Page 25 of Mending Hearts

“You’re obviously not feeling well. Why are you going out?” I shook my head, ignoring her comment.

“Because I’m paid to appear. Thousands of dollars to show up. They’ll have advertised it. Some of those people who took photos and shook my hand at the VIP already mentioned they were going because I’d be there. Everyone wants a piece of me. The bigger Mia Malone gets, the more pieces they want to take.” With her hands, she mocked chipping away at some unknown shape. She took the fake fragment from the block and rubbed it all over her. “They want to figure out how to get some of this shine on them.”

“Seems logical.” My voice oozed sarcasm.

“Does it? Most of the time, I think it’s pathetic, sad. My mother would say it’s because I didn’t spend enough time wanting what I have to be able to appreciate it.”

“And what do you think?”

“She’s probably right, but I’d never, ever say it to her face.”

“Why not?”

“Doesn’t matter.” Mia shifted her gaze toward the windows and shrugged her shoulders. “Are you ready? I want to get this over with so I can come home and either collapse or puke my guts out. I’m barely holding it together.”

I rubbed my index finger along my forehead. For the last few hours, I’d been debating whether the potential conflict was worth saying anything. Better if I spoke up. The comment she’d made earlier to her mother about consuming more empty calories to unwind was stuck in my head. I couldn’t let it slide. “You know you can’t drink, right? Or do any other drugs?”

“Are you fucking kidding me right now?” Her eyes bulged out of their sockets, and she puffed out her cheeks. “You’re not my boyfriend. You’re not my dad. You’re going to lecture me?”

Pasha’s head popped over the edge of the bus stairs, and he frowned. Hopefully, her voice wasn’t drifting outside to other people.

“That wasn’t a lecture. It was two questions. And you’re right, I’m not your boyfriend or your dad. But I am someone’s dad, and my job is to look out for that someone.” I pointed to her stomach, annoyance zipping through me.

“On second thought, you’re not coming with me.” Mia whirled around, her dark hair flying. “I don’t need another person looking over my shoulder telling me what I can and can’t do.” She turned back, her blue-green eyes blazing. “You want to stay on this tour? Know your place. I’m not an idiot, okay? Don’t be a dick.” She clomped down the stairs and exited the bus before I could get my thoughts together.

God, she was so flipping frustrating. The worst part was my inability to decide which version of her I liked best. Most of them were infuriating. Made me clench my teeth to keep from losing my temper. But my blood pumped, hot and thick in my veins. Whether I liked it or not, being around her was the most alive I’d felt in years.

Chapter Nine

Mia

Istraightened my posture in the plush brown leather chair on the other side of Kenny’s steel desk. Behind me, Pasha stood at the back of the large concrete and glass office that looked out over Nashville. In the five years since I shot to stardom with the label, Kenny rode my coattails all the way to the top floor. He was credited with launching my career. On days when the thought of him didn’t make my skin crawl, I could admit he understood music and had taught me a few things at fifteen that I still took into consideration when I put together an album. Remembering what he taught me always left a bitter taste in my mouth.

The price for his lessons had been more than I wanted to pay. Had I said no to him? Any time I played the sessions back, I couldn’t remember. But I hadn’t said “yes.” Not once had that word crossed my lips.

As if sensing my mood, Mom took my hand, sandwiching it between her own. Mom knew, of course. Not all of what had happened. A shiver ran through me. Not all of it.

“I don’t understand the problem.” He steepled his fingers and leaned across his desk. His dark hair was styled with too much gel. I bet he dyed it jet-black to hide the gray. His midnight eyes were hard. “The label wants this.”

“And I don’t.” I stared at him, trying to pretend the sight of him didn’t cause the queasiness in my stomach to swell, a cold sweat to break out across my skin.

“You either let this go, or we go to the label about what happened last time you worked with Mia.” Laura’s voice was steely. “The age of consent in Tennessee is eighteen.”

“Did she tell you we slept together?” Kenny chuckled and shook his head. “Mia. Mia. Mia. Why would you lie to your mother?”

“I didn’tlie.” Rage swirled in me. The rest of the words wouldn’t go past my lips. What he’d done was a violation.

“Is that the problem? You wiggled your ass last time, and I didn’t take the bait?” He stared at me. “Now you’re bitter. You pranced around herebeggingfor it. But I never gave it to you.”

Had I flirted with him? Maybe. A little. Thinking of how naïve I’d been made my chest hurt. I’d been fifteen, new to the business, and he’d seemed attractive for an older man. Charming, even. Harmless. I thought he would be harmless. Now when I looked at him, all I saw was a monster, a man who took advantage of a girl who was too afraid to speak up.

“You gave her something.” Laura snorted. “You can pretend you didn’t do what you did, but we have proof. Documented proof. So, you back the fuck off or we’ll be coming after you and the label in the court of public opinion. We’ve chosen not to ruin you so far, but if you don’t step back, this train will run you over.”

I froze in my seat, afraid to look at her. What had happened to contractual obligations? Was Laura really going to rescue me from this nightmare? I squeezed her hand and swallowed the tears threatening to spill. Neither of them would get to see me cry.

“Proof?” He raised his eyebrows. “Whatever proof you have will do as much damage to her as to me. Her fans would never approve of a fifteen-year-old girl seducing a man my age in my position.”

“Seducing?” I almost choked on the word. “I was fifteen.”

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