Page 23 of Heart Break Her

“So, who is this sister of yours anyway?” He barely talked about her, and never brought her around. “You said it yourself; you played her our demo tape and she’s a fan.”

“No way.” Myth shook his head. “I know what you do with fans, bro. I’m keeping her far, far away.”

“I’m not that bad.”

He slapped me on the arm and held it in a tight grip. “I know you too well, Sebastian. You can’t lie to me.”

“Myth’s your brother,” I repeat. I think I might be the one who’s going to vomit now. The floor might as well be the roof because my entire world feels flipped upside down. “But his sister had a weird name.”

“Cassiopeia,” she says, and I realize I’m not the only one struggling because Cassie’s eyes are glassy and locked on the picture in my hand. “Our mom’s an astronomer. She had a thing for weird names. Myth because most constellations are named from mythology. Cassiopeia because—well I don’t know, it’s easy to spot maybe. But no one calls me that. Just Cassie.”

Just Cassie.

Just fucking Cassie.

Is that why I was drawn to her? My rotten soul is always looking for ways to blacken the things around me. Subconsciously seeking out the one woman my best friend would have skinned me alive for touching. Myth kept her away from our lifestyle for good reason. It eats people from the inside out. And I’ve unknowingly dragged her into the pit of it.

What have I done?

I take a step back and put some distance between Cassie and me. The air is thinning, and I can’t think straight.

I never should have touched her. Never should have talked to her. Fuck, I can’t be near her. All she makes me want to do is take, no matter how selfish it is. She deserves so much more.

What have you done?

I can almost hear Myth in my ear, cursing me.

The mess is made. One night dragging her into all that comes with being in the vicinity of Sebastian Kane.

I’m ruin.

I’m destruction.

I’m the reckoning.

I’m the reason Myth is dead, even if Cassie doesn’t know it.

7

Cassie

“Whatdidtheysay?”Merry asks.

She’s sitting on the kitchen counter, chewing on her nails, looking as stressed about the situation as I feel. Her professional allegiance may ultimately lie with the band, but I know, deep down, Merry’s here because she cares about me.

Sebastian is standing beside her, staring into space. His mind is somewhere else entirely. I’m not sure what happened, but the warmth he showed me when he first arrived has dissipated, and all that’s left is a cold man with his arms crossed over his chest.

Ever since he saw the photo of Myth on my dresser, he’s been avoiding my gaze. Which shouldn’t surprise me, I guess. Myth worked for them for years, and I knew he and Sebastian were friends, but I never said anything about it to Sebastian during the night we spent together.

It didn’t seem like there was a reason to. My brother is gone; reminding myself of the pain that’s rooted itself deep inside me over the past year as a result won’t do anyone any good.

Besides, Myth didn’t want me anywhere near Sebastian, so bringing him up would have felt like a betrayal of my brother’s wishes. He kept me as far away from road life as possible, saying it was for my own good. My schoolgirl crush on Sebastian was no secret, even to my brother, and he was determined to keep it as just that: a crush, nothing more.

“Introduce me, just once,” I begged.

“No way.” Myth’s defenses shot up anytime I mentioned anyone from Enemy Muse unprovoked, especially on nights I was going to be at one of their concerts.

“But you said it yourself, he’s a good guy. He’s your friend.” I crossed my arms over my chest, even though I knew it made me look like I was immature and pouting.

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