Page 24 of Claimed By the Rockstars: Part One
"So I can determine which ones were stolen and which ones weren't."
"Stolen from who?" I press, but deep down, I know the answer. His brother. A man I've never even met, but somehow, the thing that's brought us both together.
"Not the point."
I want to throw my wine in his face. Want to flip this expensive table and storm out. But we both know I can't.
"What about my bandmates?" The words come out before I can stop them. "Jake, Mike, Ethan—they don't deserve to get caught in your revenge plot. They're just?—"
"Innocent?" Rex's laugh is sharp enough to cut glass. He pulls out his phone, scrolling for a moment before sliding it across the table. "Take a look at what your lead guitarist posted last night."
I pick up the phone, and there it is—Jake's verified Twitter account, complete with blue checkmark and hundreds of thousands of followers.
@JakeTheReverie: Bet Rex Steele is ugly as fuck under that mask. Only explanation for why he's such an asshole 24/7. Compensating much?
The replies are worse. Fans piling on, saying they only tolerate Rex because he's hot, asking if Jake knows something, demanding he spill the tea.
My stomach turns to lead.
"Still think they're innocent?" Rex's voice is dangerously quiet. "Your guitarist runs his mouth about everyone. About everything. Makes him feel big."
I slide the phone back, unable to meet his eye. Jake's always been a dick on social media, but this... this is different. This is cruel in a way that hits too close to what I know is true.
"Did you tell him?" Rex asks, and the temperature in the room seems to drop ten degrees. "About what you saw in the tunnel?"
"No." The word comes out fast, defensive. "Of course not. That would be—" I search for the right word. "Cruel."
He watches me carefully, searching for signs of deception.
"I wouldn't tell anyone about your face unless you forced my hand," I say carefully. "Just like I assume you wouldn't out me as a girl unless I forced yours."
"Good." He leans back slightly, seeming satisfied I'm telling the truth. "Then we can both avoid... cruelty."
The word sounds like a weapon in his mouth. A reminder that we're both holding loaded guns to each other's heads, fingers on the trigger, waiting to see who blinks first.
"You clearly did your research," I say, testing the waters. "Dug up that old concert footage. What else did you find about Isabel Frost?"
His visible eye narrows slightly. "Everything that matters. Teen pop princess, America's sweetheart. The performances, the albums, the tours. Pure as driven snow, innocent as a lamb." His tone drips sarcasm. "Then she vanished. No scandal, no breakdown, no tell-all interview. Just... gone."
My shoulders relax fractionally. He doesn't know about the stalker. The attack never made it to the press. My parents and label made sure of that, terrified it would destroy my innocent image. Can't sell purity rings if your starlet's been half-marked by some obsessed alpha. The official story was "exhaustion" and "needing time to find herself." Typical celebrity bullshit that everyone bought.
"People disappear from the industry all the time," I say, keeping my voice neutral.
"Not when they're at the peak of their career." He studies me, searching. "What made you run? What made you so desperate to become someone else?"
I force myself not to touch my collar, not to draw attention to the scar hidden beneath the leather. "Maybe I just wanted to make real music instead of bubble gum bullshit."
He sets his jaw like he doesn't believe a word I just said. But he doesn't challenge it. He reaches into his suit jacket and pulls out a folder, sliding it across the table. "My lawyer drew this up. Standard contract, with a few modifications."
I open it, scanning the dense legal text. Most of it's typical band contract bullshit, but certain phrases jump out.
Relinquishing full creative control.
Identity maintained as "Bells."
"One year," he says. "That's all I need. One year, and you're free. All evidence destroyed. You can go back to The Reverie or disappear completely. Your choice."
"And if I say no?"
