Rocking a SECRET (19 page)

“I want him arrested,” I tell Marv.

“Nate?”

“Chad. I want him arrested for blackmailing
me and my mom.”

“Yeah, right,” Chad says with a laugh.

“He’s not kidding, asshole,” Wayne tells
him.

“Without me, there’s no Storyside.”

“So the three of us will re-invent
ourselves,” Brett says.

Before Chad can argue any further, the off
duty police officers we hire for the show enter and read him his
rights. Watching him get handcuffed has been the only satisfying
part of this evening. He puts up a fight for a minute, but when
they tell him he’ll be charged with resisting arrest, the cocky
smile falls from his face and his body goes still.

“We need to go away and regroup,” Wayne says
when he’s gone.

“The three of you will be great on your own.
The fans will follow you,” Marv says.

“And we can make some great music. We should
find someplace that’s chill where we can just jam out and won’t get
bothered.”

“Well you do have that party in Austin in a
few weeks. You promised to sing at that charity event. The one that
provides music education for sick kids. You could hide out there,”
Marv tells us.

“I love Austin,” Wayne says.

Brett looks conflicted, but then he says
what’s on his mind. “Will you go with us, Vivian? I’d like to get
to know you. I’m still angry and hurt, but you’re my mom, and that
has to mean something. I need to hear more about what happened all
those years ago. And also why you still wanted to keep me as your
dirty little secret even now. I don’t know if I can forgive you,
but I want to try.”

I don’t want her anywhere near me right now,
but if that’s what he needs, I’ll go along with it. It was hard not
having a dad growing up, but at least I had her. I can’t imagine
what it was like for Brett. I can bite the bullet and tolerate her
if he needs me to.

She looks at me, and I nod. While still
glaring at her. “I’d love to. And I promise to tell you whatever
you want to know. One thing you can always count on with Kace and
me is that we keep whatever promises we make.”

Shit. We do keep our promises. And I made
one about tonight. I have to go keep it. Not the way I’d planned,
though.

“I’ll be back in an hour or so. Can we get a
jet tonight?”

“Yeah, that’s no problem. Where are you
going, Kace?”

“To keep a promise, Marv.”

Thankfully no one’s told the guards to keep
me out when I get to Stella’s building. I walk towards her door and
stop a few feet away. I don’t know if I can do this. How can I do
this? I have to, though. I promised.

I square my shoulders and walk to her door,
turning the knob because I know it’ll be unlocked. I should’ve
expected the scene before me. But I wasn’t thinking that far
ahead.

“Kace, “Stella says, a smile breaking across
her tear-stained face. “You’re here.”

I don’t dare look at any of her friends who
are gathered there. I know they’ll see what she hasn’t yet. I’m not
staying, and I want to walk out of this apartment with all my parts
attached.

“I promised you I’d come here after the
show.”

“For our date.”

She reaches for me and I step back. “Don’t
touch me.”

“I don’t understand. You’re here?”

“I’m here because I promised I’d come here.
I came, now I can go with a clear conscience.”

“No. Please. No,” she cries, grabbing my
shirt.

“I have never hit a girl before, but if you
don’t get your fucking hands off me, I will do whatever it takes to
make you do it.”

“And then you’ll die,” Reina tells me.

I look over and see the women all standing
while the guys sit back and watch. They’re all smirking because
they know as well as I do that any one of these women could end my
life in seconds. “Someone better get her off me then, because I’m
leaving one way or another.”

No one has to come for her. She lets go of
me and stands up straight. “I’m not completely pathetic. No one has
to get me off of you. Just know that if you leave tonight, you
won’t be able to just walk back in here again. You’ll be on your
knees begging before you ever come through my door again.”

“I
promise
you that I will never beg
you for anything.”

“Then go.”

I turn and walk out the door. I don’t even
make it to the elevator before I feel a hand on my shoulder. I turn
and shrug off Zack Taylor’s hand. Gavin Harris is in the hall with
us, too.

“What do you guys want?”

“Stella’s an awesome woman. Anyone would be
lucky to have her feel even a tenth of the love she feels for you,”
Zack tells me.

“She has a funny way of showing that
love.”

“They can’t tell us everything. Even if they
want to. When Ainsley and I met, she thought I might be the one
sabotaging the Legions. If I would’ve been, she’d have taken me
down in a minute. And then I would’ve still proposed. Because I
respect who she is and what she does.”

“I almost lost Faith because I wasn’t sure I
could be okay with some of the things they have to do. I ended up
realizing that they do what they have to for a reason. Sometimes
they can’t tell us that reason.”

“This was a secret about me, Gavin.”

It’s Zack who answers me. “I don’t know all
the details, but Ains did tell me that Stella really couldn’t tell
you. But she wanted to, and she’s been a mess because of it.”

“She
has
been a mess, but I have to
come first with the woman I love. And I obviously didn’t. You don’t
mind the Society coming before you?”

“Honestly, no. In every single way that
matters, I’m first. In Faith’s heart, and her soul, it’s me. When
I’m kissing her or we’re making love, that’s all me. I don’t care
that she suspected me of being a traitor, and she can’t tell me
much about what she does every day. When we’re together and even
when we’re apart, I know she’s mine. Always. Stella’s that kind of
woman, too. You’ll be first in all those ways with her if you give
her a chance,” Gavin says.

I have to get out of here. They’re confusing
me. And I have a plane to catch. Besides, what they said doesn’t
change what she did, or what she kept from me. That’s what’s
important—and unforgivable—to me. I shake my head and get into the
elevator without saying another word.

Stella

It’s been two weeks since Kace walked out of
my apartment. I make myself go into work every day and go through
the motions of doing my job. I’m trying to act normal, but I know
my friends aren’t fooled. Tegan stays in most nights, keeping me
company as we watch 80s movies and eat lots of ice cream. She says
she wants to stop partying so much, so my self-imposed exile is
actually a good thing for her. That’s what she says, but I know
better. She’s scared to leave me alone. They all are.

My new assistant, Kevin, has been doing a
great job of picking up the slack when I zone out. He used to work
for the Griffins, but Chloe said he’d be a great fit for me, and
she was right. He’s fun, stylish, and an all-around great guy. The
girls have been trying to find another great guy to hook him up
with, but all of his dates have been duds. I have an idea for
someone, but I’m not sure how I’ll work that out.

Vivian had been keeping me updated about
what’s going on in Austin. I know she was doing it because she
feels bad. She says the guys are making some great music and
bonding all over again. She usually texts me at least once a day.
It’s been four days now, and I’m guessing her guilt is waning. It’s
probably for the best.

“Hey gorgeous, Reina wants to see you in the
small conference room.”

“Thanks, Kev.”

A meeting in the conference room means a new
assignment. I didn’t think she’d send me out again so soon, but I
guess whoever it is needs what I can offer. I walk down the hall
and knock before going inside.

Along with Reina and Mallory, there’s a
striking woman in maybe her forties or early fifties, and a hot
nerd sitting at the table. The guy doesn’t look traditionally hot
at the moment, but I can see his potential. With a little hair gel
and some cooler clothes, women would be dropping at his feet. I’d
keep the glasses, or maybe not.

“Thanks for meeting with us, Stella. This is
Courtney and her son, Chris. They need your help.”

“Okay. Sure.”

“You should probably hear their story before
you say yes, Stella,” Mallory says, glaring at Reina. Uh-oh.

“Maybe you’re right, Mal. Can you tell me
why you’re here?”

“I run a charity in Austin that brings music
education to terminally ill children. My daughter had cancer, and
even when she was weak, she wanted to try and play the piano. When
we lost her, I realized that the best way I could honor her short
life was by sharing her love of music with other children. Many
times we focus on the dying and not on the life that’s left. I
wanted to change that for as many children as I could.”

“That sounds great.”

“It is. My mom’s really awesome.”

“I feel the same way about you, Chris. Which
leads us to why we’re here. A few months ago, I called in some
favors and booked the band Storyside for our annual gala. I’m sure
you’ve heard that one of their members was arrested right here in
Vegas.” We all nod, and I try to act normal as I grit my teeth and
dig my hands into the arms of my chair. “The other three young men
agreed to still perform. They seemed like some nice boys, until
that Kace one stole Chris’ girlfriend.”

It’s taking everything in me to not scream
and run from this room. I might also faint. It’s only been two
fucking weeks and he’s already moved on. I want to kill him. How
dare he pretend to love me? Because if he’s already dating again,
he was obviously pretending. And he had the nerve to accuse me of
playing games. Little boy bastard.

“Mom,” Chris says, breaking the silence that
had descended on the room. “You know Brooke’s behind it all.”

“Who’s Brooke?” I manage to ask in what I
think was a calm voice.

“She’s Tami’s best friend, supposedly, but
she’s more like a worst friend. She’s jealous of Tami because she’s
beautiful, smart, and just plain awesome. She hated it when we
started dating and has tried to break us up over and over again.
When we all went on a school trip last year, she climbed into my
bed while I was sleeping and almost got Tami to believe I cheated
on her.”

“She sounds delightful.”

“She’s a bitch, and so are the other girls
in their circle. The guys are bastards who all hate me because I’m
richer and smarter than them. Plus they all want Tami, too.”

“What is she, some sort of magical
being?”

“Stella,” Reina warns me.

“I’m just asking. I mean, every girl in
Austin wants to be her, and every guy wants her. Including some
asshole boy bander.”

“Kace isn’t an asshole. He’s really cool.
He’s spent a bunch of time with the kids, and he lets me hang out
with him and the other guys all the time.”

Of course he did. He’s just a saint. And I’m
the sinner. Shoot me now.

“So, what? You want me to go back to Austin
with you and try to make him jealous so he leaves your girl and she
comes running back to you? Sorry, but it won’t work. Kace hates me
now.”

“You
know
him?”

“Um, yeah. We dated a few weeks ago.”

“You didn’t tell us that, Reina,” Courtney
says.

“You asked for a stylist for your son.
Stella’s our stylist.”

A stylist. They didn’t want a date, they
wanted a stylist. Well, fuck me. “I’d love to help you, Chris.”

“You’ll be my date for the gala?”

“What happened to needing a stylist?”

“Well, I need that, too. But Brooke will
know who you are if you dated Kace, and she’ll freak. Wayne doesn’t
want to get with you by any chance, does he?”

“Wayne wants to get with anything that’s
moving. Why?”

“He and Brooke are hooking up. She lords it
over everyone, thinking she’s the shit.”

“Call Tegan,” I tell Reina.

“Who’s Tegan?” Chris asks.

“Wayne’s kryptonite.”

“Seriously?”

“Oh yeah. If she walks into the room, he
won’t even remember that this Brooke chick is there. I have a
question, though. If Tami’s with Kace, how is she not the Queen
Bee?”

“She’s not really with him.”

“Chris, we’ve talked about this. He’s gone
with her to the club several times for dinner.”

“They don’t hold hands, and I’ve only ever
seen him kiss her cheek. When they dance, it’s not close—he holds
her very formally. They’re both pretending.”

“And you want her back? She up and dumped
you to pretend to date a rock star, but you’re going to take her
back, just like that.”

“Don’t you want Kace back?”

“No.”

“You’re lying. I saw you gripping your chair
when my mom mentioned him.”

I smile for real, my first one in a long
time. “I think I like you, Chris. Yes, I want Kace back, but that’s
not an option. I’ll help you, though. I can see the hottie peeking
out from your bad clothing and hair choices. When I’m done with
you, Tami will be begging for it.”

“’It’? Oh my, I think I love you, Stella,”
Courtney says with a laugh.

“Calm down, Mom. I’d never make her beg for
me or…or…that.”

“That’s one of the things we’re going to
work on. You need to be all alpha and claim her. Especially if
you’re walking into that gala with me. I already know what I’m
wearing, and those little bastards who’ve tormented you are going
to fall at my feet, and those catty bitches are going to fall at
yours. Then we’ll walk right over them.”

“You’re pretty confident.”

“I have reason to be.”

“This is going to be the most talked about
gala in our history.”

“Isn’t that what you came here for,
Courtney?”