Page 108 of The Twisted Beats

There’s a moment of stillness. Bren’s gaze burns into my soul. I take his glass and make us another heavy pour.

I return to the couch and hand him his cocktail. He’s still staring at me like he’s watching a horror movie. I take a huge swallow of my vodka soda and let the entire night fade away.

“You sounded great tonight.” I sit in the chair across from Bren. “The crowd loved you.”

“Screw all that, Livianna. What the fuck happened?”

I glance at the couch and thoughts of minutes before flash across my mind. Tony’s hot breath ghosts my skin and I shake off the memory.

My heart turns to stone. “Where’s Callum?”

Bren shrugs. “They took our phones before we went on. After we left the stage, we couldn’t find him.”

“Nobody knows where he is?”

“No. I thought he was back here. That’s why we showed up.”

“Do you have your phone now?” I take another sip, already knowing the answer.

Bren glances at his pants pocket. “Yeah.”

“Text him and tell him he’s needed here.”

“Whatever you want.” Bren digs into his pocket and does something on his phone. Once he’s done, he gazes up at me. “Are you… Did he do something to you?”

I suck in a breath and swallow hard. “If he did, would Callum think it was my fault?”

“No.” Bren’s expression hardens. “Why would he?”

“Neither one of you thought it was a good idea for me towear this outfit.” I point to my ripped shirt. “Now look at it. Is that my fault?”

Bren assesses me. It’s like it’s the first time he’s noticed my disheveled appearance. My hair is a mess. My makeup is smeared from forced kisses and tears, my clothes are in shreds, but he can’t say a word.

His devastated blue eyes connect with mine. “Livianna, we were performing. There was no way…”

“I know. Your dreams are coming true and I couldn’t be happier that Mayhem will be a huge success.”

“That doesn’t mean we don’t care what goes on with you.”

“Again, I know. We’re not talking about this night ever again. Worse things occur to other people every day. I can deal with it on my own.” I stand and hold my head high.

He gets to his feet. “I’m sorry about what took place.”

“Don’t be.” With my heart breaking in two, I flash him a sad smile. “Tonight was about Mayhem making its mark, and true to its name, it did. In every way possible, it did. Congratulations.”

I shuffle to my room, numb and in a daze.

“Livianna.” Bren’s troubled voice brings me back into the moment.

I face him. “What?”

He gestures to the floor with a jerk of his chin. I drop my gaze to the carpet. Blood stains trail from where I was sitting to where I’m standing. My wrists bleed in a constant drip.

I lift my head and stare empty into his eyes. “So what, Bren? Call housekeeping. I’m sure they’ll be a better help than anyone else was earlier tonight.”

With that, I turn and disappear into my room, locking the door behind me. After I shower and clean my cuts, I send text after text to Callum, asking him where he is, when I should expect to see him, and the final one, does he even want to see me? None of them are returned.

Once I take a double dose of my panic attack medication, I fall asleep sometime around two in the morning.