Bax held up his hands. “It’s not what you think.”
Linx didn’t yell, even though he wanted to. He was remarkably calm, given the maelstrom beginning to pound in his blood vessels. He stood, too slowly. Too slowly. Too calm, given what was happening inside. Blood rushing through his ears swished so loud, he was sure he’d heard Knox wrong. Misunderstood the whole shebang.
“Linx, take a breather.” Hans used his let’s-all-be-reasonable manager tone.
Linx wasn’t having it.
“Is that why Em left?” Linx asked, ready to punch a hole in the pretty boy face of his lead singer.
At the mention of Em, Bax jerked like Linx had struck him. “Courtney and I hooked up after Em left.” He moved his hands to his hair, as though he was trying to hold his brain together. “I didn’t fuck around on her.”
“Em did.” Knox stood, moving between Bax and Linx like he was acting as a bouncer.
“It’s true,” Hans moved next to Knox. “She was the one with a side gig while she planned her wedding to Bax.”
“That’s not what this is about now.” Bax seemed to come to some kind of conclusion. “This is about Courtney. She’s pregnant? I need to see her.”
“No.” Linx shoved his hands on his hips, spread his stance, and met Bax’s eyes. “She comes to you. When and if she’s ready, she makes the move. You leave her the hell alone.”
Bax shook his head. “Can’t do that.”
“Can wepleasetake a breather?” Hans asked, his hand pressing against Linx’s chest.
Knox hadn’t moved. Apparently, it’d been Linx who stepped forward. His body was ready to go big brother on Bax, even if his mind hadn’t yet come to that conclusion.
“You knocked up my sister.” Blood rushed in his ears. “You jacked with the band.”
“Linx. Breathe.” Knox had a look of terror across his mug, like he knew this was the end and suddenly he didn’t want that freedom he was always bitching about.
Too. Bad.
Looking at Bax…Linx just…couldn’t bring himself to care if they all ever made music again together. This was what it felt like to be numb. He just didn’t fucking care.
“Dimefront is done.” Linx slashed his hand through the air.
Bax flinched.
Hans looked like someone had punched him in the love dart.
Knox shook his head. “Not accepting that.”
“Serious. Over.Done.” It was his call this time. “Bax wanted to talk about contracts. I read the goddamned contract. Any of us want to call it? It’s done. I’m calling.”
There was no way in hell he’d take the stage again with Bax.
No. Way. In. Hell.
“Whoa.” Brek strode through the door and held up his hands.
The numb wore off, and Linx needed to get to Becca. Pain radiated from the area of his heart. She’d know what to say to make it better.
“I thought we agreed no decisions until I came to referee?” Brek asked, eyes on Knox. Likely because Knox was the only one in the room who was thinking clearly at the time.
“That was before Bax knocked up my sister.” Linx closed his eyes. Done. He needed to be done.
He opened them, but the haze of pain was there. Stronger than before.
Brek cringed and took in Bax. He had the look of a father who was disappointed in his kid. “Tell me this isn’t real.”
