Page 6 of The Twisted Beats

I’m in a powder room alcove and almost done reapplying my lipstick when someone enters. I glance through the reflection of the mirror and my pulse skyrockets.

Zara Blackthorn, my childhood nemesis, struts in. She catches my gaze before I can pretend not to notice her.

My stomach fills with lead. This isn’t going to end well.

She snickers, flips her brown hair over her shoulder, and joins me at my side.

“If it isn’t Livianna Hemings.” She rests her hip against the counter, peering over at me. “Are you in LA to get back into acting?”

Growing two inches taller than my tiny five-foot-three stature, I slide my lipstick back into my clutch and face her. “Not that it’s any of your business, Zara, but I have no intention of going back into that convoluted industry.”

“Then why return where you no longer belong?”

“My family lives here, and if you must know, my brand is doing well. I’ve decided to open a design house here in town.” I send her a smug smile.

“Oh, that’s right. I read somewhere Jaxon Crowne was helping you with your fashion aspirations.” She releases an indignant puff of air. “What’s he getting out of it?”

Of course, she’s been keeping tabs on me. It’s her mission to destroy me.

I grit my teeth. “He’s mentoring me.”

“Why you?”

“Because I asked.”

“You’re still the same. Always using people to make yourself feel important. Call it mentorship if you want, but we both know what it is.”

“It has nothing to do with feeling important. There’s not a business out there that hasn’t received help from others.”

“Right.” She lifts an eyebrow. “The question is, what are you giving him in return?”

“He’s a family friend.” I glare, wanting to kick myself for even responding. “I’ve had enough of this boring conversation. If you’ll excuse me, I need to return to my da—meeting.”

Evilness spins in her eyes. “Jaxon Crowne’s a family friend? Hmmm.”

Dammit!She must have seen me come in with Jax.

She taps her pointy French-tipped nail against her chin. “It has a familiar ring to it, doesn’t it? After all, Cash Mayze is your brother’s best friend.”

I want to lunge and tear her hair out, but rein it in. “That was very different.”

She shrugs. “Sure it was, but just in case, be careful getting involved with family friends. It could end disastrously if you’re not.”

I seethe inside. “Zara?—”

“What am I thinking? You already know that. Just look at what happened between you and Cash.” She waves me off. “Enough about that. We don’t need to bring our sordid love triangle into current events.”

“Fuck off, Zara.”

I shoulder check her as I storm away. She stumbles to the side.

“Anytime you need a history lesson, I’m here for you.” She laughs. “I’m sweet like that.”

With my blood pumping fast, I almost rip the door off the hinges as I stomp out.

That woman is the living incarnation of the devil. And worse, she’s out for my blood.

If I thought my night with Jax was going to end with a happy ending, this run-in is likely a prelude to my demise.