Page 124 of Siren in the Rain

“You were so cool, babe,” Griff says, nuzzling my cheek.

On screen, the camera pans to the stunned audience, who start to revolt.

It takes less than sixty seconds for Bella’s music career to go down in flames and for her to reveal the true, ugly personality behind the cultivated, innocent facade she had presented to the world.

Bella races off the stage to the soundtrack of the audience booing.

An instant later, the footage shifts and we see a handcuffed Bella being put into the back seat of a police car outside the performance venue.

The newscaster returns to the screen.

You saw it here first, folks. Bella Divine has been using someone else’s vocals and claiming them as her own. Police have arrested her on fraud charges, and we’ve just learned that her manager is wanted by police in connection with those charges. Reports are coming in that fans are demanding their money back, the music label has dropped Ms. Divine, and lawsuits are being considered. In the meantime, it remains to be seen if any further connection between her and the illegal operations of her stepfather and her mother, Margaret Divine, will come to light…

I turn off the video and everyone erupts into cheers. With a jaunty flourish, I give them a little bow while Griffin beams at me; the pride emanating from him is overpowering.

Emma grabs me and gives me a fierce hug. “You fucking did it. You were finally able to get even with that evil, wretched little phony.”

“I have to admit, it was a lot more satisfying than I imagined. Exposing and humiliating her in front of all of the fans she’s deceived really was the sweetest kind of revenge.”

“What’ll happen now?” Ruby asks.

I shrug. “Not sure if the fraud charges will stick, but the fans could mount a class-action lawsuit, demanding refunds for tickets and music purchases. All I know is that she won’t be able to continue her career as a pop superstar and she won’t be able to profit off my voice anymore. I’m pretty satisfied with that.” I grin. “It’s starting to look like she’ll be charged as an accessory to my imprisonment, but I’m not sure what’ll happen with that yet.”

“What about her earnings?” Emma asks. “She’s made a crazy amount of money off your voice.”

“I’ve got a lawyer looking into whether we have any grounds to sue for some of those profits. For now, all of her accounts are currently frozen.”

Cal whistles. “Shit, bro. What are you gonna do if you somehow get a big chunk of that money?”

I glance at Griffin and smile before turning back to everyone. “If that happens, I’ll donate all of it to Otherkind shelters like the one I stayed at when I escaped. There are lots of folks like me out there in need, people who’ve been abused and exploited in the worst possible ways. I’d want to give that money toward helping them. I could never keep it anyway. For me, it’s too tainted. But if it can help others in need, then I’ll be satisfied.”

Harper nods approvingly. “A most fitting solution.”

“Thank you, Harper, for your brilliant suggestion on how to lure Bella out and get even.”

Harper waves a hand dismissively. “Think nothing of it. People really ought to know the film classics. Maybe then Bella would have smelled a trap.”

I snicker. “Not bloody likely.”

“Well, your situation was far too reminiscent of the classic musical Singin’ in the Rain for me not to get inspiration for this final and well-earned act of retribution.”

I hadn’t seen the movie before Harper mentioned it to me, but he gave me a pass since I wasn’t allowed much access to movies after my mother died. We all ended up watching the film musical together in this very room one night two weeks ago, and thus Revenge Operation: Siren in the Rain was born.

Everyone jumped on board to help me. First, we spread misinformation to Bella and her team that I was missing and presumed dead. She bought it hook, line, and sinker, and immediately scheduled her first show in months. Her team was planning to have her use pre-recorded music for all of her shows. But Cal’s magic helped throw a handy wrench in that plan at the show.

Detective Monroe had also been investigating Bella behind the scenes. Initially, because the detective wanted to make sure Bella wasn’t involved in some of her mother’s illegal beauty products, but the paper trails instead led to some shady shenanigans in her music career, which is why the LAPD had been outside waiting to pick Bella up the moment she left the event. Turns out, she and her manager were stealing money on top of everything else. I don’t know all the details, but Bella’s in hot water and her manager is MIA.

I look around this group of wonderfully weird misfits, and my heart is full to bursting with love.

“I want to thank you. Each and every one of you helped me bring this about. I couldn’t have done it without you. I love you all.”

“We love you too, sweetie,” Ruby says, sniffling back tears.

“Once a member of MEOW Squad, always a member of MEOW Squad,” Dallas says. “We’ll always have your back, Shae.”

I laugh, fighting back tears of my own.

Gods. Love has turned me soft—and yet, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

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