The Devil of Hollywood (In Another Life… #5)

Prologue

Drayton

Love was Pixy Stix and paperbacks. Spontaneous, late-night rendezvous and intoxicating kisses. Love… was Marian LaRoe.

Red hair. Full lips. High cheekbones. Her eyes were a cross between aquamarine and bright green.

Marian was the first person I had ever opened my heart to.

Although we were in the same elite circle, we hadn’t grown up together.

My father kept me in New York through most of my youth and high school years.

It wasn’t until I was finishing college that I ended up interning at our firm in Chicago.

Within days, a mutual acquaintance brought us together.

No matter how many times I try to drink it away, that day never escapes my greedy mind.

It covets the memory just like I coveted our love.

“There she is. Vivia.” Elec’s attempt at a whisper was anything but, and the quick ‘shh’ from multiple tables in the library had him lifting his hand in apology.

It didn’t stop him from repeating it, this time, quieter.

“Vivia. We’re going to be late.” He waved to her from across the large room, his voice more a hiss at the end.

I smiled as his girlfriend giggled, gesturing toward someone hidden in the aisle.

“I swear, she never listens to me. She’s known our plans for days. Rosters is an hour’s drive. With this traffic, we’ll be lucky to make it there on time.”

I shrugged, my smile falling as I glanced back up to the girl who burst from the aisle.

The first thing I saw was her hair. There was no missing the vivid color.

The red was more orange, mixed with a hint of blonde that was twisted high on her head.

Loose strands fell to the bulky, oversized white sweater she wore.

Her skin was like porcelain, and although I could have spent minutes studying her, it was her smile that dazzled me, stealing my attention. It was real. It was captivating.

“Oh shit.”

I barely could pull myself from the trance to address my childhood friend. Although we didn’t really know each other now, Elec and I had spent a lot of time together as children.

“What is it?”

“Marian… LaRoe,” he emphasized. “Her mother must be making the rounds in the psych department. Melissa—Dr. LaRoe,” he quickly corrected, “is a fucking genius. She’s going to be my ticket out of here. I’ve been trying to get a meeting with her but no luck so far.”

“Out of here?”

“Your path may be set, but mine isn’t,” Elec said in a hushed tone.

“Melissa can help me. I know she can. I heard my father mention her the other night. That’s her daughter, Marian, with the backpack slung over her shoulder.

She graduated high school a while back. I heard she’s putting off college.

I have no idea why. They say she’s just as smart as her mother.

It makes no sense. Especially for someone in our circle.

Most families rush us right into more schooling.

It’s a life sentence. You’re lucky you’re finishing up your fourth year and you’re calling it quits. I’m going to be here forever.”

“Marian,” I repeated.

The girl finally turned from Vivia, her stare stopping on me. And just like me the first time I saw her… her face lost all emotion, melting as she slowed and held my gaze.

Time stopped.

My heart stopped.

The world could have fallen out from under my feet, and I wouldn’t have noticed nor cared.

The round, light eyes that took me over had me moving forward with no control.

No motive. All I knew was that I had to have her.

Not even sexually, although there was suffocating attraction. It was deeper, darker. Possessiveness.

“Drayton?”

Elec’s voice barely registered behind me as I approached.

I could have broken a million laws in that moment.

That I didn’t kiss this stranger or throw her over my shoulder like a barbarian was a pure miracle.

My arm came out, and she didn’t even look down as she slid her fingers over my palm, closing them around mine like it was the most natural thing in the world.

“I’m Drayton. Drayton Pennington.”

She swallowed hard, momentarily silent as she searched my eyes.

“You’re taller than I thought you’d be. And you’re not skinny or awkward like I imagined.”

My brow pulled in, and the spell shattered.

“I’m sorry?”

Vivia’s laughter had me looking between them, confused, but my gaze kept coming back to Marian. And her hand. I couldn’t let it go. It was her that stepped back and pulled it free.

“Isn’t that you?” Marian pointed to a picture and plaque by the front entrance.

“This is the Pennington Library, named after your grandfather. If the information underneath is correct…” Marian tilted her head at me curiously.

“Then that’s you standing at his side. I guess I just didn’t imagine you’d grow up to be so… big.”

I stepped closer, unable to help myself as I towered over her. I wasn’t sure if she was flirting or just innocent. At a few inches over six feet, wide but lean, big was right. She had no idea.

“Hopefully that’s not a bad thing?”

A blush crept into her cheeks, and she shook her head. “No.”

“Good. We’re headed to Rosters for dinner. A lot of people in the circle our age are going. You can ride with us if you’d like. I’m sure Elec won’t mind.”

She returned my smile but shyly kept diverting her stare. “What is your age, Drayton?”

Intrigue. She was definitely interested.

“I turned twenty-three a few days ago. How old are you, Marian? Elec said you graduated a while back and that you were putting off college. What are you, twenty?”

A loud laugh burst from her and more ‘shh’s’ filled the room. Elec cleared his throat in warning, causing me to look between them. When I put my attention back on Marian, she was thrusting a Pixy Stix into my hand.

“I graduated high school when I was sixteen. I’m eighteen now, almost nineteen. The baby of the group and not yet invited to hang with the cool kids. That’s okay. I have to go anyway. My mother is probably looking for me.”

Elec lunged forward. “We don’t mind if you go. You can ride with us if you want. I’ll even talk to your mom. I’ve been wanting to meet her anyway.”

“Oh.” A new lock of hair fell from the loose bun as she shook her head, almost in panic. Quickly, she took a step back. “I already have plans. Thanks, though.”

I countered her step, despite I shouldn’t. She was young. Too young, if I wanted to be honest. But I couldn’t stop myself.

“Plans? What sort of plans?”

For a moment, Marian didn’t speak. She shrugged off her backpack and let it rest at her feet.

Leaning over, she opened the zipper and dug through.

She withdrew a book, handing it over and throwing me an almost challenging look.

I scanned the cover of the embraced couple, raising one of my eyebrows at her teasingly as I noticed the girl’s wrists were bound at her back by a pearl necklace.

“I’m trying to decide whether or not I should be jealous. You’re turning down dinner with us for a book called Slade…Captive to the Dark?”

Her smile was laced with mischief despite her eyes going rounder in a doe-shape as she nodded.

The returning blush that tinted her cheeks had me wanting to skip dinner too.

To stay with her and watch her read. To see whatever wickedness she was hiding play out on her beautiful face as she devoured the pages.

Captive to the… Dark. Dark. Dark.

God, her eyes.

She was hypnotizing.

Vivia’s voice was soft as she moved in. “We really don’t mind if you want to come, Marian.

Had I thought your mom would have let you go, I would have invited you.

It’s just, you stopped playing tennis. You don’t come to the club anymore.

Last time I asked, you said your mom was keeping you busy.

You’re always busy lately. Paris. London.

You only just got back a week ago from Dublin.

Are you looking at colleges there? Your dad works in London, doesn’t he? ”

Marian quickly grabbed the book from me.

“Yeah. He’s been home for the last few months, though.

It’s… complicated. Thanks for the offer to dinner.

My mom probably wouldn’t let me go, so don’t worry about not asking.

It’s for the best. It’s getting late. You all have an amazing time.

It was nice finally meeting you, Drayton.

Maybe I’ll see you around. I hope I do.” She picked up her bag, stuffing the book inside, waving as she spun to leave.

She only got a few steps before a woman with darker red hair came through the library’s double doors.

As if her mother could feel my intense stare, her eyes locked on mine.

There was no softness. No welcoming upon seeing the three of us there.

She was cold. Empty. It didn’t take long for me to find out just how much.

I walked forward at a fast pace, extending my hand as I approached.

“Dr. LaRoe, it’s so nice to meet you. I’m Drayton Pennington.

I just returned home, and we’re all having dinner tonight.

” I gestured my head towards Elec and Vivia as they hurried in our direction, but I kept my eyes on her mother’s penetrating gaze.

She took my hand, giving it a firm squeeze.

“We were—I … was wondering if it would be okay if Marian could join us.”

Green eyes, almost the same shade as Marian’s, shifted to her daughter. Her hand pulled back, and a forced smile appeared as she cut her stare back to me.

“I heard you were returning, Mr. Pennington. So… dinner. With my daughter?”

She was gauging whether to take my interest seriously. Our circle had its own code, and she was giving me time to correct myself.

“We’ll all be there. But yes. I’m asking if Marian can go.” My heart raced at what I was implying. Was I seriously staking my interest so boldly after mere minutes of meeting this girl?

“I see.”

Time.

Moments stretched out as she watched me. As if she were satisfied, she nodded, turning to sweep back a lock of hair from Marian’s face, tucking it behind her ear. Marian nervously looked between us as her mother took her time coming back to address me.

“Let me just make myself clear so there’s no mistaking my stance. No.”

My lips parted with not only disbelief but astonishment.

No… to me? The LaRoes had clout in our circle, but aside from one other family, no one was more sought after than me.

I was the heir to one of the richest, most powerful lines to exist in the US.

I was a parent’s dream. But not this parent.

Melissa LaRoe didn’t seem to care. Others would have sold their soul for my notice.

I wasn’t sure what to think about her obvious dislike.

“No? To dinner?”

Marian’s head lowered, but I didn’t miss the flicker of anger in her eyes as she kept quiet.

“To anything, Mr. Pennington.”

“Ever? I know Marian is… younger. I don’t mind waiting however long you wish.”

“No.”

“We can’t even be friends?”

Dr. LaRoe’s shoulders straightened, and her cold smile never wavered.

“Nothing personal, Mr. Pennington, but your priority needs to be focused on your future companies, not my daughter. I read people for a living. I know them better than they know themselves. From what I know of you, the two of you are not compatible.” My mouth opened, but her hand shot up, cutting me off.

“Not as friends or anything else. Trust me. I know what I’m talking about.

My daughter is not the one for you, Drayton.

” She glanced over. “Come, Marian. It’s time to go. ”

Perfect teeth bit into her full lip as Marian hesitated to follow her mother’s fast steps. Just as she went to turn, I couldn’t help but reach out to brush my fingers over the sleeve of her sweater.

“What do you want, Marian? Do you want to get to know each other? Maybe start off by being friends?”

Melissa turned, her eyes narrowing, but all I saw was Marian as she quickly stepped closer, lowering her voice to where it was barely audible.

“This is a battle neither of us will win. Trust me. You have no idea what you’re doing.”

“I know exactly what I’m doing. Breakfast. Eight sharp. Kick’s Café. Be there, Marian. Meet me.”