“Where’s Yivi?” Zoey questions. I know she’s equally worried about her. I point to the bedroom, and she quickly makes her way there.
Tate gets the bottle of whiskey and pours three glasses before topping up mine while I explain to my bandmates about the Leader and his demands.
“So how are we playing it?” Cameron asks
“I’ll get the money and give it to him tomorrow if he shows up. I’ll make sure in no uncertain terms he knows to stay away in the future,” I reply and drink down the amber nectar.
“Is that wise?” Austin questions.
“What? Giving him the money?”
Austin shakes his head, “No, you going. You can’t afford to lose your temper. He’s just the sort of bastard who’ll take advantage of it.”
“I’m not letting Yivi go alone.”
“She won’t,” all three of my bandmates reply at once.
“What do you mean?” I ask.
“We’ll be going with her and recording the whole conversation so he can’t come back at us.” Cameron pulls his phone from his pocket and places it on the table.
“I can’t expect that from you. We don’t know what he’s going to be like. He’s a dick that’s for certain. I’m sure he’s going to try something.” I feel blessed to have these guys as my best mates, but I won’t allow them to get into trouble for me.
“And we’ll make sure he doesn’t get away with whatever he does try.” Tate is adamant. “You can come in the car, but that’s where you’ll stay. We’re not just looking out for Yivi in this situation—we’re looking out for you as well. I know exactly what you’re thinking because if it were Zoey, I’d want to pound the guy to death. We need our drummer as much as we need me as the lead singer. So listen and do as you’re told. We do this tomorrow, and then we move on and see what the future holds. I’m sure we’re due one or two new additions to our family. Cameron, Austin, anything you need to tell us?”
Both of our other bandmates flip Tate off.
“Thank you, guys.” I finish my whiskey and stand.
“We all need to sleep,” Tate orders.
Cameron groans. “Damn, no chicks! The one I had tonight looked like she had a red hot pussy.”
“No, that was crabs.” Austin laughs as he slaps Cameron on the back.
As a band, we walk back toward the bedroom, four big men crowded around so we can peer into the door where Zoey and Yivi lie sleeping. Both of them cuddled up together.
“In other circumstances, this would be incredibly hot, but with those two, I just want to say it’s cute,” Cameron states.
“I have to agree,” Austin adds.
“Do we wake them?” Tate looks at me.
“No, let them sleep. Zoey went above and beyond her babysitting duties today, and those two have just solidified a friendship for life,” I reply and head to my bunk.
When I draw back the curtain, I find Yivi’s wallet, rings, and a note. I don’t read it—I simply crumple it up and throw it into the trash can. Only my wife would try to leave me to save me. I know tomorrow I have to behave myself so I can save her right back…I just hope I can.
Chapter 24
Yivi
#HolySugarCubesThatsALotOfMoney
“I feel sick,” I tell Zoey as we sit, waiting for the band to get back from the bank.
They’ve gone to get the money I need to buy off the Leader. Half a million dollars in return for my life. I researched a bit last night about how much money it was in terms I could understand, and I don’t know how I’ll ever be able to pay it back. I’ll have to work my fingers to the bone for the band until the day I die.
The nagging feeling persists at the back of my mind, though, that it won’t buy me my freedom. I’ll always be looking over my shoulder, waiting for him to come for me the next time he needs more money.
“It’ll be all right. The guys are pretty scary when they join together. I don’t think this Leader will know what’s hit him. I swear it’s all the tattoos, piercings, and strange hair styles. Did you see how high Tate did his mohawk this morning? He’s even painted it red and orange like he’s a Native American going into war.”
“He did look a bit scary,” I agree.
“Hot as hell, you mean. I’m going to jump his bones later.” Zoey smacks her lips together.
“I hope I’ll have the chance to do the same to Liam,” I reply, scared I might never get to be with him again if this goes wrong.
“You will. Don’t worry.”
The bus door opens and in walks the band. Tate is at the front, carrying a suitcase. It looks completely at odds with his appearance.
“Did you get it?” Zoey is on her feet.
“Yes.” Tate opens the case, and I stare down at half a million dollars. It’s strange—it looks just like paper to me.
“Didn’t anyone ask why you wanted it?” I question, thinking it’s crazy they can withdraw this amount of money.
“No, when you’re a rock star, you can take as much money as you want out of your bank account and no one questions it. I’m sure somewhere there’s a fraud check going on, but they probably just think we’re going to go and put a deposit down on a summer house here or something. I’ve done it before,” Tate explains.
I take one of the notes from a bundle and hold it up.
“This is a one dollar bill. I know the rest are different denominations, but this dollar is significant. It’s the first of five hundred thousand favors I owe you all. I won’t stop working tirelessly for you until my debt is paid.”
“You don’t have to…” Liam starts, but Cameron interrupts.
“Fuck that. She can take over my toilet cleaning duties for me.” He winks at me, and I know he wouldn’t dream of letting me do that, but he’s trying to lighten the mood.
“Just try it, dickhead.” Liam holds a fist up.
“Damn it, the Spanish pit bull is unleashed again. We’ll have to make sure he stays in the car during the hand over,” Cameron warns.
“He will. The sensible Liam is coming to the meeting today. The one who only has his wife’s best interests at heart,” Tate responds.
“Good.” Austin looks at the clock on his phone. “We should get going. It’s nearly time for the meeting.”
“Have you set the security breach review in progress?” Tate questions Zoey.
The band was even more furious when the Leader sent me a text message on my phone last night, telling me he wants to see me at a particular location and time with the money, or he’s going to the press. Liam got so crazy with rage he smashed my phone and had to arrange for a new one to be delivered to me first thing this morning with a different number.
“I have. I don’t like the fact he was able to get the number so easily. It scares me,” Zoey responds with a frown marring her pretty features.
“I agree.” Austin nods.
Tate shuts the case of money, and we all make our way off the bus to the waiting limousine.
“Where will the bodyguards be?” I ask when I notice the band’s security detail getting into the Range Rover style vehicle they normally travel in behind the band.