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“So, that’s all. He wanted me to know that he has a copy, and that he can distribute that however he wants, whenever he wants.” I hadn’t even gotten to the part where Preston seemed to beplanning to blackmail me with the video into doing whatever he wanted. The last thing I wanted was Brody storming down to the station and making a scene that might show up in the papers. He wasn’t a low-profile person, something he seemed to be forgetting lately. I decided then and there to feed him the information about Preston slowly, so he could get used to it bit by bit, and hopefully keep his cool.

Silence, and then Brody smacked the steering wheel hard, out of nowhere. He punched it again, and then one more time. Blood seeped from his knuckles.

“Brody!” I reached for his arm, and he let me take it.

“Motherfucker,” he swore, fury coming off him in waves. “What’s his name?”

“I-I don’t want you to get too involved with this. I mean, it’s my problem,” I rambled.

Brody pinned me with a look. “I need his name. Now, sweetheart.”

“It’s Preston. Officer Preston.”

“Nick’s older brother? That’s the fucker he’s always boasting about having on the local force. What fucking losers. They arefinishedin this town. They arefinishedon this coast. They’ll need a hell of a long plane ride until they find a place where they aren’t finished.”

Brody’s fist remained tight, clenched so hard that his knuckles had turned white. I reached out and pried his hand open and laced my fingers through his.

He turned to me. His usual cool, aloof expression was clouded with emotion. A dark frown etched his features, his brows drawntogether in a tight line. He looked troubled. He looked pissed. I wouldn’t want to be the person on the receiving end of that look.

“Why didn’t you tell me right away? The party was nearly a week ago,” Brody continued.

I unclenched my teeth, tension sitting heavy on my shoulders at that question.

“Because I didn’t want to drag anyone else into my mess.”

“It’s notyourmess. This mess wasn’t your choice, none of it was—” He broke off, his voice ragged.

I stared at him. His emotions were wild, bubbling under the surface and threatening to erupt.

“Still, the Sinclair family reputation and all of that?—”

“Fuck the reputation. This wanker is about to understand why the Sinclairs are infamously ruthless. No one comes after one of us and gets away with it. No one.”

Brody brought my hand to his mouth and pressed his lips to the back. It felt oddly formal, like a declaration of allegiance, an oath sworn to a queen.

“Don’t worry about this anymore. I’m going to take care of it. It’s as good as done.”

Then he put his car back in gear and eased back onto the road, continuing our journey home.

Well, okay then.

Selena

The callI was dreading came the next day.

An unknown number flashed on my display. I answered, muting the TV. I was lying on the couch at home, watching reality TV and generally dissociating from my problems. It was actually kind of wonderful.

“Hello?” I answered thickly, my throat suddenly dry.

“Selena Carmichael, budding adult star.”

I recognized Officer Preston’s voice immediately.

I stayed silent, waiting to see where he was going with this.

“I hope you haven’t been going too crazy waiting for me to call.”

His voice sounded arrogant, but he didn’t know that I’d learned from the best when it came to arrogance. Officer Preston’s bravado didn’t hit for me.