Page 144 of The Twisted Beats

I don’t like it, but this is the best he’s ever given me. “Fine. Now about Leon Baker?—”

“Cash, I know he’s powerful, but he’s…” My uncle stares at me like he’s trying to tell me something important. “There’s history there.”

“You said you’d give me anything I asked for. I want Mayhem to be the biggest rock band around. Leon Baker can make that happen.”

“But you don’t know what you’re asking for. If you get involved with Leon Baker’s label, he’ll own you.”

“Any label will own me. Why not hitch my trailer to his?”

“You know he used to work with your pops?”

“No. I didn’t know that.”

“They were tight. Then it went…south.” A strange look washes over my uncle’s face. “Your pops was never the same.”

“Ma says Pops was never quite right. She said the stress of the industry is what got to him.”

“Yeah, that’s the story she tells.”

“Then set it up. Get me out of Ur Boyz and in with Leon Baker. If you do that, we can move past this.”

My uncle drops his gaze to the floor. He seems to think about something for a moment.

He lifts his head and nods. “If this is what you really want, Cash, I’ll start paving the path right after I call Livianna’s studio.”

“Sounds like we have a plan.” I get to my feet, feeling like I just made a deal with the devil.

But being so young and stupid, I don’t know who the true devil is.

Why?

Because nobody told me the devil always wears a disguise.

Chapter Thirty

LIVIANNA/LILY

Then

Wretched Wires & Perfumed Alibis

Every secret I bury learns how to smile prettier than I ever could.

Callum and his mom show up in the kitchen right at ten-thirty. “My ma thought it would be better if she came with us. I hope you’re okay with that.”

“Of course. She’s been a great help to us.” I stride over and give her a hug and a kiss on each cheek. “Thank you for everything.”

“You’re welcome, honey. You’re family now.” She bows her head and glances at Callum.

He shoves his hands in his pockets. “Guns said he’d drive since we won’t all fit in my car.”

“Oh, yay. Sounds like a party.” I wait for Callum to come to me, but he doesn’t seem to appreciate my joke.

He stays where he is and stares at me like he has been for the last two days. He says he doesn’t blame me, but he does. How could he not when I told him I wanted an abortion as soon as I found out I was pregnant?

I see the fire of resentment in his eyes. Thankfully, I took two painkillers before he got here.

It’s the only way I can get through his judgment because I feel great when I’m on them. It’s like I’m here but not. Nothing hurts.