Page 1 of The Devil of Hollywood

Prologue

Drayton

Love was Pixy Stix and paperbacks. Spontaneous, late-night rendezvous and intoxicating kisses. Love… was Marian LaRoe.

Red hair. Full lips. High cheekbones. Her eyes were a cross between aquamarine and bright green. Marian was the first person I had ever opened my heart to. Although we were in the same elite circle, we hadn’t grown up together. My father kept me in New York through most of my youth and high school years. It wasn’t until I was finishing college that I ended up interning at our firm in Chicago. Within days, a mutual acquaintance brought us together. No matter how many times I try to drink it away, that day never escapes my greedy mind. It covets the memory just like I coveted our love.

“There she is. Vivia.” Elec’s attempt at a whisper was anything but, and the quick ‘shh’ from multiple tables in the library had him lifting his hand in apology. It didn’t stop him from repeating it, this time, quieter. “Vivia. We’re going to be late.” He waved to her from across the large room, his voice more a hiss at the end. I smiled as his girlfriend giggled, gesturing toward someone hidden in the aisle.

“I swear, she never listens to me. She’s known our plans for days. Rosters is an hour’s drive. With this traffic, we’ll be lucky to make it there on time.”

I shrugged, my smile falling as I glanced back up to the girl who burst from the aisle. The first thing I saw was her hair. There was no missing the vivid color. The red was more orange, mixed with a hint of blonde that was twisted high on her head. Loose strands fell to the bulky, oversized white sweater she wore. Her skin was like porcelain, and although I could have spent minutes studying her, it was her smile that dazzled me, stealing my attention. It was real. It was captivating.

“Oh shit.”

I barely could pull myself from the trance to address my childhood friend. Although we didn’t really know each other now, Elec and I had spent a lot of time together as children.

“What is it?”

“Marian… LaRoe,” he emphasized. “Her mother must be making the rounds in the psych department. Melissa—Dr. LaRoe,” he quickly corrected, “is a fucking genius. She’s going to be my ticket out of here. I’ve been trying to get a meeting with her but no luck so far.”

“Out of here?”

“Your path may be set, but mine isn’t,” Elec said in a hushed tone. “Melissa can help me. I know she can. I heard my father mention her the other night. That’s her daughter, Marian, with the backpack slung over her shoulder. She graduated high school a while back. I heard she’s putting off college. I have no idea why. They say she’s just as smart as her mother. It makes no sense. Especially for someone in our circle. Most families rush us right into more schooling. It’s a life sentence. You’re lucky you’re finishing up your fourth year and you’re calling it quits. I’m going to be here forever.”

“Marian,” I repeated.

The girl finally turned from Vivia, her stare stopping on me. And just like me the first time I saw her… her face lost all emotion, melting as she slowed and held my gaze.

Time stopped.

My heart stopped.

The world could have fallen out from under my feet, and I wouldn’t have noticed nor cared. The round, light eyes that took me over had me moving forward with no control. No motive. All I knew was that I had to have her. Not even sexually, although there was suffocating attraction. It was deeper, darker. Possessiveness.

“Drayton?”

Elec’s voice barely registered behind me as I approached. I could have broken a million laws in that moment. That I didn’t kiss this stranger or throw her over my shoulder like a barbarian was a pure miracle. My arm came out, and she didn’t even look down as she slid her fingers over my palm, closing them around mine like it was the most natural thing in the world.

“I’m Drayton. Drayton Pennington.”

She swallowed hard, momentarily silent as she searched my eyes.

“You’re taller than I thought you’d be. And you’re not skinny or awkward like I imagined.”

My brow pulled in, and the spell shattered.

“I’m sorry?”

Vivia’s laughter had me looking between them, confused, but my gaze kept coming back to Marian. And her hand. I couldn’t let it go. It was her that stepped back and pulled it free.

“Isn’t that you?” Marian pointed to a picture and plaque by the front entrance. “This is the Pennington Library, named after your grandfather. If the information underneath is correct…” Marian tilted her head at me curiously. “Then that’s you standing at his side. I guess I just didn’t imagine you’d grow up to be so… big.”

I stepped closer, unable to help myself as I towered over her. I wasn’t sure if she was flirting or just innocent. At a few inches over six feet, wide but lean, big was right. She had no idea.

“Hopefully that’s not a bad thing?”

A blush crept into her cheeks, and she shook her head. “No.”