Play Me: Soft Femdom Rockstar

Romance (Alchemy Myth Book 3) Esme

Taylor
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Play Me

Esme Taylor
Copyright © 2024 by Esme Taylor

All rights reserved.

This book is a work of fiction. Characters, names, organizations, places, events, and incidents are the product of the author's imagination, and any resemblance to an actual
person, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written
permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Editing: Sarah @ Word Emporium
Images: Shutterstock
Cover design: vickinicolson.com
 Contents

Before you read

. Chapter
Prologue
Fern
1. Chapter 1
Fern - 6 years later
Chapter
Charlie
2. Chapter 2
Fern
Chapter
Charlie
3. Chapter 3
Charlie
Chapter
Fern
4. Chapter 4
Charlie
5. Chapter 5
Fern
Chapter
Charlie
6. Chapter 6
Charlie
Chapter
Fern
7. Chapter 7
Charlie
Chapter
Fern
8. Chapter 8
Fern
Chapter
Charlie
9. Chapter 9
Fern
10. Chapter 10
Charlie
Chapter
Fern
11. Chapter 11
Charlie
Chapter
Fern
12. Chapter 12
Charlie
Chapter
Fern
13. Chapter 13
Charlie
Chapter
Fern
14. Chapter 14
Charlie
Chapter
Fern
15. Chapter 15
Charlie
Chapter
Fern
16. Chapter 16
Charlie
Chapter
Fern
17. Chapter 17
 Fern
Chapter
Charlie
18. Chapter 18
Fern
Chapter
Charlie
19. Chapter 19
Fern
Chapter
Charlie
20. Chapter 20
Charlie
Chapter
Fern
21. Chapter 21
Fern
22. Chapter 22
Charlie
23. Chapter 23
Fern
24. Chapter 24
Charlie
Chapter
Fern – 2 weeks later
25. Chapter 25
Fern
Chapter
Charlie
26. Chapter 26
Charlie
Chapter
Fern
27. Chapter 27
Charlie
Chapter
Fern
28. Chapter 28
Fern – 1 week later
Chapter
Charlie
29. Chapter 29
Charlie
Chapter
Fern
30. Chapter 30
Fern – 1 month later
Chapter
Charlie
31. Chapter 31
Charlie
Chapter
Fern
32. Chapter 32
Charlie
Chapter
Fern
33. Chapter 33
Charlie
Chapter
Fern
34. Chapter 34
Charlie
Chapter
Fern
35. Chapter 35
Charlie
36. Chapter 36
Fern – 3 months later
Chapter
Charlie
37. Chapter 37
Fern
38. Chapter 38
Charlie - 6 months later
Chapter
Fern
39. Chapter 39
Charlie
Chapter
Fern
40. Chapter 40
 Charlie
Chapter
Fern
41. Chapter 41
Charlie
Chapter
Fern
42. Chapter 42
Charlie
Chapter
Fern
43. Epilogue
Charlie - 1 month later
Chapter
Fern - 4 years later
Chapter
Fern - 10 years later
Acknowledgements
Also By
About the Author
 Before you read

Play Me includes a number of Trigger Warnings that you can find in full on my website but I wanted to let you know that both
main characters experience SA or attempted SA from other characters, both on and off page.
It's also worth mentioning that I'm a British author and the age of consent is 16 and there is underage SA off page. If you're
worried these situations may upset you, please don't read Play Me – your mental health is the most important thing here, but if
you're happy to read on, then Charlie and Fern's story is waiting for you.
"You're into what you're into, I'm into what I'm into. We don't have to be into the same shit, and if you're safe, sane, and happy,
then go on and get you some."
Matt Fraction.
 Prologue

Fern

He zipped up his pants, fastening the black leather belt around his waist. He was beautiful. The epitome of a clean-cut man.
Blond hair gelled back from his face, clean shaven, bright blue eyes, defined muscles rippling under his shirt. He lifted his suit
jacket from the back of the chair as I tightened the sheets around my naked body.
“When will I see you again?” I asked, trying not to sound as needy and pathetic as I felt.
“I don’t know, Fe. I’m in court all week and you know I’m working long hours trying to get partner.”
I sighed and closed my eyes.
The bed dipped as he sat next to me, stroking his pointer finger down my arm, making my skin break out in goosebumps.
“Hey, no sad face. It will give you wrinkles.”
I opened my eyes, waiting for the laugh that followed his joke, but there was nothing; his face set in its usual serious
expression.
“I’m eighteen. I don’t have wrinkles.”
“It’s never too late to think about these things, Fe. Your looks won’t last forever. Right, I have to go. Are you sure your
parents or sister aren’t home?”
I bit down on my bottom lip and shook my head. “Coast is clear, as always.” James pressed a brief kiss to my forehead. “I
hate all this sneaking around. I don’t understand why we can’t just tell them.”
This time, the sigh that sounded wasn’t mine. James stood quickly, slipping his dress shoes onto his feet. “How many times?
I’m ten years older than you. People wouldn’t understand what we have. Let’s just keep this to ourselves until I make partner
and then I can give you everything you deserve. No one will mind about our age gap when I have a ring on your finger. Until
then, this has to stay between us. Please, Fe. Don’t spoil things. Don’t make this hard for me. I need you too much to let people
come between us.”
I went to open my mouth; to tell him I didn’t care what people thought, that our love was all that mattered, but I didn’t say a
word. I did what I always seemed to do around James Horten; I closed my mouth and toed the line because his affection was
much nicer than his anger.
“Okay, honey.”
“Good girl.” I shuddered, but not because I liked the praise; it made my skin crawl. “I’ll talk to you in the week. Love you.”
“I love you too.”
And with that he walked out, leaving me alone, confused and horny as hell, because, not for the first time, our afternoon tryst
hadn’t involved him making me come.

“Fern, you look stunning, little sister.”

I stared in the mirror at the black, embossed, floor length cocktail dress, along with my hair tied into a harsh bun at the nape
of my neck and the thick make up I had on. I looked so unlike myself. I felt like my mum had used me as her own personal
Barbie doll, desperate to make me ‘fit in’ with the crowd of people she’d invited tonight to celebrate my older sister Elise’s
twenty-sixth birthday.
“What’s going on? I get it’s your birthday, but you’d think the queen was coming with the way Mum is acting.”
Elise stood behind me, staring at our reflections in the mirror. She was the polar opposite of me. While I was curvy, with
shoulder length wavy, dirty-blond hair, my sister was tall and slight and her dark hair skimmed her ass. She was demure and
quiet; I was loud and craved adventure.
“I shouldn’t tell you,” Elise spoke, her eyes glinting with something I couldn’t explain. “But it’s not just my birthday we’re
celebrating tonight… there’s another little surprise, but I’m sworn to secrecy.”
I spun on my heels, staring at her. “Elise, you can’t just tell me that and nothing else. At least give me a clue.”
My sister smiled and placed her left hand on my arm, showing off her perfect manicure. “I can’t, Ferny. I need you to look as
shocked as everyone else, but just so you know, I want this… I’ve been waiting for this for as long as I can remember and I’m
so happy.”
I took my sister’s hand in mine. “Well, that’s good. If you’re happy, then you know I’m happy for you.”
She kissed my cheek before sweeping out of the room. “Guests are arriving. Don’t be long.”

Two hours later, I had mingled, eaten too many canapes, and was on my third glass of champagne. My feet hurt, my face ached
from faking a smile and I was bored listening to people I didn’t really know tell me about their single sons and nephews who
would love to take me on a date.
Just when I was thinking about declaring I had a headache so I could go and shower the muck off my face, my dad moved to
the front of the room, clapping his hands, silencing everyone.
My dad—or Judge John Richards—was a formidable man. Tall, white haired, glasses that sat on the end of his nose, making
you feel like he was judging you from the moment he met you. And he probably was.
My dad was firm, emotionless, dominating, and at times, cruel. I was a problem to manage rather than a daughter to care
about. Mum was a bit better, but in the Richard’s household, the women did what they needed to do to keep the men happy. It’s
how we were raised.
He cracked a small, rare smile, looking pained at the unfamiliar facial expression, before he started to speak. “Thank you all
for coming tonight to celebrate Elise’s birthday. Now, I know many of you think I’m too young to be the father of a twenty-six-
year-old, but it’s no secret that I’ve had a lot of work done.” Laughter erupted around the room. “And while we are excited to
celebrate, we also have another reason to bring you all here tonight… a double celebration. Elise, can you come up here?”
My sister moved to the front, standing stiffly between my parents.
“Elise has spent the last year dating a very eligible bachelor who yesterday became the youngest ever partner at his law firm.
He wanted to do the honorable thing and wait until he could give her the life she deserved before he proposed, but last night, he
did.”
My heart hammered in my chest because I had no idea my sister was even dating, let alone serious enough about someone to
get engaged. But also, the story about wanting to wait to be together sounded way too familiar, and a sense of foreboding began
to creep up my spine.
“So, I would like to introduce you all to the newest partner at Fowler and Associates and my daughter’s fiancé, James
Horten.”
I watched in slow motion as the man I’d been sleeping with in secret since my seventeenth birthday moved through the guests
to the front of the room, pulling my sister into his side and pressing his lips to her temple.
Bile flooded my mouth as I listened to him talk about the joining of our two families and how perfect my sister was for him
before people moved to congratulate them both.
As soon as I had the chance, I ran to my room, throwing myself onto my bed, burying my face in the pillow, and bursting into
tears.
A while later, I heard the click of my door as someone stepped inside. Sniffing and trying to wipe the tear stains from my
cheeks, I sat up, expecting to see my sister wondering where I’d gone, but instead, I found James standing there, looking at me
as if he couldn’t understand my reaction.
“Fe, are we okay?”
I stared, shocked that he had the audacity to ask me that. Pushing up from the bed, I lunged at him, hammering my fists off his
chest. Grabbing me by the wrists so hard it hurt, he growled, his eyes darkening.
“Stop this, right now.”
“You,” I hissed as I tried to break free of his grip. “Despite fucking me for the last eighteen months, you got engaged to my
sister. You promised me you wanted to be with me.”
He shrugged. The lying motherfucker shrugged as if my sadness was pointless.
“Have you slept with her?”
He scoffed as he let me go. “Of course I’ve slept with her. Do you think I’d marry someone without checking out if they were
worth fucking?”
My mouth fell open.
“Little Fe, did you really think I would marry you? Look at you.” He forced me in front of the full length mirror. Leaning in
closely behind me, he reached around and dragged his thumb over my lips, smearing my lipstick. “You’re just a girl. A girl
playing dress up. I need a woman; one who is going to be able to stand by my side. Don’t get me wrong. You’re a great fuck.
Much better than Elise, but that won’t get me where I want to be in life.”
I sucked in a breath, his words smashing into me like a physical blow. “I’ll tell her. Tell my parents that you’ve been fucking
me. That you’ve been fucking me without protection, promising me a future.”
Grabbing my cheeks firmly between his thumb and fingers, he pinched hard, making me cry out. “And that’s why I’m here.
You won’t say a word. No one will believe you.” His blue eyes flared with a level of anger I’d never seen in him before.
“They will just think you’re being a jealous brat. I mean, why would I risk everything to fuck you?” he gritted out through
clenched teeth.
“You… I… But…”
James spun me with so much force that a cry spilled from my lips. He pushed me back against the mirror, crowding me with
his body, letting me feel the heat of his erection tenting his pants. One of his massive hands covered my mouth, silencing me, as
he brought his lips to my ear again. “But you were such a good fuck, Fe. I would hate for it to end. Do you want to carry on? No
one needs to know I’m still fucking you.” With his other hand, he moved to unzip himself, then he fisted the material of my
dress until it gathered around my thighs.
Still shocked by the events of the evening, I watched in stunned silence as he pushed the head of his cock against the lace of
my panties.
“God, I’ve been thinking about fucking you all night. Are you still wet for me, Fe? Even when you know I’ve been fucking
your sister for months, planning our future together, sometimes with your cum still drying on my cock? Your cunt was made for
me. You can’t let a silly thing like me getting married get in the way of what we have. You were made to be mine.”
Mortified by his words, something in me snapped. I lifted my knee, slamming it into his groin, watching as he crumbled to the
floor.
“Get the fuck out of my room and don’t come near me again, or I swear I will tell them everything and I’ll make sure they
believe me.”
And with that I ran to my bathroom and locked the door, trying to work out what the hell to do now.
 Chapter 1

Fern - 6 years later

I took off my glasses and put them down before leaning back in my chair, cracking my neck after staring at my screen for hours.
“Go home, Fern.” Addison Stone appeared in the doorway of her office, frowning at me.
“I will, I just need to—”
“You need to go home or I will fire your ass.”
I lifted my head to look up at my boss, offering her a smile. “The place would fall apart without me.”
She walked forward until she was directly in front of my desk. “It would, and I would have to hire you back tomorrow at
twice the price, but I’d do it if it meant you left at a reasonable hour for once.”
“I—”
“Nothing. You have nothing else to do tonight. Please, Fern. Things are going to get crazy around here while Mav and I are
off on parental leave, and I need to know you’re going to cope.”
I stared at her for a moment. Addi ran the record label I worked for. She kicked ass in a male-dominated industry; a
superwoman with balls of steel. I mean, she survived a plane falling from the sky, blowing it up so they could find her. And
now she and her husband, Maverick, were about to take some time off to spend time with the two children they were in the
process of adopting.
“Fine, but only because you’re making me. I have so much to do. There’s the label’s party, the new bands, the—”
“I’m getting you an assistant.”
I laughed. “I am the assistant. Who ever heard of someone being the assistant’s assistant?”
Addi perched her slight frame on the corner of my desk. “Fern, you know and I know that you’ve been more than an assistant
for, well, ever since you arrived here. You and Neo run this place while Mav and I take off for three months a year and now,
there’ll be a year where it’s all on you two or I’m only here part time. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate what you do for
me and the label. Which is why I’m promoting you to head of communication. Effective immediately. And I’m doubling your
salary.”
“Addi, you don’t have to—”
“Okay, tripling it. Don’t leave me.”
“W-what?” I stuttered.
She tucked her sleek blond bob behind her ear. “You’re so talented. You’re going to leave me eventually and I don’t know
how to do this job without you. It’s been me and you since the start. What can I do to make you stay?”
 I shuffled in my seat. “Nothing. You don’t have to do anything. I’m not planning on leaving anytime soon. I love my job.”
“And you’ve been doing it for three years. You don’t take holidays, you don’t ask for time off, you’re always working.
Eventually, someone is going to steal you away from me.”
I laughed at the thought of ever wanting to be anywhere else. “No, Addi, they’re not.”
“So, you’ll take the promotion?”
“You’re serious?” I asked, confused.
“Of course. I want you to take over PR for all the bands and Neo and I will take a more strategic role.”
And like he’d heard his name, Neo Knight stepped out of the elevator. His ever changing hair color was lilac today. Dressed
head to toe in black, he walked toward us, leaning heavily on his silver cane. He hugged Addi, pressing a kiss to the four inch
scar that ran down the side of her cheek. “Ice Queen. Have you asked her yet?”
“I was just doing it.”
Neo nodded, shifting the weight on his feet, trying to hide the obvious pain he was in. “Sweets, I’ll be honest. You’ve been a
godsend for years, but we have more bands than ever signed to us and more on the way. We need to share the workload,
otherwise Addi and I will have to work more and our husbands are way too hot to do that.”
I rolled my eyes. “Not sure you can call me Sweets if you promote me, Neo.”
“I will always call you Sweets, Sweets.”
I watched Neo walk slowly to the sofa across from my desk, where Addi’s visitors usually waited when they came to the
penthouse offices. I hated how much pain he seemed to be in today. He was in the same plane crash as Addi and his cane and
pinched expression when he was struggling were reminders of the near-fatal injuries he suffered. Addi wasn’t as seriously
hurt, but still nearly died, and she wore the thin scar on her face as a reminder of how precious life was.
“You’re both serious? I have no idea how to head up a department.”
They both looked at each other before bursting out into howls of laughter.
“What day is Hearthead being interviewed by Rolling Stone Magazine next week?” Addi asked with a smile.
“Tuesday. 11 am.”
“And who is booked into the number three studio tomorrow morning?” Neo asked.
“Anatomical Hourglass. But they have it booked for the entire day, not just the morning, and it’s a closed set, so we only
have one sound engineer in there with them.”
“And how many public appearances did Alchemy Myth fail to turn up for last month?” he asked again.
“Twenty-one. Well, they failed to turn up for the fifteen, and the rest they were late for.”
“The fuckers,” Neo hissed, pulling out his phone and frantically typing a message.
“Fern, you know everything. We couldn’t manage without you and we want you to be a bigger part of what we have here.
What will it take for you to say yes?” Addi asked.
“You had me at ‘my own assistant’,” I chuckled, and she leaned forward, throwing her arms around me.
“I’ll have the contract drawn up tomorrow and we will announce it at the label’s party tomorrow night.”
“Thank you… both of you.” I sucked in a deep breath and let it out again, wishing I could call my sister to tell her the news,
but then remembering who was a part of my family these days.
 Charlie

The hammering on my door matched the hammering in my head. “Fuck off,” I mumbled, burying my head in the pillow.
“Charlie, it’s eleven and we need to be at the label by twelve,” Archer yelled.
“What?”
My door flew open. “Remember? Neo emailed last night demanding we be at the office by midday.”
“Why?” I groaned.
“I don’t fucking know, dickhead. Get up, get in the shower, and let’s go find out.”
“He can wait.”
“He specifically said he couldn’t wait. The bloke is scary as shit. Don’t make us go there without you and have to incur his
wrath.”
“I’m still drunk. What time did I go to bed?”
“About five when we dragged you in there. You were on a mission to get off your face, which was why we had to stay here
to babysit you.”
I let out a long moan as I tried to sit up. “Cancel. I can’t. I’m too ill.”
Suddenly Fox appeared in the doorway next to Archer, with his hands on his hips. “You’re not ill, you’re hungover. Get in
the shower, now. This shit is getting out of hand.”
He didn’t wait for me to answer or move, walking over and dragging me to the en suite. Dumping me down under the
freezing jet of water that made me scream.
“Fucker! What are you doing?” I cried as I stood, my head spinning and my now soaking boxers sticking to me as I shivered
violently.
“Sobering you up before you get us sacked.”
“They can’t sack us. We are the highest performing band they have. They need us,” I muttered, pushing the water from my
face and adjusting the temperature.
Fox shook his head. “Yeap, I’m sure that’s why they are calling us into the office out of the blue. To tell us how much they
need us. God, you’re a dick sometimes. You have ten minutes before I drag you back out and throw you in the car naked.”

“You’re late.”
“Morning to you too, Neo,” I snapped, slumping onto the sofa in his office, looking out over the view of the West End of
London.
“Make yourself at home, why don’t you, Charlie? Good night?” He cocked his eyebrow. “I can smell the booze from here.”
“Not sure. I can’t remember most of it,” I admitted. “We were partying.”
 “You were partying,” Fox muttered. “You’ve been partying a lot lately. Even by your standards.”
“Fox, Archer.” Neo greeted them both with a tone in his voice I didn’t like and they made small talk while I tried not to
throw up; the cocktail of drink and drugs I consumed last night threatening to make a reappearance.
“Boys,” he announced, laying his hands flat out on the desk and letting out a long sigh. “I’ll be honest, we have a soft spot for
Alchemy Myth and it’s the only reason you’re here today. Anyone else and you’d be gone.”
My ears pricked up at the mention of our band’s name and I felt Fox and Archer sit up straighter next to me, the atmosphere
shifting.
“We’re a family run label. While we’re relaxed about the things you want to get up to in your private life, it becomes a
problem when that spills over into your public life and onto the front pages every day. Our reputation means a lot to all of us,
but you boys seem hell bent on ruining it.” He paused, taking a moment to look at each of us. “Look, you’re a liability. I know
you’ve been through a lot—Ionee being gone and your mum dying, Archer—but we gave you time off and you promised us you
were ready to come back.”
“I was…” Archer argued. “I am. It’s—”
“The three of you are a band, so I’m not going to point fingers, but you fucked up twenty-one appearances last month. You
didn’t show up, were late on stage, didn’t stay for signings you’d committed to. We tried to warn you that you were taking on
too much, and this proves it. So, we’re cutting back your promo work—”
“But, we need to do the promo for ticket sales for the tour,” Archer argued. “We’re meant to be back in the US soon.”
“But you’re not doing the promo. You’re just getting a bad name for yourselves.”
I opened my mouth to speak, but Neo held up his hand, silencing me and making my blood boil.
“No, don’t argue with me. Why are people going to buy your album or tickets for your gigs if you’re likely to turn up late or
not show up at all?”
I pursed my lips. “The stuff we’ve missed wasn’t important.”
Neo’s eyes darkened and his voice dropped an octave. “Everything you do is important and right now, you’re not making a
good impression. If you were anyone else, we would be dropping you from your contract. Effective immediately.”
“What the hell?” I yelled, feeling Archer’s hand on my thigh, silencing me before I could say anymore.
“You were one of the first bands we signed when we started the label and we love you boys like our own, but… and I mean
this, this is your final warning. Any more fuck ups and you’re done. You will start behaving, do as you’re told, and stop
embarrassing the label and yourselves.”
Fox dragged his hand down his face. “Might be easier said than done,” he growled, glancing over at me. I knew that my
behavior had spiraled out of control over the last few months, but I didn’t want to explain why to Neo.
“Maybe this will make it a little easier.” He pressed a button. “Fern, could you bring in the paperwork for Alchemy Myth,
please?”
“On my way,” the disembodied voice replied.
No one spoke until the door to Neo’s office opened and Fern, Addi’s assistant, walked in, handing him a pile of papers.
Dressed in black cropped jeans that were so skinny, they looked as if they had been painted onto her curves and a white
sweater with a white suit jacket over the top. Her nude heels added to her already tall height and her wavy silver blond hair
hung over the swell of her ample breasts. Black round glasses sat on her face, showing off her ocean-green eyes.
She handed them to Neo, but he shook his head, standing from his seat and walking over to the floor to ceiling windows that
ran the length of his office. “I’m going to let you handle this one, Fern. Call it your induction.”
Fern narrowed her eyes, glaring at him, before she sat in his huge black leather chair, looking like she belonged there.
“Fern is our new head of communications, which means that your future fuck ups will be dealt with by her, so you might want
to listen to what she has to say. Fern, over to you.”
Straightening her back, she handed us each a pile of papers.
“What’s this?” I asked angrily as I flicked through them. Before she could answer, a knock sounded on the door and Dawson,
our manager, stepped into the room and leaned casually against the back wall, his disappointment with us evident without
showing one shred of emotion on his face.
“As Neo’s probably told you, the label… we aren’t happy with your behavior. You’re costing us money, but more
importantly, you’re ruining your image. You’re in breach of contract. The top document is the clauses in your contract that
you’re in breach of, so you’re aware of them all. The second document is notice that we are charging you half a million for
those breaches and for lost earnings for the label—”
“Fuck off,” I cried as I leaped from my seat, slamming my hands down onto Neo’s desk, making Fern’s eyes widen for a
moment before she shook her head. Taking off her glasses and placing them on the desk, she pointed to my chair.
“Sit down, Charlie. You can’t get angry with me because of something that’s resulted from your behavior. And while I know
Neo wasn’t going to lay blame, I’m not as considerate. This is on you, Charlie. Your drinking, the drugs, your attitude, your
ego.”
“Hear, hear,” Dawson added, making me want to stand up and punch him in the face.
 “You agreed to do all those appearances and then you fucked up. None of that is on us, and we’re well within our rights to
terminate your contract.”
I flopped back onto my seat, staring up at the ceiling, and Fox pressed his hand to my shoulder, probably to stop any more of
my outbursts.
“Tell us what you need us to do, Fern,” Archer begged, batting his dark gray eyes at her, making her smile for a second
before the stern look returned.
“The last document is all the appearances and promo you’ve already agreed to for the next few months, plus a few more we
think would help repair some of the damage you’ve done to your image.”
“And if we don’t turn up for these, you’ll fine our asses some more?” I spat out angrily.
Fern let out a short, hollow laugh. “No, if you don’t turn up, I will tell Neo and it will be the end of your contract with this
label.”
“Bitch,” I coughed under my breath. Fox’s hand smacking the back of my head showed me I hadn’t been as discreet as I’d
hoped. Neo stepped forward, obviously to defend Fern, but she glanced up at him, offering him a small shake of his head.
“Charlie, I get that you’re not happy, but would you speak to Neo or Addi like that?”
I didn’t reply.
“I’m guessing not. I might be new in this role, but I have been with the label as long as you guys. I’ve earned my position and
I will not be called names by someone who can’t even show up to his own gigs on time. You have a choice. If you don’t like
the new terms we’re setting out, then you’re free to leave the label. If you’re happy with the new arrangement, you can sign the
paperwork by 5 pm and we can all get back to work.”
“We’ll sign them. Whatever you want us to do, we’ll do it. We love being signed to you and we don’t want to leave,” Archer
reassured her.
“Just so you know, you’re not the bad asses you think you are. Don’t forget who owns the label. The Cosmic Gods wrote the
misbehavior playbook. If you stay, you stay and play by our rules. There are no more free passes.” Determination flared in
Fern’s face and I couldn’t pretend it didn’t make me hard.
Must be the hangover making my dick misbehave.
I opened my mouth to speak again, but a hand clamped over it, silencing me. Fucking Fox.
“Right, if all that’s agreed, we will see you all at the party tonight. Remember, you’re playing after the Gods, so don’t get
drunk before you go on stage. And I want those signed contract amendments on my desk by the end of the day or you don’t go
on.”
“You heard the lady, boys. Thanks for coming in.” Neo nodded toward the door.
And just like that, we’d had our balls handed to us on a plate and this conversation was over.
 Chapter 2

Fern

“Here, you look like you need this.” Addi handed me a glass of champagne, clinking her glass off mine. “You can relax. The
place looks amazing. Everything has gone to plan and you’ve done an amazing job, as always. I’m going to miss you like crazy
while I’m off.”
“Lea did an amazing job at sorting everything,” I smiled. “And you go away every year. This won’t be any different,” I
reminded her.
“That’s three months, while I lay on a beach with my husband. This is us bringing two children into our lives.” Addi’s face
fell. “What if I’m a shit mum?” she asked quietly. “I didn’t exactly have the best example.”
Addi was the strongest person I knew and there wasn’t anything she couldn’t do; I knew motherhood wouldn’t be any
different.
“Those kids are lucky to have you both.”
“We’re the lucky ones,” she beamed. “I still can’t believe the adoption goes through in the New Year and then they’ll be
ours.” And just like that, Mav appeared next to her, pressing his hand to the small of his back.
“Stone, Fern. You ready to watch some rock gods and whatever other mediocre acts you’ve got on after us?” he asked with a
wink and his famous smile.
“How big is your ego?” I mocked.
“My wife will tell you, it’s as big as my monster cock.” Mav laughed and Addi rolled her eyes.
“Yes, ladies and gents,” she mumbled. “My husband and father-to-be still likes to make cock jokes.”
I sniggered as Addi slapped him on the ass and whispered something that made him raise his eyebrows and bite her bottom
lip. “I’ll hold you to that, Stone. Right. Enjoy the show. I’ll see you afterward.”
I looked around the room at the party I’d organized along with Lea Lewis, party planner extraordinaire, to celebrate three
years of the Gods of Melody record label. All the bands signed to the label, their management teams, our office staff, and lots
of friends of the label filled the venue. The lights dimmed, and when the spotlights focused on the stage, the crowd went wild
as they found the Cosmic Gods standing there.
I loved these guys. They were the main reason I took the job with the label. Despite the fact they’d all matured, got married,
and had kids, they never lost their bad boy… and girl image; they were what rock music was meant to be.
Tanner stood at the front, dressed in leather pants, his inked chest on show and his tattooed hand pushing through his hair.
Mav was to the side across from his twin brother, Grayson, both of them with their guitars, and Frankie was on the drums
looking like the rock goddess she was.
I smiled as I spotted Matt, head of security for the label holding his and Frankie’s son River, rocking a tiny pair of ear
defenders next to Ivy and Ethan who managed the Gods these days and were both married to Grayson holding hands with Star,
who was trying to pull her ear defenders off with an angry look on her face. The only person missing from the Cosmic God
family was Tanner’s wife Emmy, who was on bed rest, heavily pregnant with their second set of twins, who kept trying to
arrive early.
Eight of them set up the label and working for them was like being pulled into the fold. For the next fifteen minutes, we all
danced and sang as the Cosmic Gods did their set, blowing us all away with their talent.
As they finished to a room of screams and cheering, Addi hugged me. “Best go say a few words before I leave. Any
problems while I’m away, you know you can call me, right?”
“I know, but do I ever?”
“No, and that’s another reason why we’ve just promoted you.”
Addi straightened her outfit, handing me her untouched glass of champagne before making her way to the stage.
“Weren’t they good?” She pointed at where the Gods had been a minute ago, pausing while the room erupted. “Make the
most of it, as I’m stealing the rather handsome bass guitarist for six months while we add to our family.” Everyone cheered
again as we all knew how excited they were to be adopting Hawk and Daisy after trying for so long for their own baby.
“We’re here to celebrate the fact that the Gods of Melody have been around for three years now and we love the label we’ve
built, but I couldn’t do it without my family.” And just like I’d planned, seven more spotlights burst to life, finding each owner
of the label.
“A few years ago, I found myself in a bit of a sticky situation and I wasn’t sure how I’d ever get out of it. Luckily I did—”
“Because you’re superwoman,” Tanner yelled, but she ignored him, carrying on with her speech.
“Whatever the reason, I got a second chance at life and I swore I’d make the most of it, and I get to do that every day because
those amazing people trusted me to let me manage them and now you all trust me to run the label you’re a part of. So, tonight is
to say thank you to all of you.” Addi held her hands out and clapped, making us all burst into applause too. “But,” she yelled
over the noise. “It’s also to tell you all to behave while I’m away, because I will hear about it.”
Laughter rippled across the room.
“Oh, and before I go…” I froze. “You all know the wonderful Fern, right?”
Everyone cheered, and I felt the flush rush my skin.
“Well, we couldn’t manage this label without her, so we promoted her to head of communication. Which means a couple of
things—you all need to be extra nice to her as she’s going to be on your cases even more now and also, we need to get some
new admin staff, so be nice to them too. Right, that’s enough of me talking. Enjoy yourself. Behave, and Mav and I will see you
soon when all we’ll be able to talk about is how awesome our little people are.”
Another massive cheer erupted, and Addi waved before leaving the stage where Mav was waiting for her, cupping her face
and kissing her like she was all he needed to survive. God, I loved how much he loved her. In fact, I loved how hard they all
loved each other. It put my sorry excuse for a family to shame.
I downed Addi’s champagne as I thought about James and my sister and the shitshow that had become my family life over the
last six years as Alchemy Myth came on stage.
Standing in front of their mic stands, I loved how different the three of them were. Archer was tall and dark… in his
appearance and also in his mood recently. Black hair, black stubble, slate-gray eyes. Dressed in a skin tight black t-shirt, his
tattoos stood out as much as the pain in his expression he’d carried since his fiancée vanished without a trace a few months
ago.
Fox was the more relaxed looking of the group. Long hair, tied up in a man bun, a white t-shirt under a faded blue denim
shirt, and gray skinny jeans that clung to his lithe, toned body. He picked up his guitar, pulling the strap over his head, before
smiling out at the crowd and then they started their first song.
I’d spent plenty of time with them both over the years. They took me for lunch and cocktails, spilling secrets about their love
lives and making me laugh until my sides hurt.
Charlie, the third member of the band, was an unknown entity. He hated coming into the office, barely spoke a word when he
was there, and was the self-confessed troublemaker of the group, which seemed to have gotten worse recently.
Right now, watching him sing was mesmerizing. He was lost in the music, dragging us all with him, whether we wanted to go
or not. His short brown hair, which was slightly longer on top, suited the cutting angles of his cheeks. He was wider than the
other two; thick thighs, giant chest, wide biceps that flexed as he moved.
Dressed in a simple v-neck t-shirt, it gave the audience a glimpse of his famous snake tattoo. His square jaw was clean
shaven for a change, as if he was trying to prove he would behave, and his brown eyes sparkled. Right now, he had a face that
was hard to look away from. He leaned into the microphone, singing out a song I’d heard a hundred times, but tonight, it felt
new, sending goosebumps scattering across my skin.
As if to interrupt the rather unsettling thoughts I was having about Charlie Wyatt, another glass of champagne and a shot of
something materialized in front of me as Neo and his husband Aaron appeared next to me and we found our own little corner of
the party to enjoy the rest of Alchemy Myth’s set.
 Charlie

“And that, boys, is what I’m talking about. You were great. I’m proud of you.”
I wanted to tell Neo to fuck off for being condescending, but I couldn’t deny how nice it was to hear someone praise me for a
change, so I forced my lips together and nodded.
As he leaned on his cane, talking with Archer and Fox, Fern appeared from the crowd, placing her head on Neo’s shoulder
as she smiled at us. I was still fuming about our conversation earlier, but whether it was the lighting, the lack of alcohol in my
bloodstream, or that I’d suffered a catastrophic head injury I couldn’t remember, I had to fight not to let my mouth fall open, as I
took her in.
Dressed in a super short, black, A-line dress, her silver curls spilled midway down her back. Black heels made her look
even taller than she had earlier, their thin straps wrapped around her ankles, drawing my eyes to her long, toned legs.
Fern was the total opposite of the women I usually went for, so I had no idea why she was suddenly piquing my interest. I
mean, she looked like butter wouldn’t melt in her innocent mouth. So not my type.
“You owe me a dance,” Archer demanded, pulling Fern into the center of the dancefloor and all I could do was stand by and
watch as my best friend made her laugh with his effortless charm that I’d missed seeing in him since his fiancée went missing.
“I’m going to the bar,” I declared to whoever was listening when Fox joined them, picking Fern up and spinning her around,
making me feel like an outsider in my own band.
Stalking across the floor, annoyed at something I didn’t understand, I found a stool at the bar and yelled for the barman to get
me a double whiskey and a beer. I downed the whiskey and twitched my head for a refill. As he poured me another, my phone
beeped in my hand.
Sperm donor: Will we be seeing you for Christmas?
I sighed, putting it facedown on the bar, and slamming back the fresh whiskey. Suddenly, a shadow moved over me. I looked
left to find Neo standing there.
“This seat taken?” he asked, pointing to the stool next to me.
“Knock yourself out.”
He sat, and I pretended not to notice the look of relief as he took the weight off his damaged back and legs. Nodding to the
barman, he poured Neo a couple of glasses of champagne, obviously knowing what he was drinking, before placing them down
in front of him. He twisted his head, frowning at me.
“Look Charlie, your life is your own and I can’t tell you how to behave, but you can have fun without being a prize dick.”
I spluttered, my eyes wide. “I think the half a mill fine told me what you think of me, Neo.”
“It should, because like Fern and I said, anyone else and you would have been gone. We like having you around, Charlie.
Don’t fuck it up.”
He stood, slapping me on the back before holding up a glass toward his husband, who’d appeared at his side to help him
with the drinks like they had an unspoken agreement, and for some reason, it made me jealous as hell. For a moment, I
wondered what that would be like; to have someone know you that well, they could read your body language or your face
without you saying a word. I had a good relationship with my boys, Fox and Archer, but to have that with someone else felt
impossible. I was too fractured, too selfish, and as my dad showed me over and over again, impossible to be around for long.

I wasn’t sure how many drinks in I was when a breathless Fern appeared next to me.
“Take a seat,” I suggested, noticing how my speech slurred. She looked at me and the vacant seat and then back at me, before
shrugging and sitting. “So, big promotion, eh?”
She blushed, running her hands over her skirt, looking happy to change the subject as the barman came over and she ordered
a round of drinks. I opened my mouth to speak as my phone buzzed again. Turning it over, I read the message.
Sperm donor: I know you’ve read my message. Are you coming? Your mother wants to know.
I typed out a reply.
Me: She’s not my mother. And no, I won’t be there. I don’t want to play happy families.
I slammed my phone down.
“Everything okay?” Fern asked, the cadence of her voice sliding over me like a fleecy blanket on a cold night.
“Yep, just family stuff. You know how it is?”
She laughed, throwing her head back. “You have no idea.”
I wanted to ask her to tell me more when Neo appeared next to us again, using his cane, holding on tight to Aaron’s hand. It
was in moments like this that the guilt hit me. Seeing him still limping after all these years, I wished I could have changed our
behavior in Miami. Behavior that made Neo and Addi get on the plane that crashed. Behavior we were well aware nearly
killed them both. Yes, I’d hit the hotel manager, but no one had ever asked us to explain and none of us had ever tried to tell our
side of the story.
“Hey, Sweets, I’ve been looking for you everywhere,” Neo announced as she stood, offering him her seat.
Her eyes flared. “Problem?”
“No, good news in fact,” he replied as he sat, letting out an audible sigh of relief. “Your mum called me.”
Fern’s face fell, and she whispered, “What?”
“She called me earlier. Told me about their Christmas plans for you to meet your niece and how you were too busy to go. She
mentioned your sister’s wedding and that you only made it to the ceremony and then got called away for a band emergency. I’m
so sorry, Fern. If Addi would have known, I’m sure she never would have dragged you away. Anyway, you know how
important family is to us, so I’ve promised her you can have the week off. She said it’s in some remote corner of Scotland, so
you can take one of the private planes if you want to travel in style. How does that sound?”
“Neo… you didn’t have to do that,” she mumbled.
Her body tensed, the change in her obvious to see or so I thought, but Neo continued, “You deserve a break. Go spend some
time with your family. I can manage on my own for a week.”
She offered him a small smile before turning to the bar and downing two of the shots the barman had placed in front of her. I
moved the rest away before she drank the lot and regretted it in the morning.
She pulled them back, downing another while glaring at me. “I best get these to Archer and Fox before they think I’ve got
lost.” She picked up the remaining drinks and made her way to the dance floor and while I didn’t want to stare at her ass as she
walked away, I couldn’t tear my eyes away.
 Chapter 3

Charlie

“Is she close to her family?” I asked Neo as he took a sip of his champagne.
He frowned. “Who, Fern?”
I nodded, watching her on the dance floor with the rest of my band. She was still dancing and laughing, but the spark had
gone from her eyes and if I had to describe how she looked, it would be defeated.
“I think so. I mean, she’s never said anything.” A look passed over Neo’s face and he pulled out his phone, typing out a
message. “Fuck, what if I’ve just messed up?” He turned to look at Aaron, but before he could say anything else, his phone
beeped and he groaned loudly.
“Hey,” he yelled at the barman. “Can I get a tray of tequila with the works?”
“It’s not like you,” I remarked.
“It’s not like me when the band that owns the label is around. Remember, we had an addict and a girl who lost her kidney
after getting shot, so drinking was never something they did or we did around them. They’ve all gone home, and this is a party.
Now, I need to go make sure I’ve not ruined Fern’s life. You coming, Myth Maker?”
“Nice name,” I scoffed.
His gaze landed on mine. “It’s what Fern has called you for years.”
I furrowed my brow, not sure how I felt about that bit of information, as I followed him and Aaron over to a table surrounded
by sofas next to the dancefloor. On the way past, Neo nudged Fern with his cane, indicating to the table. I watched as she
closed her eyes and let out a sigh before she nodded, following him along with Archer and Fox.
The background music was quieter as the night started to wind down, making conversation easier. Neo sat, tapping the seat
next to him, but Fox didn’t get the memo, plonking his ass down, pulling Fern onto his lap, Archer sitting next to them, leaving
Aaron and me to sit on the chairs either side of them.
“What’s up?” Fern asked.
“I’m sorry,” Neo replied, handing her a shot and a slice of lime. She poured salt onto her hand and he watched as she licked,
slammed, and then sucked. Her face twisted as her toned body shuddered, and I couldn’t help but notice the way it moved
beneath her dress.
“What for?” She smiled, but it was clear, even to someone like me who hardly knew her, that she was faking her happy
demeanor.
“I spoke to Addi. She said you don’t talk about your family. That she got the impression you weren’t close.” He reached for
her, placing his hand over hers. “I should have checked before I agreed to anything. I just thought your mum missed you and
we’d been keeping you too busy to spend time with them. I think I might have fucked up, but it came from a good place.”
With her free hand, Fern reached for another shot, not even bothering with the salt and lime, slamming it back before she
burst into tears.
Fox wrapped his arms around her, and Archer held her hand as she fell apart.
“Shit, what can I do?” Neo offered. “Do you want me to phone her and tell her I made a mistake?”
“What’s going on, Fern?” Fox asked.
“Can I tell them?” Neo asked, obviously not wanting to upset her anymore.
She nodded, wiping her nose on the back of her hand, making me like her that little bit more.
“I agreed to give Fern the week off over Christmas so she can go to her parent’s house and meet her niece. Her mum was
upset because we’d asked Fern to leave her sister’s wedding early a few years ago for a band emergency—”
“But there was no emergency. I didn’t ask for the time off. I went to the wedding and left after the meal, blaming work.” Her
shoulders shook as another wave of tears hit.
Neo handed round the drinks and we all downed one apart from Fern, who’d probably had enough. “It’s fine. It’s a week. I
can do a week and then I don’t ever have to go home again, because I can always use work as an excuse.” She sighed, glaring
at Neo.
He dragged his hand over his face. “What would make it easier, Sweets? Do you want me to put you up in a hotel? Drag you
out of there with a level 100 emergency? Do you want me to send you in with bodyguards to protect you?”
“Unless you can find me a boyfriend, who looks at me like I’m the start and end of his world, who would protect me, no
matter what, and who was hot as hell, then I don’t think you can help.”
We all stared at her, confused.
“Are you in danger if you go home, Fern?” Fox asked. She twisted, leaning her head on his shoulder.
“I just don’t welcome the idea of being there alone.”
“I’ll come,” Fox offered without a second thought.
She sat back up. “You will not. You will go see your pregnant sister for the holidays. I know how excited you were. I’ll be
fine. It’s just a lot to get my head around. I appreciate you all caring so much.”
And with that, she stood. “Right, it’s time I went home. I’ve had far too much to drink and I need my beauty sleep. Boys, it
was nice to dance the night away with you. Neo, Aaron, love you guys. Charlie.” She nodded in my direction.
And with that, she left us all in her wake.
 Fern

“Coffee?”
I pushed my hair from my face and tried to focus. “Please. What time is it?”
“Nine.”
“Oh fuck. I’m getting up.”
“Good night?”
I groaned, watching Luci, my housemate, walk from my room, laughing at my sore head before pulling the door closed behind
her. I dragged myself out of bed, glancing at myself in the mirror, wishing I’d not bothered. My hair looked like I’d been
electrocuted, my eyes were bloodshot and my face was red and blotchy from crying myself to sleep last night.
I put my glasses on and pulled my phone from where it was on charge and did what I did every morning; I looked through my
emails, my group messages and then I checked the headlines, which I’d done even before I got promoted. Luckily, all the bands
we managed were at the press-free party last night, so I knew I didn’t have to worry too much.
Except there was always one.
“Is Alchemy Myth frontman poisoning rock?”
“Bad boy behavior ruins the Alchemy Myth magic.”
“Is the party over for Alchemy Myth front man?”
Photos of Charlie filled the internet, obviously taken after he’d left the party last night. Leaning over a table in a club,
snorting God knows what through a rolled up banknote; leaving the club with two girls wrapped around him, him kissing one of
them and the other one’s hand shoved inside his unfastened jeans and then in the back of a car looking like he had a woman
straddling him, topless.
My phone rang, the loud noise making my head hurt.
“Neo,” I answered.
“I waited until you showed up online, but I take it you’ve seen the news?”
“Yeap. What do you want to do?”
“Fire his ass. I only spoke to them yesterday.”
“Fuck. It’s such a shame. They’re so good.”
“They are, but Charlie’s lost it. I mean, Archer is a shell of himself these days after Ionee went missing, and not even he
behaved this badly when he was at his worst.”
“I’ll get them to meet me at the office and give them the bad news. You want to be there?”
“I’m already here. Couldn’t sleep. This time of year always stirs up bad memories. I got an Uber while it was still dark.”
“Shit. I can deal with this. Go home. Spend some time with Aaron.”
“He’s on a job. I don’t want to make a big deal of it. He went through enough when the plane crashed. He will be living his
own form of hell, too.”
“And Addi?” I checked.
 “Her and Mav. All of them.”
“Did you ever ask them? The boys… what happened in Miami?”
Neo mumbled something I couldn’t make out before he replied. “Steve told us. They got drunk and the hotel manager went up
to ask them to keep the noise down. Charlie punched him and then smashed a bottle, threatening him with it. It’s why Steve and
the rest of their team quit.”
“Jesus.”
“And then they seemed to calm down. Or so I thought, but this… it’s too much. They’re out of control.”
“Charlie is out of control,” I reminded him.
“I’ll leave you to call him and get him down here. Text me and let me know what time then I’ll take you out for lunch so you
can give me the lowdown on your family and we can hatch a plan to get out of there as quickly as possible, or at least find a
way to protect you from your douchebag brother-in-law.”
“My ex,” I whispered, deciding it would be better to tell him over the phone rather than face to face.
“Who’s ex?”
“The douchebag brother-in-law, Neo. He’s my ex.”
“Your sister’s husband is your ex?” he hissed. “How old is he?”
“Thirty four. We got together the day I turned seventeen. He made us keep what we had a secret, telling me that no one would
understand. He promised me that if I kept quiet, I could expect a ring on my finger and a future with him as soon as he made
partner in his law firm. The day he made partner he proposed alright, but to my sister and not me. Apparently, he’d been
fucking her the whole year and a half we were together. The sleazy fucker told me no one would believe me because I was only
good for sex and not to be a lawyer’s wife and then he asked if I wanted to be his bit on the side.” I paused. “The last time I
saw him was at their wedding, he made some threats… it scared me. He scared me.”
For a moment, there was only silence, and then the sound of something breaking. “Fern, I’m so sorry.”
“It’s fine. You weren’t to know.”
“Let me fix it. I’m sending a car to pick you up. Call the boys and get them down here, but don’t mention anything about what
we’re going to say to them. Although feel free to make them very aware of how pissed we are. I have an idea.”
“Am I going to like it?”
“Probably not, but it will get you out of your current sticky situation and reassure me that you’re safe in Scotland.”
“Okay. I’ll be ready in forty-five minutes. I need a shower and at least two more coffees before I’m ready for this.”
Neo chuckled, saying goodbye before he hung up.
I sighed, rolling my neck as I typed out a group message to Charlie, Fox, and Archer.
Me: Meet me at the label at 12.30. Don’t be late.
Archer: Charlie is unconscious. I don’t even think he’ll remember last night.
Me: Not my problem. Drag him there by the balls if you have to, but get him there. This isn’t good, boys.
Fox: FUCK. He’ll be there and trust me, we’re as angry with him as you are.
Me: I’m not angry, Fox. Just disappointed.
And with that, I threw my phone onto the bed and went to shower off my hangover before I fired a group I really liked…
well, I liked two of them, and dropping them from the label would break my heart.

I sat in the boardroom next to Neo like the united front we were, and across from us sat the three members of Alchemy Myth
next to Dawson, who seemed as fucking pissed with them as we were. Archer and Fox looked like they’d dressed for a job
interview, obviously realizing the severity of this conversation, while Charlie looked like he’d dragged himself out of the
gutter.
Low hung black sweats, a white tee with a stain on the front that looked like coffee, his hair messy, eyes sunken, and his skin
almost gray. I wanted to feel sorry for him, but I couldn’t find it in me. In all the time I’d known him, Charlie had been
standoffish, seemingly unable to put anyone else first. And this was just another example of that, but unfortunately, with a
career-destroying outcome.
Neo took a sip of the coffee I’d picked up for him on the way in, still feeling like the assistant I’d been for the last three
years.
“Fern, when do you have to leave to go to your parents?” Neo whispered.
“Tomorrow… Christmas Eve and then I need to be there until New Year’s Eve.” My heart ached at the thought of how many
hours were in a week and how long each of those hours would last having to spend them with James.
“Trust me?” he questioned, and I nodded because I did. With my life.
 “Boys, I gave you a chance, and this is how you repay me?” He spoke, his loud voice dominating the room as he threw
copies of the news stories from around the world in front of them. Fox’s eyes blazed and Charlie physically recoiled.
“Is it over?” Archer asked, sounding pained.
Fox dropped his head, pressing his fingers to his temples.
“Dawson, we have another band for you to manage because, as of 3 pm today, Alchemy Myth’s contract with the Gods of
Melody record label is null and void after repeatedly breaking the clauses of your original contract and then again for breaking
the morality clause we added to the new contract you signed yesterday,” Neo informed them. The pain on all of their faces was
too much to bear, so I dropped my eyes, staring at my hands and not them.
“Neo,” Charlie whispered, the word on his lips sounding almost desperate.
“No point. I’ve made up my mind. You’re done. I gave you a chance, Charlie, and you went out and got fucked, so you’re
now all over the news. Your PR team has been up since the crack of dawn, despite being at the same party you were at last
night and wanting to go home today to spend time with their families. Do you think that’s fair? Do you think you’re a good
advert for the label?”
Charlie sighed. “No. And it’s no excuse, but I got into an argument with my dad. He’s a lot. I was heading home, but he
started texting some stuff. I lost my mind, drank more, took some…well, to be honest, I don’t remember.”
“Not really an excuse. We all have our shit. Do you know I was in so much pain last night that my husband had to carry me to
the bathroom? Do you know that Addi didn’t sleep as she’s so worried something will screw up their adoption? No. Because
we don’t bring that crap to work. We find other, healthier ways to battle our demons. We keep them out of the press. We show
up to work and we do our jobs. You’re not doing that.”
“We can do that,” Fox reassured him, but it was too little too late. “We would do anything to make this better. Wouldn’t we,
boys?” He nudged his friends in the ribs until they nodded enthusiastically.
Neo placed his hands on the table, thrumming his fingers over the glass surface again and again until the silence got too much
to bear. “Well, there might be one thing.”
“Anything,” Charlie croaked, sounding as hung over as he looked.
“Go with Fern to her parents. Pretend to be her boyfriend. Make her family believe you are planning to spend a lifetime with
her.”
“I’m in,” Fox offered.
“Nope. It has to be Charlie.”
“Why me?” he spluttered.
“Well, the world thinks Archer is with Ionee and has no idea she’s missing. And they know about Fox’s love of fucking…
well, everyone, so no one will believe he’s choosing to settle down with one girl. That leaves you, and also, you’re the reason
your band is in this shit. So, here’s my offer and just so you know, Fern had nothing to do with this. She knows nothing about it
and will kill me for it after you leave.”
Charlie grunted, tilting his head upward and letting out a long sigh. “Get on with it,” he replied eventually.
“This afternoon you have an interview with MTV. They will ask you what you’re doing for Christmas and you’ll tell them
you’re looking forward to spending the week with your girlfriend’s family. Then, once the interview is done so is your
contract. If you manage to protect our girl for the week; make her family believe you’re together and happy. If you bring her
back safe I will reinstate your contract on the condition that you behave like choir boys until further notice. What do you say?”
 Chapter 4

Charlie

“What am I? Some band whore?” I spat out angrily. “Yes, I fucked up, but you can’t expect me to play the part of the perfect
boyfriend for a week, to save the little princess here from what? Her big, bad, scary family?” I added a baby voice to the last
sentence to make them see how stupid it was.
“Hey, that’s not it at all,” Neo argued. “And if you want to leave the label, then that’s fine. I will find another way to help
Fern because I’m not letting her walk into that place on her own.”
No matter how hungover or fucked off I was, I couldn’t help noticing the worried look burrowed into his expression. What
the hell was going on with her family?
“He’ll do it,” Archer replied for me.
“Like hell I will.”
“We will not lose what we have here because you’re being a knob. We’ll lose you first,” Fox spat out.
“Nice!”
He continued, “Oh, come on, Charlie, you’ve been a nightmare for months. It’s too much. We feel like we’re babysitting you
all the time. Maybe a week with Fern will help.”
“Actually, you should probably do this week sober. I mean, look how easily you get into trouble when you drink. I want you
clean and sober until the New Year.”
I folded my arms over my chest. “Are you trying to torture me, Neo?”
He shrugged as a smile spread across his face.
I looked between Fern, Archer, and Fox, before landing back on Neo. “Fine. One week. No booze, no drugs, no fun.
Pretending to be in love with Daddy’s little princess.”
“Did anyone think to ask what I wanted?” Her blue-green eyes darkened and her body stiffened. “I’m not some defenseless
damsel in distress, you know?”
Neo placed his hand on hers. “Sometimes we need to accept the situation we’re in and take the help we’re offered.”
Fern closed her eyes as a tear slid down her cheek. Wiping it away angrily, her eyes popped open again. “Fine. Are you
really okay with this? We’ll have to share a room to make this believable.”
“You know I sleep naked?” I laughed bitterly.
“Not if you want your contract with the label back,” Neo growled, sounding more like her dad than her boss.
I held my hands up. “Understood.”
 “Right, there’s a car downstairs to take you to the interview. Then you need to be on the plane with Fern first thing in the
morning. You in, Charlie? A hundred percent?”
Gritting my teeth I agreed, wondering how far I could push this without getting the band fired for good, because as much as
my friends loved me, they’d made it clear they were done with my recent behavior.
“And do not go out tonight. If you do, it’s game over.”

“Hey,” Fern mumbled as she looked up from her seat when I boarded the plane, having been escorted there by Dawson, who
refused to believe I was going to show up or do it sober.
I nodded, dropping into the large leather seat across from her. I wondered about sitting elsewhere, but I knew I needed to
start acting like the loving boyfriend, and ignoring her probably wasn’t the best start.
The flight attendant appeared next to us, asking if we wanted a drink. I ordered a double whiskey and a beer, but Fern raised
an eyebrow, silently reminding me of the pact I’d made with Neo. “Actually, can you make that just a Coke?” I sighed.
It didn’t take long before the plane was in the air on our short flight to Scotland and then we had an hour's drive. I went to
slip on my headphones when she tapped me on the arm. “We should probably learn about each other and make up some stories
that sound the same when we tell them.”
I shrugged, dropping my headphones to the table. “Okay, where did we meet?” I asked, twisting my head to look at her. Her
long silver hair was pulled back from her make up free face, her unusual colored eyes looking tired.
“We should keep it simple, so at work. At the label.”
“Our first date?”
“Dinner?”
“Lame. How about I fucked you in the bathroom in between meetings and you couldn’t get enough of me?”
She tutted.
“Fine,” I sighed. “More romance to meet Daddy’s high standards.”
“What makes you think I’m a daddy’s girl, and this is about him?”
“Isn’t it always, Princess?”
“Fuck off, Charlie. You have no idea,” she spat out, before turning in her seat to stare out of the window.
I wondered if I should feel bad for obviously upsetting her, but then I remembered that I’d been made to be here when I could
be home, pissed, high, fucking some grateful groupie.
This time when I pulled my headphones on, she made no attempt to stop me and that was how we stayed for the rest of the
flight. In fact, we didn’t speak again until we arrived at her parent’s house, and by the time we got there I was bouncing with so
many emotions I didn’t know how to rein them back in.

“Fern.” A tall, thin, older woman with shoulder length gray hair, who I presumed was her mum, spoke as we stepped into the
house and a maid closed the door behind us. I watched them hug briefly, Fern looking uncomfortable in her hold.
“Fern,” a deep voice boomed as a man appeared.
“Dad.”
He stepped toward her, placing his hand on her shoulder, looking her up and down like he was inspecting her. “You look
tired, and what are you wearing?”
She glanced down at her black leggings, oversized pale blue sweater, and bright white sneakers. “I’ve just spent hours
traveling here. Apologies, I’m not in heels and a full face of make up to visit my family.”
“How’s work?” he asked.
“Okay.”
I frowned. Okay? I didn’t know Fern well, but I knew she lived for her job and she’d just been given a huge promotion, so I
couldn’t understand why okay was her reply.
“And you must be Charlie,” her mum interrupted, offering me her hand.
I took it, deciding a handshake was such a weird greeting. “Yes, ma’am.”
“You can call me Carol. And this is my husband—”
“Judge Richards is fine for now, Charlie,” he replied gruffly, taking in my distressed jeans and leather jacket. I pulled off my
beanie, stuffing it in my pocket as I followed them inside.
“Come, let’s get you both a drink, and then you can freshen up. Your sister and James won’t be here until later, as they
wanted to drive when it was Ari’s nap time, so they didn’t disrupt her routine.”
“Ari’s my niece. She’s almost one,” she whispered.
We moved to the formal sitting room, her dad pointing us to the sofa opposite the fire.
“Drink, Fern?”
“A coffee would be good. Charlie?”
“Same, thanks.”
Suddenly, a woman appeared in a gray and white uniform, carrying a tray as if she’d been waiting somewhere close by. She
poured everyone's drinks, leaving us the pot before taking our jackets and vanishing silently.
Fern took a sip before settling the cup and saucer on the table in front of us, an awkward silence descending on the room.
After a few unbearable minutes, Carol coughed, before offering us a large, fake smile.
“So, Charlie. You work with Fern?”
“My band is signed to the label she works for.”
“Ah, are you the lead singer?”
“No. We don’t have one. We all take the lead for different songs. It works better for us.”
“Interesting,” she muttered, her eyes glazing over, obviously thinking it was anything but.
“Well, no matter where you’re working, Fern, your family should come first. Nothing should have kept you away this long
and now you’re here we need to discuss it not happening again. Your mother has been miserable. You don’t even need to work.
I’ve told you that again and again.”
“Dad,” she hissed out angrily.
“What? You should be married by now. Like your sister. Children on the way. Looking after your home and your husband.
Not working stupid hours looking after bands who can’t behave like adults.”
Wow, this is going to be a fun week.
“Dad, not now. I’m here to spend Christmas with you. I’d like to catch up with my family and have a nice time.”
He huffed, swirling the whiskey he was drinking, which I was eyeing enviously, around his highball, crystal cut glass.
“I’m going to take Charlie on a tour of the house so he doesn’t get lost, and then we’ll go unpack.”
“Dinner’s at nine,” her mum announced. “Oh, and your friend sent you both some things. They’re in your room.”
“Friend?” she questioned.
“Yes, the one who gave you the week off. He had a strange name… Nemo?”
“Neo,” she laughed. “My boss.”
“Yes. Him. I had Helen put them upstairs.”
“Thanks.” And with that, she stood, pulling me up and dragging me from the room.
We moved through the parquet floored hall to the curved staircase that led to the balcony style first floor. I looked around as
we walked, taking in the life size oil paintings of long dead ancestors. I was used to money. I came from money. But this was
old money.
“Are you loaded, Princess?” I whispered in her ear as we climbed the stairs.
“My family are. I don’t want a penny of it.”
“Really?”
She glared over at me, looking like that was the strangest response in the world. “Really. I left home years ago and I’ve
never asked them for a penny. I don’t want to live like...” Her hand moved to the space around us. “Like this. Women in my
family are expected to be a certain way. For a long time, I thought that was what I wanted and then, well, then, I decided that I
wanted more… that I deserved more. My family isn’t so impressed with my decision.”
She led me to a door halfway down the long, wide hall. Twisting the handle, she opened it and moved to the side so I could
step inside. “My decision meant he had one less bargaining chip.”
She pulled her hand from mine, making me realize that I’d been holding it this entire time.
“Chip?”
“Yeah, you know… want to get some insider business tips that will help you make a fortune… want to get someone important
on side? What better thing to offer than your daughter, or at least the promise of her?”
I froze, my eyes fixed on Fern. She was one of the most confident women I’d ever met. It was probably why she pissed me
off so much. I was used to women who threw themselves at me and took whatever I wanted to give them, but Fern seemed on a
higher plane. Unobtainable. The way she held herself, her no shit attitude, her confidence. Addi was the Ice Queen at the label,
but Fern was a very close second—giving and taking no shits from anyone. It drove me mad. But I wouldn’t want to see her
lose it… dent it maybe, but never lose it. But right now, it was missing completely.
Since the moment we’d stepped off the plane, she seemed to have been shrinking. Her confidence dimming, as if it was being
sucked into an invisible black hole. The sparkle in her eyes was gone, her permanent, annoyingly cheerful smile flat, her
straight spine that made it look like she had a stick up her ass, vanished, leaving her looking smaller than normal.
I longed to ask her if she was alright, but that wasn’t me, so I did what I did best. I poked.
 “Oh, come on, Princess. I bet you were born to be a trophy wife. It all makes sense. The attitude, the air of authority you
wear like a cloak. Wouldn’t you rather have a life of cocktails with the girls and shopping than be surrounded by rock stars?”
I fell back onto the king size four poster bed, pushing my hands behind my head and crossing my legs at the ankles, leaving
my shoe-covered feet off the edge of the mattress, because… well, because I wasn’t a monster.
“Fuck off, Charlie. You know nothing about me and I’d appreciate it if you’d stop passing judgment on me. Pass judgment on
my family and where I come from—I don’t give a shit about that, but me… you don’t get to do that. I’ve worked hard to be
where I am and I won’t have you belittle that because you’re an asshole.”
Pausing, I watched her unpacking her things into the large dresser at the far side of the room. That was when I noticed the
two huge wooden trunks on the floor. I slipped from the bed and walked toward them.
Turning to check on Fern, she was too busy ignoring me to pay them any attention, so I bent down, opening them both. They
were packed with stuff, but one of them had a white envelope on top with our names on it. Opening it, I pulled out the letter.
Fern/Myth Maker,
I checked the weather for where you are and it’s fucking cold, so just in case you packed like you were off on a cruise
somewhere warm, I sent you some stuff, snacks, and SOS items. And if the worst comes to the worst, the trunks are
large enough for you to hide in until I can get there to rescue you.
Fern - it’s a week but if you need me, call me.
Charlie - there is no coming back from this if you don’t take care of her. Protect her like she’s yours.
Neo
Great, that was just what I needed. A reminder of how much I’d fucked up and what was at stake here. I had it all, and I’d
blown it. And this week was the only chance I had to prove that I wasn’t a worthless fuck up and get our contract back with the
label.
 Chapter 5

Fern

I didn’t get to check out what Neo had sent us because I noticed the time and realized I had less than an hour to get ready
because in the Richards’ house, we were expected to dress for dinner. Grabbing my toiletries and an outfit from the closet, I
walked into the en suite bathroom.
“I’m going to shower so I can get ready for dinner. You should change too.”
“Into?” Charlie questioned, frowning deeply.
“Something more dinner worthy.”
“Aren’t we just eating with your folks and your sister?”
“Yes, but we always dress for dinner.”
Charlie rolled his eyes. “Really? That speaks volumes. Fine, I’ll change.”
I let out a grateful sigh before locking the bathroom door behind me.
Forty-five minutes later, I’d washed and dried my long silver hair before I wrapped it in a bun at the base of my neck,
knowing Mum would make some comment about the new color. My makeup was in place and I couldn’t help the grimace as I
looked in the mirror. I’d not dressed like this for years, but it felt like a familiar uniform as I took in my reflection.
Stepping out of the bathroom, Charlie was sitting on the foot of the bed, fiddling with his phone. He looked up and then
looked away before his gaze flew back to me, his eyes widening. “What the fuck, Fern?”
“What?” I asked, knowing what was coming.
“You went into the bathroom looking like a young woman who works for a successful, international record label and came
out looking like a middle aged Stepford wife. Are you wearing a twinset and pearls?”
“Fuck off. I’m not wearing pearls.”
His hand dragged over his face. “But you’re wearing a twinset?”
I stood in front of the full length mirror and smoothed down my calf length black pencil skirt that I’d paired with black two
inch heels, so I didn’t add to my height—because men don’t like tall women—along with a lemon, high-necked top, and
matching cardigan that I’d buttoned up.
“No wonder you hate being here if this is how you have to dress just to eat. For fuck’s sake.”
Charlie was now standing behind me, his hands on his hips, looking at me with disbelief.
“I thought I asked you to change into something more suitable.” My tone was clipped, but it wasn’t aimed at him. I was
annoyed at myself for falling back into old ways so easily.
 Holding out his arms to the side, he did a slow spin. “I changed into a shirt.”
And he had. He now wore a black button up with the sleeves rolled up, showing off his corded forearms. His top three
buttons were unfastened, letting me catch another glimpse of the ink on his chest.
“I meant a suit. Dad will expect you to wear a suit.”
“Well, your dad is going to be disappointed, Princess. I didn’t even bring one.”
“I’m sure I can find you something to change into. Give me five minutes.” My voice hitched as I spoke because I needed to
keep everyone happy this week. I needed to behave long enough so that I could escape back to my life and never have to come
here again.
I moved to the bedroom door, but Charlie stepped in front of me, blocking my way. “If you think I’m going to wear your
dad’s chinos or your sister’s husband’s suit, you’re sadly mistaken. I’m not pretending to be someone I’m not. It’s not me.”
I leaned in closer, noticing how he smelled of warmth and spice and, surprisingly, I didn’t hate it. “You’re pretending to be
my boyfriend. Surely a suit is just another lie to add to the mix?”
“Ah, I get some benefits of being your boyfriend, like sticking my tongue in your mouth and running my hand up your thigh
when you need your parents to believe we’re together. But as far as I can tell, there are no benefits to the suit. Unless you’re
telling me you’re going to drop to your knees later and give me head while I’m wearing it. Then I might think about it.”
I shoved his chest hard, and he stumbled back, letting out a long, low laugh at my expense. “God, you really are a dick. I will
murder Neo for making you come out here with me. I don’t know what’s worse, being here or being here with you.”
He held up his hands in mock defeat. “Your family can take me as I am. You should try the same. I mean, what’s the worst
that can happen? They cut off your trust fund? You bring shame on the family? You make Daddy cross?”
Before I could say another word, the dinner bell sounded.
Charlie dropped his head, shaking it slowly back and forth. “Oh, my God. I feel like I’m in some sort of Agatha Christie
novel. Will there be a murder at dinner that we’ll be expected to solve before we’re allowed dessert?”
I sucked in a breath, knowing that I was about to be confronted by James and my sister, bile threatening to fill my mouth. “We
have to go. Ready to be my fake boyfriend?”
“Ready as I’ll ever be, Princess.” Charlie held out his hand and although I’d never tell him, I welcomed the idea of having a
friendly face next to me to ground myself in.
 Charlie

I didn’t know Fern that well. I did everything I could to avoid the record label’s head office, so while my band brothers had
taken her for lunch, gotten her drunk after work, and were now firm friends, to me she was just someone who busted my balls
via text and email a lot. And while I didn’t know her, I listened to what Archer and Fox said about her—fun, confident,
relaxed, easygoing… the exact opposite to the vibe she was giving me right now.
It wasn’t just the outfit that had instantly aged her ten years or the thick makeup that covered her freckles and made her look
like a porcelain doll, with bright red lips and fake eyelashes—it was how rigid and up tight she appeared. When the dinner
bell rang, I wondered if this was one of those shows where they pranked you with hidden cameras, but as we descended the
stairs and I felt the emotion pouring from Fern, I guessed not.
What was that? Fear? Nerves? Worry? Whatever it was, it sucked what remained of her personality, making the person who
had just been promoted to run communications for the entire label wither before my eyes.
We followed another maid to the dining room, and I tried to ignore the memories of my childhood popping back up from the
recesses of my mind. A house too big for the number of people who lived there, staff who looked after the kids, being forced
to behave in a certain way rather than being allowed to be a kid. Fern must have felt my reaction as she turned to me and
whispered, “You okay?”
I nodded, masking the emotion on my face. Something I’d also learned to do in that house.
We were the last ones to enter the dining room. Sitting at the huge, formally set table were her parents, along with another
male and a female that I guessed were her sister and the husband. As we sat across from them, the tension in the air was
unmistakable.
“Elise. James.” Fern spoke, her voice cordial, but her grip tightened in mine.
Pulling out her chair, because I knew how to be polite, I let her sit first before I took my seat next to her.
“Ferny,” her sister replied, smiling, but I noticed how sad she looked.
“Where’s Ari?”
“Bed. James likes to keep her in a routine. You can see her tomorrow.”
“Is she in your room?”
James leaned back in his chair. “No, Fe. She’s with the nanny. Elise and I need our sleep.”
Fern’s face hardened for a fleeting moment and then flickered back to the emotionless Stepford wife expression she’d been
wearing since she stepped out of the bathroom.
“You look lovely, dear,” her mum commented. “Isn’t it nice to be in your old clothes? You must get sick of wearing all those
nasty outfits I see you dressed in when I look at your social media.”
Fern tipped her head just enough to make her mum think she’d agreed.
“You didn’t think to dress for dinner, Charlie?” her dad questioned, as the staff started to fill our plates with food.
“I put a shirt on,” I replied flatly.
James huffed out a laugh. “John, you can’t expect the boy to know how to dress for dinner. I mean, he’s probably never been
to a formal dinner in his life. Let me guess, are you like that Cosmic God lead singer… raised on a council estate, abandoned
by your mother, left to raise yourself in the gutter?”
Fern froze while the rest of her family began eating like this asshole hadn’t just insulted our boss.
“If you mean Tanner Hastings, as in the lead singer of one of the world’s biggest rock bands. The same band who set up the
record label that Fern and I work for. I’d happily be compared to him because what he went through as a kid to where he is
now is really bloody impressive. But no, that’s not my story. Although, thanks for judging me so quickly.”
Picking up the silver cutlery, I cut into the pork and green beans on my plate and took a mouthful, letting the awkward silence
settle. But it didn’t last long as James appeared to have it in for me.
“So, where did you go to school, Charlie?”
“James, let the poor boy eat before you interrogate him,” Elise murmured, following it with a fake, stifled laugh.
I chewed my food slowly, deliberately letting James think he had got the upper hand before I replied. “Eton.”
James’ fork fell from his hand, clattering loudly against his plate. “What?”
“Eton. Well, I went to private prep school and then was at Eton for a couple of years before I got kicked out for fighting. To
punish me, Daddy dearest sent me to a local public school in central London, but more fool him because I loved it and I met
Fox and Archer, who are in my band.”
I could feel the eyes on me as I continued to eat.
Judge Richards placed his knife and fork down, steepling his fingers under his chin, giving me his full attention. “Eton is
impressive, Charlie. Your father couldn’t have been happy when you were excluded. Tell me, what’s his name? Maybe we’ve
crossed paths.”
Here we go. “Barnaby Welch.”
While everyone else seemed to gasp, only Fern stayed relaxed, her makeup obviously working as the perfect mask for her
shock, because no one, except the people closest to me, knew who the sperm donor was.
“Your father is Lord Barnaby Welch?” Judge Richards confirmed.
“The one and only. Aren’t I the luckiest?” I mocked sarcastically.
James’ thin lips curled into a smile as his eyes danced greedily to his father-in-law’s.
“I wouldn’t bother thinking about how my relationship with Fern can get you a foot in the door. My father despises me and
the feeling is mutual, so knowing me won’t win you any favors.”
James’ eyes darkened as he lifted his large glass of red wine to his lips, downing the entire thing in one, before clicking for
someone to refill it like the prick he seemed to be.
The rest of dinner passed uncomfortably slowly. Fern tried to catch up with her sister, but whenever things got too relaxed,
James appeared to feel the need to speak for his wife, while she twisted her napkin in her lap nervously.
Once the plates were cleared, Carol stood. “Right, I’m off to bed. It’s a busy day tomorrow. Breakfast will be served at nine,
Christmas dinner is at 12.30, and then supper at eight.”
“What time are we doing gifts?” Elise asked excitedly.
“Don’t be silly, you’re too old for that and Ari is too young. We’ll have your gifts delivered to your rooms after breakfast.”
Elise’s shoulders sagged.
“I love presents. And I’d love to meet your daughter. Fern and I will meet you down here at 7.30, if you want.” Her eyes
flicked to James, who scowled before opening his mouth to reply for her again, but I was too quick. “I won’t take no for an
answer.”
Her face lit up as she nodded.
“Fern, Elise, your mother is right. It’s time you took yourselves off to bed. Charlie, you can have a proper drink and tell me
more about your father.”
I stood, holding out my hand for Fern, who took it, squeezing it tightly as she got up too. “Thank you, judge, but I’m not
drinking at the moment. It’s not good for my vocal cords. Also, I’d much rather be taking care of Fern than talking about my
father.”
Fern laughed. Not the fake laugh I’d been hearing all night, but a loud, ugly belly laugh that made everyone turn to stare at her
as if she’d committed a hideous crime.
“We’re in the guest suite, so knock when you get up in the morning, Ferny, and then we can go wake Ari together. She’ll be so
happy to see you.”
Fern smiled, while I couldn’t help but notice how angry James looked, his hand curling into a fist on the table and his jaw
hardening; I decided there and then that I needed to keep an eye on this dick as he was not a good man.
“Thank you for dinner,” I said, remembering my manners before Fern and I left the room and headed back upstairs, neither of
us saying a word until our room door was closed and locked.
 Chapter 6

Charlie

“What the fuck? You went to Eton and your dad is Lord Welch? You didn’t think to tell me that before we arrived here?”
I perched on the end of the bed, kicking my boots off. “We talked for fifteen minutes on the plane before you ignored me and
it’s not something I share very often, but fuck, it felt good to put James in his place.”
“It was so good to watch his face when he thought he’d made a contact and you shut him down.” She paused. “But you don’t
even have the same name.”
I shook my head. “Have you seen the man, heard him talk? Would you want to have the same name as him? I took my mum’s
maiden name when we got our recording contract. I don’t want to have anything to do with that man.”
Fern held onto the dresser as she slipped off her shoes.
“Please take that muck off your face. I can’t take you seriously. I feel like I’m talking to a demon doll.”
“Rude.”
“But true. You’ve got so much make up on, you don’t look like you. Go shower. Then let’s see what Neo sent us.”
“Fine,” she huffed, storming to the bathroom and slamming the door. While she was in there, I changed into some gray
sweats, leaving my chest bare because this house was hotter than hell, and grabbed my phone.
Me: I arrived, but fuck, this place is messed up.
Fox: Remember what’s at stake, C.
Me: How can I forget? You gave me the longest lecture before I left. There are other labels out there, you know.
Archer: Not one we want to be signed to. Come on. One week on your best behavior. Even you can manage that.
What’s so bad about her family, anyway?
Me: Not sure yet. I mean, they’re rich assholes, but I don’t know why she’d need protecting from that.
Fox: You’ve got this. And it will give you a chance to get to know Fern. She’s fucking amazing.
Me: You come, stay with her, and pretend to be her boyfriend then.
Fox: I tried, remember? Plus, she’s not into sharing, so that’s not ideal for my life plans.
Me: How is Lea?
Fox: Don’t!
Me: Best go. Merry Christmas, both of you. I know I’ve been a nightmare. I will make this right.
Archer: Love you, dickhead.
 Fox: Yeah, we love you. Don’t let your dad ruin your life anymore, C. It’s time to take back control. Tell Fern we said
hi.
The sound of the door opening brought my attention from my phone back to the room. A groan almost spilled from my lips as
I found Fern standing across from me dressed in light blue shorts and a matching short sleeved top. She was toned, her long
legs went on forever, her stomach was flat, but she had curves in all the right places; wide hips, a narrow waist, and her ample,
pert breasts, her hard nipples outlined through the thin material, making me wonder whether she was wearing underwear. Her
face was free from make up, she had her glasses on and her wet hair was braided into two long plaits that hung over her
shoulders.
My brain was misfiring… it had to be because why else would I be looking at her, thinking the thoughts I was thinking?
Which were anything but decent.
God, I need a drink.
Grabbing a pillow from behind me, I pressed it over my crotch to hide my swelling cock. “Better.” I coughed. “You look like
you again.”
She sat on the side of the bed, picking something invisible off her shorts, avoiding looking at me. “Sorry about dinner. It was
awful.”
“Yeap,” I reply flatly, making her laugh.
“Don’t sugarcoat your feelings, Charlie,” she replied as she finally looked at me.
“Never do, Princess.”
“Please don’t call me that. I hate this as much as you do.”
I winked. “I know. I can see that. Do me a favor, though. As I’ve stepped in to save you this week, you owe me.”
Worry flickered over her face. “Go on.”
“No more Stepford wife. The clothes, the make up, the shrinking to let the men around here steal all the space to make
themselves look like the bigger people. I’ve been around this crap growing up and I hated it. I can’t watch you like this for a
week. I don’t even know you that well and I can see you’re worth so much more.”
She shrugged. “You have no idea. I’m expected to be a certain way. It’s all I’ve ever been told.”
“But is this what you want… this life?”
“Hell no!” she cried, looking almost feral with anger. “I don’t want to be here. I don’t want to come back here ever again. I
don’t want to play the part they molded me into my whole life.”
“So why do it? If you don’t care, why do it? The clothes, the make up, the different voice—”
“I don’t have a different voice,” she argued.
I did my best impression of her at dinner; quiet, softly spoken, simpering. She ripped a pillow from the bed, slamming it
against my body. “I do not sound like that…” The pillow dropped from her hold. “Fuck. Did I sound like that?”
I nodded.
She fell back against the sheets, covering her face with her hands. “It’s a long and complicated story,” she mumbled against
her palms. Trying to ease her obvious discomfort, I laid down next to her, staring up at the dated canopy of the four-poster bed.
Relaxing slightly, she lowered her hands to her stomach. “Honestly, I’ve been so worried about coming home that I couldn’t
think about anything else. My outfit today… it was easier to go with what I knew than cause a problem.”
I rolled on my side, pushing my hands under my cheek, my eyes fixed on her profile. “Trust me, it’s easier to fight your
corner when you feel like yourself. What would the badass head of communications for the Gods of Melody label think about
the Fern I escorted to dinner tonight?”
Fern shook her head. “She’d hate it. She’d pull me into the bathroom and give me a good talking to.”
“So why do it?” I asked, tugging gently on her elbow so she was forced to turn and look at me. I wondered if it should feel
awkward to be lying so close together, but it felt weirdly easy. My usually coiled tight, full of energy body seemed to relax
around her, but I tried not to think about what that meant because this was one week out of my life and nothing more.
Her eyes locked with mine as she mirrored my position. “I was always told I wouldn’t amount to much. If I was lucky, I’d be
someone’s wife. That’s all I was good for. I guess being back here has just opened a whole heap of unresolved childhood
trauma that a therapist would have a field day with.” She shook her head as if she’d just realized how fucked up her words
sounded.
“Hey, I’m not one to blow smoke up your ass because I’m way too self-involved for that crap, but you are worth so much
more. Look at what you’ve achieved. Look at how important you are to the label. Your family’s opinion of you is not the only
thing you need to measure your worth. So, promise me—no more scary hair bun, no more middle aged lady clothes and no
more make up thick enough that I can write my name in it. If you’re here, even though you don’t want to be, be here on your
terms. Trust me, it makes it way more fun.”
She rolled her bottom lip between her teeth as she thought about my words.
“They’ll hate me for not conforming.”
“Do you care?”
She shook her head slowly.
“Well, then…”
“Well, then, I guess we’re going rogue together.”
 Fern

I didn’t know how long I’d been lying on the bed talking to Charlie before I noticed what he was wearing. Or should I say,
what he wasn’t. As he stood, I pushed myself up as well, gasping as I took him in.
Charlie was dressed in just some sweats, which gave me a chance to look at his famous tattoos. Famous because the women
he’d slept with were obsessed with taking pictures and posting them all over social media.
A snake wrapped along his collarbone, making it look like it coiled through his skin. A huge sun covered his shoulder with
rays that extended across his pec made up of hundreds of tiny symbols that must have taken days to ink. On his hand, between
his thumb and index finger, was a series of notes that climbed to his wrist. But the one that pulled the gasp from my lips was the
one I’d never seen.
His back was covered in an enormous tree; branches reached across his shoulders, covered in new shoots as if spring was
bringing it back to life. Its thick, gnarly trunk ran down his spine and roots covered his lower back, disappearing beneath the
waistband of his sweats. It was stunning. I’d never been with a man with even one tattoo, never mind a body full—although
you’re not getting with this man either, Fern. Pull yourself together.
As he turned back toward me, I knew I shouldn’t stare, but I took a moment to take in the curve of his biceps, his thick corded
forearms, his hairless chest, and the perfectly stacked indent of his abs. I let my eyes dip lower, trying to hide my blush, when I
saw the clear outline of his cock pressing against his joggers.
Trying to shake my new obsession of staring at his perfect body, I focused on our conversation. Charlie might be a selfish
dick normally, but his words tonight made sense. I shouldn’t conform to make my family happy when they didn’t give two shits
about my feelings, and I didn’t care if they threw me out or cut me off. And dressing like myself would give me more protection
from James. I couldn’t be the old, weak version of me and stand up to him, but the new Fern—the one I’d spent six years
crafting—she could face off with him and make sure he knew his place.
Oblivious to my staring, Charlie held out his hand. “Come on, Princess. Let’s see what goodies are in those trunks.” I placed
my palm in his and let him lead me across the room.
 Chapter 7

Charlie

I woke feeling weird. I knew I was in a strange bed, in a strange house, but something else felt off.
It was Fern’s hair brushing against my chest that I noticed first. Then I felt her warm skin under my palm as I realized it was
pressed to her stomach, where it had buried itself under her top, settling inches away from her breasts. At some point in the
night, I’d wrapped myself around Fern, pulling her to me like I needed her to stay afloat.
I thought about moving. I probably should have. Especially since my morning wood was nestled against her ass. But I didn’t.
Instead, I closed my eyes and breathed in her vanilla scent and let my body relax for the first time in… well, maybe in forever.
I must have fallen back asleep because when I woke again, Fern was walking out of the bathroom wearing some white
leggings and an oversized Cosmic God sweater.
“Happy Christmas,” she beamed.
“Happy Christmas, Princess.”
“Come on, get up. I have a niece to spoil. Can you give me a hand with her presents? You might want to put a top on. If your
shirt caused a stir last night, your tattooed chest is going to cause someone to have a heart attack,” she laughed, pushing her
glasses up her nose.
I jumped out of bed and pulled a t-shirt and a hoodie from the case I’d not bothered to unpack, tugging them on before
following her from the room. As we closed the door, we heard raised voices from down the hall. Before we could work out
what Elise was saying to an angry sounding James, a young blond woman appeared in front of us, carrying a little girl in her
arms. She was already wearing a dress, with a giant red bow clipped into her thin, short, fair hair, even though it wasn’t even 7
am.
“Ari,” Fern cried, reaching her arms out to her niece, but the tiny person wasn’t impressed; her lip wobbling before she burst
into tears.
“We’ve only ever met over Zoom or Facetime,” Fern sighed sadly.
As I looked between a heartbroken Fern and a sobbing baby, the shouting in the bedroom got louder, so I pointed to the
stairs. “Why don’t we go see if Santa’s been?” I suggested, wrapping my hand in Fern’s and dragging her with me.
The sound of a thud made my body seize, but Fern didn’t seem to notice, so I decided to focus on the problem at hand, rather
than stepping into a situation I had no right to get involved in… yet.
At the bottom of the stairs, Fern led me to a less formal living room with three huge sofas all facing a fireplace that was
already lit, and a huge Christmas tree decorated with white lights. Ari was still unsettled, obviously overwhelmed by the early
start and the unfamiliar situation. She looked at me with her big brown, tear filled eyes and I couldn’t help pulling a silly face.
She paused, unsure how to react, so I pulled another one, reaching for her feet and tickling them. She giggled, and the sound
was so addictive that I did it again, pulling a louder noise from her. The nanny looked relieved, handing her over and then
virtually running from the room.
“You’re used to being around babies?” Fern asked, sitting on the floor near the gifts we’d brought down.
“Nope. Never been near one, but Archer is a baby at heart, so I just pretended she was him.”
Fern laughed, making Ari turn with interest to find the source of the noise. When she realized it was Fern, she wriggled in my
arms until I put her down and she crawled the short distance to Fern. Pulling herself up on Fern’s arm, Ari stood on wobbly
legs, offering a gummy smile.
“Pass me that red present,” she instructed, pointing at a large box.
I pulled it over, and the three of us tore off the wrapper. Inside was a rocking unicorn that made Ari scream with delight, and
the focus of our attention for the next thirty minutes was rocking this tiny person on it until she overflowed with happiness.
“What’s going on?” a voice boomed out behind us, making a happy Fern and a contented Ari both freeze.
I looked up from my spot on the floor, finding James towering over us, dressed in a suit, shirt, and dress shoes as if he was
heading to the office.
“Santa came. Merry Christmas,” I replied, while still rocking Ari.
“Where’s the nanny?”
“She’s fine with us. I’m her aunt,” Fern barked, glaring at him.
“Not bothering to dress for breakfast, I see Fe. I think your boyfriend is a bad influence. Thank God you came home, so we
can remind you how you should behave.”
No one spoke for a moment, and then Elise's arrival broke the tension.
“Happy Christmas,” Fern declared as she stood, holding her hands out for her sister. As she got closer, her face twisted
before she ran her fingers along her sister’s jaw. “What the hell happened? I can see you’ve tried to hide it.”
Elise shook her head. “I tripped last night in the dark. Honestly, since Ari, I’m so clumsy. They don’t tell you that’s one of the
side effects of having children.”
Fern frowned, but her sister smiled one of those Stepford wife smiles that they seemed to teach around here. “I’m fine,” she
mouthed before turning to her daughter. “Look at you. What did Santa bring you?”
“Something ridiculous she doesn’t need,” James hissed. “I mean, what does it even do? What will she learn by rocking
backward and forward like an imbecile?”
Fern spun around to face him. “She’ll learn how to have fun. You know, that thing kids are meant to have. What is wrong with
you?”
James’ face hardened as he stepped toward her, and I watched her newly restored confidence vanish as she cowered like a
mouse in front of a hungry snake. Flicking my eyes to Elise so she would make sure Ari didn’t slip from her unicorn seat, I
stood, pulling Fern into my side, offering a united front, even though I wasn’t sure what I was protecting her from. James tutted,
storming from the room, shouting about the lack of coffee.
Elise, Fern, and I sat with Ari, opening more presents that Fern had brought in her case. Ari was so excited by the end of it
that she sat surrounded by her haul, unsure what to play with first.
“Thanks Ferny. And I’m sorry it’s taken so long for you to meet her in person. James’ job is a lot. It’s hard for us to have
spare time.”
“You live forty minutes from where I work. I would come to you. It’s never too much effort."
“James is particular. He likes Ari in a routine. He doesn’t like me having people in the house if he’s not there. He—”
“Sounds like a controlling dick,” I interrupted.
“His work is important to him. He can’t have things or people distracting him.”
“And how does that work with a baby in the house?” Fern asked, reaching for her sister’s hand, but she didn’t reply. After a
minute, Fern lifted the final gift she’d brought. “Here, I got you this.” She handed Elise a small, wrapped box.
She opened it slowly, peeking inside. The smile that spread across her face looked like the first real one I’d seen from her.
Pulling out a colorful bracelet, she held it up to take a better look. “Did you make this?”
“I did. Just like when we were kids. You have everything, so I figured I’d make you something to remind you of me.”
“Put it on me.”
Fern tied the friendship bracelet on her sister’s wrist.
“I love it. Thank you. I used to love it when you made me these when we were kids.”
“I know.”
“I’m sorry. We didn’t get you anything. Dad and James convinced me we were too old to exchange gifts and Christmas was
for kids.”
“Hey, we’re still someone’s kids. No matter how old we get. I hope you teach Ari that.”
Elise nodded. “I promise I will.” She reached down and picked up her squealing daughter. “Did you get a unicorn from
Santa? How lucky are you?”
Just then, the ridiculous meal bell rang out, and we all made our way to breakfast.
 Fern

“Can you call for the nanny and remove the baby, so we can eat?” James barked as he shook out a napkin and placed it in his
lap.
“Why can’t she eat with us?” Charlie asked.
“Because babies are noisy and messy and not meant to be seated at the table,” he replied without a pause.
“It’s Christmas. I’m sure no one minds,” he argued.
“Well, I do. It’s not the way we do things around here. I’m not sure what you’re used to doing with your father, but we like
things to be a certain way.”
Charlie’s body language changed at the mention of his dad, but it didn’t stop him voicing his opinion.
“I was the kid who got shipped off to eat lunch or dinner away from the adults. Be careful, James, because one day, that little
girl will grow up and be a queen, in charge of an army or multimillion-pound business, and she won’t give you the time of
day.”
James’ anger spiked, and he slammed his hand on the table, making Ari burst into tears as the nanny lifted her from Elise’s
arms. “Do not tell me how to raise my own child. What gives you the right?”
Charlie held up his hands before thanking the maid, who filled his coffee as we all started another awkward meal.
As I finished eating, I placed my knife and fork down on the white bone china plate and Charlie reached for my hand, leaning
his mouth to my ear. “You wanna get out of here and go for a walk? You never know, we might get mauled by a bear, which
would be less painful than this.”
I tried to hide the laugh that threatened to spill from my lips, nodding. “We’re going for a walk. We’ll be back for lunch,” I
announced, feeling James’ eyes on me as we stood.

Back in our room, we both changed separately in the bathroom, layering up in the winter clothes Neo sent before stepping out
into the freezing Scottish air.
I pushed my sunglasses up my nose to hide my eyes from the bright sun reflecting off the untouched snow. I’d hated coming
here as a teenager—separated from my friends, no phone signal, stuck with my parents and whatever staff they’d brought with
them. But now, seeing it through adult eyes, I loved it. Not the house; which was too big and cold, but the space the house
occupied, which was stunning.
“Come on.” I started to walk and Charlie followed, muttering something about how his balls would go blue from the cold
that I chose to ignore.
We walked for about ten minutes in total silence before Charlie let out a giant sigh.
“You good?” I asked, turning to find him with a huge smile on his face that I wasn’t expecting.
 “The silence is nice. I don’t get much of it these days.”
I scoffed. “You’re in a rock band, so I don’t expect you do. You’re a noisy trio.”
His eyes narrowed. “I know you might think I’m this Zen, in control, man, but my head is a loud place to be.”
I wanted to laugh as he was anything but Zen, but I sensed the super-confident Charlie Wyatt was showing me a glimmer of
vulnerability with those words.
“You live alone, don’t you?” I asked finally, the sound of our feet crunching in the snow punctuating our conversation.
“I do.”
“So, don’t you get time then… I mean, time to be alone?”
“I get to be alone, but that doesn’t mean it’s quiet.”
“Ah yes, I forgot… singer in a band, man whore, party king. You must have people over all the time.” I hated how judgmental
I sounded, but it was exactly how he appeared to the world and he’d never given me a reason to think any differently about him.
Charlie didn’t reply, but even without looking at him, I could feel the shift. Anger saturated the air, and I was glad when we
broke through the trees and arrived at the loch. Despite his mood, he gasped as he took in the mirror-like flat surface of this
huge expanse of water.
“Wow, this place is stunning.”
“It’s great for swimming in,” I said, taking off my sunglasses and folding them into my pocket.
“Fuck off if you think I’m getting in there in this weather.” He laughed, the tension seemingly slipping from his body.
“Wuss.”
“Nope, just don’t want to lose my toes or have any other appendages falling off because they get too cold.”
This time it was me who laughed.
“Suits you, princess.”
I frowned.
“The smile. The natural look. The glint that’s in your eye that I’ve only ever seen when you’re berating some poor soul at
work. Relaxed is a good look on you.”
I blushed, hoping he didn’t notice.
He winked. “Blushing suits you too.”
“Fuck off,” I whispered, turning my attention back to the loch. “What did you mean before… about the noise?”
He huffed. “You mean when you insulted me?”
“Yeah, sorry about that. Although, if my opinion of you is wrong, it’s because you’ve done a really good job at spinning that
lie.”
“Man whore, I hold my hands up to and party king. But I don’t have people other than Archer and Fox in my home.”
“Oh,” I let out, not sure where this was going. “Shall we keep walking? It’s too cold to stand still for long.”
We followed the curve of the loch, the lapping of the water on the shore offering a quiet instrumental to our conversation.
“My parents got divorced when I was four. Dad used his money and power to prove that Mum was unfit and won full custody
of me. He didn’t really want me. Winning was just his thing. She wasn’t allowed to see me. I didn’t have any contact with her
until I was twenty-one. My dad threatened her with all sorts to keep her away from me. He has no idea that she’s back in my
life.”
“And what would he do if he knew?”
“Who knows? He’s a powerful man. She has her own business. I have two little brothers. He could ruin her, I guess. And
knowing the sperm donor, he’d do it just because he could.”
“Shit. That’s messed up.”
“This is the man who won custody of me and then sent me to boarding school when I was five. He used to tell me it would
make me a man and teach me what I needed to win in the world. What it actually taught me was insomnia, how to fight, where
to score the best drugs, and that I have a noisy head that struggles to switch off. That’s what I meant about how loud it is being
me.”
I stopped, turning to look at him. “And I was a complete bitch.”
“Pretty much,” he murmured with a small curl of a smile.
I started walking again, thinking he was beside me, but then I heard my name. Turning, there was a whoosh of air before a
powdery snowball hit me in the face, disintegrating on impact.
“Hey,” I squealed. “Not fair!”
“Why not?” he questioned, bending to pound more snow into another ball
“You’re supposed to give me notice if you’re going to throw snowballs.”
“What the fuck? That is the opposite of what you’re meant to do. Let me guess. That’s your family’s stupid rule?”
I chewed my bottom lip. “Maybe.”
“Well,” he paused. “That's not the point of a snowball fight.” Raising his arm, he threw it, hitting me straight in the face.
“You asked for this,” I cried, bending down to make my own snowy weapons, hurling them at him until we were both
Another random document with
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antanut tuon tytön lähteä talollesi, ei Lesiäkaan pelastamaan
kuolemasta. Sinä olet pettänyt äidin, samoin kuin olet tehnyt kaikille
muillekin ympäristössäsi, paitsi minulle!

"Minä olen ollut perillä sinusta koko ajan, Lattimer. Olen pitänyt
silmällä sekä sinua, että Miss Hamiltonia koko ajan kun hän on ollut
talossasi. Näin sinun lähettävän Denverin etelään Miss Hamiltonin
tulon edellisenä päivänä, kuljettaen kuormastoa, jota aioit käyttää
konnuuksiisi Panya Cachissa. Olin vähällä eksyä jäljiltäsi, kun läksit
eilen illalla, mutta löysin ne jälleen ja olen nyt tässä sanomassa
sinulle, että sinä et vie tätä tyttöä kanssasi!"

Hämmästyneenä Ben Whitmanin sanojen johdosta nousi

Josephine horjuen jojoilleen. Hän näki molempien miesten seisovan
liikkumattomina. Sitten tarttui Ben Whitman kotkan kynsiä
muistuttavilla sormillaan kuusipiippuiseensa. Suuri ase oli jo
puolivälissä esillä kotelostaan, kun Lattimerin kyljen kohdalla välähti
salama, joka näytti menevän suoraan Whitmanin rinnan läpi. Hän
näki Whitmanin suoristautuvan, horjuvan, suoristautuvan uudelleen
ja kääntyvän sivuttain Lattimeriin, joka seisoi katsellen häntä
pilkallinen hymy huulillaan. Sitten Whitmanin polvet alkoivat
omituisesti notkahdella ja hän kaatui kasvot edellä hiekkaan.

Lattimer kumartui hänen ylitseen tarkaten häntä ase kädessä.

"Luulenpa, että tiesit liian paljon, Ben", sanoi hän.

Sitten hän hitaasti pani aseensa koteloon takaisin ja kääntyi

Josephineä kohti, joka seisoi järkytettynä murhenäytelmästä, jonka
todistajaksi hän äkkiä oli joutunut ja katsoi lumottuna sen suorittajaa.
 "Nouskaa hevosen selkään, Miss Hamilton", sanoi Lattimer astuen
häntä kohti. "Meillä on vielä pitkä matka edessämme."

Kuudeskolmatta luku.

Ennenkuin Cole Meederin ääni oli hukkunut tyhjän karjatalon

hiljaisuuteen, oli Brannon tointunut hämmästyksestään
huomatessaan, että Lattimer, Artwell ja Miss Hamilton olivat
lähteneet talosta. Silmänräpäyksessä oli hän myös oivaltanut, että
Cole Meeder ja hänen miehensä eivät enää aikoneet viivyttää
tuomion toimeenpanoa. Heille riitti yllin kyllin Artwellin ja Lattimerin
puuttuminen talosta todistukseksi siitä, että Brannon oli valehdellut
siinä toivossa, että viivytys tuottaisi hänelle jonkin mahdollisuuden
päästä pakoon.

Cole Meederin pilkallinen selitys Lattimerin ja Miss Hamiltonin

poissaoloon sai hänet irvistelemään hieman happamasti. Hän avasi
suunsa nauraakseen ja katsoi hieman hämmästyneenä miehiään,
sillä hän tiesi, että hän vastaisuudessa saisi sulattaa monta kompaa
heidän puoleltaan siitä, että hän niin helposti oli antanut Brannonin
vetää itseään nenästä ja siten aiheuttanut tuomion toimeenpanon
lykkäyksen.

Kun Meederin aivot taasen olivat saavuttaneet tavallisen

toimintakykynsä, huomasi hän makaavansa selällään porstuan
lattialla, aavistamatta vähääkään miten hän siihen oli joutunut.
Hänen kuusipiippuisensa oli kymmenkunnan jalan päässä hänestä
maassa ja Brannon seisoi suuri aseensa jäykkänä kädessä porstuan
pielessä, silmät kohdistettuina Starin miehiin, jotka seisoivat
liikkumattomina, kädet taivasta kohden.

Meeder oli luonnollisesti ollut tyhmä ruvetessaan koittosille

Brannonin kanssa, sen hän nyt selvästi tajusi. Hän oli kyllä tiennyt,
että Brannon oli salamannopea ampuja ja hän oli kuullut mainittavan
hänen tyyneyttään ja kekseliäisyyttään kaikissa pulmissa, mitä
hänen eteensä oli sattunut, mutta hän ei sittenkään voinut arvata,
että Brannon oli niin kylmä, tyyni ja teräksinen, jollaisena hän nyt oli
esiintynyt.

"Pojat, te olette liian hätäisiä johtopäätöksissänne", kuuli hän

Brannonin sanovan. "Minä vaadin, että te uskotte minua, kun sanon
etten ampunut Tim Callahania. Ja minä aion saada teidät uskomaan
sen, vaikka minun pitäisi ampua se teidän kalloihinne!

"Tästälähin johdan minä tutkimusta. Minä en aio antaa teidän

hirttää itseäni, jotta sitte elämänikänne saisitte katua tekoanne. Les
Artwell oli täällä. Miss Hamilton oli täällä. Lattimer on vienyt heidät
pois. Ja me aiomme löytää heidät. Mutta ennenkuin käännämme
laivamme täältä, haemme esiin Triangle L:n satulan, joka oli Billyn
selässä silloin kuin Artwell sillä ratsasti tänne. Sen löytäminen on
todistava teille, pojat, että ainakin osa kertomustani on
totuudenmukainen."

Hän valitsi yhdellä silmäyksellä miehen joukosta. Mies oli hänelle

tuttu ja hän hypähti kuullessaan Brannonin äänen jylisevän.

"Latson", sanoi Brannon, "laske kätesi alas — hitaasti — ja ota

aseesi huolellisesti peukalon ja etusormen väliin. Juuri niin. Pidä sitä
nyt sillä tavalla ja laske se tuohon hietikolle porstuan pieleen. Ja
lähde nyt hakemaan Tringle L:n satulaa."
 Latson totteli viipymättä ja katosi Brannonin selän takana olevasta
ovesta sisään.

Brannon riisui sitten muut miehet aseista, samaa keinoa käyttäen

kuin ensimmäiseenkin nähden. Hän jakeli käskyjään verkalleen,
karun huumorin väike silmissään, mutta Starin miehet tajusivat, että
heidän oli oltava varuillaan ja hillittävä itsensä.

Brannonin nyt ottama asenne oli vakuuttavampi kuin hänen

äskeinen rauhallinen alistuvaisuutensa. Oli selvää, että hän oli
valmis taisteluun, näyttääkseen viattomuutensa toteen. Nykyisessä
edullisessa asemassaan olisi hän saattanut vangita joka miehen
Starin joukosta ja ratsastaa tiehensä vieden heidän hevosensa
mennessään.

Koska Cole Meeder ei ollut saanut mitään käskyä nousta, makasi

hän yhä selällään kuistin lattialla ja käänteli päätään puoleen ja
toiseen seuratakseen Brannonin ja muitten miesten liikkeitä. Hän
naurahti hämillään huomatessaan, ettei Brannonilla ollut paon
aikeita.

"Brannon", sanoi hän, "ethän aikone käyttää tilaisuutta

hyväksesi?"

"Meeder" vastasi Brannon, "sinä et ole koskaan uskonut että minä

olisin ampunut Tim Callahania takaapäin."

"Jos se ajatus on ensinkään ollutkaan päässäni, niin on se nyt

sieltä täydelleen lähtenyt, Brannon. Jos antaisit minun nousta
istumaan, jotta voisin paremmin käyttää leukojani niin puhuisin
mielelläni pari sanaa miehilleni."
 Hänen noustessaan palasi Latson, kantaen satulaa. Hän pudotti
sen kuistin permannolle ja kysymättä Brannonin suostumusta
kerääntyivät kaikki miehet, niiden joukossa Meederkin, satulan
ympärille.

Brannon astui pari askelta kauemmaksi, ollakseen varuillaan, sillä

hän tiesi, että miesten lapsellinen uteliaisuus saattoi sangen pian
vaihtua epäluuloksi.

Satula oli Billyn. Triangle L:n merkki toisessa mahavyössä oli

mykkänä todistajana sen kotoperästä. Siinä asiassa Brannonin
kertomus siis oli totuudenmukainen ja miesten kasvoilla alkoi näkyä
hämmästyneitä ilmeitä.

"Näyttää todelta ja asianmukaiselta", tokaisi joku joukosta.

"Taisimme hieman sotkea asioita", tuumi toinen häpeissään.

"Veripilkut tallin ovessa ja nyt satula —"

"Kun ei mies lähde karkuun, vaikka on erinomainen tilaisuus

siihen, on se minusta parempi todistus kuin satulat ja muut",
keskeytti Cole Meeder. "Luulen, että olemme olleet —." Hän pysähtyi
ja jäi suu auki tuijottamaan aukeamaan, joka oli kuistin ja karja-
aitauksen välissä.

Huomattuaan hänen ilmeisen hämmästyksensä kääntyivät

muutkin katsomaan samaan suuntaan, paitsi Brannon, joka peläten
jotakin juonta heidän puoleltaan, piti heitä silmällä.

Mutta Meeder ei ajatellut mitään kepposta.

Aitauksen ja rakennuksen välillä tuli esiin hevonen ja selässä istui

suorana Ben Whitman. Hänen edessään riippui kasvot alaspäin
toinen mies, kädet heiluen velttoina toisella ja jalat roikkuen toisella
puolella hevosta.

"Whitman!" huudahti Meeder. Porstuan luona seisova ryhmä jäi

odottamaan Whitmanin tuloa. Hän tuli kymmenen jalan päähän
kuistilta ja pysäytti hevosensa siihen ja nyt näkivät miehet, että hän
oli kalpea kuin aave ja että hän horjahteli hieman satulassa.

Mutta hänen kasvoillaan näkyi pilkallinen hymy.

"Taidatte etsiä Artwelliä, vai kuinka", sanoi hän, naurahtaen

lyhyeen.
"Tulitte tänne hieman liian myöhään, pojat.

"Tämä on Les Artwell. Hän on minun omaisuuttani nyt, pojat. Aion

viedä hänet kotiin — kotiin, äitinsä luo! Älkää pojat koskeko häneen."

Hänen äänensä soi uhkaavalta ja hän laski oikean kätensä

pistoolin perälle vetäen sen puolitiehen ulos. Sitten hän alkoi
horjahdella kovasti, lysähti satulan nuppia vasten ja putosi siitä
sivuttain tiedottomana, miesten juostessa hänen avukseen, Brannon
etummaisena.

Seitsemäskolmatta luku.

Josephine Hamiltonin ollessa Lattimerin karjatalolla hoitamassa

Les Artwellia olisi Betty Lawsonilla ollut yllin kyllin aikaa kasvatella
suuttumustaan vierastaan kohtaan. Mutta sitä hän ei tehnyt.
 Hän karkoitti päättävästi koko riidan ajatuksistaan arvellen, että
Josephine oli heikkona hetkenä erehtynyt ja tuntien hyvin vieraansa
luonteen, odotti hän, että tämä jonakin päivänä ratsastaisi Triangle
L:ään ja sopisi hänen kanssaan.

Mutta Brannonia hän ei helposti voinut saada ajatuksistaan.

Luonnollisesti hän mielellään luovutti hänet Josephinelle, jos
Brannon kerran piti hänestä enemmän, mutta hän oli varma siitä,
ettei hän koskaan tulisi entiselleen sen iskun perästä. Hän vakuutti
itselleen uhmaavalla itsetyydytyksellä, ettei hän halunnut itselleen
miestä, jonka perässä hänen täytyisi "juosta" ja vaikka hän
tavattomasti kaipasi Brannonia, ei hän halunnut häntä, jos hänen
täytyisi ilmaista hänelle pitävänsä hänestä.

Mutta huolimatta päätöksestään unehuttaa kaikki, tuntuivat

Brannonin etelään lähtöä seuraavat päivät pitkiltä, ikäviltä ja
alakuloisilta.

Chong ikävystytti häntä, karjatalo tuntui hänestä synkältä ja

vastenmieliseltä. Ulkomaailma teki hänestä pilkkaa, suhtautumalla
niin kirkkaan tyynesti ja hymyilevän välinpitämättömästi hänen
rinnassaan raivoavaan myrskyyn ja sattuipa silloin tällöin, että hän
seisoi suurella kuistilla ja katseli avaralle arolle sumuisen
kyynelverhon läpi, purren huuhaan, estääkseen nyyhkytysten esille
pääsyn.

Hänen päätöksensä lähteä Willetiin pohjautui vastustamattomaan

seuran kaipuuseen tai ainakin haluun nähdä omaan rotuunsa
kuuluvia ihmisiä. Chongin hymyilevä naama ja hänen orjamainen ja
mielistelevä käytöksensä tympäisi häntä. Hänen oma mielialansa oli
liian sotaisa, jotta hän olisi kestänyt Triangle L:n yli laskeutunutta
suunnatonta yksinäisyyttä.
 Hän otti itse kiinni hevosensa, valjasti ne ajoneuvojensa eteen ja
ajoi
Willetiin, saapuen sinne iltamyöhällä.

Heti perillepäästyään huomasi hän, ettei hän vähintäkään ollut

halunnut tulla sinne.

Kaupungin unelias ilma tuntui aivan luihin ja ytimiin, sen likaisuus

kammotti häntä, sen mökkirähjät kiusasivat häntä ja sen ihmiset
herättivät hänessä ivallisia ajatuksia ja viidoin selvisi hänelle, että
Brannonia hän kaipasi nähdäkseen eikä suinkaan kaupunkia!

Mutta hän jaksoi kestää Willetiä aamuun saakka. Päivän

sarastaessa hän nousi, pukeutui ja laskeutui hotellin rappuja alas.

Hän oli tehnyt yhden ja toisen ostoksen edellisenä iltana ja niitä

kuljetti hän nyt alas, viedäkseen ne vajaan, jossa hän asetti ne
ajoneuvoihinsa. Hän oli päättänyt lähteä Willettistä heti aamiaisen
jälkeen, mutta kulkiessaan hotellin eteisen läpi, näki hän pöydän
takana pörröisen ja tihrusilmäisen edeskäyvän kuiskuttelevan
tuttavallisesti kahden sangen epäilyttävän näköisen olion kanssa, ja
silloin päätti hän uhrata senkin huvin, jonka aamiaisen nauttiminen
siellä ehkä tarjosi.

Mutta hän ei hätäillyt, vaan kuormasi ajopelinsä rauhallisesti.

Sitten palasi hän maksamaan laskunsa. Seisoessaan pöydän
ääressä, näki hän molempien miesten vaihtavan varsin
ymmärrettäviä silmäyksiä edeskäyvän kanssa. He näyttivät
omituisen huvitetuilta ja heillä näytti selvästi olevan jotakin
tiedossaan, joka koski Bettyä. Hänen verensä kuohahti oikeutetusta
suuttumuksesta, mutta hän ei ollut huomaavinaan heidän
silmäyksiään, vaan maksoi laskunsa ja lähti ulos. Mutta ennenkuin
hän ennätti kadulle, kuuli hän toisen miehistä äänekkäästi
kuiskaavan:

"Niin — Betty Lawson. Se Idän naikkonen, jonka hän toi

mukanaan tänne, on ollut Lattimerin kanssa Lazy L:ssä kokonaisen
viikon!" Raaka naurun hohotus, joka seurasi hänen sanojaan, sai
vähältä Bettyn hyökkäämään hänen kimppuunsa.

Mutta hän hillitsi itsensä. Hän jatkoi matkaansa ja valjasti

hevosensa ja oli oikein iloinen, kun oli jo juottanut ne sekä tuonut
ostoksensa aikaisemmin alas. Hän toimi nopeasti, vaikka
näennäisesti välinpitämättömänä, sillä hän arvasi että miehet pitivät
häntä silmällä. Hän ei kuitenkaan jaksanut pidättää hehkuvaa punaa
poskiltaan ja kuulemansa oli häntä siinä määrin kauhistuttanut, että
hän olisi mielellään huutanut ääneen saadakseen helpoitusta
tuskassaan. Ja ainoastaan kerran puuhaillessaan hevostensa
kanssa puhkesi hänen tuskansa sanoiksi, kun hän melkein kyynelten
tukahuttamalla äänellä lausui: "Kirottu Lattimer!"

Hän peräytti hevoset vajasta saatuaan ne valjaisiin ja käänsi ne

sitten tallipihalle kiitettävän välinpitämättömän näköisenä, sillä hän
oli huomannut, että miehet yhä katselivat hänen touhuaan. Ja vaikka
hevoset paloivat halusta juosta, pidätti hän niitä miltei kokonaisen
mailin hiljaisessa käynnissä. Mutta sitten hän puhutteli niitä oikein
pahantapaisesti ja sanoi: "juoskaa nyt, sen kirotut."

Kahdeksaskolmatta luku.
 Lin Murray oli nukkunut rauhallisesti Cole Meederin ja toisten
Starin miesten askaroidessa Brannonin kanssa. Harmahtavat kasvot
taivasta kohti oli hän uneksinut sängyssään, sillä aikaa kuin Brannon
oli näyttänyt Starin miehille todistuskappaleitaan Les Artwellin
vierailusta Triangle L:n tallissa. Eikä hän ollut herännyt edes silloin,
kun Brannon oli ratsastanut pois Meederin ja hänen miestensä
vartioimana.

Mutta hieman myöhemmin tunsi Murray käden tukassaan, käden,

joka hieman epäystävällisesti tuuditteli hänen päätään edestakaisin.
Samalla oli hän kuulevinaan terävän äänen, jolla oli omituisen
läpitunkeva sävy ja joka hänestä jollakin tavalla tuntui tutulta.

Hän heräsi ja näki harmin sekaiseksi hämmästyksekseen Betty

Lawsonin hehkuvat ja päättäväiset silmät edessään ja tunsi vieläkin
hiusmartonsa kirvelevän hänen armottomasta käsittelystään.

"Hei, laske helkkarissa irti", kiljasi hän vastalauseeksi. "Miksi vedät

minua tukasta sillä tavalla?"

"Nouse ylös sitten ja kuule mitä sanon, senkin tuhannen unikeko",

sanoi
Betty pahantuulisena. "Mitä sinä täällä teet? Missä Brannon on? Mitä
Cole Meeder ja hänen miehensä täältä hakivat? Mitä he tahtoivat?
Mihin
he menivät Brannonin kanssa?"

"Huh."

Murray oli mennyt maata vaatteet yllä ja hän pyörähti nyt istumaan
sängyn laidalle ja katseli ihmeissään Bettyä.
 "Odota hetkinen", sanoi hän otsaansa rypistäen. "Koetetaanpa
saada kysymykset selviksi. Perhana!" huudahti hän, huomaten nyt
vasta Bettyn tavattoman kiihtymyksen. "Arvaan, että jotakin on
tapahtunut!"

"Näyttää siltä kuin olisi tapahtunut mitä hyvänsä", sanoi Betty.

"Chongin puheissa ei ole päätä eikä häntää. Ainoa, minkä hänestä
saan irti, on se, että Cole Meeder ja kuusi tai seitsemän hänen
miestään oli täällä, että he uhkailivat Brannonia aseillaan, tutkivat
tallin ja sitten lähtivät Brannonin kanssa eteläänpäin."

"Nyt on helvetti tulessa!"

Murrayn katse ilmaisi pelkoa. Hänen ruma huudahduksensa

ilmaisi kaunopuheisesti hänen voimattomuutensa.

"Miksi ei Chong herättänyt minua? Miksi ei Brannon tuonut niitä

roistoja tänne, niin olisin minäkin päässyt mukaan leikkiin. Eteläänkö
he menivät?"

Murray kiinnitteli panosvyötä kupeelleen. Hän raivosi

kärsimättömyydessään, mutisi ja kiroili itsekseen.

"Minä olen koko ajan tiennyt, että jotakin oli hullusti", selitti hän,
vetäessään vyötä tiukemmalle. "Aina siitä saakka, kun näin
Brannonin taluttavan tuota Lazy L:n hevosta etelään, olen ihmetellyt
—."

"Lazy L:n hevosta!" Betty tarttui Murrayta hartioihin ja ravisti häntä

lujasti. Hänen silmänsä olivat selällään hämmästyksestä.

"Puhu Murray", käski hän, polkien jalkaansa raivokkaasti, kun

Murray avasi suunsa hämmästyneenä Bettyn tulisuudesta. "Mitä
sinä tarkoitat?"

"Lazy L:n hevosta, niin", toisti Murray. "Samana päivänä kuin Miss
Hamilton lähti, näin minä Brannonin taluttavan Lazy L:n hevosta
tuolla tallin viereisen vajan luona. Minun ja Brannonin piti lähteä
ratsastamaan miesten luo etelään sinä aamuna ja minä nukuin liian
pitkään. Brannon meni tästä ohi, kun minä hommasin vähän ruokaa
itselleni. Hän meni talliin. Näin hänen hoitelevan erästä vierasta
hevosta joka oli satuloitu. Otin isäsi antaman kaukoputken ja näin
että hevosella oli Lazy L:n polttomerkki.

"En puhunut mitään Brannonille, sillä Brannon toimi sinä aamuna

hieman viekkaasti. Otettuaan hevosen kiinni, kuljeksi hän tallin
ympärillä ja sen sisällä. Sitten hän tuli ulos taas ja vei vieraan
hevosen joen rantaan vähän matkaa alempana. Sitten kun sinä olit
lähtenyt etsimään Miss Hamiltonia, sanoi hän muuttaneensa mieltä
eikä lähtenytkään miesten luo.

"Lähdin yksin matkaan; Brannon ratsasti etelään, Lattimerin

karjataloa kohti, vieden mukanaan Lazy L:n hevosen." Murray oli nyt
saanut vyönsä tyydyttävän kireälle ja kysyi Bettyltä ihmettelevin
ilmein:

"'Mitä luulet hänen tehneen Lattimerin hevosella?'

"'Se on kysymys, jonka aion saada selville, Murray', vastasi Betty.

Hänen kiihtymyksensä oli äkkiä mennyt ohi. Hänen kasvonsa olivat
kalpeat ja hänen huulensa puristuneet päättävästi yhteen.

"'Satuloi kaksi hevosta, Murray'", käski hän. "Luulen, että joku on

saatava puhumaan totuus ja minusta tuntuu kuin se olisi Lattimer!"
 Yhdeksäskolmatta luku.

Kun Brannon ennätti Ben Whitmanin luo, putosi tämä hiljaa hänen
käsivarsilleen. Starin miehet olivat aivan hänen takanaan ja yhdessä
he sitten kantoivat hänet kuistille, johon he hänet oikaisivat ja sitoivat
hänen haavansa.

Lattimerin kuula oli mennyt suoraan rinnan läpi, mutta niin

korkealta, että Meeder, joka ensimmäisenä tutki häntä, selitti, ettei se
ollut vahingoittanut keuhkoja ja että Whitmanilla oli hyvinkin suuri
mahdollisuus jäädä elämään.

"Hän on menettänyt paljon verta", sanoi hän, "ja hän on sen vuoksi
perin voimaton. Luulen olevan parasta, että joku pojista lähtee
tuulena kaupunkiin hakemaan lääkäriä. Artwell ei tarvitse lääkäriä",
lisäsi hän kulmiaan rypistäen.

"Artwell ei ole vielä kuollut, mutta ei ole kaukanakaan siitä",

huomautti eräs Starin miehistä, joka oli auttanut Artwellin
nostamisessa hevosen selästä.

Eräs Starin mies ratsasti jo täyttä neliä kaupunkiin. Meeder ei

vastannut mitään äskeisen miehen huomautukseen Artwellin tilasta,
vaan seurasi katseellaan kaupunkiin ratsastavaa lehmäpaimenta.
Hieman itään Starin miehestä nousi tomupilvi, ja sen edessä tuli
heitä kohti kaksi ratsastajaa täyttä neliä.

"Saamme seuraa", ilmoitti Meeder.

Brannon, joka puuhaili Whitmanin ääressä, kääntyi katsomaan

tulijoita.
 "Betty Lawson ja Lin Murray", sanoi hän järkkymättömän
levollisena.

Whitman, jota kylmät kääreet ja pienet annokset vettä, jonka

Brannon oli onnistunut vuodattamaan hänen kurkkuunsa, olivat
virkistäneet, alkoi palata tajuihinsa. Hän avasi silmänsä, koetti
nousta istumaan ja onnistuikin siinä, työntäen päättävästi Brannonin
estelevän käden syrjään.

Hän katseli ympärilleen, näki erään Starin miehen puuhailevan

Artwellin ääressä ja toisten miesten seisovan ympärillä äänettöminä.
Hän hymyili riutuneesti.

"Les ei toinnu, arvelen", sanoi hän.

"Les on kohta valmis", vastasi Starin mies juhlallisesti.

Whitmanin hymy muuttui surulliseksi.

"Hän näytti minusta siltä", sanoi hän. "Ja kun hän lähtee tällä
tavalla, on se hieman helpompaa — hänen äidilleen. Antakaa hänen
—" Hän pysähtyi ja huomasi, että hänen keskeneräinen pyyntönsä
oli aiheuttanut täydellisen hiljaisuuden ja että kaikki katsoivat
hämmästyneinä häneen.

"Luulenpa, ettette pojat tienneet, että Lesillä oli äiti", sanoi hän ja
nyt hänen katseensa oli kohdistunut Betty Lawsoniin, joka oli
laskeutunut satulasta, ja tullut kyllin lähelle, jotta hän saattoi hyvin
kuulla hänet.

"Lesilla oli äiti, todellakin", lisäsi hän, katsoen Bettyyn. "Les oli vain
niin kateellinen ja itsepäinen, ettei hän tahtonut hänestä paljoakaan
puhua. Hänen äitinsä on minunkin äitini. Hän on minun velipuoleni.
Les on vaikeasti haavoittunut, Betty. Hän kuolee, varmasti. Äiti ei
olisi tahtonut, että Les olisi tullut hirtetyksi. Luulen että Les puhuisi,
jos koettaisitte häntä virkistää hieman. Hän yritti sitä koko ajan
matkalla tänne."

"Kuka sinua ampui, Ben?"

Se oli Betty. Hän oli työntänyt Brannonin syrjään ja silitti nyt

hellästi Ben Whitmanin otsaa.

"Satan Lattimer", vastasi Ben.

"Betty", kuiskasi hän sitten. "Luulen, että olisi parempi jos

lähettäisit nuo pojat Miss Hamiltonin jälkeen. Lattimer on saanut
hänet valtaansa. Seurasin hänen jälkiään suurelle penkereelle
saakka, eteläpuolella Boskinin kahlaamoa. Siinä hän kaatoi minut.
Luulen, että olin hieman hidas sillä hetkellä." Hänen poskensa
punastuivat hieman ja hän jatkoi yhä kuiskaten:

"Lattimerin on täytynyt sanoa Miss Hamiltonille vievänsä hänet

Laskariin. Hän koetti saada minutkin nielemään sen. Mutta hän oli
poikennut Laskarin tieltä ainakin kaksi mailia, Betty. Hän vie hänet
Panya Cacheen, jossa hänen varasjoukkonsa oleskelee."

Ben Whitman huomasi Bettyn hätkähdyksen, tulkitsi syyn siihen

oikein ja jatkoi hymyillen:

"Sangen moni on hämmästyvä, sillä Satan Lattimer on sen

varasjoukon päämies, joka on varastellut hevosia näillä mailla. Les
kuului joukkoon. Lattimer oli jollakin tavalla saanut hänet valtaansa,
luulen. Olin tiennyt jo kauan mitä miehiä Lattimer on, mutta en ole
puhunut mitään, jotta ei äiti saisi siitä vihiä. Hän olisi kärsinyt kovasti
jos hän olisi saanut tietää, että Les oli vajonnut — niin syvälle.

"Ja Lattimer on pettänyt Miss Hamiltonia — hänhän luotti häneen,

luullen häntä oikeaksi mieheksi." Whitman veti syvään henkeä,
hänen äänensä kävi heikoksi.

"Puhu Brannonille", sanoi hän heikolla äänellä. "Hän tietää missä

Panya Cache on. Hän on ainoa mies näillä seuduin, jota Lattimer
pelkää ja hän on ainoa mies tällä paikkakunnalla, joka pystyy
käsittelemään asettaan nopeammin kuin Lattimer. Hänen täytyy
kiiruhtaa — muutoin Lattimer —"

Ben Whitman sulki silmänsä. Betty seisoi suorana hänen

vieressään. Whitmanin paljastus järkytti häntä, huolimatta siitä, että
hän aikaisemminkin oli ollut vakuutettu Lattimerin rikollisesta
luonteesta, hänen säälinpuutteestaan ja hänen
häikäilemättömyydestään keinoja valitessaan. Hän muisti, että hän
oli varoittanut Josephineä Lattimerin suhteen ja näytti siltä kuin
Josephine olisi ehdoin tahdoin väheksynyt hänen varoitustaan.

Hetkeksi välähti Bettyn mielessä kostonhimoinen ajatus, nimittäin,

että Josephine sai täten rangaistuksen itsepäisyydestään. Ja heti
seurasi kiusaajan viettelevä ääni hänen sisimmässään, joka sanoi
ettei kenenkään tarvinnut tietää siitä mitään, että Lattimer oli
viemäisillään Josephinen kanssaan. Sillä kukaan muu kuin Betty ei
ollut kuullut Whitmanin kuiskausta.

Seuraavassa silmänräpäyksessä seisoi hän Brannonin edessä.

Punaista läikkää hänen poskillaan — näkyvä merkki siitä häpeästä,
jota hän tunsi siitä, että oli sallinut mustasukkaisen mielijohteen
pukeutua ajatukseksi mielessään — korosti hänen huuliensa
kalpeus.

"Brannon", sanoi hän, "Satan Lattimer vie parhaillaan Josephineä

Panya Cacheen vastoin hänen tahtoaan. Whitman kertoi minulle
juuri sen. Lattimer ampui Whitmania, kun hän koetti saada
Josephineä hänen käsistään. Jos lähdet heti hänen jälkeensä, niin
voit tavoittaa hänet ennen kuin hän ennättää Panya Cacheen.
Pelasta hänet, Brannon!"

Betty tunsi Brannonin kädet käsivarsillaan. Hänen sormensa

puristivat niitä kuin teräsvanteet. Hän saattoi tuntea kuinka
Brannonin lihakset vetäytyivät kokoon kuin solmut, pitäessään häntä
lujassa otteessaan ja kääntäessään hänet niin, että hän saattoi
nähdä Bettyä suoraan silmiin. Brannonin silmissä paloi tuli, joka
peloitti Bettyä, sillä ensi kertaa elämässään näki hän niissä
intohimon välkkeen.

"Mitä tietä Lattimer meni?" Brannonin ääni oli kylmä ja tyyni,

omituinen vastakohta hänen silmiensä palolle.

Betty kertoi hänelle.

Hetkisen piti Brannon häntä vielä, etsien hänen katsettaan.

Merkillinen, tuskin huomattava ihailun ilme oli hänen silmissään.
Sitten laski hän hänet irti ja riensi hevoselleen. Hän hyppäsi satulaan
hevosen juostessa jo täyttä vauhtia, kuurona Meederin ja toisten
miesten huudoille.

Ei kuullut Bettykään miesten huutoja. Hän näki vain mustan ratsun

ja ratsastajan, jotka kiitivät tasangolla. Hevonen lensi kuin höyhen
tuulessa.
 Betty seurasi katseellaan hevosta ja miestä yli epätasaisen,
kukkulatäyteisen seudun, yli Boskinin kahlaamon vastapäätä olevan
nousun — monta, monta mailia. Hän näki heidän taas myöhemmin
kääpiömäisinä liikkuvan ylös ja alas ja vihdoin vain nousevana
pisteenä sitä rinnettä ylös, jonka takana Whitman oli tavannut
Lattimerin. Ja kun mies ja hevonen katosivat harjanteen taakse,
kääntyi Betty ja näki Cole Meederin seisovan vieressään.

"Mitä nyt on kyseessä?" kysyi Meeder ihmeissään.

Betty kertoi hänelle kaikki ja Meeder nauroi tyytyväisenä.

"Luulen, että meidän on lähdettävä samaa tietä", sanoi hän.

"Useimpain meistä nimittäin. Jätän pari miestä tänne teidän
kanssanne. Whitman toipuu kyllä piankin, luulen. Artwell on
päättänyt tilinsä. Mutta hän puhui ensin. Sanoi tappaneensa
Callahanin. Lymyili tallissa sen jälkeen. Miss Hamilton toi hänet
sitten tänne ja hoiteli häntä."

Kolmaskymmenes luku.

Josephinen pettymys oli tullut kauhistuttavan äkkiä ja isku oli niin

raju, että hän tuskin tajusi, että Ben Whitman oli ammuttu —
murhattu ja että hänen ruumiinsa virui säälittävän liikkumattomana
aivan hänen lähellään. Hän tuijotti pitkään, velttoon ruumiiseen, joka
makasi kasvot alaspäin penkereellä. Hän näki Lattimerin seisovan
kumartuneena sen yli, savuava pistooli kädessään. Hän oli tietoinen
siitä, että Artwell makasi selällään hevosensa vieressä ja hän kuuli
Lattimerin sanat kun tämä vihdoin astui häntä kohti.
 Mutta hän ei voinut vakuuttaa itselleen todeksi, että
murhenäytelmä todella oli tapahtunut. Lattimer, kahden ihmisen
ruumiit penkereellä, hevoset, laakso, rauhallinen kuu sinitaivaalla,
kaikki näytti hänestä epätodelta, eriskummalliselta, aivan kuin unissa
tapahtuva murhenäytelmä.

Koska hänelle ei koskaan ennen ollut sellaista tapahtunut, päätti

hän, ettei sitä voinut tapahtua nytkään, ettei ihminen saattanut
ampua toista ihmistä niin raakamaisella tavalla. Se oli mahdotonta,
uskomatonta! Ja sittenkin siinä makasi Whitman, kasvot maassa
aivan hänen lähellään, murhattuna hänen läsnäollessaan! Siinähän
olivat myös Lattimer, Artwell, hevoset. Ja hänen allaan, yhä kauniina,
tyynen hiljaisena oli suunnaton laakso ja hänen yllään vaelsi
kirkkaasti loistava kuu.

Muutos, jonka hän vaistosi, koski vain häntä itseään ja nyt hän
äkkiä ymmärsi kaiken. Hän oli kuvitellut palvelevansa aatteita ja oli
koettanut muovailla niitten mukaisiksi aineksia, jotka Luoja jo oli
valmiiksi muodostanut. Hän oli koettanut, mutta oli epäonnistunut.
Hän oli vain itsepäinen, oman itsensä harhaanjohtama tyttö, joka ei
tahtonut kuulla kokemuksen puhuvan.

Betty oli hänelle puhunut ja varoittanut Lattimerista. Brannon oli

koettanut näyttää hänelle käytännössä, että hänen turhanaikaiset
ihanteensa eivät olleet kyllin kypsät, kyllin terveet, sovitettaviksi
maahan, jossa laillisuus vielä makasi kehdossaan. Brannon oli,
teräksisestä taipumattomuudestaan ja huonosti salatusta
halveksimisestaan huolimatta koettanut olla hänelle ystävä!

Brannon oli pelastanut hänet Denverin kynsistä. Betty oli

varoittanut häntä Lattimerin häikäilemättömyydestä. Hänhän oli
valmis ryöstämään naisen vuoristoon. Josephine muisti kuinka hän
oli ivallisesti suhtautunut Bettyn puheisiin, ajatellen, että hän vain oli
tahtonut korostaa kuvauksensa tehoa seudun asukkaista.

Mutta Betty oli sanonut totuuden! Lattimer antoi paraikaa hänelle

näytöksen häikäilemättömyydestään ja oli viemäisiliään juuri hänet
vuoristoon! Sinä päivänä, jona hän oli riidellyt Bettyn kanssa muka
sen vuoksi, että Betty oli epäillyt hänen sanojaan, oli hän tuntenut
ensimmäisen sykähdyttävän ilonsa uudesta riippumattomuudestaan.
Hän oli muuttunut Lännen kansalaiseksi ja oli antautunut niille
alkuperäisille vaistoilleen, jotka kauan olivat salassa kyteneet
hänessä. Hän oli pudistanut päältään entisen ympäristönsä kuluneet
ja turmeltuneet kahleet, ja hän oli päistikkaa syöksynyt takaisin
luontoon, vapautuakseen sovinnaisuuden ahtaudesta.

Pettymys oli täydellinen ja tuskallinen. Seisoessaan penkereellä

katsellen Lattimeria, joka oli pysähtynyt ja katseli häntä
miettiväisenä, tunsi hän selvästi, että luonto ei ollut määrännyt häntä
täkäläisiin oloihin. Hänen rohkeutensa oli liian raihnainen. Ja häneltä
puuttui se sielullinen karskius ja siveellinen voima, jotka olivat
tarpeen taistelussa hänen itsepäisiä mielijohteitaan vastaan ja joitten
omistaja pystyi myöntämään erehdyksensä. Hän oli ollut väärässä
koko ajan, mutta hänellä ei ollut ollut rohkeutta myöntää sitä, ei edes
itselleen.

Antaessaan alkuperäisille vaistoilleen vapaan kulun, oli hän luullut

vain sovittavansa mielikuvitustaan todellisuuteen. Hän oli
henkilökohtaisesti koettanut näytellä osaa, jonka hän sielussaan oli
luonut, siinä vakaumuksessa, että hänen oma kaipuunsa
luonnonihmisen tilaan ehdottomasti tekisi hänet pystyväksi siihen.
Se oli sitä nälkää, jota se tuntee, joka liian syvästi on eläytynyt
painetun sanan seikkailumaailmaan.