Chapter Drayton
Drayton
“Oh, yes. We shouldn’t. We—Mmm. Please. Wait.” More moans. “You won’t tell anyone about our secret? Oh, God. Oh—” The blonde’s hand flattened on her chest, moving towards her breast. “A little lower.”
“No. Absolutely not. Stop.” My hand shot up. “Are you fucking with me right now? This is your audition? This is how you want Violet portrayed?”
“Well… I mean, the script—”
My hand pulsed, cutting her off. “You’re an actress, Belinda. According to your paycheck, supposedly a good one. If you were looking to transition into porn, you should have just said so. I know the best guy in town.”
“Fuck you, Mr. Sinn. I bet you do know him. I bet you’re both great friends.”
“As a matter of fact.” I laughed.
“I’m no fucking porn star. You told my agent I needed to pack the heat. It doesn’t get hotter than Violet’s first sexual experience. So, maybe I overplayed the part. Fine. But don’t you fucking insinuate that I’m a bad actress. I’m good at what I do. I’m damn good.”
“Oh, you definitely are, but there’s only one way you’re walking out of here as Violet Robbins. That shit you just showed me isn’t it.”
Her lip peeled back in anger. For seconds, she studied my face. When I stayed silent, she grabbed the bottom of her dress, pulling it up midthigh.
“What the fuck are you doing?”
“You said—”
“Don’t put words in my mouth. If I wanted your pussy, you’d know it. I don’t.”
“Then, what? This is my part. I’m not leaving here until you see that. Let me act out another scene. I want to try again.”
“I don’t need to see anymore. I’ve watched you for a while. I called no one else in to audition but you. You’re nervous and you’re overthinking. But you’re good at what you do, even if you still need work. And I’m not going to sugarcoat it. You need a fuckload of work, Belinda.”
“You really don’t hold back. This never gets easier. I haven’t seen you in three years, but you haven’t changed a bit.”
“And I never will. I pushed you then. I’ll push you even harder now. Especially since I think you’re “it”.”
“Wait. It?” She was starting to shake. “Explain.”
“You’ve leveled up… which means you’ll be seeing a lot more of me.”
‘So, I got the part?” Excitement. “You mean—”
My head shook. “You think this is good news. Think again. What I have in mind is bigger than playing Violet. Think: Charlotte Wyce. Ethan O’Brien.
I can make you their costars. I can put your name right up there with theirs.
I can give you the world, but that comes at a cost. It makes you mine.
I own you, and you won’t like that. My word is law. If you disobey…”
The threat was clear as it hung between us. It was no secret how deep and dark the deals in Hollywood could go, and Belinda knew I was at the root of all of them. If she was ever going to make it big, it would be because of me.
“I won’t. I’ll do whatever you want.”
“Anything?”
Belinda didn’t so much as pause or flinch through the grave possibilities.
“Is there a paper to sign away my soul? I have a pen.” She stood straighter. “Anything, Mr. Sinn. I’m ready, and I know the consequences if I mess this up. I won’t. I was made to be a star.”
“Alright. Let’s cover the basics. What I’m about to tell you, I’ll never repeat because they aren’t just rules. This is a lifestyle. It’s discipline. Torture. It is the foundation of who you will become. If this doesn’t come naturally, you’re not “it”.”
“I am “it”. I’m ready.”
I shrugged as if I wasn’t sure but continued.
“First thing: legs stay closed. No affairs. No favors. Relationships only. You will have class. You will portray elegance.” She stood taller.
Straighter. “You need a complete wardrobe change. No cleavage. Nothing shorter than the width of a dollar bill above your knees. No skintight clothes. If you show skin, it’s on the screen.
That’s what keeps them coming back. You’ll wear natural colors for makeup.
The smallest hint of highlights. Nails are to be just past your fingertips.
You will go to Kimi, I’ll give you her information, and you will listen and do everything she says.
No partying, unless it’s here where I can monitor you, and absolutely no drugs. Is that understood?”
Belinda nodded eagerly, keeping a serious expression.
“You have promise, but with the role you’re after, there is a lot tied to that responsibility. Me. It all comes down to you obeying everything I say. If you deviate from my rules, there will be no second chances. If I find out you lie to me about anything, you’re finished.”
“I’d never lie to you.”
“You better hope not. Everyone is replaceable. Beauty and talent are a dime a dozen in Hollywood. True stars that last the test of time have auras. They lead as an example. Your legacy is what I make of it.” I scanned her face seeing the want and need.
The hunger I was looking for. “But only if you want it bad enough.
Do you? Are you ready to follow my every command?
“Absolutely.”
“I hope you’re right.” I pulled out my wallet, withdrawing Kimi’s card and handing it over. “Prove to me I didn’t just make a mistake.”
“I swear you didn’t.”
My hand came up, and her breath hitched as if she were terrified that I was about to call it all off.
“Last warning. Don’t hide anything from me.
This goes hand-in-hand with lies. I have ears everywhere, Belinda.
I know things you couldn’t imagine. Things you think are hidden in the dark.
In the shadows of little hotels in desolate towns. ”
Her brows drew in, and she swallowed hard.
“This devil deals in secrets. He pays to uncover hidden perversions. Your days at the “Lonely Lodge” with James Bryan are over. Kick him to the curb. He’s fucking three other women anyway.
You’re better than some Hollywood has-been.
From here on out, only the best, and only after you get approval from me. Is that understood?”
“Y-Yes.”
“Good. Because if you cross me, you may never find your way out of some small town again.”
“I’ll never, Mr. Sinn. N-Never again. Thank you.” She backstepped, spinning for her purse. “Thank you.”
The clicking of heels increased into a jog and faded, but it was heavier footsteps that had me glancing towards the entrance to my club.
Belinda raced past my cousin, surprisingly giving him zero attention as she did.
I couldn’t say that for him. He turned, following her departure, nodding in appreciation.
Hell, maybe she would follow the rules. Not many dismissed a brickhouse of lean muscle.
Quinton Pennington was handsome, built, successful.
With his father being the second of five boys, outside of my own father who was the oldest, he wasn’t far off from being heir.
He was the entire package, and he knew it.
“She looks familiar. Who was that?”
I pointed across my club, signaling for a drink to my bartender, Louise. In a few hours this place would be packed, and I wasn’t in the mood for it tonight.
“Belinda Peterson. Actress.”
“Peterson… Belinda… Fuck, I know that name.”
“Probably from the trailers of Homeland. They’re on every TV station right now. I can thank Rhett Rivera for that. Her fourth movie is about to drop, not that you’d remember her in any of those roles. I’m about to make her a star. Whether she makes anything of it will be up to her.”
Quinton let out a sound as he pulled out a chair from the table I was standing next to. I didn’t sit down. I couldn’t. Not with what I knew. Or… what I was going to do.
“If she’s your next big star, I take it she’s out of reach.”
“I hope so.”
“Can I try to test her?”
I laughed. “You can try. I don’t think you’ll stand a chance. She’ll be looking for a serious relationship. What about you? Are you interested?”
“Fuck no. Never mind. You said you needed to speak to me?”
“Yeah.”
I paused as one of my waitresses approached, handing me my drink. It had Quinton’s eyes going round.
“You don’t drink anymore. This must be… bad.”
“I’m getting married.”
Confusion flashed, then disbelief, and finally laughter.
“Get the fuck out of here.”
“I’m serious.” I placed the glass on the table. “First, I need a favor, and you owe me plenty.”
“What you need is water. You’ve apparently fell off the wagon and had too much to drink today because I know you’re not fucking getting married. Not you. You’re the Devil of Hollywood. Sinn doesn’t date. He doesn’t even fuck women. He sure as hell doesn’t get married.”
“Quinton.” My head shook. “I may be Sinn to you and the guys, but I’m Drayton Pennington first.”
His face sobered. “Oh fuck. Your family is forcing you to marry? You’re not the heir anymore.”
“It’s complicated.”
“It’s not. You’re not the heir, Drayton. You don’t have to do anything they say. They turned their backs on you. They’ve treated you like shit. So, you fucked up. You were a kid! And you lost everything for it.”
“I was twenty-three. I was a man. I knew better.” My eyes lowered, slowly lifting through the flashes of twisted metal and bloody asphalt.
I could still hear the screams. I could still see Delia’s body sprawled awkwardly on the road through my shattered windshield.
She’d been so broken. So… unrecognizable.
“I killed our cousin. I was hungover and driving recklessly. I should have made her buckle her seatbelt. What I did was unforgivable.”
“And you’ve apologized a million times. Marian, that bitch—”
“Don’t.” I cut him off with a look.
“Don’t mention the person who’s responsible for making you lose everything?
Drayton, Marian did this. She lied to your parents.
She said you got her drunk and forced yourself on her, taking her virginity.
That she didn’t even want anything to do with you anymore, but you wouldn’t leave her alone.
She acted like she loved you around all of us, and then she made you out to be this horrible monster to your parents. ”
A shallow breath left me. “She did.”
“It blows my mind everything she said.” Quinton cursed, pacing as he glared towards me.
“I didn’t rape her, but the rest isn’t technically a lie.”
He paused. “Are you saying you got her drunk and took advantage of her?”
“We knew what was going to happen. She was nervous. Eager. But she was under the legal age to drink and I gave her some scotch, so, yes.”
“Was she passed out when you—”
“Of course not.”
“Wasted? Stumbling?”
“No.”
“Exactly. That’s not the vicious rape or events they insinuated, and you know it. What about the other part? You wouldn’t leave her alone? You stalked her? You tried breaking into her bedroom window.”
“Several times. And the stalking… oh, yes. I still do.”
He came to a stop as his mouth parted.
“I’m going to pretend you didn’t admit to that.
It doesn’t even matter. What happened was worse than words.
It was a yelling match. Name calling. Threats.
I wasn’t there, but I’ve heard the details.
It was a horror show, so much more than you’re admitting.
You almost went to jail because of her. And not just for the accusations. ”
“I should be rotting behind bars right now for all that’s happened. Luckily, I’m not, and now I get to watch the tables turn.”
“Maybe. I guess that depends. Who are you marrying?”
My finger traced around the edge of the glass. Around and around. Slow. Precise. “Marian.”
Shock.
“I’m sorry? You didn’t just say Marian.”
I nodded. “I did.”
“You’ve lost your fucking mind. Dray… don’t do this. Don’t you bring that b—don’t you bring her back into the circle and forgive her.”
“I have no intention of forgiving Marian LaRoe for ruining my life. But I will make her pay for it by ruining hers.”
“And marrying you is going to be that punishment?”
I smiled, the expression coming so naturally as I went over what I knew.
“There’s a lot I can’t tell you, but nothing is more important than this.
Marian is set to marry into French nobility before the year is out, Quinton.
Do you know what that will do to the LaRoe line if she goes through with it?
Her brother Jett will outrank the Penningtons.
Outrank Bram Whitlock. They’ll become the family of our circle. I’m not letting that happen.”
“But… if Marian is getting married, how are you going to get her to marry you?”
My smile returned, only growing more malicious. “I’m not who I used to be, but she’ll wish I was. Marian will consent. She won’t have a choice. I’ll make her.” I paused at his furrowed brow. “Worry doesn’t suit you, Cousin. Rejoice. When has payback not been sweet?”
“This isn’t just anyone, Dray. The circle— This could turn bad for a lot of people.”
“Not this time. Do you trust me?”
“You know I do.”
“Then I’m going to need that favor.”
Quinton slowly nodded. “Anything.”
“Soon, I’m going to need you to go down to Florida with me and a team of very dangerous men. I need you to help me take her.”
“Kidnap her?”
“Not just kidnap, Quinton. We’re going to introduce her to a nightmare she can’t escape from.
One, Marian couldn’t have dreamed up if she tried.
I have it all planned out. Everything’s already been taken care of.
We just need to be there to make sure it goes as planned.
” My voice lowered. “I want her terrified. I want her crying and begging for freedom. She deserves to pay for what she’s done. You’re going to help me do that.”