Afghanistan. Apparently while he was there he botched an operation that resulted in the deaths of two Marines. His reckless actions led to their deaths at the hands of Taliban insurgents who’d been hiding in a marketplace. He was forced to resign, give up his career, and was essentially blacklisted by the industry. And rightfully so.”
Sadie’s mouth fell open, her heart panging. “He lost everything?”
A dark smile crossed Tess’s face. “Yep. The fancy house in Malibu, the job, the accolades, many of his friends…I remember hearing people gossip about how he was a loose cannon just waiting to explode and no one wanted to be there when it happened. We all expected him to fight back, but instead he kind of just disappeared for awhile. Then when he resurfaced again, he was a paparazzi getting shots of celebrities for the tabloids. Talk about a fall from grace.”
Sadie’s hands clenched tightly in her lap, images of the hungry press after that horrific night eleven years before flashing through her mind. “Paparazzi?”
Tess shot her a sympathetic look. “Now you know why I freaked out. I’m sorry if I embarrassed you, but it had to be done. You cannot talk to him, Sadie. As it is, he’s probably already counting dollar signs over what your exposure will net him.”
Sadie felt lightheaded. “Oh.”
They pulled into the driveway of Sadie’s house and Tess shut off the engine. She reached over and held Sadie’s hand in hers. “Don’t worry, okay? I want this to be a happy night for you.”
“It was…” Sadie trailed off, numbness taking over her body. She stared blankly out the windshield. “I was so happy to see him that I didn’t even think twice about what he was doing there.”
“There’s no way he could have found out before the show. Nobody knew but you and me.”
“Then that only leaves one explanation,” Sadie realized dully, turning to face her friend. “He was in the crowd by happenchance, and he recognized me.”
“I don’t—”
“I knew this would happen,” Sadie interrupted with a cynical half laugh. She shook her head and turned away. “I’m so stupid for thinking I could get away with this.”
“Honey, we’ll figure it out.” Tess tried to comfort her, but Sadie slid from the car with her purse.
She leaned back in and tried to smile. “Thanks for everything, Tess. Really. I had fun tonight.”
Tess started to reply, only to be cut off by the door closing. Sadie walked toward the house, keys in hand. Moments later, she was shut inside and safe.
Unable to do more, she leaned against the front door and closed her eyes. A tear fell down her cheek, silent and unwanted.
Her entire future hinged on Brody keeping his word.
ON THE drive back to Venice Beach, all Brody could think about was her.
He was sure that at that very moment, Sadie’s opinion of him was being drastically changed. Clearly she had no idea what he had done or who he’d become. If she had, then her reaction would have mirrored Tess’s to the letter. Hell, a paparazzi at her debut concert under an alias? That was a recipe for disaster and Tess had been right to put a stop to it. Though the fact that Sadie didn’t know the truth meant she’d been more sheltered than he had assumed.
Not that he wasn’t confident he could change her mind. He’d charmed his way into her life once, he could do it again. And this time there wasn’t just a friendship in store for him. Now there was a mystery to solve and possibly a big cash payout if he played his cards right.
Though, he had to admit that the idea of exposing her made him feel downright slimy. And not just slimy, but a lower-than-dirt-and-grimier-than-scum kind of slimy. All he could picture was that fear in her eyes when she asked him if he would talk to the press. It had given such a haunting beauty to her features that made him want to gather her up and protect her from all the evil of the world. Why the hell he felt that way, he had no idea.
Sadie’s mouth fell open, her heart panging. “He lost everything?”
A dark smile crossed Tess’s face. “Yep. The fancy house in Malibu, the job, the accolades, many of his friends…I remember hearing people gossip about how he was a loose cannon just waiting to explode and no one wanted to be there when it happened. We all expected him to fight back, but instead he kind of just disappeared for awhile. Then when he resurfaced again, he was a paparazzi getting shots of celebrities for the tabloids. Talk about a fall from grace.”
Sadie’s hands clenched tightly in her lap, images of the hungry press after that horrific night eleven years before flashing through her mind. “Paparazzi?”
Tess shot her a sympathetic look. “Now you know why I freaked out. I’m sorry if I embarrassed you, but it had to be done. You cannot talk to him, Sadie. As it is, he’s probably already counting dollar signs over what your exposure will net him.”
Sadie felt lightheaded. “Oh.”
They pulled into the driveway of Sadie’s house and Tess shut off the engine. She reached over and held Sadie’s hand in hers. “Don’t worry, okay? I want this to be a happy night for you.”
“It was…” Sadie trailed off, numbness taking over her body. She stared blankly out the windshield. “I was so happy to see him that I didn’t even think twice about what he was doing there.”
“There’s no way he could have found out before the show. Nobody knew but you and me.”
“Then that only leaves one explanation,” Sadie realized dully, turning to face her friend. “He was in the crowd by happenchance, and he recognized me.”
“I don’t—”
“I knew this would happen,” Sadie interrupted with a cynical half laugh. She shook her head and turned away. “I’m so stupid for thinking I could get away with this.”
“Honey, we’ll figure it out.” Tess tried to comfort her, but Sadie slid from the car with her purse.
She leaned back in and tried to smile. “Thanks for everything, Tess. Really. I had fun tonight.”
Tess started to reply, only to be cut off by the door closing. Sadie walked toward the house, keys in hand. Moments later, she was shut inside and safe.
Unable to do more, she leaned against the front door and closed her eyes. A tear fell down her cheek, silent and unwanted.
Her entire future hinged on Brody keeping his word.
ON THE drive back to Venice Beach, all Brody could think about was her.
He was sure that at that very moment, Sadie’s opinion of him was being drastically changed. Clearly she had no idea what he had done or who he’d become. If she had, then her reaction would have mirrored Tess’s to the letter. Hell, a paparazzi at her debut concert under an alias? That was a recipe for disaster and Tess had been right to put a stop to it. Though the fact that Sadie didn’t know the truth meant she’d been more sheltered than he had assumed.
Not that he wasn’t confident he could change her mind. He’d charmed his way into her life once, he could do it again. And this time there wasn’t just a friendship in store for him. Now there was a mystery to solve and possibly a big cash payout if he played his cards right.
Though, he had to admit that the idea of exposing her made him feel downright slimy. And not just slimy, but a lower-than-dirt-and-grimier-than-scum kind of slimy. All he could picture was that fear in her eyes when she asked him if he would talk to the press. It had given such a haunting beauty to her features that made him want to gather her up and protect her from all the evil of the world. Why the hell he felt that way, he had no idea.
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