She smiles faintly. “Thanks, but he’d never drag his ass out of his ivory tower in Nashville to come to rural Kentucky. And short of puttin’ a tracking collar on me like I’m his damn dog, he has no idea where I am.”
I try my best to tone down the worry in my voice. “Is he always like that? Sounds like the guy has forgotten he’s workingforyou, not the other way around.”
“That was him beingnicecause he’s smelling money from a new record.”
The truth sinks in like a rock to the bottom of a lake, settling heavy in my gut. Dalton’s been abusing her while I sat here idly, unknowing.
I left her in this asshole’s clutches! How could I be so blind and let him get away with this?
A red veil of rage drapes across my vision but I need to keep a cool head for Tally’s sake. Dalton said she can’t know the truth about Vegas. He never mentioned I couldn’t tell her my honest opinion of him.
“He’s an asswipe, Trouble. Did he seriously talk about himself in third person and call himselfthe Dalton? Now I don’t usually mind some cursing, but his usage of fuck was definitely over the top. You should fire him.”
She lets out a wry laugh. “I can’t. He’s too well-connected. If he wanted to, he could ruin me with a single call and he’s made it clear that he wouldn’t hesitate if I step too far out of line.”
Shit. I get the full picture now.
Breaking us up wasn’t personal. He wanted to isolate Tally before luring her in with promises of fame. Once she found success, those promises turned into threats to take it all away if she disobeys.
He controls her.
“What about the rest of your team? Producers, lawyers, anybody? Can’t they help?” I ask, failing to keep the desperation from my cracking voice.
Her shoulders creep up to her ears. “Everybody’s afraid of Rex and my team is an extension of him. They’re his puppets. I stopped talkin’ to ‘em cause every conversation eventually ends in‘I have to ask Mr. Dalton first.’”
A muscle in my jaw ticks. “That-that must be illegal!”
“I was young and inexperienced when I signed withRex. He caught me in a predatory contract allowing him to control every aspect of my career and my private life. Pretty sure if he wanted to, he could even have my bank accounts frozen.”
I cradle my head in my hands. Tally is suffering and I’m fucking useless! What in the world could I do to help her?
“Rex loves to tell me that he made me.” She picks at her fingers. “He says I’d be nothing without him.”
“Nobodymadeyou a star!” I bite out. “You worked hard for everything you have. Absolutely nothing was ever handed to you!”
She lifts her chin, standing taller. “Thank you for saying that. I refuse to let my career die because of him. One day, I’ll break free. I have to bide my time until I find a way to hit him where it hurts cause I’ll only get one shot to take him down.”
She shuffles her feet, bare toes curling against the floor. “But you sound angry. Do you think I’m a coward for not leaving his management company?”
I choke on air, too eager to respond. “Fuck no! You’re stuck between a rock and a hard place. I’m damn mad at myself cause there ain’t a thing I can do to help you!”
Her eyes light up a fraction. “Actually, thereissomething you can do…”
14
RUST
“I haveone week to write the best country album ever and you’ll help me!” Tally announces.
I point at my face. “Me?”
“Do you see any other handsome guys with a golden voice and a musical dick in this kitchen?”
A smirk creeps across my lips. “I can fuck you until you forget your own name, but I ain’t gonna be much use in the songwriting department.”
“Oh, don’t give me that! I saw the guitar in the hallway. You still play. Bet you still sing, too.”
I scrub a hand along my jaw. “Singing covers at the Coal Bucket ain’t the same as writing a whole album with a country superstar. Way out of my league, Trouble.”
