Chapter 24
AVA
Far into the night, all my anxiety had vanished, replaced by excitement.
Lincoln’s idea to bring a bunch of celebrities into one room was genius.
I met and spoke with so many people who gave me insight into the underbelly of Tinseltown.
The champagne and liquor were flowing, so tongues were much looser.
I did, however, meet some incredibly sweet celebrities. Most of them were just like me, doing their jobs to earn an honest living. It was too bad that a few rotten apples cast a dark shadow over the celebrity world.
So far, I had managed to put together a longer list of people of interest. However, there was still a major link missing.
The person linking Phoenix to the elusive Dorian Vauxhall.
At least, I’d successfully crossed a few names off my list during my interrogations, which were camouflaged as small talk.
Chatting with everyone gave me perspective.
It wasn’t fair to say I had anything against the entity that was Hollywood, just the assholes who robbed young, sweet pop stars of their joy and innocence.
Speaking of… I saw Phoenix going through a set of doors.
I followed, weaving through the crowd. Everyone was laughing, chatting, or dancing.
I glanced back to catch Lincoln watching me, following my progress to the exit.
That was how he’d been all night—watchful and protective.
I gave him a reassuring smile, and he resumed his conversation with Jamie and Spencer.
Outside, the night breeze wrapped around me.
I inhaled deeply, glad for the reprieve from the mixture of perfumes inside.
The air was cool, salty, and laced with the smell of tropical flowers.
The music from the ballroom dulled and was replaced by the hum of waves crashing on the shore.
My heels sank into the sand as I stepped off the stone path, so I paused to take them off.
Ahead, Phoenix stood at the water’s edge, her heels dangling from one hand, and water around her ankles.
I slowed my steps, watching her for a moment.
She hadn’t noticed me yet. Her shoulders were relaxed, her head tilted toward the sky.
This might have been the most peace she'd gotten in a while.
I was reluctant to disrupt it, but I needed answers.
“Hey, Nyla.”
She looked over her shoulder with wide eyes. Realizing it was me, she smiled. “Ava. You remembered my name.”
“Of course. It’s a pretty name.”
She made a humming noise. “It’s just that, to everyone, I’m always Phoenix. Sometimes, I get tired of being her. It’s like she's my whole identity now.”
She didn’t sound happy about it. Nibbling my lower lip, I inched closer. “I saw you come out. I wondered if you were okay.”
“Really?”
I frowned. Was it that strange to her to have someone check up on her? I studied her with concern. “Sure. Are you okay?”
She nodded. “You look amazing. That dress is to die for.”
“Thanks, Nyla. You look great too.”
“You know, I’ve been watching you and Lincoln the entire party. You look good together. The way he looks at you is sweet.”
My eyebrows shot up. Lincoln and I were really selling the happy couple act.
Her eyebrows puckered. “I’m still confused about the invitation, though. I mean, I didn’t even think he knew who I was. I’m sure he doesn’t listen to my kind of music.”
“Actually, your invitation was all me.” That at least wasn’t a lie.
Her expression brightened. “Oh. Thanks. The party is great. I love it here.” She gazed out at the water. “It’s so peaceful.”
“No problem.” I glanced at her profile and then followed her gaze. The ocean's surface was dark, reflecting the moonlight and stars. The shimmer of the water was almost hypnotising. For a while, I stayed quiet, wondering how to ask Nyla the things I wanted to without spooking her.
“Ava?”
I glanced at her. She still stared ahead. “Yeah?”
Nyla swallowed. “Thanks.”
“For what?”
Finally, she looked at me. “For being… Well, I don’t know if we’re friends. I barely know you.”
I smiled. “I can be your friend.”
“Thanks for being kind to me.” She sighed heavily. “Dealing with the people I do, I don’t get that often.”
The sour taste of guilt rose in my throat. Initially, I’d only been interested in her because of curiosity. However, after meeting her, I really was concerned about her. “What about your parents? And you mentioned a brother.”
Nyla’s gaze dropped to the water, and her toes curled into the sand. “I lost my mom when I was eight,” she said softly. “After that, it was just my dad and brother.”
I stayed quiet, hoping for more.
“My dad…” Nyla hesitated, then gave a bitter laugh. “He was more interested in his career than his kids. I don’t think he ever knew what to do with me. He still doesn’t.”
“And your brother?” I asked gently.
“I adore him,” Nyla said, a faint smile tugging at her lips. “He’s a good man. But he’s got his own life now. A wife and a kid. He checks in, but I’ve never told him much.”
I tilted my head. “Told him much about what?”
Nyla’s smile vanished. Her shoulders stiffened, and she turned slightly away. “Nothing. It’s not important.”
“Nyla…”
“I said it’s nothing,” she snapped, then winced. “Sorry, I just don’t like to talk about that stuff.”
I pursed my lips, debating whether to push. I didn’t want her to get suspicious. “I only asked because I care.”
She looked at me with a frown. “You don’t know me.”
“You don’t have to know someone to care about what happens to them.”
Her eyes, wide and brimming with desperation, moved over my face, as if searching for a sign that she could trust me. Finally, she asked, “Have you ever felt like you're not in control of your life?”
I nodded. “I’ve been there.”
“Well, for me, it’s not just a feeling. I really have no say in my life. Not since I got into this business. It isn’t what I thought it would be.”
My breath hitched. She was opening up. I had to tread cautiously. “Do you mean you have no control over your music…?”
“No.” She shook her head emphatically, sending curls flying.
“Everything. After I got discovered on social media, I thought I had it made. I was offered a record deal and everything. I thought I’d be living the life, doing what I love, and making a ton of money.
I thought I’d be happy. But I’m miserable. I want out.”
I swallowed, afraid to utter even a word that might make her clam up again.
“Out of the music industry?”
She looked at me then, and I almost took a step back because of the sheer agony I saw in her eyes. “And everything that comes with it.”
“What else comes with it?”
Nyla wrapped her arms around herself. Her eyes darted toward the villa as if she were afraid someone might be watching.
“It’s okay, Nyla,” I said softly. “You can tell me.”
“Sometimes, I’m forced to do things I don’t want to. Carry things…”
By things, I was almost positive she meant illegal drugs.
She glanced over her shoulder. “I’ve already said too much.”
Disappointment settled in my gut.
“He always finds out,” she whispered.
“Who?”
“This guy who’s always giving the president of my label orders. Everyone is afraid of him.”
“He’s the one who forces you to do things?”
She nodded. “Pretty much. He gives the orders and the label, my manager,everyone—they all do as he says. That means I have to fall in line, too.”
“Are you going to tell me what you’re forced to do, Nyla?”
After a beat of silence, she said, “It’s better if you don’t know. Look, Ava, forget everything I said.” She sighed heavily. “I don’t know why I said anything. I guess I feel overwhelmed sometimes.”
My mind spun. The CEO of Nyla’s label was under the missing link’s ruling thumb. Who was he? If I could just find the bridge between Nyla and Vauxhall. “This man, do you know his name?”
Nyla hesitated. “Uh… something Rourke… I forget. I’ve only met him once.”
My heart jolted. A last name was good. It was all I needed.
I had just uncovered a vein worth digging into.
But Nyla looked fragile now, with her shoulders hunched and her eyes misty.
So I decided not to push. Instead, I reached into my purse and scribbled my phone number on the tiny notepad I had in there with the message: Call me. Anytime.
Just as I tore off the page and was about to hand it to her, a voice sliced through the quiet.
“Phoenix!”
We turned.
A man was striding toward us, his expression thunderous. I recognized him instantly. He was the one who had yanked Nyla away at the album listening party. His jaw was tight, and his eyes locked on Nyla as if she’d committed a crime.
“Who’s that?” I asked.
Nyla’s lips pressed into a thin line. “Just some asshole my manager has watching me. He’s kind of like security, watching my every move. I couldn’t even come to this party alone.”
The man reached us, his voice already raised. “You were told not to wander off. What the hell are you doing out here?”
“She’s fine,” I said, stepping slightly in front of Nyla. “We were just enjoying the ocean breeze. We needed a breather from the party.”
The man’s eyes flicked to me, and something shifted in his expression. Recognition and interest flickered in his eyes.
“You again,” he said slowly, his gaze narrowing. “I remember you.”
My skin prickled. His tone wasn’t blatantly threatening, but it wasn’t friendly either. It was the kind of tone that said, I’ll be watching you now.
“Leave her alone, Grady,” Nyla hissed as if she had picked up on the subtle threat in the man’s words. “She’s my friend.”
Grady. I stored his name, along with Rourke’s, for research later.
“Your friend, huh?” His eyes narrowed on me.
I glared at him, refusing to be intimidated.
“Is there a problem here?” Another voice cut through the tension.
Lincoln. Relief swamped me as he walked toward us, his posture relaxed but his eyes on Grady. He stopped beside me. “You alright?”
I nodded.
“Nyla.” He acknowledged her with a nod.
“Hey,” she said softly, her eyes flickering to Grady.
“And you are?” Lincoln’s gaze zeroed in on the man.
Next to Lincoln, Mr. Big and Bad didn’t look so big and bad.
The man stood taller, suddenly less sure of himself. “Just doing my job.”
Lincoln quirked an eyebrow. “And that is?”
“Phoenix’s security.”
Lincoln’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. “I’ve got plenty of security. She’s fine.”
The man hesitated, then gave a stiff nod and turned to Nyla. “We’re going back inside.”
“Are you ready to go back inside, Nyla?” Lincoln asked.
A muscle ticked in Grady’s jaw as he assessed Lincoln from head to toe—trying to size him up, I suppose. He decided to stay humble. Good choice. I imagined not many people looked at Lincoln and thought: I can take him.
Nyla smirked at Grady’s expression. “Yeah, but in a minute.”
“You heard her,” Lincoln said, still holding Grady in a cold stare. “She’ll go inside in a minute.”
Grady didn’t like it, but after a moment’s hesitation, he walked away.
Nyla’s sigh got our attention.
“Thanks for that,” she told Lincoln. “It was nice to see him humbled.”
Lincoln inclined his head. “If you want to avoid him for the rest of your trip, that won’t be a problem either. You can change villas. There’s plenty of space in mine.”
Nyla smiled. “You guys are really nice.”
Lincoln frowned slightly. He was likely just as perturbed as I’d been, realizing the young woman didn’t encounter many people with common decency.
“But I’ll be fine. Grady is…” She shrugged. “He’s a hardass, but he’s never hurt me or anything like that. He’s just doing what he’s told.”
Lincoln and I exchanged glances.
“If you change your mind, you know where to find me,” Lincoln said.
Nyla beamed. “Thanks and happy birthday, Lincoln.”
“Thanks.”
Before she walked off, I slipped her the piece of paper with my number.
She stared at it, folded it, and held it tightly.
Her fingers fisted around the paper as if it were a lifeline.
I hoped like hell she’d use that number.
Not just because I wanted information, but because I was seriously concerned.
As Nyla walked away, my eyes remained fixed on her back.
“You’re worried about her,” Lincoln noted.
I glanced at him. “She’s such a sweet girl, Lincoln. I feel so bad… You know, going after her for information. But she’s going through something, and I want to help.”
He sighed. “You will when the time is right.”
I sure hoped so. “Thanks for the rescue, by the way. Things were getting tense with that guy.”
“I could tell. Good thing I was watching that door like a hawk.”
I chuckled. “You mean you've been watching me like a hawk.”
He smirked and didn’t deny it.
“I think I found the missing piece of the puzzle,” I said. “I just have to check with Alex to make sure.”
Lincoln’s smirk faded, replaced by a flicker of concern in his eyes. He nodded slowly, but I could see the tension in his jaw. He was still worried, still hated the idea of me possibly walking into danger.
Still, he said, “That’s good. If Alex can confirm it, you’ll have something solid.”
I reached out to touch his arm and changed the subject. “Let’s go back inside. After all that detective work, I’m ready to party. And I owe the birthday boy a dance.”
Lincoln’s smile returned. He slid an arm around my waist, pulling me close with that familiar ease that made my heart skip. Together, we walked back toward the ballroom.