Page 120 of The Twisted Beats

Shit!I forgot about those.

I push the tabloid away. “Those don’t mean anything. They were part of the same setup that you went through.”

“Not even close.” He spins my stool so we’re directly in front of each other. His face is red and betrayal covers his eyes. “I wasn’t kissing anyone or leading them into my hotel suite after riding around and partying with them all night.”

“No, but you were in bed with someone and holding her hand on stage.” I jump off my seat and try to storm past him.

He grips my arm and swings me back to him. “You know I was drugged and nothing happened. Can you say the same?”

I was on drugs, but not the same kind he claims were given to him. And something definitely went down between Tony and me. My eyes must expose the haunting truth because Callum flinches back.

“Did you fuck him, Lily?” He blinks several times, then explodes as if he can’t believe it. “Is that why you broke up with me through the media? Because you couldn’t face me and tell me the truth?”

“No!” I ball my hands into fists at my sides. “I?—”

“You did something. That’s why you caught a flight back. You couldn’t face me.” He releases his hold on me in haste. “You messed around with him and that’s why you were cutting on yourself. You had to do something to release the guilt.”

“Enough, Cash!” The stool behind me scratches the hardwood floor as Bren pushes out of it. “She didn’t do anything with him, you asshole.”

“You know what happened and refuse to tell me.” Callum steps to Bren, squaring off. “You’re covering for her.”

“You’re such a stupid, self-absorbed prick.” Bren gets nose to nose with him, their chests touching. “If you weren’t off trying to escape Ur Boyz by staging some publicity stunt, you would’ve come back to the hotel with me and your uncle. You would’ve seen for yourself what really took place.”

Electricity ricochets through me in waves of pure panic. “Brendan Brooks Hemings, don’t you dare say another word or I’ll never?—”

“See, right there.” Callum points at me. “She’s got you by the balls and that’s why you won’t tell me the truth.”

“You want the truth, bro? He tried to fucking rape her.” Bren forces Callum away with a hard shove. “There’s your fucking truth, you arrogant dick.”

I coil into myself, close my eyes, and lower my head. One of my worst nightmares was just exposed to the one person I never wanted to know.

Callum won’t believe I didn’t do something to provoke Tony. The pictures on the cover of the magazine tell another story.

A story that I was the one who brought it on. With that, I know Callum Mayze will never look at me the same.

Chapter Twenty-Five

CALLUM/CASH

Then

Where Love Gets Sold To The Highest Bidder

Not every kiss is free…some leave you owing more than your soul can cover.

He tried to rape her?

I lose my breath. It’s the worst blow I’ve ever experienced. Some asshole tried to rape my Lily. My mind splinters to make sense of it. The pictures show Livianna having a good time and kissing another man.

She wouldn’t cheat on me. I know it. Deep in my heart, I know it.

I stumble back and stare at her trembling and holding herself as if she wants to disappear. “Lily… Is that true?”

She doesn’t answer. Her tiny body bounces with each breath she takes as she hides her tears from me.

Bren glares coldly into my eyes. “If you have to ask, you’re a bigger dick than I thought. She’s your fucking girlfriend and you’re treating her like she needs to explain herself to you.”

“Bren, it’s okay. This isn’t your fight to defend.” Her armswrap around her waist and she keeps her gaze on the floor. “I shouldn’t have let him in. It was my fault.”