Chapter 3

3

C laire stood before Ben and the rest of the members of his band, wringing her fingers. Perhaps coming to him wasn't the best idea, but she didn't have anywhere else to go. She couldn't go to her parents because they would have freaked out. Not that Ben wasn't, but it would have been worse with them. And she didn't have any friends to turn to. Charles had alienated her from everyone. It took a few years before she realized how he slowly stopped her from seeing her friends, poisoning her mind with ideas of them using her for her brother's fame.

Now she could see that it was all a plot to get her alone. Charles did it with her family, too. And she had missed out on far too much time with them, and she wasn't about to let it happen anymore.

Only, she had forgotten that seeing her brother also meant she would have to face Jake.

Jake. Her brother's best friend, and a guy she had been in love with for most of her childhood. One night, they had gotten a little too drunk and slept together. After that, the band seemed to blow up with their fame, and he hardly had time for her anymore. She hadn't been sure if it was situational or on purpose, but they saw each other less and less, and eventually, she left the tour. That was when she met Charles.

But now she stood before the band and their manager, her brother's best friends. Boys she had grown up with. Men who were now so famous they couldn't go to a fast-food joint without being recognized. Rockstars whose photos graced the walls of many teenage girls.

"Did he do this to you?" Ben asked through clenched teeth.

Claire's eyes flitted between each of the guys, who all wore similar murderous looks, but they lingered a little longer on Jake's green eyes. His dark hair was pushed back, sweat glistening on his forehead. His fitted shirt hugged every inch of flesh on his chest, all rock hard and making him look sexier than she remembered. A flash of pain came across his face before the anger took over once again.

"Claire," Ben bit out. "Where is he?"

Claire looked back at Ben and pulled a lock of hair in front of her face, raking her fingers through it to cover a little, hoping to dampen his anger. She had tried to cover the bruises up with her makeup and thought she had done a good job. But with the lighted mirrors in the room that showed off any imperfection that a makeup artist might need to cover up, her makeup clearly wasn't making the cut.

Stupid cheap shit.

"He's not here."

Ben took a step closer to her, and she instinctively flinched, immediately regretting it. Ben's face crumpled as he gently pulled her into his arms.

"Claire," he whispered.

She wrapped her arms around him and buried her face in his shoulder. "I'm okay."

"I suspected it. I knew it. Why didn't you call me? I could have gotten you out."

"He told me he loved me. He promised to change." Her words sounded incredibly lame now that she heard it out loud, but it was the truth. And she believed him every time, only for it to start all over again.

After a moment, they pulled apart and Claire found the room empty except for her and Ben.

"You're staying with me. I'm going to keep you safe," he said.

"Thank you," she breathed. Tears sprang to her eyes, and she gently wiped them away. "My car is here."

"We'll sell it."

She huffed out a laugh. "We can't just sell it."

"Why not?"

She looked at him incredulously. "What will I do when the tour is over? I need a car."

Ben tilted his head. "Claire, I realize you haven't been around much in the last four years?—"

She flinched. He was being nice. She hadn't been around at all in the last four years.

"—But in case you haven't noticed, I'm not doing so bad for myself. I'll buy you a new one."

"I can't accept that from you," she whispered.

"Why?"

"I haven't been around."

"Claire, listen to me." He tipped her face up to his. "You're my sister, and I'll always be here for you, no matter how much time has passed. And what if he put a tracker in it? It's better to be rid of it."

Tears sprang to her eyes. She knew he was right. There very well could be a tracker in her car, but Charles also knew who her brother was. He wouldn't need a tracker when he realized she was on tour with Ben.

"Don't let me go back. I can't go back. Please don't let me go back again."

She couldn't count the number of times she had tried to leave, but Charles had convinced her to come back. Every. Single. Time. She couldn't do it again. She knew he would kill her next time. Each time she returned, she ended up worse for wear. It was only because of a secret that she knew she couldn't go back to the abusive relationship she had endured for far too long. She had to be strong.

Ben tucked her under his chin and held her tightly against him. "You're staying with me. I've got you. I will never let that man near you again."