Page 62 of Cherry Beats

“Once. I let him in once,” I interjected weakly, knowing my defence was brittle and penetrable.

“Once is enough. One bullet is all it takes to land someone in prison for a lifetime.”

I pressed my free palm to my forehead and sighed softly.

“I’m not saying this to be a party pooper, baby girl. I’m saying it because you’re important to me, and I hate seeing the aftereffects of the tornado that’s just torn through your life again. Me, Bourbon, your shitty excuse for a family—we’re the ones who get to see what’s left behind when Presley flies off to another part of the world. We see the damage. The rubble. The destruction. It isn’t pretty, beau. No one should be so broken from having experienced something so beautiful. You’re doing okay now. You’re still you, despite the dents, but the sad truth is, there’s always some opportunist out there willing to wade through your rubble to find a hidden gem or pocket of gold, no matter the cost to those whose lives have just been fucked the hell up.”

“I had no idea you were so… insightful.”

“There’s more to me than just my open legs, ruby red lips, and my incredible hair,” she hit back through an obvious smile. “I just choose my moments to show my talents to the world. If everyone knew how fabulous I was, they’d all want a piece of me.”

* * *

I blew out a breath and peeked up at Molly from my position on the sofa. Molly was pacing back and forth in my apartment, her thumbnail trapped between her perfect white teeth. She’d arrived shortly after me, her mystical powers of friendship clearly warning her that my sanity was a little shot right now.

“You sure you want to do this?” she asked me as I dialled a number on my phone, my thumb then hovering over the call button.

“Not really. What other choice do I have? If Janey Dominic is coming after my friends, it’ll only be a matter of time before she goes after my family, and we both know they’re not as loyal and as quick to react as you.”

“Remind me how it’s possible that someone as lovely as you is related to those three imbeciles.”

“I wish I knew.” I hit call and lifted the phone to my ear.

The phone connected quickly, a chipper sounding male introducing himself as, “RDB Management, this is Malcolm speaking.”

“H-hello, I need to speak with Dicky Bennett… please.”

“I’m sorry, Mr Bennett isn’t in the office right now. Can I take a message?” the enthusiastic, high-pitched Malcolm chirped.

“No, I need to speak to him now.”

There was a slight pause. “And who may I say is calling?”

“My name is Tessa Lisbon.”

Another pause. “I’m sorry, Miss Lisbon, but what’s this regarding?”

“It’s regarding…” I looked up at Molly, and she gave me a wide-eyed nod, urging me to go on. “It’s regarding Presley West.”

Malcolm cleared his throat ever so slightly. “All press and publication enquiries go through Mr West’s publicist, Julia Speed. Any interview requests, media—”

“Cut the crap, Malcolm.” I sighed, surprised by my own abruptness. “I’m not part of the press. I’m Tessa Lisbon. I’m the one person Dicky Bennett will want to speak to today. Trust me. And if you don’t trust me, on your head be it when Dicky finds out you were the guy who had me on the end of the phone and turned me away.”

Molly’s eyes widened, and I cringed up at her.

“Okay,” Malcolm eventually responded. “I’m going to need a reason to make him take your call, Miss Lisbon.”

“You tell him you’ve got the one girl who matters on hold. He’ll understand.”

And just like that, with a few clicks and beeps, I had Dicky Bennett on the other end of the call.

“Dicky Bennett speaking,” he said roughly. I heard the scraping of a chair and a few things being shuffled around.

“Hi,” I squeaked, instantly intimidated by his gruff tone.

“Miss Lisbon, I assume?”

“That’s right.” I nodded like he could see me. “You probably know me as—”

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