Chapter 29 #2
But I have resources now. Connections that even Leon doesn’t know about. Ways of finding information that would make the bastard who tried to own me proud if I were only using them for his benefit.
The difference is, I’m using them to get back what’s mine instead of destroying someone else. I slide back into my Porsche and fire up the engine. The growl echoes my internal fury as I pull away from the curb.
In my rearview mirror, the beach house grows smaller, but the image burns itself into my memory like a photograph I’ll never be able to forget. I’m too close to losing her forever, and my bones know it.
Tomorrow, I’ll make some calls. Use the network that Jaxon helped me build to find out who owns that property, who’s making her smile, and who thinks he can have what belongs to me.
And when I know who he is, I’ll remind him that some men don’t give up what they love without a fight. Even if the fight shatters everything we touch.
One Week Later
“Nothing.” I slam my phone down on a side table hard enough to make Hawke’s cymbal shake. “Seven damn days and I’ve got nothing.”
Bren peeks up from his guitar, fingers still working through the chord progression we’ve been refining for the past hour. “Maybe that’s telling you something.”
“It’s telling me whoever owns that mansion knows how to cover his tracks.
” I pace the length of the recording studio, my restless energy making the small space feel like a cage.
“LLCs within LLCs, offshore holding companies, and shell corporations that lead nowhere. This bastard doesn’t wanna be found. ”
Cooper adjusts his bass strap and shoots me a look that’s equal parts concern and annoyance. “Or maybe you should stop stalking your ex-girlfriend and focus on the fact that we’re headlining Coachella in April. It’s one of our biggest fucking gigs to date, asshole.”
The mention of Coachella stops me cold. It’ll be the largest festival performance of our careers, and all I can think about is the way she looked spinning in that driveway like she’d found everything she’d ever wanted.
“I’m not stalking her,” I mutter, but the words taste like lies even to me.
“Right.” Hawke twirls his drumsticks between his fingers. “And I’m not the best drummer in the world. What do you call sitting outside someone’s house taking photos?”
I whip around to face him. “I didn’t take any pictures.”
“But you thought about it.” His knowing smirk makes me wanna throw something. “Bro, you’ve been obsessing over this mystery man for a week. Maybe it’s time to accept that she’s moved on.”
“She hasn’t moved on.” The certainty in my voice surprises even me. “I know her, and what I saw wasn’t love. It was...something else.”
“Like what?” Bren sets down his guitar, giving me his full attention for the first time since I started this tirade.
“I don’t know. Comfort, maybe? Security?” I run my hands through my hair, trying to find words for the feeling that’s been eating at me. “The way she laughed on that phone and the way she moved... It wasn’t the way she used to be with me.”
“Maybe that’s a good thing.” Cooper flicks his lip ring with his tongue. “Maybe she’s found something healthier.”
The words hit like a punch to the gut because part of me knows he’s right. What Livianna and I had was explosive, consuming, and toxic. We burned through each other like wildfire, leaving nothing but scorched earth and broken promises in our path.
But fuck if I don’t miss the burn.
“I hired three different private investigators.” I turn my back to Cooper. “Each one came back with the same story. The property records are buried so deep it would take an expert years to unravel them, and even then, there’s no guarantee.”
“So what’s your next move?” Hawke shoves his sticks in his back pocket. “Because we’ve got rehearsals starting next week, and we need you present, not chasing your ex in Malibu.”
Bren shifts from side to side like he’s praying I don’t ask him about his sister. I study his face, searching for tells I’ve learned to read over years of friendship, the slight twitch at the corner of his mouth. The way he won’t quite meet my eyes.
“Guns.” My voice drops to the dangerous tone that usually makes smart people back away. “What the fuck do you know about this?”
“I don’t know anything about who owns that house in Malibu.” He tries to twist away.
I grab him by the shirt and slam him against the wall hard enough to rattle the drum kit. “Don’t fucking play games with me. What do you know about Livianna?”
Cooper and Hawke are on their feet immediately, ready to intervene if this goes too far.
Bren eyes them and shakes his head, signaling them to stay back. “Let me go, asshole, and I’ll tell you what I know.”
I release him, but don’t step back.
“Talk.” I keep him pinned with my glare.
Bren straightens his shirt. “I met up with her a while ago for coffee.”
“And?”
“And we had something hot to drink. She’s my fucking sister, you arrogant dick. I have the right to be around her.” He holds up his hands when he sees my expression darkening. “Fuck, okay. She asked about you. Wanted to know how you were doing, if you were clean, and if you were happy.”
The information hits me like fairy dust. She asked about me. She still cares.
“What did you tell her?”
“The truth. That you’ve been pretty clean for a while and that the label is doing better than ever. Mayhem is on top of the world, and she was curious about us.” He pauses. “I also told her you haven’t been sleeping around.”
“What’d she say to that?”
Bren glances at Cooper and Hawke before answering. “She said she’s got some boy-toy she uses to blow off steam when work gets overwhelming, but it’s nothing serious. Her fashion brand is exploding right now, and she doesn’t have time for a relationship.”
Relief floods through me so fast it makes me dizzy. A boy-toy. Someone casual. Someone who doesn’t matter.
But then I remember the way she skipped into that mansion, the genuine happiness in her laugh, and doubt creeps back in. “You sure she was telling the truth?”
“When has Livianna ever lied about something like that? She’s many things, but she wouldn’t keep that from me.” Bren crosses his arms. “The question is, what are you gonna do with this information?”
I turn, my mind already racing with possibilities. Coachella. The biggest stage in the country, with cameras rolling and the whole world watching, I can make a statement.
“We’re headlining Coachella.” The plan is already forming in my head.
Cooper cocks his head. “Yeah, so?”
“So maybe she’ll wanna be there.” I motion to Bren. “For you, if nothing else.”
Understanding dawns in his gaze. “Cash, no. Whatever you’re thinking, the answer is no. That’s too big of a night for us.”
“Hear me out.” Adrenaline surges through my veins. “What if we could get her there? What if she saw us perform, saw how far we’ve come, and remembered what we used to have?”
“What you used to have nearly killed both of you.” Cooper releases a low growl. “Maybe some things should stay buried.”
“Or maybe some things are worth fighting for.” I eye each of them in turn. “I’m not talking about doing anything crazy. Just...giving her a chance to see who I’ve become. The man I am now, not the fucked-up kid I was when she left.”
“You sliced her heart out of her chest like she was your enemy.” Hawke rubs his neck. “Even if she agrees to come, which is a big if, what makes you think she’ll wanna talk to you?”
“Because I know her. And what Guns just told me proves she still cares.” The familiar fire builds in my chest, the same determination that helped me take down Leon and build my empire. “She asked about me. That means something.”
“Or it means she was being polite.” Bren shrugs. “Cash, I love you like a brother, but you can’t force someone to love you back. It’s been four and a half years. Maybe it’s time to let her go.”
“Our story wasn’t over when it ended. It was stolen from us.” The words come out bare and honest. “I’m not trying to force anything. I just want a chance to show her I’m not the same man she walked away from. I’ve changed. What we had was real, and maybe it could be again.”
The room falls silent. They all seem to process what I’m saying, weighing the risks against the possibility of helping their friend find happiness…finally.
Bren sighs. “What exactly are you asking us to do?”
“Help me get her to Coachella. You’re the only one she trusts enough to say yes to.” I meet his gaze. “I’m not asking you to lie to her or trick her. Just invite her to come support you.”
“And then what?” He points to the control booth. “You serenade her from the stage and hope she falls back into your arms?”
“Maybe. Then I prove to her that some people can change. That some love is worth fighting for, even when it seems impossible.” My heart hammers against my ribs, knowing everything hangs on this moment.
“I’ll think about it.” Bren turns away. “But I’m not making any guarantees. And if she says no, you drop this. For good.”
Relief and terror fight in my chest. “Agreed.”
As the others pack up their instruments and head out, I remain behind in the studio.
She’s not seeing anyone seriously. The words echo in my head like a promise. Because if that’s true, I still have a chance.
But if I’m wrong, if that joy I saw at the house was genuine love and not just casual comfort, then pursuing her might be the cruelest thing I could do to either of us.
My phone buzzes again. It’s a text from our tour manager about final details for Coachella.
April’s coming up fast. And that’s all the time I have to figure out if the woman I love is truly lost to me forever or if there’s still a chance to reclaim what we once had.
I go outside, light a cigarette, and stare out at the Los Angeles skyline, wondering if somewhere out there, she’s thinking about me too. And if she is, the world better watch out because this time I’m not fucking around.