I had to keep this going to try to get more information. I wasn’t the only one at risk here. Cooper was too. And Zane. Hell, Lila had gotten a threatening letter at home. My place had burned, and I’d lost more than I could replace—and not only in physical items I could touch.
I couldn’t let this go without finding out as much as possible. If all I did was ensure this wasn’t connected to the larger looming threat against Ripper Records, I would have helped.
The people I loved were at stake.
“Are you still there, Teagan?”
“Yes, sorry. Just running water for a bath.” I turned on the faucet for believability. “I’m so out of it today. I have a killer headache, and I’m just zoning.”
“Wild night. That rockstar life must be exhausting. And then on the road to Philly soon too. When does that happen?”
Wouldn’t you like to know?
I bit down on the retort. “We fly out Tuesday.”
In truth, the bus would be leaving Monday. Suck it, bitch.
“Wow, so soon. Well, we have to get together before you leave. We need to catch up. It’s been so long.”
“We do. I just have to hear about everything you’ve done since our days at Oakdale.”
All the lying and drugging and taking on other personalities…
She chuckled. “I’d much rather hear about you. You’re the one with the exciting life traveling the world. Getting to meet so many new people. Though you’re pretty cozy with your bandmates and especially Cooper, so maybe you don’t care about that. He’s a pretty piece of candy, isn’t he?”
I gripped the side of the sink hard enough to nearly break my short nails. “He’s a lethal one. He used to be in the Rangers. Takes zero bullshit.”
“Oh, is that so? I never would have guessed that talking to him.”
“He’s different with civilians. Especially starry-eyed fangirl types.” It was a screw I didn’t turn often, because I wasn’t the sort to flaunt my status.
But if this chick wanted to play, I’d play.
She didn’t rise to the bait. “I’m sure he deals with that a lot. You think you can drag yourself away from him for an hour to have lunch? Maybe longer if we get talking.” She laughed. “Girl talk can get carried away.”
“I just bet.” I fisted my hand and tapped it against my forehead to keep from swinging at something.
I was not violent by nature. Crying was my usual response when I got overwhelmed, as much as it irritated me. But this fake bitch was tweaking my last nerve.
And now a question was hammering at the back of my mind. If this wasn’t the real Priscilla Jones—and I had a strong suspicion she was not—what had happened to the real one? Was she out there living her life, blissfully unaware? Or worse, did this woman know she wouldn’t be called out for being Priscilla because she knew the real one would never sound the alarm?
“So, how’s tomorrow? Lunch at The Continental Tearoom?”
“I’ve never been there.”
“You’ll love it. Hey, I hate to ask this, but maybe just us, huh?”
“You already asked if I could drag myself away for an hour.”
“Yeah, but I know how it is with new relationships.”
I reached up to rub my throat. She knew entirely too much.
And she wasn’t finished talking.
“Not that I’d mind getting to know your guy a little better, but you know how men interrupt the flow when it’s us girls.” Her low, intimate laugh set my teeth on edge.
“Sure. Sounds fun,” I agreed, despite knowing I didn’t have a chance in hell of meeting her alone.
I had Cole to think about, and then there was Cooper. Once I told him about this clandestine meeting, he’d attach himself to me—after he got done yelling and calling Lila and Noah and God knows who else for backup. But I’d just have to make him see why he couldn’t do that.
I flexed my fingers. And I wasn’t above using my God-given talents in certain areas to convince him either.
“Great. I’ll see you at noon?”
I closed my eyes. “Definitely. Bye.” I hung up and held the phone to my chest.
A knock came at the bathroom door. “You in there, babe?”
“Yes, I’m in here,” I called to Cooper. I couldn’t quite catch my breath. “Just a sec.”
I had to play it cool with him. Somehow. At least until I found the words to tell him this in a way that wouldn’t make him go postal.
I didn’t think that way existed, but I was the woman who dreamed about finding rainbows. I’d keep hope alive here too. Besides, if I carefully explained my reasoning, he’d see why I’d done what I had.
He had to.
Two hours later over wine and a hastily thrown together pizza, I swiftly realized I’d been wrong.
Forget a hand job to make this go down easier. I didn’t think even a tit fuck followed by anal would do the trick.
He set down his half empty wine glass and stared at me across the darkened patio. It was a breezy, warm night, and we’d decided to eat outside beside the pool.
Ambience was also supposed to make this go down easier. As was my lack of a bra or even real clothes. I was sitting outside in his shirt and my panties and hoping like hell Cole steered far clear of us for the rest of the night like he’d done thus far. That was how committed I was to this cause.
Cooper had brought him some of our pizza. We didn’t want him to be hungry. We just really needed our privacy right now.
And it was time to face the very ominous music.
“I talked to Priscilla tonight. If she’s even Priscilla.”
Coop set down the last bit of his pizza. “I don’t think I heard you correctly.”
I took a bolstering sip of wine. Then another. “I think we need more alcohol. I’ll go get it.”
He snagged my wrist before I could move. “Talk.”
I sagged back into my chair. “Remember how I said I don’t like it
