Page 39 of Heart of a Rebel

“We’ll also be doing individual interviews.” Marlene leans forward and smiles. “We want to hear about how you got started, what got you to where you are today. The early days, the band forming, signing your record deal. Everything.”

“Everything?” Eloise cocks an eyebrow, and even if the interviewer doesn’t notice, there’s something she’s hiding behind that word.

Sebastian must also sense it, because he looks over at his sister, and then at me, asking me a silent question. Eloise tends to let these kinds of meetings play out in front of her, speaking only when asked a direct question. But there’s something unnerving in her expression that makes me wonder whyeverythingis all that important right now.

They’ve been in the public eye for long enough to not have any secrets left.

Marlene nods. “Everything.”

Eloise swallows hard and her eyes move down. She’s quiet for the rest of the meeting and rushes out before I can touch base with her. Usually, I’d let her just do her thing and avoid me. After all, it’s what she and I are good at. But I can’t shake this feeling something is off, so I follow her to her tour bus instead.

“I’m fine,” she says like she can hear me behind her and knows what I’m about to say before I get the chance. But even if her words are clipped purposely to brush me off, I’m not letting her off the hook that easy.

“Eloise.” I barely catch the door to her bus before it swings shut behind her.

She’s pissed—about what, I have no fucking clue. It’s not an emotion she shows often, but it’s been coming out more and more lately.

“We need to talk about this.” I climb the steps into her tour bus and turn the corner, dipping my chin and raking my fingers over the back of my head as I do.

Every time I step in here, I can’t help but hide my face because if I didn’t, I’m positive it would give away what Eloise’s floral scent does to my chest on the first inhale. I try to not take it in, to not let it affect me. I bury the burning in my throat and hold my composure. But when I lift my face, Eloise’s back is to me, and her entire posture is rigid.

“El?” I reach out and place my hand on her shoulder, which makes her jump.

She spins so fast, and it isn’t until she does that I see the tears pooling in her eyes.

“Hey,” I step toward her but freeze when I see what she’s holding in her hand—a familiar daisy necklace on a simple silver chain.

The sight of the jewelry forms a knot in my throat. The last time I saw the necklace was the night I gave it to her. I wrapped it around her neck right before she kissed me in her hotel room. All the pieces that had been outside me settled into place, and everything was right.

Until the next day, when the girl I fell for the moment I met her shrunk into herself, and she never wore the necklace again. I didn’t even know if she still had it.

She’s clenching the string, and it draws out the whiteness of her knuckles. And something about it gives me a sinking feeling in my stomach.

“Adrian, I—” the words end on a sob as she rushes past me, disappearing into the depths of her tour bus, leaving me wondering what the fuck is going on.

That is, until I turn back to the mirror she was standing in front of and see it. Scrawled across the surface are letters drawn in paint, but it’s the color of blood.

SHUT YOUR MOUTH OR PAY THE CONSEQUENCES

And there’s a white rose on the table beneath the message.

14

Eloise

Eight Months Earlier

I’mbeginningtofeelcooped up at Adrian’s house. If only my renovators could have waited five more months before they got started, I wouldn’t be out of a home while recording this album.

I should have taken Sebastian up on his offer to crash with him, but being the thoughtful sister I always am, I wanted to give him and Cassie space in their new relationship.

So here I am, crashing at Adrian’s house and pretending it has no impact on me.

What was I thinking?

I stare at the door to my bedroom like danger lurks on the other side. In some capacity it does. Because when I step over the threshold there’s no escaping the fact that I’m in Adrian’s space and I still haven’t gotten over him.

So here I sit on the other side of it, no matter how odd it might seem that I’m locking myself away in my room to avoid reality.

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