Perish: Book Three (bxb)

2. I'm so glad I came out looking like my Mama.

Kayax Adler

"You're giving me a headache."

Salem Luna scoffed as he tossed the remote on the couch. "Oh, I'm sorry. But you just had your Dad arrested."

"I'm not the one who got drunk and decided to drive. Nor did I put people at risk because of it. He made that choice. I merely called in a tip to the police station." I typed away on my phone, smirking as I saw my Father's beautiful mugshot. "I'm so glad I came out looking like my Mama." I turned my phone to show Salem. "Look at him."

He leaned toward the phone, squinting his eyes before he barked out a laugh. "Is blond your natural hair color? If not, I totally see why you dyed it. Zero connections to that rat-faced man. Jesus, he looks blasted. I'm glad no one got hurt."

"I've been trying to get him arrested for this for a long time. It finally worked. Putting my name behind it would have been too dangerous because he's going to get out."

"Are you bailing him out?"

"Nope." I locked my phone. "He can't be bailed out right now. This isn't his first one. The difference is that he managed to hide the first two. This time, I didn't want it hidden. Shitty timing and all, but I'm glad he's behind bars for the time being. Because he's gonna go to prison for this. I hope."

Shitty timing was right considering the only real thing tying August Luna to me was my Father. How stupid of me to think August cared even a little bit about me. I never gave him a reason to. I didn't blame him for not wanting to know anything about me. How could I?

Except, that asshole managed to break me down at a time I was already on rock bottom. One year ago, my Dad had gotten drunk again. It was always the same cycle of bullshit with him. I wasn't doing enough. I'd never do enough. I was worthless.

And then he'd go after my 'girlish' appearance to the point that I no longer felt comfortable wearing anything except a 'natural' look with makeup. I didn't want to give him any ammo against me where he could see it.

My Dad didn't love me—that much I've always known. He used me after stalking my Mom's Facebook and finding a video of me singing in eighth grade. It both pissed him off and gave him an opportunity. He stole me away from my Mom with the use of threats. To the point I forced her to stay away so she wasn't hurt by him.

Dad, as he forced me to call him, even tracked my use on everything to be sure I didn't contact her. I was in a prison that I could escape from. But for now, I was free. I hoped it stuck this time, even if I knew I would never be free.

Happiness wasn't an option for me.

I'd be nothing except an object to everyone. Hell, I was an object to August Luna. I was something to be used that would gain him something in return. But how could I blame him? For one, the bastard didn't know anything about me or my past. And two, he thought we were using each other.

And I supposed I was.

My only safety was my queer fans and Salem—August Luna's goddamn brother. It was only a matter of time before our friendship fizzled away. Especially when my life eventually went up in a blaze of flames.

Salem left a little while later. I did wonder how long I'd be left without a manager. My schedule was all over the place, but I supposed I could make a few phone calls to cancel a couple of things. It wasn't like I could make an appearance without speaking to my PR team anyways.

They'd want to spin this to benefit Father, and I had no wishes left to grant them my appearance right now. Everyone on my team worked for my Dad, not me. Even though I was the star—they didn't care about me. I didn't even trust my security team.