Falling Star (Combustible Book 2) (31 page)

Sliding into the bath, Ella closed her eyes. Trent didn’t blame her, and he wasn’t letting her go. She finally believed he wouldn’t let anything come between them.

Chapter 37

Trent climbed onto the fire truck. He was familiar with the area of town they were heading.
His sister used to hang around there, getting high, disappearing for days. He remembered dragging her home one bad night.

Isandro dropped into the seat beside him. “What did Ramirez say?”

“To steer clear of Mitch.”

“Asshole deserved everything you gave him and more.”

“No shit.”

“What about the video? Can they take it down and keep them from uploading it again?”

Trent shook his head. “Doesn’t sound like it. Not anytime soon anyway.”

“How is she?”

He snorted. “Seems to be taking it in stride. Though, with the way the media is blowing up over this damned tape, I don’t see how. I’m dreading the call from my mother.”

Kyle joined the conversation. “She hasn’t called yet?”

He shook his head. “Not sure how long that will last. My parents really like Ella, but this… I don’t even know what to say. It’s not like we taped ourselves and it was stolen. Someone videotaped us without our permission. And even if the attorneys get it pulled down, some other asshole can reload it ten minutes later.”

“Well, there are a hundred celebrities with dick pics, sex tapes and everything else floating around. This one was obviously done without your knowledge. I doubt your parents expect you to stay celibate at thirty years old.”

“I’m sure they don’t expect to find me making love all over the internet either.”

Isandro shrugged. “They dealt with Tina and all her shit.”

Kyle shook his head. “I’m sure your parents will understand this isn’t your fault.”

“Yeah. They won’t hold it against either of us, but talking to them about our sex life? Shit… I just hope this doesn’t make Ella run.”

Isandro offered a smile. “You said she’s taking it well.”

“Yeah, and she sent her brother back to LA. She said she’ll see me tonight.” Trent smiled, thinking about her in that tub and wondering if she was touching herself while thinking about him. “I can’t wait until we’re done here.”

Metcalf pulled up outside the same place Trent had found his sister just weeks after Randy died. He could still remember carrying her out of the decrepit building and taking her to the hospital. She’d gone to rehab but escaped a week later. He didn’t see her again for three weeks, when her two-year-old son needed her.

Black smoke plumed above the trailer. Trent’s sense of dread increased as they worked to put out the fire.

* * * *

Relaxed and ready for a nap, Ella climbed out of the tub and pulled on the silk robe Trent had given her. The day had gotten off to a rough start, but it was looking up.

She had plans for Trent, as soon as he got off work, if Mila was willing to help, since she couldn’t go anywhere. Forcing that out of her head, she focused on the positives in life.

Ella stepped into her bedroom and froze. White roses and pieces of lavender were strewn across her bed. Her heart raced as she grabbed her phone and dialed Marissa. Frozen, she listened to the phone ring for what seemed like forever.

Finally, Marissa answered. “Everything all right, Ella?”

“No. I need you to come to my house.”

“What happened?”

Swallowing hard, she shook her head. “He was in my house. Just hurry.”

“We’ll be right there.”

Ella reached under her bed where a pistol was hidden. She’d learned to shoot in preparation for
Midnight Daughter
, and had started to practice in earnest after the stalker started leaving gifts. Then she grabbed the first pair of jeans and t-shirt she found and pulled them on before running downstairs.

She thought about calling Trent, but he was dealing with a fire. Calling Mila would result in Trent finding out before she had a chance to talk to him, and if Logan was in her house, she had no problem shooting the sick fuck.

She inched to the door and dialed Ryan. He answered right away. “Hello?”

“Ryan, think you and your security guru could come out to my house and figure out why the hell my security system didn’t go off when I know I set it before going upstairs?”

“Raven, Jesus Christ, I was worried about you. I take it your stalker taped you two?”

“Yeah, look, that’s the least of my worries. He was in my house just now. My security failed. No alarm went off while I was in the bathtub. The police are on the way, but I’m freaking out. Just tell me you’re at the ranch and it will only take a couple hours to get here.”

“Of course, but need your address. What about your sexy fireman? Why isn’t he there with you?”

“He’s actually at an emergency. You know, putting out a fire—that thing he does for a living. Please, Ryan, come out. Bring O’Neil with you.”

“We’re on our way. Don’t stress. We’ll figure this out. And you better have your gun in case he’s still there.”

“Oh, I’ve got it.” The knock at her door made her heart skip a beat, and she looked out the peephole. Marissa stood there with her partner, Ben. Ella opened the door and stepped back, putting the gun in her waistband. The safety was still on. “Call me when you’re close. The police just got here.”

“We’ll be there.”

“A gun?” Marissa asked. “Tell me you know how to use it.”

“Of course. I had training, not just with blanks. And I have the permits.” Ella took a breath. “Want to see the paperwork?”

“No, I trust you. But I’ve known enough people who never bothered to learn. That almost always leads to problems.”

Ella managed a tight smile. “I’ve had a stalker for years. I wanted to be prepared.” She snorted. “Obviously, it didn’t help last time he got his hands on me, but that took a car accident and a concussion.”

Marissa nodded, her brow arched. “Show me what’s going on.”

* * * *

Ella sat in the corner of the living room, where she could see all the open spaces. Marissa and Ben had taken her statement and gathered what evidence they could. They tried to convince her to leave, but she had stayed put so there was a cop car on the street, watching.

Didn’t take long before she regretted the decision to brave it out. At least, Ryan was on his way with his security expert who could take care of the problem Ben found when he’d checked the box.

The buzzing startled her, but Ella picked up her phone.
We’re here.

She stumbled to her feet, still shaking from the ordeal, and made sure Ryan was on the other side of the door. Relief flooded her as she threw open the door. Ryan scooped her into a bear hug. O’Neil stepped in behind him and squeezed her shoulder.

“Hey, Raven. Long time no see,” O’Neil said with a pinched brow.

“Ella, please call me Ella. I’m sure everyone’s figured it out since the video, but damn it, I really wanted to leave Raven in the past.”

“That will take some getting used to.” O’Neil nodded inside. “Show me the system,
Ella
. I’ll go from there.”

She took them through the house, showing O’Neil everything the security guy had pointed out when she first had it installed a couple days after moving in.

Back in the living room, Ryan took Ella’s hand. “You’re shaking like a leaf, angel. This is really getting under your skin, huh?”

Her teeth ground together before she managed an answer. “I was in the next room, naked, in my bath. I thought the video was as bad as it was going to get. Apparently not.”

“You need to sit.” Ryan escorted her to the chair and she curled up, pulling her legs to her chest. He started for the kitchen “I’ll get you something to drink.”

“I’m fine, Ryan, please. I’m not thirsty.”

“Pshh… if you were fine, you wouldn’t be in this state.”

She put her head down and pulled in a slow breath. If she hadn’t been so stupid, she wouldn’t be in this mess. No, she urged Trent to go to work, where he was supposed to be. And now, she could really use his arms around her, telling her everything would be okay before carrying her to his house.

O’Neil sat on the coffee table before her and leaned forward. “Looks like this guy hacked the system, then rerouted the feed. I wouldn’t be surprised if more sex tapes show up.”

She shook her head frantically and blinked back tears. “I didn’t have cameras installed in every room. Just the entrances.”

“They’re connected now. This guy has been in your house, at least a couple of times.”

She couldn’t breathe and closed her eyes tight.

Ryan dropped down beside O’Neil and handed her the wine glass. “Drink up. It will help you relax.”

She shook her head, holding the glass off the edge of the couch, avoiding the smell.

* * * *

Trent didn’t know what the hell was going on, but Ella wasn’t answering her phone, and Mila only said two men showed up at her house. Worried sick, he slammed his truck door shut and drove to her house. Sure enough, a black Escalade was parked in her driveway.

He stormed up the driveway and banged his fist on the door. Ryan King’s brow arched as he opened the door. “The fireman?”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Trent snapped.

“Whoa, calm your ass down. I’m not here to take your woman. I’m here for a friend.”

He looked past Ryan to find another big man standing next to Ella, who sat huddled in the chair, hugging her legs to her chest with one arm, and hanging onto a wineglass with the other hand. The other guy stared Trent down, his massive arms folded over his broad chest.

Trent glared at the stranger. “And who are you?”

“A friend, and the guy fixing her security issues. Seems Logan Manchester, formally Logan Poole, has been in her house, probably more than once.”

Trent brushed past the movie star and knelt in front of Ella, who didn’t look up. Tears stained her face. He’d seen Tina like this so many times he’d lost count. Lost in a sea of depression, drinking to drown the pain. He stared at the glass of wine and the wet spot on the carpet beneath it.

Ella didn’t say a word, too lost in her thoughts to realize he was there. Fear gripped him tight as his mind started filling in the blanks.

“Are you drinking?” His tone was harsher than he meant, but he didn’t know what the fuck was going on.

Her head snapped up, her eyes narrowing. “Excuse me?”

Slowly shaking his head, he sneered. “You let two men come in here and give you alcohol?”

Anger filled her blue-green eyes. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”

“Are you drunk? How long have
they
been here?”

She climbed out of her chair and backed away from him with a blank mask on her face. She took the glass with her, not spilling a drop. “You really think that’s what’s going on?”

Standing up, he huffed. “I don’t have a clue what the hell is happening. You aren’t answering your phone. Then I find Ryan King here, with I’m hoping his bodyguard, and you’re not saying a damned thing.”

Tears filled her eyes as she turned away.

The big silent guy spoke up, “Hey, man, you should probably back off before you regret the next thing coming out of your mouth.”

Trent turned to stare up at the man. He had a good three inches on him, built like a bodybuilder, and wearing a military-style haircut. “Would someone tell me what the fuck is going on?”

Ella glared at him. “Logan was here… while I was in the bath. I came out and found ro-roses and lav-lavender strewn across the b-bed. You were busy at a fire, so I called Ryan and O’Neil.”

He tore the glass from her hand and slammed it down on the table. “And this? You turn to alcohol because some asshole got in here? I thought you were smarter than that.”

Ella walked away, shutting down.

He stepped toward her and O’Neil pushed him back. “I warned you to think before you spoke.”

“Nothing to say?” Trent demanded of Ella. “Is this how you deal when I’m not here and you fall apart?”

She turned and climbed the stairs without another glance. Trent tried to follow.

O’Neil slammed him down in the chair. “Hey, she doesn’t need that bullshit. She’s on the edge as it is.”

“No shit. So why didn’t she call?”

“Last she heard, you were on your way to a fire. You never called her.”

“I’ve left three messages and several texts.”

Ella returned downstairs with a small suitcase and headed for the front door. Still no words. Not even a glance in Trent’s direction.

Trent shoved past O’Neil and stepped into Ella’s path. “Where the hell are you going?”

“Leaving.”

“Why?”

She closed her eyes and a single tear fell. “I thought you were different. Surprise, I was wrong.”

He reached for her, and she stepped back, shaking her head. “Ella, talk to me,” he demanded.

“Why? You have all the fucking answers.” She turned and went out the garage door.

Before he could take a step, Ryan pushed him back. “Oh no. You’ve done enough damage. I want you to think about this for a moment. Did she smell like alcohol?”

He glared back. “I don’t know. Neither of you allowed me close enough to find out.” He pushed his way past Ryan and watched Ella drive away. “You going to just stand there and let her drive drunk?”

“You’re a damned moron,” Ryan snarled. “I gave her a glass of wine. She didn’t even take a sip, and she wouldn’t have even if you hadn’t shown up.”

“And I’m supposed to believe you?” Trent shook his head. “I’m not even sure I believe anybody right now. She called you instead of me.” He tried to walk past Ryan, but the actor shoved him back.

“Don’t be jealous. Ella and I have been friends a long time. But she’s got all the wrong parts.” He glanced at O’Neil, who nodded. “I’ve been with Shannon O’Neil here for nearly as long as I’ve known Ella.”

Trent looked to O’Neil, who answered, “Yeah, that’s right, we’re a couple.”

“Shit. Fuck!” He pinched the bridge of his nose and stepped back. “I need to find her. I need to apologize.”