Page 52 of Captivating

Guess they’re about to find out.

Killian catches up to me and takes my hand in his before I can rip it away. When I try to pull away, he refuses to let go. “Lilah,” he warns, softly. “Don’t do this. Talk to them when you’re not so raw.”

“No.” I yank my hand from his and spin around right into my grandfather’s arms.

“Lilah Belle. My girl. Happy birthday.”

“Hi, Grandpa.” I kiss his cheek and hold myself there for a minute, soaking in his love. He’s been battling cancer for months, but he looks better than the last time I saw him. Hopefully, that’s a good sign.

His dark brows furrow. “You okay, sweetheart?”

“I need to find Mom and Dad. Are they in the kitchen?” My voice shakes, and he doesn’t miss the tell.Shit.

“Hey, Tink,” Asher walks by and fist-bumps Killian. “Mom’s looking for you. She’s in the kitchen.”

“Excuse me.” I don’t stop for anyone else. Not the entire fleet of kids my cousins have that are running circles around Jamie. Not for Dillan or Addie. Not until I see Noah fingering the icing on his heart-shaped cake while Mom sips a giant cup of coffee. “You asshole,” I yell the second I’m standing across from him, and the chatter in the room stops. My loud, obnoxious family, silent for one of the first times in recent history.

“What the hell?” Noah looks at me like I’ve suddenly grown horns and a tale. “Dude. Whatever it is, I didn’t do it.” He smirks, jokingly, then looks beside me. “Killian did.”

“Wrong fucking answer.” I somehow manage to keep my voice steady as my veins pump in double time to keep up with the blood boiling in my veins “You told Killian I have a stalker.”

“You have a stalker?” Asher asks from behind me, and I’m pretty sure Dillan covers his mouth.

“What the hell, man?” Noah narrows his eyes on Killian, like he’s the problem. “I trusted you not to say anything.”

“Are you serious right now?” I move in front of Killian, keeping my brother’s attention on me. “You don’t get to be mad that he told me something aboutmylife.Mylife, Noah. How could you keep that from me? How could you not demand I be told?” I slap my hand against the marble countertop and ignore the sting that shoots up my arm. “How many other people know? Who else did you trust enough to make decisions about my life?”

“Noah.” Mom’s voice is shaking, and when I look over at her, it’s clear as day on her face. She didn’t know. “Is this true?”

“They said it was safer for her this way,” Noah argues as my father walks into the room.

His eyes are wide as he takes in the tension in the room. “What the hell is going on in here?”

“Oh, you’d have to ask Noah that, Daddy. See, he decided he knew best, so now he’s the only one in this room who knows anything.” Tears threaten to spring free as my anger reaches new levels I didn’t know I was capable of. “How could you?”

“Tink—” He moves toward me, and Killian reaches around my waist and holds me back when he realizes I’m about to launch myself at Noah.

“Don’t you fucking dare. A stalker? You kept a stalker from me. How long?” I’m not even sure I’m making sense, and I’m less sure I care. “How long did you know some sicko was stalking meand that they were the one who sent the bomb that almost killed me, Noah?”

“Okay. That’s it,” Dad stops me—well, he tries to. But I’m done.

“No answer, huh, Noah? Well, fuck you. I never would have done this to you. Never would have kept this from you.” My entire body vibrates with fury, and I realize Killian is still holding me back.

“I was trying to keep you safe, Tink,” Noah yells back at me, and I lose it.

“Yeah well, I’m not your job anymore, Noah. They secured the insurance for the rest of the tour. I’m going back out, and you’re not going with me. You’re fired.”

“Lilah—” Mom gasps, but I ignore her and the way she reaches for Dad.

“I’m calling a meeting with my agent and the label tomorrow.” I look between my parents, ignoring Noah and every other family member who’s in the room. “Once I get all the details, I’ll fill you both in. But I am going back on tour. I’m not letting a stalker or anyone else dictate my life for me.” I look over my shoulder at Killian, who’s still got me anchored to him. “I’d like to go now.”

“Lilah, please...” Noah pleads, but I shake my head. “I’m sorry.”

“No. We’ve always been equals... until now. I’ve always included you in decisions. But you chose not to. I’m not sure what you were thinking, but you don’t get to unilaterally make a decision about my life. Looks like since you did, now I am too.” My breath catches in my chest, but I refuse to cry. Not in front of everyone. Not even my family.

I’ve spent a decade fighting to be taken seriously.

To not be treated like some little girl.

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