Page 54 of Wicked Truths

“Marcus, sit down. There’s a lot that we should explain.” Angel tilts her head, purposely avoiding looking at the cameras she’s got stacked all throughout the room.

“Yeah, I’m good. If there are no fans we’re supposed to be meeting, then we’re done here.” I blow out a heavy breath, and Oakley holds on like she’s afraid I might run fromher.

“I was meant to be a solo act.” Johnny shrugs, stretching back. “Damian, Jamen, and Donovan were a much better fit since they weren’t famous yet. I mean, they had local traction, but they hadn’t hit it big yet.”

“How intriguing,” Liam snorts. “But I get the feeling he really doesn’t give a fuck.”

He’s right.

I really don’t, or I tell myself that.

I’m not that lonely kid who desperately wanted to be loved. Not anymore. I can recognize how screwed up I could have ended up if I was raised by Angel.

My eyes meet hers, and I speak before I can stop myself. “Why not just have an abortion? Were you going to play it off like I was their kid?”

It’s always been the one thing I couldn’t figure out.

Why not just end the pregnancy?

Angel doesn’t feel like the type to suffer for the greater good.

I’m not even judging; it was her choice. I’ve just never been able to wrap my head around it.

“A talented eighteen-year-old girl ends up at an audition with a well-known up-and-coming band of twenty-something guys.” Johnny shrugs. “Those alphas never stood a chance. She probably could have passed you off. I don’t think Damian would have pushed too hard. He was a little too trusting for that. But then he wouldn’t have allowed you to be given up for adoption. I’m guessing she realized that pretty quickly.”

Angel glares at Johnny.

He shrugs, grinning widely. “What? I’m just saying. You’ve always been capable of looking out for yourself. It’s a huge turn on.”

I don’t say anything.

There’s nothing else I need to hear.

Liam wraps an arm around my shoulder and flips off the cameras as we head out. Oakley snuggles close to my chest.

I don’t know what to think or say or do for that fucking matter.

My mind races. It seems like a very real possibility that Angel planned to set up Jamen or Damian to think I was theirs when Johnny abandoned her to be a solo act.

Liam leads the way and Oakley pulls me along back to our dressing room.

“Don’t let them get to ya, mate,” Liam says once we’re back in the greenroom we started in.

“Yeah,” I agree, but my mind is a fucking mess.

“Are you okay?” Oakley worries her lip between her bottom teeth. “Honest to God, I didn’t know. I mean, how would I even know?”

“What’s up?” Sullivan asks, finally appearing from wherever the fuck he was. Hawk is strangely nowhere in sight.

Liam mutters something to him that I can’t hear.

“It’s okay.” My jaw slides from side to side.

If I’m being real, I’ve got the strong urge to self-destruct, or fuck something up. I don’t even know why. Nothing should surprise me with that woman.

Oakley pushes against my chest with her palms until I look down at her. “I didn’t know.”

“I believe you,” I assure her, pulling her tight to my front with a hand on her ass.

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