Page 45 of Heart of a Rebel

“You reported it?” Sebastian asks, finally breaking the silence.

I nod, worried he’s going to break a molar grinding his teeth like he is, but I ignore it and try to remain calm for him.

“Then why the fuck isn’t this motherfucker behind bars already?”

“There was no hit on the…”

Rape kit.

But I can’t get the words out. My heart jumps to my throat and I can feel it pulsing with every breath. I shake my head. “They don’t know who did it. Whoever it was, didn’t have a criminal record. Probably still doesn’t.”

Adrian’s jaw clenches and his fingers tighten into fists.

Sebastian’s reaction is one thing. He’s my brother, and even if he won’t admit it, a little emotional. He’s always been the knight-in-shining-armor type who doesn’t hesitate to jump to my defense. But while Sebastian is explosive and vocal, Adrian is unnervingly calm.

His gaze almost… deadly.

I didn’t want Adrian to ever find out the truth for this very reason. He was the one who dropped me off at my room the night it happened and being the gentleman he is, he left me at my door and walked away. He had no way of knowing what was lurking when the elevator doors slid closed. Not that he’ll hear me if I try to tell him that right now. If how I’ve blamed myself is any indication, I have no doubt Adrian might be doing the same.

Pounding comes from the tour bus door, and Sebastian flies out of his seat to get it. But Adrian stays sitting, facing me, not so much as blinking as he stares me down. The man could really ruin a girl with that look because it makes me transparent.

“Cops.” Sebastian looks over his shoulder, and only then does Adrian move, standing to meet them at the door.

Two officers make their way onto my bus, and even my potpourri and plants aren’t enough to calm me. Adrian shows the police officers to the mirror with the message on it. He points to the flower and does his best to explain what’s happening. I hear him say something about the white roses that were delivered to his house last year, and I know for certain pandora’s box has been opened.

All I can do now is hope the police report is filtered enough that I’ll have time to deal with the band’s reaction before I have to watch it go through the press.

“Eloise,” Adrian’s voice is calm and even.

Looking up, I’m faced with him, flanked by the officers, and I realize I’m picking at the corner of my thumbnail.

“We’d like to ask you a few questions, ma’am,” one of the officers says.

I nod and they pull out their notepads.

Sebastian slaps Adrian on the shoulder and tips his head to the doorway, before looking at me. “We’ll be outside.”

They step away, leaving me with the two officers. While I’ve never wanted to do this again, I try to remind myself anything is easier than telling Adrian and Sebastian. So I start from the beginning, recounting my nightmare once more, wishing I could just escape it.

When the cops leave, the guys don’t immediately rush back onto the bus, so I assume they must have set up security outside so they could meet with the rest of the band. I’m under no illusion Noah and Rome haven’t already been told what happened. Cassie and Merry either. At least if Adrian and Sebastian broke the news, I don’t have to recount it another time today.

Something unexpected bubbles up within me—relief. It’s finally out there. I don’t have to hide worrying someone will discover my secrets. The important people in my life know. It’s done.

Stepping into the shower, I can’t seem to get the water hot enough. My skin turns red, but I feel almost numb at this point. And when I finish showering and dressing and make my way back to the front of the bus, I know why. Because the words on the mirror stare back at me.

SHUT YOUR MOUTH OR PAY THE CONSEQUENCES

I honestly don’t know what the words mean as I wet a rag and scrub them off, leaving red smears streaking the surface of the mirror. There was nothing to shut my mouth about because I never told anyone after filing the initial police report years ago. But now, because of this, it’s going to be out there. If the monster wanted me silent, he went about it the wrong way.

The thought twists knots inside me.

What if this is exactly what he wants?

I pull an oversized sweater overhead and decide it’s time to face the band. They’re just going to worry until they see me, and we aren’t hitting the road again until tonight. If I don’t quiet some of their concerns, they’re going to spend the entire day making things up in their heads and worrying I’m going to lose it.

I open the door to my bus and the wind grabs it, almost dragging me with it. But strong arms steady me.

“Adrian,” I gasp. Letting go of the door, he helps me down the steps and shuts it behind me. I pull my sweater tightly around my chest. “What are you doing out here? I thought you left.”

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