I scowled. “I don’t need drugs to calm myself. I just need some fucking quiet for a few minutes.”
“Take the pill, Paxton.” Jay stepped closer, the smile falling from his face. “Dad’s got a lot riding on tonight.”
Damn it. Jay was right, and I hated that fact. His dad owned me in ways I would’ve never imagined ten years ago.
Yet I’d never had to return to the streets or found myself in a foster situation. That thought sent shooting pain into my chest. Cotton Candy’s black curls and pink bow came to mind and the guilt rose, threatening to drown me in misery.
“Just for tonight.” I reached toward the pill, lowering my shoulders, resigned to my fate.
Katrina glanced at Jay from the corner of her eye, and they both smiled.
“There you go, babe.” She handed me a glass of water and patted my cheek. “Now let’s get you dressed.
She and Jay turned to the changes of clothes hanging in the closet, and I turned to the dressing table mirror.
The man who stared back at me, his torso, arms, and neck covered in tattoos, his hair dyed platinum, looked pale and gaunt, like a ghost, a former shell of the boy who’d once enjoyed life, especially those precious months with CC.
Shaking my head, I turned away from the man I barely knew and shrugged on whatever clothes were handed to me.
Just get through tonight, then tomorrow, then the next day.
Chapter twenty-four
Terry Kingston
Alowmurmursweptthrough the crowd at my back, the anticipation a tingle connecting each and every audience member who was awaiting what was hidden behind the long white curtain.
Viktor whispered into Angela’s ear, his aviator sunglasses and ballcap hiding his features from the concert-goers.
Angela tilted her head back and laughed, then swatted his shoulder.
Boom. Boom-boom-boom.
Screams erupted from everyone, and the curtain dropped, revealing the opening band.
A blond guy, his hair spiky on top, shaved around the rest of his scalp, gave a nervous smile, his eyes focused somewhere toward the back of the audience.
I pursed my lips and stared.Something about him seems familiar.
He began shredding his guitar, and my attention shot to the instrument, a cherry red Gibson that shone under the light.
Hands reached out toward him, along with more shouts.
The drummer matched the tempo of the guitar, offsetting the high notes with several taps on his cymbals.
“These blokes aren’t half bad.” Viktor turned to Angela. “What’s their name again?”
“Neverstorm. I’ve been getting a lot of requests to play their first single. I think the lead singer’s name is Pax.”
My stomach clenched.That’s just coincidence, right?Unable to stop myself, I let my gaze drift to the guy’s face again. The hair was completely wrong, but those harsh angles I’d known years ago were still there.
I swallowed, forcing back the burning bile rushing up my throat. “Angie…” I cleared my throat. “Which…which song is it again?”
“It’s self-titled.” She bobbed her head, watching the singer. “We had it going yesterday. You didn’t hear it?”
I could only shake my head, wanting to flee. Turning to the crowd at my back, I could see running away would be difficult with the throng pushing inward.
His voice blasted through the speakers, and I froze, my heart in my mouth.
