Page 31 of Living on the Edge

I pull out my phone but hesitate for a few seconds.

This is the kind of thing that might get me the job I desperately need.

And I don’t owe Angus anything.

Especially not tonight.

RYLEIGH: I think I have a scoop. What would you say if I told you that Angus Jeffries is actually one of the Hollingsworth sons?

RICH: Are you sure?

RYLEIGH: I overheard him talking with Alden, and he called him his brother. And it wasn’t a figure of speech—he flat out said he doesn’t want the band to find out who he is.

RICH: Hang tight—I’m doing a deep dive on him right now.

RYLEIGH: The thing is, if I break the story, they’ll almost definitely send me packing. Can you release it under someone else’s name?

RICH: I’m looking for proof as we speak. And yes, I’ll take credit for the initial story, citing a bogus source on the tour. You can take it from there because if the band doesn’t know who he really is, you’re going to have a front-row seat to the fireworks. And THAT will be a story that puts you on the map.

RYLEIGH: The band probably already knows, though.

RICH: Either way, the public doesn’t know. And there’s no doubt why he’s hidden his identity if that is him. There will be fallout either way. I’m pulling up public records now and it appears that Angus Jeffries legally changed his name… about ten years ago.

RYLEIGH: From what?

RICH: Angus used to be August Hollingsworth, the third.

Holy fucking shit.

The heir to the Hollingsworth pharmaceutical dynasty.

And he’s right here under my nose.

Oh. My. God.

Chapter9

Angus

I don’t knowwhat the hell Alden was thinking. My youngest brother is twenty-one and a royal pain in my ass sometimes. We’re fairly close, considering our eleven-year age gap and the fact that I barely talk to anyone else in the family other than my grandfather, but he’s aware that no one in the band knows my identity. And then the little shit bribed his way backstage. I can’t even yell at someone on the crew because it’s the arena’s security who guard the entrance.

Thank fuck I saw him before anyone else and got him out of there before he could make a mess of my life. Then right as I was heading in his direction, Ryleigh stopped me. I could have handled that better, but her timing couldn’t have been worse. I’ll find a way to make it up to her, but right now I have to think about what to do.

I need to come clean to the band. Shit like this is going to continue to happen. If we play in New York City? My sister lives there and she would absolutely bribe her way backstage just to fuck with me. And she doesnotknow that my band has no idea who I really am.

I toss and turn all night, anxious to get back on the road and as far away from Minneapolis as possible.

My phone is buzzing as I get out of the shower, and I wrap a towel around my waist as I go to see what’s going on. It’s still early so I don’t usually get messages until late morning.

SASHA: Looks like someone you know spotted you. Story dropped this morning about your identity and the band is… let’s just say they’re not happy. My phone has been blowing up all morning, but I’m not sure how you want to handle this.

Fuck. Me.

I guess she does know who I am and always has.

Well, there’s nothing I can do about it now.

I stare at the phone for a few seconds, cursing Alden.

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