Page 160 of Dark Tangled Truths
“Brandt isn’t going anywhere.” Hawk leans back. “He may eventually have his dad’s money or connections, but he’s an asshole.”
“His own cast hates working with him.” Cam points his chopsticks at me. “It won’t take long for that to filter through industry circles. He’ll kill his own career.”
“What I care about is you.” Damon narrows his eyes on mine, and I swallow at how much I love this man. “If you feel some way and want him to suffer now, I can make that happen.”
“Besides, I have a damning recording of him that he knows I have,” Hawk says. “So if he even hints at fucking with you again, I will turn his world upside down.”
“Good.” I lean in and kiss Damon briefly before returning to my food. “As long as we can make him aware he can’t mess with me, or any other ants or we’ll wreck him, I’ll be good.”
“Consider it done.”
Chase came backto school the same day I did. I walked into rehearsal and he was there in front of me. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t able to keep you safe.”
My mouth opens, but I don’t know what to say. I didn’t expect him to say anything to me.
His face is swollen and mottled with bruises, but those will all fade and not leave anything behind. He’ll be himself before long. But maybe this is the wakeup call he needed.
“I was right there and when you fell, I tried to get to you, but that fucker started wailing on me.” He shakes his head and reaches for my arm, but then drops his hand. “Are you okay, EvanAnn?”
I think of all the things he did to me. How he used me and cheated on me and tried to pressure me into sex and started a twisted social media account. But if he hadn’t, who would I be right now? What would I be doing?
“I’m good now.” I hold out my hand to him. “Thank you for trying.”
He hesitates for a moment before shaking my hand. “I’m sorry about the posts.”
I release his hand. “I’m not sorry we deleted the account and all the pictures.”
“I really need to stay away from Abby.” He rubs the back of his neck.
I shrug because I don’t care who he dates or what he does as long as it’s far away from me. “Make better decisions. Stop trying to take the easy way out and actually be a better person instead of pretending to be.”
He nods and for a moment, I think he’ll say more, but then he walks away.
Tech week is where everything comes together. I’m back on stage. Cam comes to all the rehearsals since he can’t skate, and he makes me sit with him from time to time to give my brain a break. Keira has been a lifesaver.
It’s like having another brain, but that one’s fully functional. She’ll notice when I’m starting to get a headache and call for a quick break before leading me over to Cam. Damon makes sure I eat, and when it gets late, he closes my books and forces me to go to bed with him.
Okay, not so much forces me to, but kisses me until I can’t think of anything else.
Brandt has avoided me at school. He doesn’t even sneer at me anymore. Word has gotten out about the way he handles his cast, and Mr. Watson has been overseeing his tech week.
No one at school knows about what he did to set this shit in motion. He doesn’t come within ten feet of me and never sneers or tries to talk to me. He knows what my guys have on him and that I’m the one not pulling the trigger. Yet.
If he didn’t have a whole cast of people depending on him, I would have made everyone aware of what he did behind the scenes. But this is their opportunity too. And while someone could step in and help, it’s not fair to everyone who worked hard to make this production a reality.
When Damon explained what Brandt did to his dad, Adam went to talk to Brandt’s father. Pretty sure that shut down any other schemes Brandt and his sister might have had. Especially after hearing the recording Hawk took that night.
Things are so chaotic that I don’t know which way is up most days.
It’s dress rehearsal night. The audience has a handful of people in to watch. Friends and family who know this is a final rehearsal. My mom and Adam sit out in the audience with Damon and Cam.
There’s this nervous buzz of energy flowing through me. Tonight, I’m an actor. Keira is helping the backstage manager and will make notes of anything that stands out and needs to be addressed before the show tomorrow night.
I glance back at Hawk who’s talking to Chase and give him a quick smile. Hawk winks and a flush of warmth flows through me.
Mark stands next to me. He has his own boyfriend out in the audience watching tonight. “Nervous?”
“Maybe a little,” I admit and smile at him. “You?”
