30. Slaying Dragons
THIRTY
slaying dragons
We finish our pie while spilling our guts to my mom, Mandy, and Elle. Brianna tells them the entire story, including how she hired me and then fell for me. It’s awkward being in the room with her while she tells them everything, having my mom and sisters all doe-eyed over our love story, but I can’t help watching Brianna with pride as I hear how she speaks about us.
It’s a new beginning. We don’t have to pretend anymore or hide what’s happening, and honestly, it’s a relief.
“Okay, now that I’m about to go into a sugar coma, let’s get started on this plan,” I tell Brianna as we walk into the back room and settle on the couch.
She doesn’t hesitate to snuggle next to me. My arm pulls her close, and she leans her head against my chest.
“I still don’t have any idea what the plan even is . But sure, let’s do this.”
Brianna sounds so much calmer now we’ve worked through the drama. Just thinking about what almost happened makes me want to get Char on the phone and tell her what I really think of her advice. But first I have something more important to do.
“I’ve recruited Elle to help out. She’s making a phone call to someone who can help settle the tabloids down. Time to clap back, babe, and Colleen is the one to help us do it.”
Brianna sits up straight. “What are you talking about? How will Colleen help us?” She doesn’t sound upset, which is good, because I wasn’t sure how she’d react.
“The media painted the whole thing as sleazy. So what if the three of us—you, me, and Colleen—have a nice dinner together in town, where people can see? It will soon get out that there’s not a torrid affair and we all get along just fine. Elle is calling her now.”
Brianna stares at me for a second, her eyebrows wrinkled in confusion. The silence stretches while she’s thinking it through. “I’ve got an even better idea.” Her face lights up.
I love it.
“And that would be?” I ask as I pull her a little closer. I keep pulling her back in because even two inches away from her is too far. I need her touch.
“Selfies while we’re at dinner. I’ll post them all over social media with the hashtag #reunited .” The look on her face is priceless, like she’s finally got the upper hand with those vultures. “Do you think I can convince Colleen to be my special guest at the Diva Tribute?”
“Are you still doing that? It’s tomorrow night, Bree.”
She just nods. “I’m done hiding out. I want to walk in there with you on my arm and show them they didn’t break us. With Clinton there, no one will get close enough to even touch me.” Her little casual shrug at the end of her speech makes me smile.
“Hot damn, Bree. I think that might be the sexiest thing you’ve ever said.” I laugh and hug her tight.
Elle pops in just as I’m going in for a kiss. “Colleen’s in. She said she felt really bad about all the drama and rumors, so she’s totally up to mess with their story. I told her to come by, and we can all ride to the restaurant together.”
“How did you weasel into our dinner plans?” I ask my sneaky sister.
“Who do you think is going to snap the pictures and post them all over the internet? Duh.” Elle shakes her head and steps back into her lair—or wherever it is she just came from.
“She has a point.” Brianna shrugs again. “It can’t hurt to have a bunch of evidence, so no big deal. Plus, I like her.”
My head whips over to face her. “You do? But she’s such a fangirl. Doesn’t it bother you?”
“Not really. She’s just being herself, and actually, the fangirl thing calmed down as soon as we started talking about you.” Brianna winks. “She still can’t believe I’m with her little brother.”
“Yeah, well, most of the family still see me as a twelve-year-old pest.”
“No, that’s not true. I think they’re really proud of you.” Brianna looks at me in a way that makes my lips itch to kiss her. When she smiles up at me, looking like she wants nothing more in the world than to be right where she is, in my arms, I can’t resist.
I press my lips to hers and feel her sigh into me. I want to take things further, but I can’t. And not just due to the fact my family is in the next room.
I pull away to let Brianna know what I’m planning now. “I need to give Clinton a call. If we’re hopping on a plane tomorrow morning, I want him to have security in place for when we land.”
Brianna nods. “That’s fine. But I fired you, remember? You don’t need to work on that stuff anymore.”
I kiss the tip of her nose. “Cute girl. Haven’t I already told you the reason I said yes in the first place? Keeping you safe has always been my number-one goal. Being your boyfriend has just taken that up a notch. Nothing’s changed.”
I squeeze her hand when she kisses my cheek in response, then I pull out my phone and call Clinton as Brianna heads to the kitchen. He answers on the first ring.
“I wondered when you’d get around to calling.”
There’s a lightness to his tone that I haven’t heard in a while. His teasing words send some heat to my chest though. I’ve been so caught up in Brianna that I haven’t been checking in with him on the investigation. I should have been more involved.
“Sorry, man. It’s been a nice break for us here. Bree has really been able to forget about everything.” That is, until this morning’s tabloid fiasco. Another problem I feel like I instigated. Just one more issue to solve.
“I get it. And she deserves that. But with the arrest and the tabloids, I just expected the third degree from you much sooner.”
“There isn’t much else to ask. You told me what you’d found out about the guy. Now we just wait to see what happens next, right? And we’ve got a plan to turn the tabloids around. Covered there.”
The line goes silent for a heartbeat. Not long, but long enough to make me nervous.
“Zack, don’t you know? Char told me she’d give you a call yesterday. She wanted to be the one to tell you, after all you two have been through. I didn’t even mention it to Brianna when she called earlier because Char was so insistent. I was waiting to?—”
I cut him off. “What are you talking about? We were off-grid, but Char never called me.” With all the notifications I found on my phone, a call from Char wasn’t one of them. She’d texted a bunch of expletives about the tabloids, but that was it.
“Okay, calm down. I’ll explain.” He takes a breath before continuing. “We searched the perpetrator’s apartment and found the key he’d used. There was a second set of prints on the key, so we ran them. Turns out they belonged to the receptionist at Siren Song.”
“Rachel?” I shouldn’t be shocked, but I am. She’s been a complete witch the entire time I’ve known her, but I didn’t think she’d go this far.
“We brought her in for questioning as a person of interest. She didn’t say much, but there was enough evidence to keep her in custody overnight. We’re looking at possible charges of fraud, breaking and entering, and being an accessory to a crime. We’ve had her since yesterday afternoon.”
I run my fingers through my hair and blow out a breath. “Dude, I don’t know what to say. Bree and I were off-grid until this morning, and then, with the whole tabloid thing ...” I lean forward on my knees, still in complete disbelief. “Char talked to Bree earlier, but I’m sure she didn’t say anything. Bree would have told me. I can’t believe Rachel did this.” She was the one to hand Brianna the last letter, but I never thought she was behind the entire ordeal.
“She hasn’t talked much, and we’re still working on a motive, so the case isn’t closed yet. But we’re getting closer to solving it with each new discovery.”
“I understand. And the timing couldn’t be better, because Brianna wants to fly home tomorrow. That’s why I called. I need you to set up security at the airport, then she’s headed straight to the venue for the Diva Tribute rehearsal.”
“I’ll put one of my guys on it.” Clinton clears his throat before continuing. “I’ve also been keeping tabs on our favorite Hollywood slimeball.”
“Logan?”
“The one and only. He’s planning on being at the Diva Tribute, according to Char. I’ll make sure I’ve got someone covering him. He won’t get within ten feet.”
I don’t like hearing that he’ll even be in the building, but Brianna can’t keep out of the public eye forever. I hope she takes all this news well. I’d hate to see her fear take over again. Not with how safe she’s felt lately.
“Thanks, Clinton. I’ll stick by her side too. Also, we might have someone with us. Colleen, the girl I supposedly hooked up with back home.”
“I didn’t take you for a threesome kind of guy, Zack.” Clinton laughs.
“Funny.” My response is dry. “I’m not, but Brianna wants us to bring her with us to the taping to make a point.”
“A stick-it-to-the-tabloids point?”
“Precisely. We’re working out the details right now.” Just as I finish speaking, Brianna returns to sit next to me on the couch, munching an apple. I wrap up the call. “Okay, Clinton. Thanks for everything. We’ll see you tomorrow.”
Clinton says his farewell and hangs up. I pocket the phone and turn to Brianna, ready to open the latest proverbial can of worms.
“Wanna bite?” Brianna asks as she holds the apple out to me. “All natural, no sugar added.”
I smirk and give the apple a bite. “Delicious.”
Brianna laughs. “Did you two work out all the details for tomorrow?”
“Basically. He’s got things covered. Apparently, Logan is planning to attend.”
Brianna doesn’t bat an eye. “That’s typical. He’s got other clients performing. Plus, he never misses an opportunity to try to rope me back in.”
“Clinton had some other news. Did Char mention anything about Rachel when you spoke to her?”
“Rachel? No. She was too busy convincing me to come back for the show. Did something happen?”
“You could say that. Rachel was arrested for participating in the break-in. Her prints were on the key.”
Brianna’s eyes widen as she takes this in. “Are you serious? She’s behind this?”
“He said they’re still investigating. But she’s in custody now.” I watch Brianna to gauge her reaction. She’s concerned and confused but calm. A good reaction, in my opinion.
But for some reason, it’s me who’s feeling unsteady about everything.
Something doesn’t add up. I’m just not sure what it is yet