in motion.

The problem is, I have no idea what spin they’re putting on it. I only know that Livianna isn’t supposed to be a part of it.

“Lily, any story they’re printing isn’t the truth. It’s taken out of context to show me off with a rockstar edge. It’s nothing more than that.”

She sinks into a chair and gazes up at me. “Why didn’t you respond to my messages?”

“They took all of our phones before we went on stage. Ask Bren if you don’t believe me.”

“Where is it now?”

“I don’t know. I got done performing and was immediately pulled into another room with a bunch of people I didn’t know. My uncle wasn’t even there for a while. When he finally showed up, he said they lost my phone and he’d get it replaced.”

“Did you think to ask him to text me for you?”