Page 69 of Forbidden Intent

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It’s been three days since I last saw Tamsin, and it feels like three years.She’s not answering my texts or calls, and she wasn’t at the studio when we went in today to wrap up a few things.

I know I fucked up.I’ve had time to think about it, and I know I didn’t handle any of that the right way.I should’ve talked to her about it before I even hired Greg to find him, and I definitely should not have blindsided her like that in a public place, especially with her dad nearby.In my defense, I really thought I was doing the right thing.I thought if I found him she could get the closure she deserves, and if I was lucky, I could kick his ass for ever laying a hand on her.

The expression on her face before she drove away is burned into my brain—the anger and the hurt.I never meant to hurt her, and the fact that she’s not talking to me is killing me.

I glance down at my phone one more time, waiting to see those three familiar dots that show she’s typing a reply, but nothing shows up.It’s just a string of texts from me over the last three days.I’ve turned into that guy who can’t take a fucking hint.But I’m not willing to lose her over something this stupid.

And this is stupid—or more accurately, I was stupid.

It hasn’t helped that the last three days have also been a shitshow with the band.We all agreed to confront Kasen about his drug use and it blew up spectacularly.He refused to hear us out, and unlike our last intervention, this time he got immediately defensive and stormed out.He’s been blowing us off ever since, which has us all worried since we’re performing at a charity concert tonight.

A pat on my back pulls my gaze from my phone, and I glance up to see Steph, the coordinator for the charity concert.

“You ready?You’re going on in about ten minutes.”

With a defeated sigh, I look at my phone once more, the text emblazoned on the screen still unanswered.

I’m sorry, Baby Girl.I wish you were here tonight.I love you.

“Yeah,” I say.“Where are the rest of the guys?”I ask, just as Tristan rounds the corner, his eyes looking a little frantic.He tilts his head up and gives me acome herenod, so I tell Steph I’ll corral the guys, then I head his direction.

“We have a problem,” Tristan says quietly, gesturing for me to follow him around the corner

“What is it?”

He takes us to a side hallway where Trent is pacing back and forth in front of a partially open door.As we get closer, I notice it’s a supply closet of some kind, and lying on the floor with a needle in her arm and her body slack is Charli, Kasen’s dealer and presumed girlfriend.

“What the fuck,” I whisper, just as I hear Robbie curse behind me.I glance back and see him pull out his phone, and I’m close enough to see him dial 911.

He explains the situation and then gets off the phone with the dispatcher.Trent turns to Tristan.“Go find Kasen.Hang out with him and keep him from coming back here.”Tris nods and then heads off.

“What is she even doing here?”Robbie murmurs.

“That’s a great fucking question.My guess, Kasen.He either invited her, or she has someone who tells her where he is,” Trent says, his hands resting on the top of his head while he struggles to find composure.

I can’t take my eyes off her limp, lifeless body.I remember when we found Kasen years ago in that hotel room.He looked a million times better than she does right now, and the doctors told us he barely survived.

“Has anyone checked for a pulse?”I ask.

Silence greets my question.But it no longer matters.Before any of us have a chance to check her further, paramedics come running in with Kasen and Tristan coming up behind them.Kasen’s eyes are wild and his skin glistens with sweat, but his condition is the least of our concerns.Once he sees her this will all go south fast—not that it isn’t already a shit storm.

I step in front of Kasen, stopping him in his tracks before he has a chance to follow the paramedics into the supply closet.

He looks at me with confusion.“What’s going on?Who is it?”

I’m torn between tough love and wanting to protect him from what’s coming.Protection wins out when I see the clear panic in his otherwise hazy gaze.

“Don’t worry about it.Go back and get ready.It’s almost time for our performance.”

His eyes dart back and forth searching mine, his brows furrowed and his lips turned down in a frown.I see the moment his confusion is replaced with determination, and I hate that he’s stronger than I am because even though I hold him back for a minute, it’s not enough.He overthrows me and pushes past to see Charli lying lifeless on the floor.

I glare at Tristan.“A little help woulda been nice.”

Tris doesn’t smile or apologize.“He needs to see this.Maybe it’ll be the wake-up call he needs.”

“Or it’ll throw him off the edge,” Trent says, looking worried as he watches Kasen stand still as a statue.

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