Page 20 of Fallen Princess: Shadow Stalker

He shrugs his shoulders.

“Dunno. He looks like he’s got more piercings and ink than when I last saw him.” I sigh at the image. “But he seems sober, mate,” Liam assures and disappears before I get the chance to tell him to deny their entry.

Turning to Sierra, she smirks and pushes the data sheet against my chest.

“I’ve emailed the analysis to you. And before you ask. I have better things to do than get involved with old bandmate business. If you don’t want your brother here, you’ll have to do it yourself. I’ve seen him perform in a couple pubs around Barnet on weekends. He’s still pretty good and seems sober to me.”

I look at her dismissively.

“You know you’re my PA. You’re supposed to make my life easier. Not complicate it,” I say, knowing I’m on a losing streak with her.

“That’s right, your PA, not your family counselor. Your bloody problem is that you hire people to sort out your problems. But this is one no one’s going to touch. He’s family. The other two are too.” She storms out of the office, leaving me with nothing but solid dread.

I'm not too fondof confrontation.

“Hello, fellas,” I say, forcing a smile at the two men and avoiding my brother with every inch of nerve in my body.

I give him a silent snarl.

Talk about nerves. Callum’s got a helluva lot of them showing his wanking face here.

Taking a seat by the table, I casually sit down to avoid any kind of friendly hug or handshake.

“The woman in the reception called you Hayes. When did you change your name back?” Callum asks, and I’m forced to look at him.

“Hayes is my birth name.”

He sneers, “I know that knobhead. I also know you hated it.”

“There’s a lot you don’t know about me, Callum. It’s been, what? Eight years since we’ve had any contact. What are you doing here now?”

Jagger shifts in his seat. “Mate—"

“Maybe if you gave a fuck what I’ve been doing these last few years…” Callum interjects, stopping whatever Jagger just tried to say.

“Maybe I have no interest in knowing what my junkie sibling is up to.”

“Arse—”

“That’s enough!” Jagger stands up, cutting us both off. “This isn’t why we’re here. Callum’s been in remission for years now. And I believe him when he says he’s clean. So keep whatever previous thoughts you have of him to yourself. He’s come a long way since.”

I bite my lower lip to avoid the snarl, just edging its way up my mouth.

“No offense, Jagger,” I say, feeling super awkward with all three blokes in this room. “But why are you three here?”

“Because he wants us to start a band,” Callum throws in with a smirk that’s laced with so much self-arrogance, I’d like to smack that grin off his face.

I recall his words and try to string some meaning to them.

“What the fuck is he on about?” I ask Jagger, ignoring my annoying twat of a brother.

He’s probably hallucinating.

“A decade has passed. Enough time for people to forget what happened and for us to gather the magic we once had.”

If there was ever a time for a jaw-dropping moment, this is it.

“Are you completely bonkers?” I stare at Jagger incredulously.

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