Page 21 of Our Deceptive Heat

I step around him and flee while I can. It’s only when waiting, desperately counting the seconds because the lift is taking forever, that Digs comes out and stands beside me.

He stares at me while I ignore him until I finally have to turn and face him.

“What?”

“You’re going to break us all over again.”

I wheeze a laugh. “You? Yeah, sure. Pretty sure you four are doing just fine.”

Digs leans in closer, his face at my level. I want so badly to back up, but I don’t allow myself to even move, not even when his beard tickles my face.

“If you’re back, you’re back. If you’re not, stay gone.”

I close my eyes, willing myself strength. “You really took my choices away from me. I can’t stay gone with my father’s command to fix your brand, now can I?”

“Do you really think anyone would care? Your father wouldn’t even notice.”

I open my eyes, looking straight into his blue orbs of rage and scowl. “Don’t be a dick, Digs. It’s beneath you. And if you’re going to use my words as weapons, make sure you have current ammo. I’m a useful commodity now.”

He inhales, and when he exhales, there is the faintest hint of a vibration in the air between us. Luckily, it’s at that point the lift doors slide open. I slip inside, turning and lifting my chin as I glare at him.

“The next time anyone tries to trap me, you’ll find out just how dangerous a Raines can be.”

Dig’s smile crooks up a smug little expression that practically dares me to bring it.

The lift doors close with excruciating slowness, and then he’s gone, and I’m alone, exhausted and shaking.

I can’t go on tour with them!

How do I get out of this? I was just supposed to write one song. How did I end up here?

Shit.

I bite the inside of my cheek and keep perfectly still until the doors open, then I practically run, fleeing the big bad wolves and all the growling horrors that haunt me.

Chapter seven

Ryn

The whole world ownsmy hate, but you created an oasis, turning me into someone new- Ryn Raines.

It doesn’t matter how many attempts I came up with to escape this tour from hell, no amount of bargaining, threatening, or screaming internally at my dad swayed his mind. I sit down at the desk and stare at my diary showing three weeks of red crosses and one more empty uncrossed day before I need to go.

I could quit.

I put my head in my hands. “No, I can’t quit. Hell, if I quit, I’m nothing but useless, and then the only good thing I can do for this family is to be sold off.”

I need to be useful.

“Ryn?”

I glance up and realise I’ve drifted off in the middle of my video call with Kelly.

“Sorry, Kelly.”

“What’s going on? And if you say nothing, I’m packing up the guys, and we’re coming back.”

I open my mouth to say the word but stop myself, deciding to be honest instead. “I have to go on tour with Fate’s Choice and assess their marketing plan and possibly rework it completely.”

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