BooksBarbecue
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Chapters (53)
  1. Dedication
  2. Chapter One
  3. Chapter Two
  4. Chapter Three
  5. Chapter Four
  6. Chapter Five
  7. Chapter Six
  8. Chapter Seven
  9. Chapter Eight
  10. Chapter Nine
  11. Chapter Ten
  12. Chapter Eleven
  13. Chapter Twelve
  14. Chapter Thirteen
  15. Chapter Fourteen
  16. Chapter Fifteen
  17. Chapter Sixteen
  18. Chapter Seventeen
  19. Chapter Eighteen
  20. Chapter Nineteen
  21. Chapter Twenty
  22. Chapter Twenty-One
  23. Chapter Twenty-Two
  24. Chapter Twenty-Three
  25. Chapter Twenty-Four
  26. Chapter Twenty-Five
  27. Chapter Twenty-Six
  28. Chapter Twenty-Seven
  29. Chapter Twenty-Eight
  30. Chapter Twenty-Nine
  31. Chapter Thirty
  32. Chapter Thirty-One
  33. Chapter Thirty-Two
  34. Chapter Thirty-Three
  35. Chapter Thirty-Four
  36. Chapter Thirty-Five
  37. Chapter Thirty-Six
  38. Chapter Thirty-Seven
  39. Chapter Thirty-Eight
  40. Chapter Thirty-Nine
  41. Chapter Forty
  42. Chapter Forty-One
  43. Chapter Forty-Two
  44. Chapter Forty-Three
  45. Chapter Forty-Four
  46. Chapter Forty-Five
  47. Chapter Forty-Six
  48. Chapter Forty-Seven
  49. Epilogue
  50. Preview of Malice
  51. Preview of Incognito
  52. Acknowledgments
  53. About the Author

“I’ll let you research in peace,” Johnathan said. “But don’t leave without saying goodbye.”

“I won’t. Promise.” Mesmerized by the book—the weight of it, its finite pages—I slowly thumbed through it. “Johnathan? Are all Unrankables as nice as you? Or is it a southern thing?” I asked before he left.

He laughed. “Probably a little of both, but Unrankables are usually pretty cool. You’re welcome here any time.”

“Thank you.” I smiled.

With a tiny wave, he left me to my book.

I could have sat there all day and devoured the pages, but I flipped through until I found a description of birth flowers, and there was my answer, plain as day.

The daisy represents purity, love, and innocence. Capable of disguise, it can be dyed any color. It is also a flower given between friends who want to keep a secret; the daisy’s message is “I’ll never tell.”

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Chapter Twenty-Eight

June 20, 20X5

Truth: It doesn’t matter where you came from. It only matters where you’re going.

My heels clacked against the marble entry in my parents’ Hollywood Hills estate. Sensing my presence, the chandelier lights slowly brightened. At first glance the house appeared empty, but then I heard Mom and Dad’s voices lilting up from the veranda.

“What are we going to do with her? If the reviews aren’t good, we’re tanked,” Mom said.

I froze at the top of the staircase that descended into the living room, straining to hear through the wall that was open to the deck.

“We can pay someone. We can always pay someone. Or promise a favor,” Dad said.

“Someday we might run out of favors. It’s getting hard to pull strings. In fact, I feel like the strings are winding around my wrists,” Mom said. “What about the others? They can’t be controlled forever. We’re lucky we’ve made it this long without the truth leaking.”

“Quinn,” Dad said. “Can you calculate the probability that a strong box office will lift Ella’s rankings?”

Quinn instantly replied, “Oh, Nick. I don’t know how to break this to you, but the calculations are clear. Nothing can save that girl. She’s not like you. She doesn’t have the charisma to pull herself out of this landslide. She’s poison.”

Even the AI has turned on me.

“Thank you, Quinn.” Dad fell silent, and then he said, so softly I could barely make out the words, “She’s not worth this stress. We’re better off without her.”

“She’s served her purpose,” Mom agreed.