“It’s a gift,babe,” Hatch replied with his trademark eyebrow lift.
Harmony turnedback to me. “Don’t take the NDA personally. I already trust you completely, butMelody’s lawyers don’t know you and still wouldn’t trust you even if they did.”
“I thought Lyricwas her lawyer,” I said.
“Lyric’s one ofsix,” Harmony countered. “And she’s the least of the worriers.”
“No worries,” Isaid and scribbled my signature on the line above my name. “So, what’s the bigsecret, and how can I possibly help the world-famous Melody Morgan?”
“Well, like Isaid. She’s kicking off her tour in Portland in four days but was forced tofire her guitarist under some hairy circumstances. She’s twisted up over thewhole thing, and I need someone that I can trust to fill the position thatisn’t going to make matters worse. Someone who can play guitar like amotherfucker, keep his mouth shut to the media, and help keep an extra eye onher as well.”
“Okay,” I said,dragging a hand over my beard. “I can help you find someone. I’ll start askingaround right away. I know some great players that I trust, but four days isn’tmuch time to find someoneandhave them learn a full set.”
“No, dummy,” shesaid, with a laugh. “I was thinking of you.”
“Me? You’vegotta be fucking kidding.”
“Why not you?You’ve got the chops and I know you’ll have no problem learning her material intime. Plus, I really would feel better with another set of eyes on her. Sherecently hired a new security team but is still feeling vulnerable aftereverything that happened a few years back.”
“I’m aforty-year-old biker. You really expect me to get up on stage with a bunch ofyoung pop tarts and shake my ass along to prerecorded tracks?”
“It’s not likethat. No tracks, no dancers, and Melody’s got seasoned pros in the band. RodArcher on drums, Puddin’ Daily on Bass—”
“Puddin’splaying with her? No fucking way.”
Harmony nodded.“She’s working hard to change her image. Musically and personally. She’s morefocused and dedicated than I’ve ever seen.”
I scrubbed ahand over the back of my neck. “Shit, I don’t know, Harmony.”
“I’ve alreadyspoken with the label, and they’ve agreed to pay you thirty thousand for thetour.”
I turned toHatch. “What about the club? My promotion?”
I’d been workingall year towards a promotion to Road Captain, and I wasn’t about to letanything get in the way of that.
“I’m pretty surethe club can handle you being gone for a few months,” Hatch said. “Besides,when are you ever gonna get the chance to be a rockstar again?”
“I don’t know,”I said reluctantly.
“I’ll tell youwhat,” Hatch said. “This wouldn’t just be a favor to Harmony. You’d be doing mea favor, too. So, if you take the gig with Melody, the Road Captain’s patch isyours.”
I let out aheavy sigh. “When’s the first show?”
“The tour startson Friday at the Moda Center.”
“Jesus,” Ihissed. “No fucking pressure.”
“Forty thousanddollars,” Harmony said.
“Shit, man. I’llstrap on a fuckin’ guitar and shake my ass for that,” Hatch retorted.
“It’s not aboutthe money,” I said.
“So, you’ll doit for free?” Harmony asked.
“Not a fuckin’chance,” I said.
“Then what isit, Train?”
