Chapter Thirty-Six
Rosalie
“Good work today, ladies!” The choreographer claps as she smiles brightly. We’re all drenched with sweat, and I can hardly catch my breath as I dab a towel over my temples.
I need to work out more for this tour.
Not that I haven’t already been getting one hell of a workout with my bodyguards, but being a pillow princess can only get me so far when I’ll be darting across a stage for hours on end in forty-two different cities.
Rehearsals have been going great, and I can feel the anticipation from the group of backup dancers I’ve been working closely with.
They’re beyond ready to begin traveling next month, and I couldn’t be more thankful for their hard work.
This tour is going to be amazing, and it’s all thanks to their efforts.
I grab my water, guzzling it as Jazmine, one of the dancers, corners me.
She’s petite and pretty, with dark curls and thick lashes.
Her eyes are always bright with excitement, and she radiates positive energy.
Her vibe is infectious, and I’ve slowly become closer to her over the last few weeks.
It’s hard not to, given her amazing outlook on life.
“Did you see Entertainment Hills’ new article?” She asks, pulling it up on her phone.
I peer over at her screen, groaning. “What are they saying now?”
She flashes the article’s title to me, and I nearly spit my water out.
Rose Beckett, pop star, or love triangle mastermind?
It’s no secret that there’s something scandalous going on in the Grammy winner’s life. From taking brand shoot photos with one of her bodyguards to being caught holding hands with another out in public, there’s no shortage of juicy gossip this star isn’t wrapped up in.
My eyes flicker to Elijah across the dance studio floor, and he’s already typing furiously on his phone.
There’s no doubt in my mind that he’s working on damage control, and I feel horrible for that.
I haven’t gone public with my relationship status yet because, truth be told, I have no idea if we’re even together.
I haven’t received a forward answer on the matter, and it’s really starting to bug me.
Sure, the guys and I do everything together, but where does that put us? Are we exclusive? Are we just letting the flow take us wherever it may lead? And it’s not that I need to put a title on it, but it would be nice to know…
Jazmine tucks her phone back into the pocket of her tights. “Don’t let them pressure you into anything. Paparazzi are vultures.”
“You can say that again,” I chuckle as my eyes stray to my bodyguards. They’re sitting together on the opposite wall, Kairo in the middle as he leans back and has his legs extended in front of him. He shoots me a wink, and I feel the blush creep along my cheeks.
Roman’s phone rings, and he stands abruptly as he answers it. The other two bodyguards go on high alert, standing with him as they huddle together. It sends unease pricking my neck, and I drift over to them.
Roman is scowling as he talks quietly to whoever is on the other end of the phone, and Maddox intercepts me, stopping me from hearing the conversation.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, peaking over his shoulder.
“It’s nothing,” He says, far too quickly for my liking.
When Roman hangs up, he looks furious. He says something to Kairo; their conversation is deathly serious, and it makes my nerves worse.
“What’s going on?” I ask, causing them to look at me.
Roman shakes his head. “This isn’t the place.”
My heart sinks further as I grab my bag and sling the strap over my shoulder. The whole car ride home is full of tense silence, and I don’t know why.
It isn’t until we turn down the private street leading to my home that Roman finally breaks the tension. He glances at me in the rearview, his expression severe. “There was a break-in. The police are en route to look at the damage.”
I stare at him, a torrent of emotions sweeping over me. This has to be Dad. There’s no one else who would be gunning to ruin my life this hard. He’s trying to chip away at my security, little by little, and make it clear that he still has control. This is an intimidation tactic.
As Roman rolls up the driveway, my front door is ajar, dim lights filtering through from the foyer. My security system is smashed to pieces, and my mind doesn’t process the danger that could still be lurking as I throw the car door open.
“Rosalie!” Roman shouts after me, but I don’t stop as I run up the steps of my home.
I yank the front door open, walking into a disaster.
My couches are shredded, like someone took a knife to them until there was nothing but stringy loose ends in their wake.
My TV is shattered, along with all of the appliances in my kitchen.
Every pot and pan I own is vandalised, dented, and worn, but the most eye-catching is the graffiti covering the walls.
Thick, black words are painted across the once warm space, the horrible sayings glaring back at me.
Whore.
Two-faced.
Conniving bitch.
Weak.
Pathetic.
And the most bone-chilling of all.
You owe me a life.
I lift my hands to my nose, biting back a sob as I take it all in. I’m so lost in my own head that I don’t register Roman at my back until he wraps a hand around my throat and pulls me into his chest.
“I told you to wait, Rosalie. He could still be here.” He whispers before nodding to Kairo and Maddox to sweep the house. They both brandish guns as they begin checking every room, but I’m not focused on them.
All I can think of is how my father infiltrated the one place I’m supposed to be safe from him. Again.
“I’ve got you,” Roman says softly in my ear, holding me tightly against him. “We aren’t going to let him hurt you.”
A little of my fear melts away at his words, and I realize that I’m not even upset about my possessions. They’re tangible things that can be replaced, but a life isn’t.
“What if he’s still here?” My pulse revs at the prospect of Kairo or Maddox coming across him. I don’t want them to get hurt.
“We’ll take care of him, Siren,” Roman says. “We’re professionals.”
Kairo comes down the stairs first, sighing as he shoves his gun into the waistband of his jeans. “The second floor is clear.”
Maddox is next, trailing behind him. “So is the third floor.”
I finally relax, letting my head rest back against Roman’s shoulder before his hand tightens around my throat, and I gasp.
“You’re in so much fucking trouble, Rosalie. Don’t ever scare me like that again.” He growls in my ear.
I swallow as a siren wails outside. Roman releases me to speak with the cops, but I know my act of disobedience won’t go unpunished.
I have no idea what he has in store for me, but it’s momentarily forgotten with the men in blue sweeping through my home.
They take a statement from me, and Charlie comes over to help get in touch with my insurance company.
“It may be best to get away for a little while,” One of the cops suggests. “Give us some time to investigate, and take a break.”
Charlie nods in agreement. “I have a vacation villa in Bora Bora.”
I narrow my eyes at her. “I’m not going to Bora Bora while my dad is on the loose.”
My best friend’s lips thin as her eyes shift to Roman, who stands at my back.
“She’ll go,” He says, his tone all authority. “We’ll make sure of it.”
I throw my hands up. “I’m not leaving!”
“Yes, you are,” Kairo stresses pointedly. “We’ll force you onto the plane if we have to.”
Charlie gives me a doting look, covering my hand with hers. “You need a break. Get away for a few days and let us handle this. Please, Rose.”
When she begs me like that, I can never say no to her. She’s always seen right through me, and she knows I need to get away from here. I don’t think I can sit through the investigation without breaking down. The stress is too much.
“Fine,” I sigh. “We’ll leave tomorrow morning.”
Charlie smiles. “Get lots of sun for me.”
The cops finish up what they’re doing, and my friend hands over the keys to her place before arranging a private jet to take us to her vacation villa.
As everyone trickles from my home, I’m left alone with the beasts of my past. Most notably Roman, who looks like he’s on the verge of his own breaking point as he slams the front door closed.
I try to slip away, creeping towards the stairs without being noticed, but I’m foiled the moment Roman whips around.
He closes in on me, and I squeak as I try to dart up the stairs, but he reaches me before I can even break past the first step. He flings me over his shoulder, slapping a hand across my ass so hard it makes my teeth grit.
Kairo smirks, crossing his arms as he watches with amusement. “Good luck, Thorn!”
Maddox gives me a little wave, his Cheshire grin growing as I get further away.
I lift both of my middle fingers to them as I’m roughly handled up the stairs. Kairo laughs harder, shaking his head before he dips off to the kitchen. Maddox watches until I’m out of sight, and it’s just Roman and me.
“It’s my house!” I call back over the behemoth’s shoulder. “I had to see—”
He delivers another punishing slap, causing me to yelp. “You disobeyed me. If Waylon were still here, he could have fucking hurt you. You need to be taught a lesson, Siren.”
I don’t like how ominous that sounds. Kairo said they all have their own vices, and I have yet to see what Romans are. I’ve been waiting for an opportunity to arise, but it looks like I presented him with a perfect one tonight.
“What are you going to do to me?” I ask, a little hesitant over his shoulder.