Page 11 of Wild Idol (Tyson Wild Thriller #82)

“ E verybody loves Sable,” Everett said with a smile. “But with success comes haters.”

“Like who?” I asked.

The two exchanged a glance.

“Well, there's a friendly rivalry between her and Brianna.”

“Maybe not so friendly,” Sable added.

“Tell me about that,” I said.

“It started as a PR stunt,” Everett said.

“We coordinated the whole thing through the PR team. Sable threw a little shade at Brianna in one of her songs. Brianna responded in one of hers. Of course, it got the Internet talking, which was the intended purpose. There was all kinds of speculation. Fans fueled the flame. It was great. We decided to keep it going. Sable threw more shade in another song.” Everett shrugged.

“I guess Brianna started taking it personally. It sort of escalated from there. ”

“Define escalated,” I said.

The two shared another look.

“Some unfriendly things were said in an interview. Then, threats were made on social media. I don’t know if you follow this kind of thing, but Brianna has more of a hard-core image.

Threats are on brand for her. At first, I didn’t think much about it.

Like I said, we had coordinated all of this beforehand.

Musicians and publicists have been doing this kind of thing for decades.

Controversy sells. But it just seemed to go off the rails.

Brianna started calling here and leaving nasty messages.

Excuse my language, but Brianna said she was going to fuck her up .

She was gonna send people to take her out . ”

“How did you respond?”

“I told Sable to disengage. I figured the whole thing would blow over in a matter of weeks. You know how the news cycle is. The tabloids would eventually stop covering it. I thought Brianna would move on to something else. There’s a feud every other week in hip-hop.”

“When were the threats made?”

“Two weeks ago. That was the last time Brianna called Sable directly,” Everett said. “But the shit-talking has continued with her fans and on social media.” Everett shrugged again. “Maybe the whole thing is just a publicity stunt. Maybe she’s just method acting.”

“Isn’t she the one that burned down her boyfriend’s house?” Jack said.

Everett nodded .

“Did you ever think that maybe starting a rivalry with that woman wasn’t the best idea in the world?”

“I’m beginning to realize that.”

“Whatever happened with that?” Sable asked.

“She was charged with felony arson,” Everett said. “The case is making its way through the court system right now.”

“I’m assuming they broke up after that,“ I said.

“No,” Everett said. “Last I heard, they’re back together. Must be true love,” he said with a high degree of sarcasm.

“Must be,” JD muttered.

“We’ll definitely pay her a visit,” I said. “Anybody else you have issues with?”

Sable shared another look with Everett.

“As you can imagine, Sable has a lot of obsessed fans. And that’s putting it mildly.”

Sable flashed a modest smile.

“Some of them can get rather feisty when ignored.”

“There’s just no way to respond to everyone,” Sable said.

“She gets marriage proposals daily,” Everett added.

Sable blushed.

“Sometimes she gets death threats on social, but we’ve never really taken it seriously. Though I have considered reporting this one guy.”

“Tell me about him,” I said .

“It started innocently at first,” Everett said. “Then it progressed. When he didn’t get the response he wanted, he turned to threats and harassment. First online, then by mail. Then by phone.”

“Do you have those letters?”

“Yes.”

“I’d like to see them.”

Everett nodded. “I’ll get them for you.”

He left us alone with Sable and darted upstairs.

“You two seem close,” I said to the pop star.

Sable smiled. “He’s been with me since the early days. Everett believed in me when no one else did. All the labels turned me down. Most managers would have bailed. Then, when I finally got a deal, the first album flopped. The label dropped me. Everett was still there, pushing.”

“Loyalty is rare these days,” Jack said.

Sable nodded. “So true.”

“Is the relationship more than professional?”

“Oh, no,” she said. “Everett is like a big brother.”

“Are you seeing anyone now?”

A flirty glint flickered in her eyes. “Why? Are you interested, Deputy Wild?”

I chuckled. “You’re very attractive, but my question was of professional interest. Significant others are often prime suspects. ”

She frowned. “Passion can turn to madness.”

“Indeed.”

Sable smiled. “I think there is a song there. At least a lyric.”

“I want co-writing credit,” I teased.

That alluring smile tugged her plump lips. “I’m open to collaboration.”

It was an invitation.

“Good to know,“ I said.

Jack gave me a subtle elbow.

“Jack sings in a band,” I said.

He beamed with pride.

Sable pretended to be intrigued. “Oh, really? What band?”

“Wild Fury.”

Her expression turned to genuine interest, and her eyes narrowed at Jack. “I thought you looked familiar. I’ve been trying to place it since the moment you walked in. You guys opened for Chloe C in Europe, right?”

Jack smiled and nodded.

“Maybe I should get your autograph,” she said playfully.

“We could trade,” JD replied.

“Deal.”

I steered things back on track. “You never answered my question. ”

“I’m sorry. What was the question?”

“Are you currently seeing anyone?”

“No.”

“Any recent breakups? Jealous ex-boyfriends?”