Page 187 of Broken Lines

“Rock ’n roll, baby.”

My vision blurs and dims at the edges. Self-hatred and revulsion curdles inside of me, even after his hands leave me, and his footsteps echo back out the door.

Because the worst part of all of this isn’t the invisible prison. It’s not being forced to play this horrifying role on Judy’s insane reality show gimmick. It’s not that my heart has been ripped open and left bleeding for four months. And it’s not even knowing that going to the one man who can fix it—ignoring the fact that he definitely hates me—will destroy him.

No.

The worst part is that I’m not alone in this invisible prison.

I’m locked in here withhim.

The monster who prowled into my bedroom when I was thirteen. The monster my mother forgave, and signed NDAs for, and tookmoney from.

Kurt.

The monster isKurt.

And these days, he sleeps right down the hall from me.

“Oh, for the last time, Melody.”

My mother eyes me coldly, and I know she sees it all on my face.

“Just get over it already. I have.”

I blink numbly.

“And eat your dinner. I don’t want to be late.”

41

Jackson

“Sir? Excuse me,sir?”

The weasel-looking guy with an iPad and an earpiece stutters as he lurches to step in front of me. I look at him coldly before glancing past him, at the door to the events hall next to the main box office of the Beacon Theatre.

“I’m going inside.”

I go to push past him, but the little dickhead plants his feet.

“Sir!” He snaps with the attitude of a chihuahua. “Sir, this is a guest-list only event! Now, if you’re here for the concert, I believe there are a handful of tickets still available at the box—sir!”

This time, when he grabs me, I grab him back. He gasps as my fist takes a handful of his shirt, shoving him away from me.

“Security!” He squeals sharply. “Security!”

People waiting in line outside the concert doors next to us start to turn and murmur. Eyes go wide with recognition, and suddenly, hundreds of phones start flashing and recording me.

“Security!” Clipboard guy screeches into his earpiece. “We have a situation at the events door!”

A huge arm wraps around my chest, making me hiss as it yanks me away from the little guy.

“Alright pal, take a fucking hike or I’ll—”

The massive security guard is built like a fucking truck. But when he whirls me around, his eyes widen and his hands drop from me.

“Ohshit!”