Page 106 of Faking Ties

“I don’t know what to do,” she whispers. “I don’t know how to fix it.”

“What does Brianna suggest?”

“She’s been working on getting the videos removed, and insists I need to come out with a statement, but I don’t know what to say.”

“What about the truth?” I suggest. “A lie got us into this mess, but maybe you can be honest and get personal.”

“I can’t do that. I never share personal things with the public.”

“Don’t you think it’s time to change that? Jax is controlling the narrative right now, increasing speculation every day.”

“I don’t know… I’m used to the wait-and-see approach. That’s what Rachel did, and it used to work. But now it’s like I’m paralyzed with indecision. I don’t know Brianna enough to trust her yet, but logically, I know Rachel’s approach isn’t correct. I’m supposed to be taking charge of my life, and yet I’m hesitating during the worst possible time.”

“I get that, but we can’t let this escalate any more.Have you talked to Aria? Or someone else you trust? Maybe they can help. Maybe you should also think about pressing charges against Jax.”

“I’ll think on some possibilities, but I don’t want to press charges.”

On one side, it’s frustrating, her inaction. But on the other, I can also empathize with her. It’s easy to judge her, but she’s also suffering.

When we finish eating in stilted silence, we head to the front of the restaurant, surrounded by a team of bodyguards. Kai, Grant, Tank, Brian, and a few I don’t know are all with us.

The roar of the crowd is less a human sound and more a hungry beast baying for blood. A bolt of fear shoots through me. There doesn’t appear to be enough bodyguards to keep the mass of what must be fifty people at bay.

Sandwiched between Kai and me, Stella’s face is washed in white panic.

“Can we get through them?” I yell to Kai, my voice barely audible over the din.

“Hold tight,” Kai says, gripping Stella’s arm in a steel vise before pushing, a slow methodical process, against the surging tide of bodies. Cameras are shoved into Stella’s face, microphones grazing her lips.

“Back off!” I roar, pushing against these assholes, needing them out of the way. I use my body as a human shield, snapping arms away from Stella’s face. Her eyes meet mine, a flash of fear and gratitude mixed in.

“Thank you,” she mouths, voice lost in the noise.

When we finally reach the car, Kai flings open the door, creating a temporary shield with the other bodyguards. “Hurry up,” he shouts, straining to keep the door open.

Stella dives inside and I jump in after her, the door slamming shut behind me. Kai makes it into the passenger seat just as the car is swarmed, bodies banging into the tinted windows.

The car lurches forward, and I cling to the oh-shit bar. Hands press against the glass and faces distort into a grotesque caricature. Stella jumps every time someone bangs on the car, and I grip her hand in mine.

The car lurches again, finally breaking free, before speeding off.

“Are you okay?” I ask Stella.

She swallows twice before nodding, then shaking her head. “I’m scared.”

“That was too close,” Kai says. “We need to do something to stop this.”

“They’re escalating,” I say for what feels like a million times tonight.

“I know,” she whispers. “I know, all right? Let’s get Brianna and Aria to the penthouse right now and make a plan.”

“Areyou sure you don’t want some note cards?” Brianna asks Stella as she fiddles with the tripod.

“I’m sure,” Stella says, smoothing down her black suit and taking a seat on her couch. “We need this to feel natural. To pull back my mask a little.”

I stand off to the side, next to Aria, providing moral support more than anything. After an hour of discussion, it became clear that Stella should release her own video statement, to control the narrative that’s gotten out of control.

Stella fluffs her hair before nodding at Brianna to start recording and smiles into the camera. “Hey, everyone. I’m sure you’ve all seen the conspiracy theories Jax started about me, and it’s time I address it all.” Stella takes a shaky breath. “I…I don’t even know where to even begin. Thanks to the rumors, there have been over one hundred break-in attempts in my homes over the past five days. I’m living in a constant state of fear because of it; I’m being hounded to the point where I can barely leave my house anymore. Nowhere is safe, and I can’t continue like this.”

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