Page 62 of Bliss & Her Idols

“Jin,” I whisper, hoping that I can get the Beta to know that I’m supporting him.

I have no idea what will happen next.

I tap the wolf clip in my hair, shaking it. It’s the signal to make sure my brothers are ready, in case they need to work out an emergency extraction plan for Cricket and me.

Cricket grasps my hand at the same time that he rests his other hand on Jin’s shoulder like he can hold onto or protect him.

Jin shrugs him off, however, refusing to look around at either of us.

He’s become a frosty Ice Dragon again. He pulls the identity around himself like a shield.

Jin wrenches the chair away from underneath the doorknob.

Then he yanks open the door. “It’s a miracle. I fixed it.”

I blink, as light painfully floods into the closet.

Instantly, Stapleton reaches into the small space, grasping Jin by the forearm and hauling him outside, as if he’s a criminal and not a star. “You’ve just lost the last of my goodwill. I had to call Rory about this.”

Jin winces. “Is he…?”

“You’ll find out.” Stapleton grimly drags Jin away through the now empty meeting room. Jin doesn’t resist, even when Stapleton knocks him into a rank of chairs. Jin stumbles, catching his feet. I narrow my eyes at how hard Stapleton is holding onto him. “You can talk about it with him yourself, before you go on stage.”

It’s impossible to miss Jin’s fear, no matter how hard he’s trying to hide it.

Cricket lets out a sob.

I understand Cricket’s despair at watching Jin manhandled like this. Seeing it in clips online and suspecting his mistreatment by staff is one thing, but witnessing it ourselves is a thousand times harder.

Yet I’m not Chase.

I can’t take on a trained bodyguard.

I’m already failing as a journalist because I should be dispassionate and objective. I shouldn’t have become personally involved in the way that I have.

Yet I’m falling for Jin. I can’t deal with this case as a normal story.

At the same time, I know that there’s a huge case here, which is bigger than Jin, Cricket, and me.

I can feel it in my gut.

I can’t act as impulsively as Jin has done right now, no matter how much it feels like my soul is bleeding.

Shaky, I move to step out of the closet with Cricket. “He wants us to go and enjoy the concert. Let’s listen to the music.”

Suddenly, my route is blocked by a female Beta, who is vibrating with fury.

Her mean mouth is twisted into what I think is meant to be a smile, but it’s so fake that it’s terrifying.

Zoe, Jin’s supervisor.

Immediately, Cricket stiffens his shoulders. He stands firmly in front of me. He’s trembling, however, like he fully expects to be beaten.

Except, I won’t be intimidated by a Beta, especially not one who I know has sucked the joy out of the man I’ve admired for years.

Zoe has dimmed Jin’s light.

She’s not fucking dimming mine.

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