Damien tilted his head to listen to the crowd scream louder than anyone had ever heard before. “This is sick.” His narrowed eyes shifted to Tommy, and he glared skeptically. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think this was some pretty badass publicity stunt, because that audience is nuclear. They never reacted like this before. Not even when we first made it big.”
Jimmy snapped his head in Tommy’s direction so fast it looked like he gave himself whiplash. “Is that what this was?” His smile spread to megawatt proportions. “Were you playing us this whole time?”
Tommy couldn’t hold back his smile or the small laugh that left his lips, because his plan worked perfectly.
Angel looked from Jimmy to Tommy. “Wait. What? That’s not true. Is it? This wasn’t your plan all along. To stage a walk out and then return. Was it?”
Tommy’s smile grew wider, and another laugh escaped him. “I’m sorry. I was going to tell you guys after the show.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Damien bellowed.
“Hear me out,” Tommy said, holding his palms up in front of him. “I thought about taking some time off, but leaving was never an option. I have to admit that I almost came clean when I heard you were talking about replacing me, but I couldn’t jeopardize the plan.”
“What plan?” Angel demanded. “Why would you do this?”
“Because,” Tommy explained. “We were stuck.”
“No.Youwere stuck,” Damien pointed his finger at Tommy, almost sticking it in his chest. “We were fine. Everything was going great. You’re the one who had to turn everything upside down with this stupid stunt. Why?”
“Let me finish. We’ve been on fire for years. Where do you go once you hit the top? I was afraid the band would start to backslide. I didn’t want that to happen. I wanted to do something that would bring us higher. I had to do something to shake things up. I wanted the fans to be hungry again, like they were in the beginning when we first made it big. I wanted that spark in the audience again. I wantedusto have that spark again. We were taking it for granted.”
“What are you talking about?” Angel asked, still confused.
“It’s not about the fame or the money. It’s about the drive. Maybe you didn’t see it, but I did. Our shows were becoming repetitive. It was the same old thing. The fans knew what to expect. The crowds were great, but I wanted them to be better at every show. I wanted our performance to be better at every show. I want every show to be like it’s our last show. Or our first show.” Tommy spread his arm toward the sound of the crowd. “Listen to that. I’ve never heard the crowd scream so loud. Have you? The sound guy is going to be working double time so we can be heard over the audience. And that’s exactly the way it should be. And let’s not forget about our new contract. It wasn’t my intention to get more money, but we got an unprecedented raise. We even got a vacation midterm.”
Jimmy, Damien, and Angel were looking at Tommy with wonder and disbelief. Even Jessi, Alyssa, and Audra were standing there with their mouths agape.
Angel was the first to break the shocked silence. “I’m afraid I’ve underestimated that big brain of yours.” He wrapped his arm around Tommy’s shoulder and gave it a squeeze. “You, my darling husband, are a marketing genius.”
“But why didn’t you tell us, man?” Jimmy asked. “Why’d you have to put us through the wringer like that?”
“Because I needed to do something drastic, and I didn’t think you guys would be on board. It was a risk, but I knew it would work.”
Damien wore a playful smirk and shook his head. “You need to go to Hollywood, because you put on one hell of an act.” He held out his hand for a bro-shake.
As Tommy clasped Damien’s hand in his, he was reminded at how much grief his plan placed on his friends. And Damien took it the hardest. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think you were going to get as upset or as pissed off as you did.” He smiled at his friend. “I thought you were going to slug me once or twice.”
“I almost did. But it’s only because I love you, brother, and I think I love you even more now. Listen to that crowd. And you fattened my wallet.”
Tommy’s gaze automatically shot to Audra, because his plan inadvertently put one over on her father and affected the finances of her family business. “It was never my intention to play hardball with your father. I respect him. Completely. I would never do that. I was only trying to create a demand and stir up the fans. The contract was unexpected, and I appreciate it.”
Audra waved her hand dismissively. “My father can afford to pay you twice the amount of that contract, and it would be well worth it. I’m happy for all of you.”
“Just so you know,” Angel told her, I pushed for the break, but your father offered the dollar amount of the contract. I accepted it without negotiation. I wasn’t pushing for more money. Just the time off.”
“Don’t worry about it. I know you’re not trying to take advantage. Don’t forget,” she added. “My husband will also be reaping the rewards of that financial contract.”
“I can’t believe you really thought I was done with Immortal Angel.” Tommy pinched the bridge of his nose, still unable to comprehend how easily they accepted the idea. “Listen carefully. I will never. Ever. EV-ER. Be done with Immortal Angel.” He wrapped an arm around Angel and Damien’s shoulders. “The four of us. We’re Immortal Angel. And I think the name says it all. We’re never gonna die. Now. Let me ask you again. Where do we go from here?”
They all exchanged puzzled glances.
Tommy raised his eyebrows and nodded, encouraging them to answer, and repeated, “Where do we go from here?”
Damien finally got it and raised his fist in the air. “To the fucking moon!”
The stage lights dimmed, and a collective roar rose up from the crowd. All the guys had their arms around each other’s shoulders now, and the electricity passed through them like a live wire, fed by the cries of the fans.
Angel took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and lifted his chin to the ceiling. “We thank the powers that be, God, and the universe for the opportunity to do what we love.” He recited something in Spanish before he turned to Tommy and asked, “Are you ready, my prince?”
