security so far, and there wasn’t much security here, so Douglas had walked right in, catching us off guard.
“Dad.” Ariel looked shell-shocked, and I unconsciously jumped off the stage to stand beside her.
“I thought we could drive home together,” he said with a smarmy smile.
“I’m not ready to go home,” she said, lifting her chin slightly.
“Of course not. You’re too busy spreading your legs at a sex club and hanging out with your new boyfriend.”
“Dad, that’s not even a little bit accurate. We played a show there, and—”
“I really don’t care what the excuses are. It’s time to go. Darren said he got the demo tape, so your work here is done. Let’s go get your things.”
“No.” She reached for my hand, and I wove my fingers into hers.
“Oh, isn’t that sweet.” He looked down at our clasped hands as if disgusted. “Well, I hope you enjoyed it, because whatever this was, it’s over.”
“She said she doesn’t want to leave,” I said, taking a step forward.
“She has zero say in the matter,” Douglas responded coldly. “Let’s go get your things, Ariel. Don’t make me call for help.”
“Call for help?” She scowled. “I’m not doing anything wrong. Who are you going to call? The cops? What are they going to see? An adult superstar performer working in a studio. No drugs, no alcohol, nothing. Go on, Dad. Call them.”
A muscle twitched beside Douglas’s right eye, and I really wanted to smack him, though I sensed he wanted me to do something like that, because it would give him something to call the police over. None of this made sense, but from the outside looking in, all I saw a pathetic man trying to stay in control of his daughter’s money.
“I don’t know who you think you are, but if you believe screwing my daughter gets you any rights, you’re sorely mistaken.” Douglas could have been a handsome guy, but the ugly twist of his mouth and the way he narrowed his eyes just made him look like a weasel.
“The lady said she didn’t want to go with you,” Bash interjected, coming to stand beside us.
“This is ridiculous!” Douglas threw up his hands. “Do you guys understand she’s mentally ill and could be not just a danger to herself, but also to all of you? There’s no telling what she might do, and—”
“Douglas, I’ve spent plenty of time with her both a few years ago and again this week,” Lexi said quietly. “She’s not a danger to anyone.”
“Well, based on her behavior today, she obviously is. How many days since you’ve taken your meds, Ariel?”
She didn’t say anything, merely moved closer to me.
“Ariel?” I squeezed her hand. “What do you want to do?”
Her hand was clammy, and she shivered against my side “I…” Her voice trailed off as she looked up at me. The fear radiating from her was almost tangible, and I squeezed a little harder.
“You don’t have to go. We’re here for you.”
Douglas started to laugh. “You really think he gives a shit about you, Ariel? He’s going to use you until he’s tired of you or you go off the rails, and then he’s going to kick you to the curb.”
“But I won’t.” Lexi didn’t seem any more intimidated by him than I was as she faced him.
“None of you realize the power I have, do you?” He looked around at us. “Darren wants to marry her.” His gaze zeroed in on me. “You’re fucking the woman Darren Randall wants to spend the rest of his life with. Do you realize what that’s going to do to your career? One word from me and all of this—” He motioned with his hand, as if it represented something important. “—is gone. Is she worth it? She comes to you with no money, no power, nothing but a pretty face and fake tits. You think you’re anything without Whiplash?”
None of us said anything because there was no response to his stupidly rhetorical questions.
“Hey, Stu, you think other record companies are going to jump at the chance to work with a felon? One bimbo your buddy is screwing can take everything away from you. Again.”
“You don’t have that kind of power,” I said slowly, finding my voice. “No one gives a shit about a pop star’s overbearing father. You’ll make headlines for two minutes, and then someone else will do something bigger and more interesting, and you’ll slide off the tabloid radar like yesterday’s slime.”
“Perhaps, but this is all just delaying the