Ewan raises an eyebrow.
“Don’t give me that look right now. This is an emergency.”
Reid widens his eyes.
“Well, not an emergency. But something urgent. Just play what you normally play when you accompany me, but take turns improvising some solos. Should be fun. I’ll get back to you all when I figure out what’s going on.”
Ewan darts his gaze to me, to the Green Door, and then back to me, furrowing his brow.
“I swear to God, I wouldn’t be asking this of you if it weren’t important. Please.”
Once again, Pierce comes to save the day. He points his drumsticks at each of the other bandmembers and then shrugs.
The other bandmembers relent.
I cross over to Pierce and pat him on the shoulder. “Thank you.”
He nods.
I return to the microphone and make an announcement. “Aces Underground patrons, thank you for your patience. I’m afraid I’m feeling a little under the weather, so the band is going to take over without me for the next few minutes so I can get a breath of fresh air.”
The audience groans. They came to hear me sing. Even though I’m nothing without the band, I’m still the face of the entire operation.
“I promise you that Ewan, Brooks, Reid, and Pierce will give you a magnificent performance.” I gesture to Ewan. “Hit it!”
Ewan bursts into a series of virtuosic runs on the piano, improvising around the melody of “At Last” while the rest of the band fills in the accompaniment.
I knew I could count on them. They’re all fantastic musicians, and they don’t get the credit they deserve. The singer always gets the glory.
I duck off the stage and make a beeline for the Green Door. Chet and Harrison are just getting there when I waylay them both, placing myself between them and the door.
Chet cocks his head. “Miss Bianca. I’m afraid you’re in our way.”
“Not at all.” I cross my arms. “It appears you’re escorting my guest for the evening out of the club. So if anything, you’re in my way. My way of enjoying his company this evening.”
Chet raises his eyebrows. “It would seem you’ve already enjoyed Dr. O’Rourke’s company thoroughly this evening.”
I drop my jaw. Does Chet know about what Harrison and I did in the grand suite? No way. They wouldn’t have surveillance set up in an area where so much intimacy occurs. That’s a violation of privacy.
And if people are watching those areas, the last person I want watching them is Chester Tabbitt. I’ve known the guy for years and he’s never laid a hand on me, but he still gives me the creeps every time he rakes his bloodshot eyes over my body.
I sputter for a moment before gathering myself. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
He smirks. “Of course you don’t.”
“If this has to do with the fact that we were in the grand suite together…”
Chet sniffs. “As a matter of fact, it has everything to do with that. Dr. O’Rourke here”—he shakes Harrison’s arm roughly—“was not supposed to be in the grand suite. It’s private for a reason. Only those who have reserved it and their guests of choice are allowed in there.”
Harrison whips his arm out of Chet’s grasp. “But Bianca would have suffocated if I hadn’t been there.”
“And we are incredibly grateful that you were there, Doctor. But rules must be followed. Break them”—he leers over the two of us—“and all hell breaks loose.”
I turn around. Sure enough, my sister is standing behind us, brandishing a large emerald lace fan in her gloved hand.
I cross toward her. “Rouge, I think that in consideration of the circumstances, Harr—I mean, Dr. O’Rourke—should be allowed to stay. He is my guest, after all.”
Rouge’s eyebrows twitch. “And I don’t need to tell you that employees of Aces Underground are not allowed guests.”
