"Is it true that Wren stole the song?" a man shouted.
"Why did you take the blame?" a woman demanded.
The questions came fast and furiously, and the crowd was blocking their way into the courtyard and also out of the parking lot. He grabbed Kaia's hand, needing to hold her close. Her face was white, her eyes wide with shock. She'd finally gotten to see his present and possibly her future.
"Wren says you protected her for years—is that true?" the first reporter asked again.
More questions flew in his direction.
"Is Wren still using drugs? Do you?"
"Are you getting back together?"
"Do you forgive her?"
"Is this your new girlfriend?"
"How long have you been together? Is she the reason Wren is going out on her own?"
"What do you have to say?"
As a microphone was thrust toward Kaia, he immediately stepped in front of her, adrenaline surging hard through his system.
"Back up," he snapped.
The cameras kept flashing.
"What do you think about Wren's confession?" the nearest reporter asked, the balding man who'd been at the building earlier. "Did you break up because of her relapse? Do you still love her?"
Kaia tried to pull away, but he kept a tight grip on her hand. If he said nothing, they would keep coming after him. If he said too much, it would mean more headlines. He had to make one statement, one brief statement. "All I have to say is this." The group quieted, ready to jump and dissect his every word. He gave them the only thing he was willing to give. "I'm going to let Wren speak for herself."
Questions exploded again. He turned toward the entrance to the courtyard, where the cavalry had suddenly arrived. Josie marched out like an angry queen. Ben and Grayson were on either side of her. Ben was ready to exercise both his big brother protectiveness and his experience as a cop, while Grayson exuded the powerful, intimidating glare of a business executive people didn't mess with.
"That's enough!" Ben barked. "Everyone back off."
"This is private property," Josie added.
"You're all trespassing," Grayson said. "Move to the sidewalk now." As the three moved forward, the crowd was pushed back, and he and Kaia ran past them into the courtyard.
Lexie met them just inside. "What's going on? Are you okay?"
"The media figured out where I was," he said, seeing more of the tenants coming out of their apartments. This group was quieter than the one outside, but he could see the questions looming.
"Who are you?" Lexie asked. "It's time for you to tell us the truth."
It was such a simple question, but the answer was anything but simple. And then Kaia pulled her hand out of his.
"You should tell them," she said. "I need to go."
Losing her hand sent a chill through his body. And watching her walk away made him feel like he might never be warm again.
As Kaia left, he faced his neighbors, which now included Josie, Ben, and Grayson who had come back into the courtyard. "My real name is Jason Barnes. I was in a band with Wren Carmichael called Blackbird."
"Oh, my God," Lexie said, clapping a hand to her mouth. "I've heard your music. I had no idea you were part of that."
"I was mostly in the background. Wren was the star."
"But Blackbird broke up," Lexie continued, trying to piece it all together.
