Page 90 of Beauty & Chaos

Shut up brain.

The Uber pulls up beside me. I glance back at Travis, searching for the words to say. A suitable goodbye. His hands are on his hips and there appears to be regret in his eyes.

For what? Whatever he was using me for...

I shake my head and climb into the back of the Uber.

Never again. I am done with men.

I’m getting ten more cats.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

TRAVIS

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Staring out the hospital window as Mama sleeps, the machine beeping rhythmically nearby, I grind my teeth and wonder if Brook is alright.

This isn’t good.

Any other woman, I might not be concerned. People will stay silent for money...and a little fear. Brooklyn, not so much.

She is a truth seeker and knows her rights. She has an enormous platform, and a story lined up to insert my name into—both fucking names. Plus, a woman scorned and all that.

I lied. I used her. I deceived her...and I knew what I was doing.

It was calculated from the very beginning.

None of what she’s thinking right now is untrue.

Even if she’d heard me out, I don’t think I could say anything that would make a difference.

But I cannot let her expose me.

Which means the space she wants and probably needs is not happening. I rang my lawyer, and Brook will already have an email in her inbox advising what will happen if she says a word.

It’s threatening and firm.

I’m a man with true power and the ability to destroy her in a matter of days. I’ll have her company shut down, herreputation irreversibly tarnished, and ensure that she is never taken seriously as a reporter again.

Ever.

Hell, I could make her disappear if I wanted.

I didn’t survive my father and the nights of him coming into my room, tearing off my pajama pants, and touching me in ways no child should ever experience...for years!...to have some scorned woman expose me.

She’s not just some woman.

Parker, Maddox, Zayne, and Killian all suffered similarly, but the difference for me is my father is loved and adored by millions. It was painful to see it every day.

After emancipating myself, and I had the ability, I changed my name. I never returned to Los Angeles.

I started a new life. I’d found Mama and created my ownfound familyas it's now referred to.

I’m a fucking survivor, andnobodyis going to wreck the life and anonymity I’ve created and worked hard to protect.

No one.