Ellie nodded. “Come sit. You look green. Why is the name familiar?”
Vivi swallowed back the bile that threatened and followed her friend to her sofa. They sat down and Ellie waited for Vivi to talk.
“My brother, Victor, killed Landon’s twin in a horrible hazing gone wrong back in college.”
Ellie’s eyes opened wide. “Your brother who got out and then was thrown back in prison for terrorizing some guys?”
Vivi nodded. “He went after Landon’s partner, Tanner Grayson.” Thanks to the articles she’d pulled up, Vivi was now too familiar with the details. “He vandalized their club. He tried to attack Tanner’s girlfriend. He called in a bomb threat, which is a federal offense, by the way, and told the cops the bar was serving underage kids, causing a raid.” She blinked back tears. “He killed Landon’s twin.” She repeated the worst of the crimes because that was the one that mattered the most.
She’d spent so much time trying to disassociate herself from her brother. When Victor had been arrested for hazing and manslaughter, Vivi, sadly, hadn’t been shocked that her brother had been capable of hurting someone so badly. He’d been in and out of trouble for years, each time subjecting him to a beating from her father.
Unable to take it anymore, her mother divorced him during that horrific time, and the press had been so relentless, Vivi and her mother had legally changed their last names back to her mom’s maiden name, Zane, and moved out of state. At that point she hadn’t had a good relationship with her brother in years. He’d resented her so-called status with her father and treated her like shit anyway, so she hadn’t contacted him in prison and vice versa.
When he’d been released, he’d claimed to want a relationship, and they’d met for lunch. The next day he called her because he’d been arrested again. Obviously he’d been setting her up to bail him out if he got caught. He’d rambled about being accused of phoning in a bomb threat to a club and assault, among other things.
She’d hung up on him, and though she’d heard information on the news, including the club’s name, she hadn’t followed the case. She’d wanted nothing to do with her sibling. But she didn’t think Landon Bennett would care about her lack of a relationship with Vic. Because of her mere association, he and his partners would want nothing to do with her.
“Once Landon finds out I’m Vic’s sister, I can kiss any chance at the residency goodbye. I can’t take the job.” Her stomach hurt at the loss of such huge potential but not as much as it twisted in pain for Landon, whose brother was dead.
Ellie pulled at a nonexistent thread on her dress. “Or … you don’t ever have to tell him.”
Whipping her head up, Vivi stared at her friend. “What? No. I’m not going to lie about something that huge. I couldn’t live with myself.”
“I didn’t think you could,” her friend said softly. “I just had to offer it as a solution because you know that’s what Owen would tell you to do.”
“Fuck Owen. He only cares about money. Not about what I want or about people’s lives.”
“Amen.”
Vivi met Ellie’s gaze. “Fucking Victor. He’s a terror even when he isn’t part of my life,” she said, as she watched her dreams shatter before she’d ever grasped them in her hand.
“You know I support you, right? Whatever you decide, I’m in your corner.”
Ellie squeezed her hand and Vivi smiled. “You’re such a good friend. I can’t believe we met at the gym only one year ago. I feel like I’ve known you forever.”
Ellie gave her a smile. “Fate works in weird ways. I needed a job and you needed an assistant.” Vivi had been working in a coffee shop during the day and singing when she could find work at night. She’d managed to pay Ellie very little to handle her website and help with social media, but she’d kept her job at a clothing store until Vivi started to get more steady singing work.
Eventually Owen had been in one of the venues where she’d been singing, heard her, and offered to sign her on the spot. Even then, she’d said she’d think about it and sent his contract over to her mom.
“Do it,” Ellie said, gesturing to Vivi’s cell. “It’s not going to get any easier.
With a sigh, Vivi picked up her phone, called Owen, and left a message, turning down the residency offer.
Then, knowing he’d call back screaming, she shut her phone off, pulled a pint of ice cream from the freezer, and shared the treat with her best friend.
* * *
Landon and Jason sat at the gym, where Tanner was fighting in the ring. Ever since Tanner had hooked up with Scarlett Davis, an assistant district attorney, and since Victor Clark had gone back to jail, Tanner’s anger issues seemed well under control. Where he used to fight at the gym to channel his aggression, lately it seemed he took more enjoyment in the sport.
They still showed up to support Tanner, and in truth, old habits died hard. They wanted to be here if something triggered their friend’s anger, although Landon didn’t see that as an issue any longer. Which meant they could focus on something other than watching Tanner kick someone’s ass in the ring.
“So how’d the visit with the viral girl go?” Jason asked, one eye on Tanner.
Landon felt the beginnings of a stupid grin on his face, and clearly Jason caught it, too, because he burst out laughing.
“I knew it would happen sooner or later. Tanner did, too.” Jason grinned.
“I don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about.” Because hedging was better than admitting that Landon had taken one look at Vivienne … he preferred Vivi because it suited her … and he’d fallen ass over teakettle, as his grandmother used to say. He’d thought it was as stupid an expression as Jason falling for Faith in a few short days and Tanner for Scarlett just as quickly. Now he understood. He wanted to get to know this woman.
“But it went well. I know her agent is completely on board, and though she tried to play it cool, she’s interested.” In more than just the summer residency, he thought.
And that feeling was completely mutual.
He’d been sitting in that office listening to the asshole agent try and blow smoke up his ass about how much money his client was worth when she’d come rushing inside. Her hair was pulled up in a bun, that lush body encased in Spandex, and he’d had a good look at breasts made to fit in his hand and nipples that had puckered under his gaze.
His dick had hardened at the sight.
And then he’d had his first glimpse of her beautiful face, up close and personal. Gorgeous brown eyes the color of hot chocolate framed by porcelain skin, a sprinkling of freckles on the bridge of her nose, and dimples on either side of sexy lips made for kissing.
He’d been blindsided by not just her beauty but her strength of character. She’d stood up to her agent, letting him know the details of the contract were up to her. She didn’t seem to go for the money grab the man clearly had on his mind. More than a point in her favor.
“And you’re into her,” Jason said. “Because I’ve been talking for the last few minutes and you haven’t heard one word I’ve said. I brought her up and you got lost.” He chuckled to himself.