Opening the door, I found Rhett, Jace, and Florence standing there. Well, Flo was four steps back while Rhett shot her dark looks, but the three of them were here, at least. This might be the final album we ever made together, and despite everything, I hoped that we found our rhythm.
“Hi,” I said, voice rougher thanks to my raging workout. “Come in. I’ll shower and change.”
As I turned away, Jace called my name. “There’s no time,” he said.
“Why the fuck not?” I shot back straight away. “We’ve got all day.”
He shook his head sadly, and thesexiest man alivefor the past five years running looked like a bag of shit as he ran a hand through his hair, more baggage under his eyes than Flo and Tom had in their relationship. “The label is kidnapping us to ensure that this album gets made. You have five minutes to throw clothes in a bag, and then we need to exit to the limo.”
Fuck. That only meant one thing when it came to Big Noise Records.
“No,” I said bluntly. “I refuse.” I had too many things going on here, and how could I get updates on Billie if I was locked up with my bandmates? Not to mention the cameras…
Rhett, wobbling on his feet, glared daggers. “Do you think we’d all be fucking here if refusal was an option? We refuse, we get sued. And I need money for drugs to numb the noise. So pack your shit and get your stubborn fuck of an ass in the car.”
He stomped back down toward the street, his steps weaving dangerously. Rhett was far from sober right now, and that was cause for concern.
I arched an accusing brow at Jace, and he had the good grace to look ashamed. Rhett was his responsibility, and one he’d grossly neglected over the last few months.
“Come on, man,” our lead singer coaxed. “It’s time we all moved on. Forgive and forget and all that shit. We’re too good to let some chick tear us apart.”
My blood boiled, but I swallowed it back. He didn’t see what I had seen in Billie’s video all those weeks ago. He didn’t see the prisoner being coached on what to say. He just saw his first love, the girl who broke his heart, living down to all his shitty expectations.
“This isn’t about her,” I replied, glancing away as a trickle of blood splattered the doorframe. I needed to clean it up before it set in. “I can’t leave right now. Maybe I can Zoom call in or some shit.”
Jace scoffed. “Sure. Whatever, man. Don’t say we didn’t try this the easy way.”
With that cryptic warning, he stalked away, hands stuffed in his pockets. That left me standing there with silent Flo, who looked to be on the verge of tears.
“Sorry,” I grunted, feeling anything but. “Jace and Rhett write all the music anyway. They don’t need me there for collaboration.”
“Gray…” she replied with a pleading look on her face. She wanted me to play middleman. Peacemaker. How could I when I hadn’t forgiven her myself?
My phone rang from my living room, and I gripped the front door. “Sorry, Flo. Good luck with them.” Then I closed the door in her face and went to look for my phone where I’d left it before my workout.
I found it on my coffee table, beside my folder on Billie Bellerose research. The caller ID showed asUnknown Number,and a chill chased down my spine. I stared at the screen, and the call ended without me answering.
“Shit,” I breathed, dread flooding my gut. I’d been expecting it for weeks, but it was still a shock.
Tossing my phone back down, I took my ass off to shower and wallow in denial for a little longer. There was no way I’d get away with using myoldresources and connections without them asking something in return. Stupid me, I’d thought I could just pay cash like any other buyer.
I took my time in the shower, watching my blood mix with the water as it swirled down the drain, then patched up my split knuckles without even bothering to get dressed afterward. It was one of the main reasons I lived alone when we weren’t on tour. I liked to be naked.
“Christ, and here I was starting to think maybe I missed working for you degenerates,” a woman said when I walked through to my kitchen, making me nearly jump out of my skin. “Then I get an eyeful ofthatand remember what a fucking headache you all are.”
I glanced down at my dick, then back up at my manager. “Brenda, you know you missed us.” I opened my arms to hug her, and she just gave a vexed sigh as she hugged me back. “I thought you were still on leave.”
“I am,” she snapped, narrowing her eyes as she leaned back against my counter. “Go put some pants on so I don’t have to talk to your trouser snake, babe. Go on, shoo. I’m helping myself to your liquor.”
I grinned but went to do as she asked. Brenda was only two years older than me but always treated all of us in Bellerose like her children. I’d missed her bossy ass on this last tour.
When I returned to the kitchenwith pants, I found her sipping a small glass of Scotch with a blissed-out look on her face.
“Should you be drinking that?” I asked, arching a brow.
Her answering expression was scathing. “Fuck off, Grayson. You try parenting a tiny demon whonever fucking sleeps,and then let’s see how you react when someone questions your choices. Hmm? Wanna trade places? Because my spawn hasn’t slept more than two hours in a row since the night he entered this world. Let’s swap? I’llhappilytake on Rhett’s detox, Flo’s crappy choices, and Jace’s soul-crushing denial for a full night's sleep.”
I raised my hands in surrender. “When you put it like that…”
