“Thanks for coming,” I said.

It was the following afternoon and we were gathered in Gabe’s downstairs studio area. ‘We’ were all the members of Gypsy Hour, my brother, and Marc. Viktor stood against the far wall.

While I was at Gabe’s the night before, I’d had the chance to think further about my predicament. OK, so not while we were in the bedroom, but after that. It was what Gabe had said about not giving up that had given me the idea. So this morning I’d spoken to Marc again and agreed for him to come and meet with the members of Gypsy Hour.

“What’s with Mr. Law & Order?” Johnnie said in a low voice.

Gabe shot him an unimpressed look and I hid a grin. It was obvious Gabe still hadn’t forgiven Johnnie and I hadn’t either, but the lead singer had a point. Even dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, Marc Romero commanded respect.

I cast a glance over at Damon. He was sitting beside Emilio staring hard at his feet. Damon wasn’t here because I had asked him. Emilio had brought him along at Gabe’s request. When Damon had seen me he’d scowled and refused to talk to me.

“We have reason to believe there’s a need to increase your security,” Marc announced. “Gabe’s agreed to an on-site presence here at his home as well as hiring a bodyguard. I suggest you all do the same.”

In the beat of silence that followed, Gabe’s fellow band members shot him questioning glances.

“Whoa. Back up,” said Levi, his usual easygoing manner ruffled. He turned to Gabe. “What’s going on, man?”

Gabe straightened in his seat beside me. “Someone’s been watching Chloe and me.”

Johnnie grunted. “Yeah, like half of America. You’ve been all over the papers since Chloe stuck her tongue down your throat at The Sayers. What’s new?”

“What’s new is Chloe has been sent pictures of us together.”

Johnnie shrugged. “Hardcore paparazzi. You’re just not used to it. I am.”

Marc strolled over to stand in front of Johnnie. “You had a stalker before?”

Johnnie regarded Marc with amusement. “All the time. See my bodyguard waiting in the car outside when you came in? Girls can’t keep their hands off me.” He smirked. “Except for Chloe here.”

I glanced nervously at Gabe and saw him clench his hands into fists.

Marc didn’t share in Johnnie’s amusement. “We don’t believe this is paparazzi. We’re running on the theory that it’s an individual who has strong feelings for one of them.”

Johnnie scoffed. “Like I said, story of my life, man.”

“Dammit, Johnnie!” Gabe stood up and I tugged him back down.

“Johnnie,” I said sweetly. “Can you please shut the fuck up and let Marc speak?”

Johnnie’s mouth dropped open and Levi snickered. I think I even saw Damon’s mouth quirk.

“As I was saying,” Marc said. “This individual has followed Chloe and Gabe places the media normally wouldn’t, or shouldn’t, know about. The latest image shows this person is now following other band members, too.”

That wiped the smirk off Johnnie’s face.

“You mean like one of us?” Levi asked.

“That’s right,” Marc said. “Due to the nature of the image, it’s being used as a ransom of sorts. The sender wants Gabe and Chloe to break up or they’ll release the image to the media.”

Stunned silence settled on the group.

Eventually Emilio spoke. “If it’s another sex tape of Johnnie, then I don’t think he’ll mind if it gets released.”

We all laughed, but it felt forced.

“So which one of us is it?” Levi asked.

Gabe and Marc shared a look and Marc nodded.

Gabe stood up and walked over to Emilio. He handed him my phone with the image open on it.

Emilio’s mouth set itself in a long, thin line. Apparently this was Emilio pissed and his band members knew it, because Johnnie and Levi both jumped up.

“What is it?” Johnnie said, striding over to him.

Gabe held up a hand and stepped in front of him. “Give him some space.”

Johnnie looked prepared to fight him on it, but Levi put a hand on Johnnie’s shoulder.

While they were distracted, I saw Emilio angle the phone in Damon’s direction and Damon paled. Emilio switched the phone off and stood up.

“You don’t need to see the image,” he said, “but the PR department won’t be happy if it gets out.”

Johnnie swore. “Dude, seriously? You’ve always been careful.”

“Unlike you,” Gabe muttered.

Johnnie ignored Gabe. “I personally don’t have a problem if it gets out. You know I’m cool with who you are.”

“I know. Thanks, bro.”

Johnnie flashed Emilio a grin. “It just means more ladies for Levi and me.”

Emilio managed a half-smile. “Yeah, I’m over pretending to be someone I’m not, but for the sake of the other person in the image, it would be better if it doesn’t get out.”

Johnnie’s eyebrows shot up. “Damn.”

Emilio nodded. “Damn.”

I sneaked a look at Damon again. His face was so white his all black outfit made him look like a ghost. I wanted to get up and go over to him, but I wasn’t going to make the same mistake twice. Emilio was protecting him and I would, too.

Marc cleared his throat. “I know the band is going on tour shortly, so I’d urge you to pay attention to your surroundings. You notice anything unusual, let Gabe know and he’ll get in touch with me. And I don’t need to tell you not to do anything that could be used against you.”

Levi nudged Johnnie. “You need to remind him.”

“Hey, that’s not fair,” Johnnie protested. “I can’t help it if I attract headlines.”

Emilio remained focused on Marc. “So what about the ransom?”

I stood up and everyone except Damon looked at me. “We’ve come up with an idea.”

“Uh oh,” said Johnnie. “If it involves me and you in a bedroom together again, sweetheart, I don’t think your boyfriend here is going to be happy about it.”

“Shut up, Johnnie,” Gabe said, sounding tired. “Whoever this is clearly doesn’t like the idea of Chloe and me together. So prior to the tour we’re going to make headlines with our breakup.”

“You’re breaking up?” Levi asked.

I shook my head. “No, but that’s what we want everyone to think. I’m a good actress, so I can be seen around town looking miserable while I go shopping, and then I’ll disappear to shoot the rest of the film in France. Meanwhile, Gabe’s going to be with someone else.”

That was going to be the hardest part of the plan as far as I was concerned. The idea of anyone with Gabe, even if it was pretend, made me feel sick to my stomach. But then, I’d come up with it. Gabe had liked my idea even less, but when I’d talked it through with Marc, he could see the benefits. There was a slim chance that the stalker may not release the image if he genuinely believed Gabe and I had broken up.

It was a chance I was willing to take for Damon’s sake.

The other benefit was that if Gabe and I ‘broke up’, the stalker would reveal more about his or herself in what they chose to do next. If they stopped harassing me altogether—the preferable option—it would indicate they were focused on me. Or if it was a female intent on Gabe and he was with a new woman, the threats could be redirected to that new love interest.

“Um, I hate to be a killjoy, but isn’t that a bit cruel?” Johnnie asked. “Some girl is going to think she’s going out with Gabe, but it’s really all just an act?”

“I didn’t think you had a problem tricking girls into your bed, Johnnie,” Gabe said dryly. “Don’t worry, the girl will know about it and she’s cool.”

“What sort of girl is cool with that?” Levi said.

“She’s not a girl,” I said. “It’s Faith Martin.”

Emilio blinked in surprise and Levi appeared equally shocked. Johnnie frowned fiercely.

“Hang on a sec,” Johnnie said. “Faith Martin? Isn’t this getting a bit, you know, incestuous?”

“You mean because you’ve already slept with her?” Gabe said.

Johnnie rubbed a hand along his tattooed arm. “You’re not going to sleep with her, are you?”

“Jesus, Johnnie,” Gabe said. “I’m not even going to answer that. Unlike you, I have some self-control and Chloe’s my girlfriend. It will also make seeing Chloe easier while we’re on tour.”

“What do you mean?” asked Levi.

“Turns out our Paris dates line up with when Chloe and Faith are filming there. It won’t look suspicious if I go see Chloe when Faith is staying at the same hotel.”

Johnnie titled his head thoughtfully. “Or you could try a threesome. They can be fun.”

Levi smacked Johnnie’s arm with the back of his hand. “Shut up, you idiot. Chloe’s a nice girl. You been out with any of them?”

Johnnie gave us a goofy grin while Emilio walked over to Gabe.

“Hey, man. You sure about this?” Emilio asked Gabe quietly.

“Yeah. This is what Chloe wants.”

“She wants you to break up with her and go out with her best friend?” Johnnie interrupted.

I ignored Johnnie and stepped in between him and Emilio. “It’s to protect all of us.”

Emilio met my eyes. His dark gaze was tormented but I also glimpsed respect. He knew as well as I did I was trying to protect my little brother.

“Well, I appreciate it.” Meaning he and Damon did.

“I know.” I glanced past his shoulder. Damon was still sitting on the edge of the sofa like a statue. “I hope . . . ” I let my words trail off. I couldn’t speak freely here.

Emilio put a hand on my shoulder. “I know. It will be all good, I promise.”

For everyone’s sake, I had to believe it was true.