31. Dirty Deeds
THIRTY-ONE
dirty deeds
“I can’t believe how well this worked!” I scroll through my phone, reading all the headlines featuring our dinner party last night, as we ride through the streets of LA to the concert venue.
The pictures Elle took make it seem like some small-town fan caught us in public and sold the images to the highest bidder. We’re laughing, talking, and eating in most of them. There’s also no shortage of public affection between me and Brianna. Elle caught every lovestruck smile we exchanged, and a few kisses as well.
But the drop-the-mic moment was Brianna’s selfie of the three of us. She posted it while we were at dinner, with her hashtag #reunited , and the dang thing went viral almost instantly. She hasn’t been on social media since we started dating, so her followers went nuts. The timing of her post and Elle’s email to Star Tracker, our online tabloid nemesis, containing the best photos of the night couldn’t have been better. With everyone buzzing about our mini reunion, the media pounced on the story.
“It’s literally on every site. Even the mainstream media has coverage of your posts,” I say as I continue tapping on the links.
“Social media can sink ships ... or right them,” Brianna says as she leans in to see the headlines. “And when a typically media-silent celebrity responds to the rumors— bam .” She points to one headline, and the two of us laugh.
POP STAR TURNS DIRTY RUMOR INTO A THREESOME
I read it out loud in the car to everyone’s laughter. Colleen, Elle, Clinton, Brianna, and I are all on our way to the rehearsal for the Diva Tribute, which is being taped tonight. Clinton told us as soon as we landed that there’d be extra security throughout the event, so I was pretty relaxed, even though he tensed up as soon as we piled into the limo. I guess I’d rather he be tense and focused than loose and sloppy. I know we’re safe with him in charge.
Brianna and I sit together in the back of the limo with our hands laced, snuggled close. I think it’s the first time I’ve felt her this calm while we’ve been in LA. Which is also a sign that getting out of town was the best idea I could have had. I’m so glad I went with my instincts.
“Thanks so much for bringing me along,” Colleen says as she peers out the window watching the city streak by. “I’ve never been to California.”
Brianna smiles. “I’m glad you came. Since it’s your first trip, we’ll have to do it right. My schedule should be pretty clear for the next week. I already booked a break before the tour starts. I’m looking forward to acting as your personal tour guide.”
Colleen whips her head around. “Are you serious? I can’t ask you to do that. That’s too much.”
Brianna shrugs. “Honestly, it’s as much for me as it is for you. I’ve lived here for almost six years and still haven’t seen most of the sights. Your visit is the perfect excuse to finally be a tourist.”
I’m in awe at how comfortable she seems. She’s like an entirely new girl. I give her a squeeze and a kiss on the side of her head as she and Colleen make plans for all the fun we’re about to have. Then I shift in my seat to lean closer to Clinton. I hate to end the joyful ride with a dark question, but I need to talk to him about the state of the investigation. He gave me a look when we got off the plane that made me wonder what he’s found out. So, rather than pose my curiosity to the entire group, I bend his ear a bit for some privacy.
“What do you have so far on the Rachel situation?” I speak quietly, just to Clinton. But my nerves return with a vengeance when he turns to me with a dark look and a slight shake of his head.
Why doesn’t he want to have this conversation in the closed quarters of the car? It’s the perfect private location to divulge sensitive details. I question him silently with a raise of my brow, but he shifts his gaze toward where Brianna’s sitting.
Oh. He doesn’t want her to hear. Shit ... If his news will be upsetting to her, it could be incredibly bad.
I sit back in my seat, putting my arm around Brianna’s shoulder, determined to get her through whatever is going on.
The ride continues as I wonder what Clinton is keeping to himself. Brianna, Colleen, and Elle have started a list of plans, and Elle is looking up ticket prices for some of them.
“Put that phone down. You’re with me. There won’t be any entrance fees for us. I get requests to ‘appear’ all the time at places around town, because it’s basically a free commercial for their business.”
Brianna is so insistent that Elle laughs and puts her phone away.
But when we round the corner to the venue, the last traces of my calm evaporate. It’s surrounded. The promise of major A-listers being on site for the Diva Tribute has brought all the paparazzi out from under their rocks. They’ve staked out the entire block.
The limo pulls into the parking structure of the venue and takes us to the back entrance, where all the who’s who in town can keep out of the spotlight. The guard on duty pops open the door, and we all shuffle out and let Clinton and his team lead us into the building.
“Didn’t she just put you in charge yesterday?” I ask as Clinton leads the way. “How did you put all this into place so quickly?” I attempt to keep things lighthearted, but when Clinton fails to reply, I swallow the nerves taking root.
As soon as we hit the backstage zone, Char appears in front of us with her clipboard. Damn thing really is surgically attached.
“Right on time!” She gives Brianna a huge smile. “Glad to have you back. You look well-rested. Did you have a nice time?”
Brianna beams, already having forgiven Char for not keeping her in the Rachel loop. Wish I could say I was that understanding, but I’m not.
“Couldn’t have asked for anything better.” Bree’s hand remains gently wrapped in mine, so I give her a squeeze, which she returns.
“Perfect. Well, it’s time to warm up. Here’s the music they’d like you to perform. It’s been arranged to fit your style, and I have to say, I think it’s going to end up one of the biggest hits of the night.” Char hands Brianna the sheet music attached to the clipboard.
Brianna looks it over and smiles. “I think I might have to agree with you.” Then she hugs the sheet music and gives me a wink. “I’m saving this as a little surprise for later.”
“I won’t argue with that. I love surprises.” I lean down and brush her cheeks with a kiss.
“Okay, cowboy, it’s time for me to rush her off to rehearsal. I’ve got the box seat on stage right all set up for you,”—Char gestures to the whole group of us—“so make yourselves comfortable. The greenroom is just down the hall. Plenty of food and drinks on hand, so help yourself.”
Elle and Colleen squeal to each other as soon as Brianna is out of earshot.
I groan. “Don’t start with all the fangirling again. I thought we’d moved past that stage,” I warn Elle.
Elle gives me a look. She’s kind of a hellcat, so I take a step back. “Listen, bro. I may never get an opportunity like this again, so there’ll be any kind of fangirl reaction I like, you got that?”
I throw my hands up in surrender, even though I’m positive Elle will have plenty of these experiences in her future. I’m with Bree for the long haul.
The girls head for the greenroom, but I hang back where Clinton is overseeing the stage area. Brianna stands fifty feet away, next to the piano, talking with some of the musicians and Char. This is my chance to ask him what’s going on.
I make a slow walk in his direction, taking in the rest of the surroundings. He’d told us there’d be extra security, but for the life of me, I can’t see any security at all, let alone extra.
What the hell?
When I stop at Clinton’s left, he presses his finger against his ear, listening to someone on one of those earpieces. He nods his head and scans the area, looking for who knows what. I can’t help the nerves spiking throughout my entire body. A zap of awareness runs through me like electricity. Something is definitely off. And I don’t like having Brianna in this building, if that’s the case.
“Got it. Will do.” Clinton signs off with whoever’s on the other end of the line and then turns to give me a pointed look. I return the pointed look in his direction, folding my arms across my chest. This is not the Clinton I know. Secretive, slow to let me in on what’s going on, nonresponsive, and generally detached. I don’t like it.
“Well?” I say, completely done with the silent routine. I’ve gone from relief at seeing Brianna so comfortable to edgy at Clinton’s standoffishness. More than edgy about my sense that something is wrong. I’m absolutely feral.
Clinton mirrors my stance with arms crossed, then he glances around to see if anyone’s within earshot. He must be satisfied, because when he looks back at me, his entire face has lost the hard edge he’s had most of the day.
“I’m sorry, Zack. I have to be extra careful with this right now. The information is brand-new, and we’re scrambling to put the pieces together before tonight.”
Not reassuring. “This doesn’t sound good, Clinton. What did you find out about Rachel?”
“She hasn’t said much, other than she did what she had to do.”
“What the fuck does that mean?”
“Calm down, man. I’m getting to it. We did uncover that her prints were on the key because she was the one to make a copy of Brianna’s original.”
“Okay, so why would she do that?” I feel like I’m being spoon-fed this information one bite at a time, and I’m losing my patience. “Dude, just tell me what’s going on!”
Clinton brings one hand up to his face, rubbing his forehead. I’m about to knock him in it if he doesn’t talk.
“It’s not that simple.”
“Yes, it fucking is. Talk.” Now I’m pissed. I’d fire him myself if I had the ability to. Why isn’t he just spilling the details?
“It’s a web, man. And it goes further than we thought. Rachel was working with someone else. It took a while to uncover everything because she’s been so tight-lipped, but once I found out why ...” His voice trails off.
I swallow the curse I nearly shouted. “Go on.”
“Char’s been keeping things from both of us—and Brianna—for a while.”
Char? I’ve been questioning her for so long about everything she hasn’t done to help Brianna, but I never thought she might actually be involved in any of this. I don’t say anything, because I don’t know what to say.
Instead I glance over to where Brianna stands by the piano, still going over the music when Char walks up to her. Char leans down to the pianist and whispers something in his ear. The guy nods and then gets up and leaves.
It’s just Char and Brianna talking.
I take a step in their direction, not wanting Brianna to be alone with Char if her supposed best friend is involved in all this shit. But the second my foot makes the first move, Clinton wraps his hand around my arm, pulling me back.
“Not yet,” he warns.
I look back at him for a second, but his gaze is on my girl and her friend. I turn back, still straining against his hold. Confused. Worried.
And fucking pissed.
Because Logan is walking up behind Brianna.
Clinton grips my arm like a vise as I try to break into a hard run. “Wait,” he whispers.
“What? No fucking way!” I try harder to break out of his hold, but even my black belt status doesn’t matter, because my emotions are on overload. I need to calm down so I can get over there. I don’t want Logan within an inch of Bree. “I thought you were keeping tabs on her, man! What happened to all the extra security?”
“Shh. I’ve got guys everywhere. Wait.” Clinton watches them, focused intently, while holding my arm.
I look back at my girl and watch, helpless, as her biggest fears come true. Brianna talks with Logan, obvious discomfort on her face and in her body language. Char stands next to Brianna, but she doesn’t try to get Logan away. She responds to him, engaging him in whatever it is he’s talking about.
I grit my teeth in frustration.
“Trust me,” Clinton says as I once again try to worm my way out of his grip.
That’s when the swarm happens.
Five guys in plain clothes, looking nothing like security guards, bum-rush Logan. They take him down amid shouts and curses as Char pulls Brianna out of the way. Brianna’s shocked face is all I see. Instinctively, I make another move to get to her. This time Clinton lets me, and I cover the yards between us in seconds. I throw my arms around her the instant I’m within reach, holding her close and shielding her from the scuffle only inches away.
What the fuck is happening?