by Amity Cross
Rolling out of bed, I dragged on his T-shirt and my discarded pair of knickers, throwing a light robe on over the top. I breathed in his scent—male spice and sex—and shuffled downstairs in search of food. I couldn’t remember if we had dinner the night before, and I smiled, my head still full of the man I’d left sleeping upstairs.
Things were back on track, and despite all the fucked-up shit we still had to face, I didn’t want to be anywhere else. If I could survive the humiliation of a sex tape, I could face Vix and everything she represented. Today was the first day of the rest of our lives and inspiration was sparking in the back of my mind.
Outside, the sun was rising over the water. The back of the McMansion faced north, so everything was cast in long shadows across the lawn. We were technically in the city, but it was really quiet here. By the second day, I’d noticed the birdsong. Humans might’ve taken over the landscape, but nature was never too far away.
Recklessly, I opened the back door, and stepped out onto the deck. The air was cool against my skin and I didn’t care if there was a photographer lurking on a boat out on the harbour. Vix would find out I was back when I showed up at the airport anyway.
That’s when I saw him again—the shadow in the garden. Only this time, it was definitely a person. Man or woman, it was too hard to tell, but it didn’t erase the fact that someone was in the yard… and it wasn’t the security detail Sebastian had hired the day before. They were wearing sweats and a hoodie, with the hood pulled up over their head.
I knew people were meant to scream in these kinds of situations, but I just stood there and stared at the figure, my indecision a little too far in the ‘too stupid to live’ column for my liking.
After a moment, I blinked and shouted, “Sebastian!”
The sound seemed to startle the intruder and they bolted into the shadows and disappeared.
I darted back inside as footsteps thumped on the stairs as black-clad men darted into the garden. They must’ve seen something on the cameras or an alarm must’ve gone off. It’d all happened in a split second, but it had seemed like an hour had passed since I stepped out onto the deck.
“Juniper?” Sebastian came to a halt next to me, his gaze following the ruckus in the yard. He hissed through his teeth and grasped my shoulders, his expression full of concern.
“He was there again,” I managed to choke out. “Someone was in the garden and—”
“Shh,” he murmured, closing the open door. “Security’s out there checking it out. Stay here with me.”
“I went outside and he… she… they… They were just standing there.” I crumpled onto the couch, my heart beating so fast, I thought I was going to choke on it.
“Mr. Hale?”
The guy heading up the security team at the McMansion was named Farmer. I was too shaken up to dwell on the irony of his name—Farmer was Kevin Costner’s character in The Bodyguard—as I sat and listened to Sebastian question him about the incident.
“It was the same place as yesterday,” he was saying. “That can’t be a coincidence.”
“It was caught on the cameras?”
“Yes. They mustn’t have been there long because we responded as soon as the alarm was tripped.”
“Thanks, Farmer.”
“I suggest you get the police involved,” Farmer added. “From their movements on camera, they look like they’re familiar with the property lines.”
“The police?” I exclaimed.
“Just as a precaution, miss. It’s important to set a precedent in these kinds of situations. Whoever it was is gone now, but we can’t take the chance they won’t try again.”
Sebastian nodded his agreement. “Get them out here. I’m not willing to let this slide.”
“Sir.” Farmer disappeared, though his voice echoed through the house as he spoke on the phone.
“Fuck,” Sebastian cursed, then ran his hand over his face.
When the police came, I was curled up on the couch, watching the back garden like a hawk. All kinds of scenarios were playing in my mind—crazed fans, armed robbers, paparazzi, and serial killers all made an appearance. I had to remind myself this wasn’t a movie… this was real life. Shit like this must happen all the time to celebrities, right? It wouldn’t be the first high profile robbery of the super famous. It was just… It always happened to someone else—until it didn’t.
A detective and several uniformed police officers had filed into the house looking all tough and professional, and no doubt it’d rate a front-page mention in everyone’s favourite gossip magazine, Stargazers. I wondered what story they’d cook up this time.
“It’s possible they’ve been here before,” Farmer was saying to the detective—Halliday, I think his name was. “Previously, there were black spots on the perimeter. The property only had cameras and motion sensors with no on-site patrol.”
“And this location was one of these?” the detective asked.
“I’d say so. Miss Rowe mentioned she saw something in the same location the day before. That’s when Mr. Hale asked for an increased presence of security. We swept the area and filled in all the gaps only last night. Patrol began directly afterwards, which is why we had people on-site.”
“So I did see someone yesterday,” I said shivering.
“Don’t worry, miss,” the detective reassured me. “I’d say they didn’t expect to be caught, and the fact they were, has spooked them. I doubt they’ll be back anytime soon, if at all. We know what to look for now.”
“I’m not home often,” Sebastian said. “Most of the year I’m out on tour. They could’ve been casing the house to rob it.”
“It’s likely,” the detective said with a nod. “We’ll comb the grounds and the house itself for evidence and try to ID the intruder.”
“Thank you, though there’s one more thing… I’d appreciate your discretion on the matter,” he said, shaking the detective’s hand. “These things tend to get out of hand in the media if we’re not careful.”
“Of course, Mr. Hale.”
“I’ll be leaving soon for work, and we won’t be back until Christmas,” he went on. “The house is yours. Do what you need to, Detective. I’m sure Farmer will be able to accommodate anything you need.”
We retreated upstairs as the police began their sweep. I watched them from Sebastian’s bedroom window as they walked the garden, stretched out in a line looking for evidence. Things were getting crazier and crazier the deeper I got into this world of fame and money. People seemed to buy into the image as reality to the point that it became an obsession.
The intruder might just be a thief looking for an opportunity, or there was the possibility of it being a little more sinister. I thought about Vix and wondered if she stole Beneath’s money because her perception of the world was so skewed, or if she was just that callous. It was entirely likely we’d never know for sure.
“I’m kind of glad we’re going away,” I said as Sebastian rustled around in the walk-in closet. “I think I’d rather confront Vix than… well, you know.”
He moved across the room and stood beside me, his gaze following mine just like it had downstairs. Sometimes I wondered if we’d become tethered in a way that had us knowing each other’s thoughts before we had them.
“It was my fault for being a cocky bastard.” He wrapped his arm around my waist and tugged me closer. “I thought I was untouchable. Stupid, really.”
“Until recently, you were living a different life,” I reminded him. “The wild, single bachelor who was never at home. An artistic nomad.”
He shook his head. “If I’d just—”
I placed my fingers over his lips. “No ‘what if’s,’ remember?”
He nodded, and I moved my hand to his cheek.
“It’s a shame people don’t get to see this side of you,” I mused, stroking my thumb back and forth.
“What side?”
“The side where you stand up and become a complete boss.” I smirked and let
my hand fall away. “You spoke to the police like you were the fucking Prime Minister. You’re fierce and dominating… and a real good guy when you put your mind to it. You’re not just the guy who fronts a band.” I wondered if he was thinking about a life after Vix, but I held onto my question. It didn’t seem to be the time to talk about our hopes and dreams, not with a mysterious intruder on the loose.
“There goes my wild rock star reputation. It’s comforting to know if everything implodes, I’ll have a career waiting for me in politics,” he scoffed and brushed my hair behind my ears. “I’m not taking any chances, Juniper. If someone threatens your safety, I’m going to do everything in my power to protect you. Remember that.”
His words struck deep. I’d been on my own for so long—taking care of the Page Break and my mum, and the every day life of a single woman living on her own—that I hadn’t known what it felt like to be taken care of. Not until now. In all honesty, it was a strange sensation. I was used to being in control but Sebastian was there to help me shoulder the burden of life. I had a partner, and damn, it felt good.
“What?” he murmured.
“Nothing, I-I’m just glad you’re here.” I should’ve said, I’m glad I found you, but something told me he already knew.
9
Juniper
The next day, we were packing for Beneath’s whirlwind trip to the US when Josh came over.
“What’s with the Navy SEALs out front?” he asked as he sauntered into the kitchen. “He asked me if I had an appointment. Pfft.”
“We had a trespasser yesterday,” Sebastian explained.
“And one the day before that,” I added.
“Shit! Seriously?”
His surprise was a little shocking considering that they were part of one of the biggest rock bands in the world. Their attitude towards security was a little too relaxed for my liking, and I wondered how they’d gotten this far without any scares—at least Sebastian hadn’t let on that they’d had any.
“You can always stay at mine,” Josh went on. “An apartment is more secure than a house and I’ve got more than enough space.” Then Josh turned to me. “My neighbours love me.”
“No, they don’t,” Sebastian corrected. “They hate your guts.”
“They’re all old people,” Josh argued. “If you’ve gotta have a team of Rambos in the yard, then it’s time to move.”
“I like my house. I’m not going to let some dick in the garden ruin it.”
I raised my eyebrows, noting how differently Sebastian talked when he was with the rest of the band. The mouthy boy came out to play when the testosterone levels were on the rise. Josh did have this uncanny way of putting everyone at ease, which was why he seemed to be revelling in his secret affair with Vix.
“Anyway, enough about that,” Josh said. “I’ve got better news than perverts in the garden. I come bearing a special delivery.” He tossed a pile of papers onto the table. “Royalty reports all highlighted and shit. Wanna know the damage?”
Sebastian groaned and shook his head.
“Almost two mil from me,” Josh stated. “Four between Nate and Damon.”
“Fuck. That’s almost eight million dollars she’s stolen from us.”
I sucked in a sharp breath and shook my head. “Eight million?” Between this and the intruder on the McMansion grounds, things were amping up again. At least it wasn’t a sex tape, but I was starting to wonder if that was the lesser of the three evils.
Josh made a face and offered me a shrug. “Brazen bitch, ain’t she?”
“And now she’s our manager,” Sebastian said with a groan.
“Can you believe that shit?” Josh exclaimed. “Vix is the master of the fucking universe.”
“Just our universe,” Sebastian muttered.
“I was thinking about going to Majorca with Damon, and now we have to go play fuckin’ carpool karaoke.”
“Really? I didn’t think yachts and swimming in the ocean were your thing.”
“No, but microscopic bikinis are.”
“What about Vix?” I interrupted. “I thought you were going to help us.”
“I didn’t say I was going to Majorca alone,” Josh quipped. “The way to a woman’s heart is to rock her world upside down.”
“You don’t say?” I rolled my eyes. “Upside down? Is that why you’re still single?”
“I can’t speak for every woman,” he said, back-peddling. “Besides, you’re not every woman, Juni.”
“It’s kind of freaky when you try to grovel,” I said giving him some serious side-eye.
Josh leaned against the kitchen island and eyed the fridge. “Got a beer?”
I got one out for him and we moved to the couch. Sebastian flicked through the papers Josh had bought over, his forehead crease deepening with each page.
“Please tell me you’ve gotten somewhere with her,” he said eyeing Beneath’s lead guitarist. “This shit is just too fucking humiliating.”
He smirked and necked his beer. “I did her so hard, she passed out. I went through her stuff while she was comatose.”
I clapped my hands over my ears. “Too much information.”
“Did you find anything?” Sebastian asked, leaning forward.
“Nup. She’s loose, but everything else is tighter than—”
“Don’t even say it,” I declared, narrowing my eyes at Josh.
“Give me some time. I’m sure I’ll find something eventually. Maybe in her hotel room.” He wiggled his eyebrows.
Suddenly, he became serious, his expression falling into thoughtful worry. I’d never seen anything but a stupid smirk on his face, so my heart rate sped up.
“She’s got the trifecta now.” He kicked his feet up onto the coffee table. “Money, power and sex. The sex is even more thrilling, knowing that she’s duping me at the same time I’m fucking her. Bitch thinks she’s golden.”
“We’ve got to play this smart,” Sebastian said. “You know that, right? Don’t get angry on us, mate.”
“I know, Seb. Fuck, I know.” He shook his head and downed another mouthful of beer. “Eight mil. Can you fucking believe it? You’re not the only humiliated arsehole. Everyone’s sore and contrary to popular belief, I don’t enjoy screwing the enemy.”
“I’m sorry—” I began, but he held up his beer.
“I don’t need sympathy… I just want to play music and not have some bitch steal my money. I appreciate the sentiment, Juni, but don’t worry about it.” He glanced at Sebastian. “It’s good to see you two in the same room again. I gather you’re back on?”
“Yeah.”
“Fuckin’ good. At least something good has come out of this mess.”
My lips quirked, and I turned to the garden, my gaze lingering on the place where I’d seen the trespasser. Knowing they’d been watching me shuffle around the kitchen made my skin crawl. The sex tape had been a gross invasion of privacy, but this seemed more invasive… more sinister.
“We really appreciate your sacrifice,” Sebastian was saying.
“Yeah, we gotta prove it’s her somehow. She’s the quintessential mean girl. She’ll put words in your mouth and talk you in circles until she’s got you believing you’re the one in the wrong. Can’t say shit to people like that without them acting like you’re the one doing the attacking, not the other way around.” He set down his empty beer bottle. “Boils my fucking blood.”
I’d never seen this side to Josh before, and as he left a few beers heavier, I couldn’t help but wonder if the external happy-go-lucky manwhore was just a mask over something much deeper. There was a reason he and Sebastian were friends and it wasn’t because of their shared love of the female form.
“He’s not taking it well,” Sebastian said when he came back into the living room.
“He’s a strong guy. I used to think he was a complete dick, but now I’m not so sure.”
“It’s hard to tell with Josh sometimes,” he agreed.
A shadow moved i
n the corner of my eye and I turned sharply, but as my gaze focused, I realised it was just a member of the new security team checking the cameras.
“No one’s getting in,” Sebastian murmured. “You’re safe here with me, Juni.”
“I know, it’s just…” I shivered despite the heat and turned towards the stairs. “I’m going to pack.”
“You okay?” His voice followed me.
“Yeah. We’re leaving tomorrow, and I’ve still got a lot to do.” I shook off my paranoia and took the stairs two at a time and walked into the bedroom at the far end of the hall—the one I’d been sleeping in before Sebastian and I had reconciled.
Pulling out my suitcase from the walk-in closet, I tossed it onto the bed and unzipped the zipper with a furious tug.
Sebastian had followed me. He stood on the other side of the bed, watching my every move.
“So, the awards thing… You can skip the red carpet and just hang out,” he said as I went into the closet and came back with an armful of clothes. “Watch the show inside and bypass all the press.”
“So that NDA was good for something,” I said wryly.
“You really hated that part, huh?”
“I’m not good with the spotlight. I think we figured that one out already.” I folded a pair of jeans and set them inside my suitcase. “It’s probably a good thing, you know… less pretending.”
Sebastian’s brow creased, but he didn’t say anything. He sat on the end of the bed and watched me pack, his gaze following my every move.
“Are you sure you want to come?” he asked after a long moment. “We can keep us on the down-low until we’re ready to take on Vix. Maybe the less she knows, the better.”
I shook my head. “No. I want to go. I want to be with you. I know the last time we went away I wasn’t exactly okay with everything, but it’ll be different this time.”
“I thought it was worse.”
“No. Not really. I went into it blind back then,” I went on. “I didn’t know what to expect, but now I do, and you and I are more solid. I can work with it.”