Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Sandy frowned, feeling completely thrown off by everything that had happened.

She had this gut feeling that somehow, all of it was connected to her-but she just couldn't bring herself to admit it.

Whitney looked at her with that cool, distant stare. The only reason she was forcing Sandy into this mess was for someone else's sake, not her own.

With a heavy sigh, Whitney didn't even bother answering Sandy's question. Instead, she grabbed her arm and all but shoved her toward the bedroom door.

Through the crack of the kicked-open door, Sandy caught a whiff of something strange—a weird, smoky scent mixed with the humid air of someone's heavy, labored breathing.

Just one look was enough for Whitney to know: Shane was definitely in trouble. This was about what she'd feared.

He hadn't said a word earlier, and now she realized-it was because he couldn't.

But the worst part? Emma had set this all up, probably tipped off half the tabloid reporters in town to swarm the place at four in the morning, ready to catch a scandal live.

Listening to Shane's painful, ragged breaths, Whitney's worry spiked.

If Sienna had drugged him, she'd probably used even more than she had on Sandy.

needed help. Fast. And tomorrow's headlines had to be killed

then landed helplessly on Sandy, who was

to rip the Band-Aid off. For the sake of busting up Emma's scheme-and for

push Sandy into the spotlight tonight, whether

Shane's in there, and I don't know if he's okay. Could be alcohol poisoning—you need to go check on him, please." Whitney didn't wait for a response. With a nervous glance, she nudged Sandy into the dim,

poisoning? It can't be that

Shane downing one whiskey bottle after another, and

so quiet... what if he was

to call out for Shane, but instinctively turned back, hand reaching for Whitney, hoping she'd come

are you

eyes widened as Whitney turned and hurried

he's really dying

called back, though she was clearly nervous too.

hasn't been seen all night-God knows if Sienna's done something to her. I'll go check! You stay with Shane and make sure

called, but Whitney was already gone, her

bedroom. The place was all sharp lines and cold colors-black and white, barely any light. She followed the sound of Shane's harsh