Page 114 of Rebel

“I know you always do. You make it look effortless,” I reply. She’s always been a queen despite everything they threw at her. “Even that Tucker fucker, want me to kill him?”

“Not today. Now, how about we go back over there, get really fucking drunk, and I tell you all the guys’ dirty secrets and embarrassing stories?”

Oh God, I love her, and suddenly, I’m jealous of Trav for fucking her.

“Sounds like a plan,” I retort. “Hey, Reign, thank you. This world is kind of lonely. I never know whom to trust,” I say, showing some of my hand.

“Trust me.” She shrugs. “I could use that kind of friend too, in all honesty.”

“Then we’re friends.” I nod, truly meaning it. “Now, who else should I be worried about?” She’ll know better than anyone, and it just might clue me into someone who could have hurt my sister. It didn’t occur to me until now, but these people here have the guys’ trust.

They would have had access to my sister.

It could be them.

She takes my hand, and we stroll through the party as she starts to point people out, and I take careful note of each and every one, just in case.

Reign Harrow is my new bestie. She’s just so much fun, and despite her and Trav’s past, she treats him like nothing but a friend, almost as a brother, not to mention it’s pretty obvious she’s deeply in love with those four hotties around her.

She introduced them as Raffiel, Cillian, Astro, and Dal.

I’d be blind not to see the chemistry and secrets between them, not to mention the way they look at each other. It’s the same way I look at the guys. It seems Reign Harrow and I have something else in common. It eases all my worries, and I find myself drinking with her, forgetting my plan to keep my eye on the partygoers as I enjoy myself.

We trade stories and play drinking games, and when she stumbles back on Astros’ arm, I have a great idea. We have to perform tonight anyway, and it would be a dream to sing with her. I’ve always admired her, and the guys said they want me to follow my dreams. What’s a better dream than singing with my teenage idol?

“There she is!” I call louder than I mean to thanks to the booze. “How about a duet? They want to hear one of our new songs.”

It’s all we have been asked all night, and the stage outside doesn’t help. We always planned to play, and I was hella nervous about that, but now with the liquor in my system, I don’t seem to care. There might be some of the biggest names at this party, but I’m a Dead Ringer, bitch.

“Oh no, you guys sing it. It’s your party,” she says, always so nice.

“Not a chance.” I don’t give her a chance to back out, knowing she would. Despite the spotlight she’s always in, she seems to hate it. I grab her hand. “You sang with them for ‘Dead to Me,’ right? Well, do that one! Please, Reign, it would be the best moment of my life.”

“You heard her, go on.” Raffiel smirks at her, love and desire shining in his eyes as he watches his girl.

“Yes, I like him. Let’s go!” I drag her outside to the stage where the guys are already setting up. We are buzzed but not too drunk to perform—or so I hope because that would be really embarrassing. I slide my guitar on, since Reign will be singing as well and this song needs a lot of chords. It’s one we have been practicing for fun, and the alcohol is giving me confidence I don’t always feel.

Stepping up to the mic, I clear my throat and give myself over to this.

I am Beck Danvers. I am a Dead Ringer.

This is my life, my dream, and nobody gets to take that from me.

Not tonight.

Tonight, I am a rock star.

FIFTY-TWO

Iam hammered, to the point where everything is hilarious. The sun is up, and when I spin around the kitchen, I realize the clock reads eight in the morning. The final guests just left, and the house is a mess, but I can’t stop dancing.

Tonight, I performed and became a Dead Ringer for real, and as the crowd applauded, I looked out at them and understood what my sister was talking about. Seeing all the faces congratulating us, happy for us, and feeling our music was unlike anything I’ve ever felt before.

It was a high nothing can ever compare to, and I know I made the right decision.

I want to be a singer. More than that, I want to be their singer.

I want this life—not just the fame, but the singing, performing, and touring. I want every messy, dirty part that means I get to be a rock star. I want to help them achieve highs they have dreamed of. I want to be at their side as we sing to thousands of fans.

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