20. Chapter 20
Chapter twenty
— NDA BY BILLIE EILISH
“Okay, so this is what I’m wearing to Liv’s event tonight! It’s a simple silk slip dress. I went with the champagne one you guys voted for on my Instagram story yesterday. This one is definitely my favorite since it matches her book cover,” I say to myself.
I’ve finally picked up my camera after a few weeks of being too afraid to film anything. I’m taking it slow and only doing a day in my life video. Most of it is probably going to get cut since most of my days consist of me not sleeping, working out, and sitting in my bed editing photos for the posts I'm allowed to make.
“I’m wearing these brand new Chanel shoes. They’re sleek black heels, and they’re not the comfiest, but for the outfit, I’ll suffer.” I laugh to myself as I feel another presence enter my room. “Okay, let’s go to Liv’s event!” I say before I shut the camera and turn it off.
“All set?” Vince asks me, and I nod at him, excited to go support my sister at her biggest signing to date. While I look more dressed up, Vince has opted for his usual attire—an all-black outfit, fit with an extra button undone on his shirt, and his hair looks natural, as it curls on the end, that one hair still hanging in front of his face. If I was bold enough, I’d reach over and tuck it in for him, but he doesn't seem to mind it.
“I’m ready. Liv and Tristan just got to the store and said there’s already people lined up to meet her!” I say, a huge smile crossing my face. My cheeks already hurt from all the smiling I’ve done today because my talented sister has a huge signing tonight.
“You’re proud of her,” Vince states, a small smirk crossing his face.
“I am. She’s been through a lot. Liv deserves all the success in the world.” I stand from my vanity and grab my camera before Vince grabs the purse I was going to bring out of my closet and hands it to me. “How did you know I was bringing this one?”
“You always lay your stuff out early, and this one was on the little table in your closet.”
“Always on top of things, Evans, aren't you?”
“Of course. Now, let’s get going before Emerson yells at us to hurry up. He’s following us to the event.” He opens the door to my room for me, and as we walk down the stairs together, I feel his hand hover against the small of my back. He’s not touching me, more so guiding me down the stairs and making sure I don't fall since I’m wearing tall heels.
He’s barely touching me, and if I put my hand in that tiny space between us, lightning would strike. I’m sure of it.
Does he feel it, too? I hate that I’ll never know the answers to these questions because once Ralph is taken care of, Vince will leave, and I’ll be alone again. Connie will probably continue to ship me off on fake dates for the rest of my life, and I’ll never have a choice in anything ever again.
But who am I to complain? My life has so many other beautiful things in it, but sometimes the bad outweighs the good, and it becomes all I can focus on.
Not tonight, though. Tonight is all about my sister and her amazing accomplishments.
Teags and her mom are coming to show support. Harry and his girlfriend are coming, and I think Dom might even stop by. A few other book girls I know from Instagram have told me that they’re coming, and are excited to see Liv and I, and it’s so adorable the way my viewers have helped champion Liv’s books.
I knew I loved my audience, but they continue to shock me with the amount of love and support that they show the books that I love.
Vince opens the door for me, and the sound of something falling has the both of us pausing in my doorway. When I look around the porch, I spot a small pink envelope, and Vince leans down to pick it up.
“What is that?” I ask him, a knot forming in my gut.
Vince says nothing as he carefully flicks the envelope open and turns it upside down, a cell phone falling out of it. It’s a simple gray flip phone, and Vince is pressing a ton of buttons, trying to find an answer as to why it’s here.
It’s obviously from Ralph. Only he would leave something like this for us to find when we’re about to leave the house.
“Emerson! Did you see this get dropped off?”
“What is it?” Emerson asks, coming closer to us.
I hear Vince mutter a curse under his breath. “How the fuck does he keep getting past us?”
“I’m sure you’ll figure—”
The phone starts to ring, and Vince answers immediately. “Who the fuck is this?”
I don't hear the other side of the conversation, but I notice that the vein on Vince’s forehead starts to strain, whatever the other person is saying clearly stressing him out.
“Absolutely not. You can talk to me, motherfucker. Leave her out of this.” Her. Me. It’s Ralph.
Vince curses a bit more before he hands the phone to me. I take it from him, my body shaking as I pick it up, but I don't speak. I know he can hear me breathing from the other side of the line.
“Is that you, little lamb? I remember the sounds of your breathing. I don't think I’ll ever forget those noises you made.”
My entire body shivers at the memories he’s trying to jog, but I push them down. I push them where they can’t hurt me.
I silently curse him for doing this now, on a night I was supposed to be celebrating my sister. “What do you want?” I hate that my voice comes out as a whisper, but when I lock eyes with Vince and notice that he’s on the phone as well, he starts to circle his hand.
“It’s a burner, Nico, but try anything you can.”
Translation: Keep Ralph talking so Nico can try to get a location.
“I want you, sweetheart. Haven't you known that’s all I’ve wanted for years now? But you made me wait. You made me do this.”
“Do what? Shoot at me while I have lunch? Leave me all those pathetic notes and have other people do your dirty work for you?” I somehow find a little bit of fight, but I immediately regret my outburst. I know it’s only going to make him mad.
“I wouldn't have to do that if that guard dog of yours would go away. Or maybe I should take him out, too.”
“Don't you dare touch a hair on his head. I’m the one you want,” I remind him, ignoring the rush of panic at the thought of anything happening to Vince.
“Tell me, is he coming with you to your sister's event tonight? Or is one of his other goons tagging along?”
My stomach bottoms out, my ears start to ring, and I can't breathe. I look at Vince, and he starts to rub my shoulder, still on the phone with Nico, silently telling me he’s here for me.
“I’ll see you there, Bree. Unless, of course, you don't make it in time. I’d sure hate for you to miss all the fun we’ll have. It’s going to be explosive .” And then he hangs up.
“No! Fuck! No, this isn't happening.” I all but drag Vince to the car. “We have to go.”
“Bree, angel, what’s going on?”
“He threatened Liv. He’s going after her. He’s going after my sister. ”
“How can you be—”
I cut Vince off with a yell. “Because he knows about the event tonight, and he mentioned us not making it in time! Get the fucking keys and let’s go! I’m not letting him take anything else away from me!” Ralph has taken my safety, my sanity, and my life from me. I’ll be damned if he tries to take my family too.
“He threatened the event?”
“Yes! Now, let’s go!” I drag him some more, but he stays rooted to the ground.
“No.”
I release my hold on his hand and turn to face him. “What do you mean no?”
“If he’s threatening that bookstore with something, then the last place I want to take you is exactly where he wants you.”
“He’s threatening my sister, Vince! Don't you understand? I’m not going to stand by while he hurts the only family I have left.”
“Bree, it’s my job to protect you, and if I drive you there, I wouldn't be doing my job.”
I scoff, annoyed he can't see this from my point of view. “I understand that, Vince, but it’s either you drive me with backup, or I steal the keys and sneak off on my own. So, which will it be?” I hate that I’ve put him in this situation. I hate the look he has on his face as I yell at him, because he’s only doing his job. He’s only trying to protect me, but right now, I don't care about me . Liv and Tristan are in danger, and if they got hurt because of me, I’d never forgive myself.
Vince shuffles through his pockets before he grabs the keys, his gaze shifting to Emerson as he rounds the car to the driver’s seat. “Follow us, and call Chris and Duncan for backup. Nico’s already trying to work out a trace on his end, but Ralph is too good at masking where he’s calling from, so it seems like a dead end. ”
“Got it, Boss.”
Vince slides into the car, and I’m practically sweating through my outfit as I frantically switch between calling Liv and Tristan, neither of them picking up. “Fuck! Rule number one is to always be reachable, and the fact that they aren't answering could mean a thousand different things.”
“Bree, it’s going to be fine. He could just be doing this to scare you.”
“Ralph doesn't just say things, Vince. You and I both know he always follows through.” I can barely breathe as he weaves through traffic, but the faster I can get to them and know they're okay, the better I’ll feel.
“Tell me exactly what he said.”
And so, I do. I reiterate every word from memory, because despite having a terrible memory and always losing things that are practically attached to me, every word of his sticks to my brain like glue on paper.
“Fucking hell. He’s escalating faster than before. He really said the word explosive?”
“Yes,” I say as a few tears threaten to spill over. God, I just wanted one night of normalcy. I wanted one night to pretend I could be a normal person going to support someone I love on a night that is supposed to be filled with happiness.
Leave it to Ralph to ruin every single crumb of happiness I have.
“When we get to the bookstore, you’re staying in the car.”
“No—”
“Bree, I’ll pull this car over right now. You’re staying in the car.” He enunciates every word, trying to get it through my stubborn head, but he should know I’m not going to listen. Not now. Not when Ralph is threatening Liv.
“Vince, I understand you’re just doing your job, but—”
“It’s not just my job, Bree.”
Before I have time to unpack what that means, he pulls up to the curb and races out of the car, the other Tahoe pulling up behind us. Emerson climbs out, slamming the door, and a few seconds later, I see Chris and Duncan run into the store.
I feel like a sitting duck right now. I’m all alone in the car, and if Ralph has eyes on this place, he probably knows that.
What if this was his plan all along—to get me alone without protection?
What if he comes and grabs me, and everyone is too busy inside to save me?
All my thoughts are spiraling into one big panic attack, and before I continue down that spiral, I hop out of the car and run into the store, but not before kicking my heels off. I’d rather be barefoot than have to wear those five-inch weapons. I’d probably twist my ankle trying to run in those.
I step inside, and when I’m not greeted with absolute chaos, I can breathe a bit better. My sister spots me a few seconds before I do, and I run over to her, wrapping my arms around her.
She’s okay. Liv is safe.
“Bree, you’re shaking. Do you want some water?”
I can only nod as she pulls back from me, her eyes consumed with worry like they always are lately. “Did Vince brief you?”
Before I can answer, Vince pops over to where we are. “Yes, I did. Why the fuck aren't you in the car?”
“I was all by myself out there. I didn't feel safe, so I came inside. You can protect me here.”
His hazel eyes pierce mine, and I see him nod ever so slightly. “Okay.”
“Bree!” Tristan breaks the semi-circle we have and wraps his arms around me. “Are you okay?”
“I’m okay for now, I think. What’s going on?”
Vince clears his throat before he speaks. “My guys are sweeping the place, and the cops have been notified and are on the way. They should be here any second.”
I turn to Tristan again. “Did you tell Teags not to come? I forgot to text her on the way because I was too busy calling you two.”
“You called us?” Tristan asks, pulling his phone out and swiping a few times. “I don't have any missed calls from you.”
“Me neither.” Liv shows me her phone, and my gut drops again. What the hell is going on?
“Over here!” I hear Duncan’s voice shout from the back of the store. I go to move, but Vince stops me.
“Stay here.”
“I want to see—”
“Bree, please stay here.” He grabs my shoulders, the look on his face pleading me to stay where I am. “You might not care if something happens to you, but the rest of us do. Stop throwing yourself into the first sign of danger.”
“That’s not what I’m doing.”
“Don't lie to me, angel. I know you’re tired of all this, but please hold out a little longer. Trust that Nico and I will get him. Please .”
“I’ll make sure she stays here,” Tristan says, breaking up the intense moment.
Vince walks away from the three of us, but I hear him speak as he does. “Remember what I said in the bathroom, West.”
“I could never forget it, buddy.”
Liv shifts closer to me and whispers in my ear. “When did they become so friendly?”
I lean over to her. “Maybe punching each other in the face helped them get closer or something.”
“Chris! Get over here!” I hear Vince yell a few moments later.
I turn to my sister, her arm now wrapped around my shoulder. “I’m sorry I ruined your event, Liv. ”
“Don't do that, Bree. You didn't do anything— he did. This isn't on you.” She squeezes my shoulder, and I feel some more tears fall from my eyes.
“I wish I didn't exist. You guys wouldn't be dragged into this mess if I didn't.”
“I, for one, am very glad you exist, Bree. I can’t imagine not having you in my life.”
The kind words are helping, but I still want to disappear. I want to run as far away as I can, change my name, and stop dragging the people I love into all this. I’d leave them all if it meant they were never in danger again.
“Anyone in here right now needs to calmly make their way to the nearest exit quickly and quietly!” I hear Duncan shout, and a few seconds later, Vince rounds the corner of the bookshelves and beelines for me.
“Outside. Now,” is all he says as he grabs my hand and drags me out of the store. The three of us don't argue with him as we get into the car.
“Whose chair was off to the side behind the desk you were going to be sitting at?”
“That would’ve been Bree’s spot.”
Vince only sighs heavily as he looks at me. “There was a bomb on your seat, rigged to activate when you sat down, and when you stood up, it would’ve gone off.”
“A bomb? Like an actual explosive device?” Tristan questions, unsure if he heard Vince correctly.
“Yeah. Nico is jamming the signal for us so the cell phone detonator won’t go off while the bomb squad gets here. It looked like some sort of improvised explosive device…”
Vince’s voice fades as my mind takes in all of this information he just threw at us.
There was a bomb under the seat I was supposed to sit in.
I could’ve died tonight.
I could’ve killed the only family I have left and a bunch of innocent people.
My stalker almost killed me. Again.
I hear the voices of the people I love most, but none of the words will permeate my brain.
And then I start laughing. I probably look and sound like a maniac, and as I turn around to face them, they’re all staring at me.
“Are you okay, sis?” Liv asks me, and I keep laughing. There’s nothing funny about this situation, but I can’t help it.
“No. No, I’m not okay. I’m a YouTuber with millions of followers, and I have a stalker who keeps threatening to kill me! I post about books I love, makeup tutorials, and I have a stalker . A whole ass stalker who can’t seem to get enough of me! A stalker who threatened to kill me before while he ran his hands all over my body and thought I was enjoying myself! God, I feel like I’m going insane.”
“Bree…” my sister says, her face full of concern. I don't know if it’s for me or the situation at hand. “Maybe we should all head to my house.”
I’m about to agree before Vince cuts me off. “No. I’m getting her out of town for a few days.”