That was it. JustI know,and he turned his face away once more. At a loss for words, I simply stared at his profile for a moment. He had facial hair, not long enough to be a beard but longer than just casual stubble. It suited his vibe, with his slightly longish hair that was tied up in a looped-over ponytail, showcasing the undercut sides. I usually hated long hair on men, but this really seemed to work for him.
Rhett gave my knee a gentle squeeze, tearing my attention away from the silent drummer.
“Don’t mind him,” he said softly in my ear. “He doesn’t like people much.”
I gave a small smile in response, showing I wasn’t offended. This dude probably believed every horrible thing Jace had said about me, and then some. It also looked like I’d slept with Rhett last night, and I’d done nothing to dispel that assumption.
Rhett distracted me for the short drive to the concert venue, asking about my day with Dora. I answered his questions quietly, not wanting to annoy the whole car with my chatter. Maybe Grayson needed quiet and calm before a show or something. I didn’t need to go giving him another reason to dislike me.
When we arrived, the bodyguards escorted us into the backstage area so the band could get ready. They’d apparently already done their soundcheck earlier in the day, so I lurked uncomfortably near the side of the room. My number one goal was to stay the hell out of everyone’s way, and I must have succeeded because Jace didn’t even glance my wayonce.
Sound crew fitted them all with in-ear monitors, then Rhett beckoned me over as he lifted his guitar from its case. It was impossible to miss the fact that the turquoise accents on the glossy black instrument matched his gelled mohawk perfectly.
“Tom usually watches from the side of the stage,” he told me as his long fingers gently stroked over the strings of his guitar. “Will you be okay hanging out with him?”
I wrinkled my nose, glancing over at the greasy creep who was currently kissing Florence. “I guess… But I don’t understand why I’m even here. I thought Jace wanted me to stayawayfrom you.”
Rhett’s green eyes shifted over to the moody fuck in question, then he gave me a small shrug. “I have a theory. But we’re needed on stage in five minutes. I’m asking the twins to keep an eye on you while I’m on stage, though, okay?”
“I’ll be fine, Zep,” I teased with a smile that I didn’t feel. “Get your head in the music; don’t stress about me.”
“You heard her,” Tom sneered, detaching his squid hands from Florence as a woman with a clipboard called out that it was time to go. “Don’t worry, Rhett, I’ll take care of your stray puppy.”
Rhett didn’t seem even slightly reassured—neither was I, for that matter—but Jace barked his guitarists name so sharply that Rhett rolled his eyes and sighed. “If you get bored of our shit music, you can come back here. Okay? This room is totally off limits to anyone but our band security.”
“Rhett,come on!” Florence yelled into the room.
I smiled and gave him a push. “Go.”
He gave me one more worried frown, then shot Tom a warning look before hurrying out to catch up with the rest of his band. The crowd was so loud we could hear the dull roar from the greenroom we were in, but even so, it suddenly feltveryquiet without the band.
“Listen, I don’t care how great your dick sucking skills are, but—” Tom started, sneering at me, and I put my palm up in his face.
“Save it,” I snapped, too tired to put up with his shit. “I’m not here to try and rip off your cash cow, Tom. If it was up to me, I’d be tucked up in bed right now, or did you miss that whole scene where Jace literally gave meno choiceabout tagging along tonight?”
His eyes narrowed into a glare. Then he just stalked out of the greenroom without a backward glance. Fuckinggood, I was more than happy to hang out in here alone for the entire concert. Maybe I could even take a nap while waiting to be allowed to go back to the hotel.
Actually, fuck that. Why was I letting Jace push me around? Yes, I needed their help getting out of Siena without the Riccis catching me, but that wasit. And that had already been arranged with my temporary position on Dora’s team. There was no reason for me to behere, at the concert venue.
Of course, I wasn’t dumb-shit enough to just wander out on my own and hail a cab—with my zero money—but that didn’t mean I needed to just sit quietly while waiting for my master to return with doggy treats.
Stepping out of the greenroom, I glanced up and down the busy hallway. It was easy to spot Rhett’s security guys just a short way down the hall, chatting to another black-outfitted bodyguard dude. I gave them a small wave as I approached, and one of the twins nodded in response.
“Hey, uh, Rhett said—”
“To keep an eye on you?” the one on the left finished for me. “Yeah, we got the message. You in some kind of trouble, girl?”
My laugh was shaky and weak. “You could say that. But I was wondering if maybe we could go back to the hotel? I just want to sleep, and this whole rock concert thing really isn’t my vibe.” I pasted on my very best pleading smile, batting my lashes a little and hoping they would take pity on me.
The guy they’d been talking to scoffed. “You must be the girl we’ve been hearing about all day. Billie Bellerose herself, huh? I expected someone… taller.”
I gave him a frown of confusion. “Um. Sorry for being short?” I didn’t like his tone. There was something decidedly unkind about it. “So… could we?” I aimed my question to the twins.
They exchanged a long look, then the one who’d spoken to me shook his head. “Sorry, kid. We can’t leave the venue without Rhett’s say-so.”
The other guy—the one who thought I was short—muttered something about magical pussy before sauntering away down the hall. I wrinkled my nose, scowling at his back.
“That’s Roger,” the other twin informed me. “He’s part of Jace’s personal security.”
