Page 147 of The Twisted Beats

My heart stops. How the fuck did they get this news?

Someone else addresses Callum. “Cash, is that why you took her up to The Beckett Brand Whispering Pines?”

“You seemed happy. Do you want to confirm the pregnancy?” another reporter asks.

Bren pushes them aside. “No comment!”

Callum pulls me into his side, shielding me. His muscles are tight and hard. Ms. Mayze slides her sunglasses on and keeps her head down. The crew follows us to the car, yelling out questions.

My vision goes blurry and I bury my face against Callum’s chest. The mics hiss and the world pixelates.

We get to the car and Bren unlocks the doors. We all jump in, and Bren skids out.

He peers at me through the rearview mirror. “Did you talk to Mom this morning?”

“Yes. She said she was getting a massage.” I peek out the back window to make sure nobody is following us.

Bren turns onto the main road, going at least double the speed limit. “She must not have known this was coming out.”

“Obviously.” Ms. Mayze sits forward and stares out the windshield.

“They’re going to berate me.” I shrink into Callum’s arms. “They’re going to?—”

“I’ll take care of it, Livianna. You just let me handle it.” Ms. Mayze looks over her shoulder at me. “I’ll call her when we get to your house.”

“Fucking hell.” Callum throws his head against the headrest. “How did this get out?”

“Your uncle.” It comes out of my mouth without hesitation.

“No. He wouldn’t do this,” Ms. Mayze insists. “He knows what he did to you was his last warning. If he messes up one more time, he’s not to come near my family.”

Callum breathes heavily. “I tend to agree with you, Ma.”

“What?” My jaw drops. “After what he did to me?”

“He swears it was the drugs and promises never to touch you again.” Callum squeezes me closer to him.

I push myself away. “Why do you believe him? He hired someone?—”

“Your studio referred that guy to him. He swears he trusted the guy to keep you safe.” Callum twists to face me. “Honestly, Lily. I don’t think it’s him. He didn’t even know we were up in the mountains.”

“Then who did?” I sit back and cross my arms over my chest.

I could’ve sworn it was his uncle. And I hate that Callum is giving him an out for what he did to me because of drugs, but that’s the least of my worries at this point.

My parents are going to die when they hear the news. I’d be surprised if they continue to let Callum around me. I spin in that thought with a lump solidly lodged in my throat.

Dammit!I’m so fucking screwed.

“Livianna Grace, where are you?” my mom yells as the door from the garage to the mudroom slams.

“Lorna, you said you’d be calm,” my dad says.

It’s near dinnertime, and I’m sitting in the living room with Ms. Mayze, Callum, and Bren reviewing the internet gossip sites. The stories are everywhere.

“This is me being calm.” My mom marches into the room. “Oh, look. Isn’t this convenient? We have them all in one place.”

Ms. Mayze stands. “Lorna, I’m sure this is shocking, but you know how the media loves a scandal.”