Page 27

Riot

“We’ve been spoiled,” Bronx says when we enter the hotel room I booked. “I forgot what it was like... all of us cramming into a tiny room.”

“Our gear as well sometimes,” Golden adds.

If we could leave it in a hotel garage where it was locked away safely we would, but sometimes that wasn’t an option. Not in the beginning. Our instruments—we’d bought ourselves with money from part-time jobs at a time when every dollar counted—our lifeline to a future we could taste.

When my brothers’ situations improved, so did mine. But the guys and I had something to prove to ourselves and the world. We’d wanted the whole authentic experience.

“The rooms were small. And so were the gigs.” Sixty people who had no idea who we were to start. Then a hundred. Then five hundred. A thousand. Now we’re playing packed stadiums across the world.

“One bed.” Bronx looks at the room, nostalgia coloring his view. “Too short couch. Taking turns for who would sleep on the floor.”

Now our hotel suites are thousands of dollars a night, comped by the label. Controlled like we are by Savant Records. At least this room is completely free of any listening devices meant to overhear our conversation.

“Give me your phones,” I order them as they take a seat.

Again Golden gives me that what the fuck look, but they both hand their devices over without much friction.

“Watch too.” I stretch out my hand to Golden, palm up.

He takes off his smartwatch and places it in my hand.

There’s a knock. “That must be the others.”

When I open the door, Kelsey strides in with her jaw so tight it reminds me of what those teeth are capable of. My cock throbs like it remembers too. She barely spares me a glance, and the one she does spare is venomous.

Kodiak comes in behind her. “What’s this about?”

Rook follows, shutting the door and leaning against it.

“Give me your phones,” I say.

“What the fuck for?” Kodiak asks.

“I’ll explain after you hand it over.”

“He made us do it too,” Bronx grumbles.

“Whatever.” He sighs, turns it fully off, and grudgingly hands me the device as he looks around our temporary abode.

“Like hell. I’m not going to give you my phone.” Kelsey crosses her arms and juts out her chin when I move toward her. “I can’t trust you.”

“Don’t give it to me, then.” Bronx gave her the phone from the stack the label leaves for us in case we need a replacement. Which means there’s as much possibility of her phone being bugged as any of ours. But I’ve damaged so much between us there’s no way I can talk her into handing it over to me. “Give it to Rook.”

Hopefully one day I can repair her trust in me.

“Fine.” She takes it to Rook who accepts it with a questioning look at me. I hand him the rest of the phones. “Find out if the concierge has a safe you can put those in... yours too... and then come back.”

He leaves the room.

“What now?” Kelsey flounces down on the end of the bed. Kodiak joins her, stretching out his long legs. She crosses her legs and sits sideways, facing him. “You’re being incredibly paranoid.”

“Yeah, bro. Did you smoke a bad batch?” Golden asks.

“Yes, I am. No, I didn’t. And we wait for Rook to come back.” I take a seat on the empty sofa, where I have a view of her and Kodiak. The mattress dips, leaning them together. Whether that’s their intention or not, it smacks me in the chest.

Her face is so bruised.