“Niki, you’re scaring me,” I say, rubbing her arm again. “Come on, wake up. Do you need some food? Do you think your sugar is low?”
Her lids flutter, but she doesn’t reply.
Fuck.
“That’s it. I’m going to call for help.” I reach for my phone with trembling fingers and punch the emergency button, bringing it to my ear.
“Jos, hang up the phone,” Niki whispers harshly.Every word seems like a struggle, but she manages to pry her eyes open and meet mine.
“9-1-1, what’s your emergency?” a voice on the other end of the line asks, but I barely hear them. All my focus is lasered on my best friend who’s staring at me with a silent plea in her eyes, even as she’s on the brink of passing out.
“Please hang up,” she begs breathlessly. “Go get Tobias. He can help.”
What the hell? Ew. Why would I do that?
She isn’t thinking clearly.Obviously. She has no idea what she’s talking about.
She needs an ambulance and a hospital.
She needs to be okay.
“Jos, please.” Her words finally slice through my jumbled, scattered thoughts, and my determination crumbles.
“We have it handled, sorry,” I mutter into the phone before hanging up. As soon as the call disconnects, my stomach turns.
Fuck, I hope trusting her was the right decision.
“Thank you,” Niki breathes, her voice barely audible. “Now… Tobias.”
I blink at her. “That asshole isn’t going to do anything that I can’t. Besides, I don’t want to leave you like this. What if you pass out?”
“I promise, I’m okay, but I need him.” She winces like she’s in pain. “And when he gets here, we’ll have to fill you in on some things.”
Fill me in?What the fuck does that mean?
Blinking, I study her features, my mind a whirlwindof questions yet again. What secrets has she been keeping from me? What can’t she tell me without him being here? Does this have to do with Sebastian’s secret identity he keeps so well hidden?
I don’t have time to argue.
If she needs Tobias, as much as I’d rather throw myself into traffic than talk to him, I’ll go get him. The thought of seeing the dickhead drummer has my insides turning, but I nod and sprint for the door. His shit ass attitude is the least of my concerns right now.
Jogging to the other tour bus, I’m breathing heavy by the time I pound on the door. Hopefully, the keyboardist will answer. I’d even take one of the guitar twins, even though I’m sure they’re on their own bus. I’ll take anyone but the cocky drummer who makes me want to pull my hair out.
My hopes evaporate the second the door pops open and a sleek black mask appears.
“What do you want?” He leans against the doorframe, staring down at me through the holes in his mask. Those golden eyes have to be contacts; they’re too ethereal, too bizarre to be real. He’s wearing jeans and a long-sleeve shirt today, with some kind of black fabric covering all his exposed skin.
“To be literally anywhere else.” I put as much venom as I can into my words. “We need Sebastian?—”
“And you think I keep him shoved up my ass?” he interrupts, his eyes narrowing behind his mask.
My jaw hardens. “There's clearly no room for him since you're already so far up there. Niki needs help?—”
“Listen, just because we work together doesn't meanI keep tabs on the fucker.” His tone is dripping with annoyance.
“God, you are fucking insufferable.” If he cuts me off one more time, I’m chopping his dick off. “I would not be wasting my time here if I didn’t have to. Niki’s not well, and she won’t let me call an ambulance.”
He stiffens suddenly.
