NovelEnglishLyle slid into the passenger seat, breath fogging up in the freezing air. His lashes hung low as he stared at
nothing in particular, clearly lost in thought.
Grace didn't start the car right away. Lately, she'd had this gnawing feeling-like someone was following her. She
got the feeling more than once. She didn't know if it was real or just paranoia.
She leaned back in her seat and cranked up the heat. "Where's Zack? Why are you out here by yourself?"
And more importantly, what the hell was he doing tailing her in the middle of the night?
Lyle kept his eyes on the window. What flashed through his mind was the day someone kidnapped them. The guy
didn't kill them, of course-but Zack had been taken.
Zack was the calm and rational one, always thinking two steps ahead. Lyle, on the other hand, was reckless and
loud. The two weren't blood-related, but they might as well have been. That man had held Zack back to keep
Lyle in check, to stop him from running his mouth.
Grace reached over and handed him a bottle of water. "Lyle, you're technically one of my signed artists, but
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtsneaking around and following people? That's creepy as hell. Do you realize that?"
Lyle took the bottle, downed a few gulps, and didn't say anything.
If he said too much, Zack could end up dead.
Grace took a slow breath. That cocky edge Lyle always carried wasn't there anymore. Something had happened,
and she could feel it.
"I'll drive you home," she said.
As the car pulled onto the road, Lyle shut his eyes and exhaled, the tension in his shoulders not budging.
A few minutes later, Grace spoke again. "You two aren't just regular performers, are you?"
Lyle's eyes flew open, his whole expression lighting up like a spark had hit dry grass. It was written all over his
face, telling her to continue.
But Grace kept her eyes straight ahead, focused on the road.
"Yasmine toldyou guys were living up in the mountains before this. And what, you just happened to stumble
into her? Doesn't add up. If you were chasing fame, you'd be signing with a major agency.
"But when | saw you and Zack for the first time, | had this weird feeling-like maybe we've crossed paths before. |
don't know your story; maybe you can't tellright now. But | know this much. You've never meantany
harm."
Lyle's grip tightened around the water bottle until it crinkled under his grip.
He leaned toward her for a second before he froze. He remembered that man's cold, threatening gaze, and
slowly leaned back again.
When they reached his apartment, Grace got out first and opened the passenger door for him.
Lyle walked a few steps, then turned back. He took another few steps, then turned again back and forth like a
pendulum.
Grace stood under the streetlight, her arms folded, and a small smile tugged at her lips.
"Lyle, your eyes give you away. Whatever it is, when you're ready to talk, I'll be here. And if you were following
going on witheither, but | swear... it feels like | could take on three guys at once."
Lyle froze mid-step. His face flushed bright red.
He blurted out, "Grace, you've always been a badass! Hurry up and remember already I'm losing my mind."
Grace raised a brow. That sounded more like the real Lyle-fast-talking and chaotic.
She gave him a firm nod.
Lyle stepped closer. "Also... those goons? You had them handled. That's why | didn't jump in. But next tyou're
headed somewhere shady, call me. I've got your back."
She nodded again, then looked him up and down.
"Are you really that good?" she questioned.
Lyle scoffed, pure swagger in his voice. "Please. Of course | am."
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