Page 45 of Bewitched By the Siren
I know Ishouldn’t.
But if I don’t, what does that mean for me? My life? My career?
And if I do, what does it mean for Hali and me?
Either way, this thing between us is going to end soon. It can end amicably between us, but I’ll most likely be out of a job. Or it can end contentiously, with my betrayal of her trust, and though she would never sign with me, Julius would be mollified by my effort.
I just have to decide which version of events I can live with. And I have a feeling that decision won’t be nearly as hard as I thought it would be.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Hali
I am freaking.The fuck. Out.
Today was so awesome, and I really do believe Brendan when he says he had no ulterior motives. I could see the truth in his eyes when he explained why he planned the trip to Natasha’s.
Could he see the lies in mine? The way I shut down when he was talking about how my voice affected Natasha?
Of course, it did. I made a split-second decision to take off my necklace for the session. I don’t know why. Maybe I wanted to hear, for myself, what others hear when I perform. To see if it would affect me the way it does humans.
It didn’t, of course, but even in the car, listening to the recording through the car’s speakers, I could see the magic weaving around Brendan. It showed me how hearing my songs on the radio would affect the masses.
It made me feel so gross. Like I was taking advantage of my power and using it to manipulate others. I already feel that every week atMemaw’s, but I make myself feel better by thinking about how necessary it is to take care of Mom.
Ineedthat money. But Idon’tneed to be famous.
After peeking in on Mom and finding her asleep, I pace the house a bit. My nervous energy doesn’t dissipate in the slightest, so I step outside. Grateful to my temporary neighbor’s find back deck empty, I jog down to the beach. A walk in the sand, listening to the waves crashing and the sea birds crying always calms me.
My thoughts turn back to Brendan as I start to walk up the beach. He’s so sweet and generous, making today happen for me. I felt like such a fraud, listening to him go on and on about how great I am. I wanted to just blurt the truth out and be done with it. I argued with myself in my head all the way home, listing out the pros and cons. The possible dangers outweighed every good thing that could come of confessing, so I kept my mouth shut.
It’s not just about me and my fears over losing him. Hell, that’s going to happen anyway, isn’t it? No, I kept quiet because if Brendan were to freak out and tell someone, my life would be in danger. For my own safety and that of my mother, I have to keep my secret to myself.
Just like I always have.
But, God, knowing that doesn’t erase the guilt I feel for lying to him. It’s stupid, really. Mom and I have fought so hard to keep this secret for over twenty years, and here I am, obsessing over keeping it from a man I’ve known for all of five days. But knowing how ridiculous it is doesn’t make the sting of guilt hurt any less.
Movement up ahead catches my eye, and I freeze when I see a stranger up ahead, a camera mashed against his face and its long lens pointed right at me.
“What the…?” I murmur, then he pulls the camera away, and I can see he’s wearing a ski mask. A freaking ski mask. He turns to run, so I shout, “Hey!”
Ignoring me, he runs for the row of houses opposite the shoreline, disappearing between two before I can even take a step forward. Should I chase him? I shake my head at the thought. No. That would be dumb. He’s wearing a ski mask and taking photos of me, for Christ’s sake. He’s probably some kind of freak. Or a pervert.
I need to get out of here. Back to the safety of home.
Spinning around, I start to jog, looking back over my shoulder every couple of seconds to make sure the stranger hasn’t changed directions to follow me. When I look back for the tenth time, I squeal as I slam into a hard body. Hands close around my upper arms, and I scream again, twisting and thrashing to free myself with my eyes squeezed tightly closed.
“Hali,” a familiar voice barks, “it’s me.”
I go completely still, my eyes popping open to see Brendan, his face twisted into a worried expression. I sag with relief, his grip on my arms the only thing holding me upright at the moment.
“What’s going on?” he asks. “Are you okay? Did something happen?”
“Sorry. Sorry,” I gasp. “It’s nothing. Really.”
“It’s not nothing,” he says. “You look as white as a sheet. Talk to me.”
“You’re going to think I’m being silly.”
