Rafe
“Aren’t Riley and Alistair supposed to stop shit like this happening?” Hudson ground out as our SUV looped around the hotel for the second time. The Die Hearts were everywhere, waving their banners and sporting all kinds of Black Hearts merchandise.
“We have the all-clear from the hotel,” Jake said from upfront. “We can enter via the service entrance.”
“Eva and the girls are already inside, right?” Damon asked.
“Yeah, I just spoke to Travis. They’ve been inside about an hour.”
Relief slammed into me. At least, they hadn’t been down here to see this. It was crazy. There were already a handful of officers trying to contain the crowd. Eva had won over most of our fans. Show after show, their love for the new sweetheart of country only grew. But these fans were different; they truly believed they had some twisted ownership over us and it was only a matter of time before Eva got caught up in it. Damon had already showed me some of the stuff they were saying about her online.
The pure innocent little church girl letting a rock band dirty her up a little.
That shit made my blood boil. Thank fuck, Eva refused to fall down the social media rabbit hole, and I knew Letty screened what she shared with her, so she was oblivious to it for the most part. But there was no missing some of the Die Hearts more venomous banners aimed right at her.
It didn’t matter if we were going all out to protect Eva from the dark side of the industry, we knew it was only time before someone said or did something to try to knock Eva off her new pedestal.
“Okay, let’s move.” Jake came around the side of the SUV and opened the door. “We need to be quick.” His eyes remained on the alley leading around to the service entrance of the hotel.
We all climbed out and started toward the door, just as someone shrieked, “There they are. Oh my god, it’s them, it’s really them.”
A wave of girls swept toward us, their voices blending into a loud crescendo as they drew closer. “Fucking hell,” Damon breathed, as security scrambled to usher the four of us inside.
“Fenton, call for back up.”
“On it,” my bodyguard radioed through to the rest of the team.
“Levi, I love you.”
“Fuck me hard, Hudson.”
“Rafe, oh my god, look at him.”
“Damon Donnelley owns my heart.”
The catcalls and hollers rolled off us as we ducked inside, the door slamming shut behind us.
“You think Fenton will be okay?” someone asked.
He’d stayed behind to prevent any of them from trying to enter the hotel.
“Another team is almost here.”
“We need to find out who the fuck is leaking our location to people. The hotel promised complete discretion.”
“People talk,” Jake grumbled. “It’s happens all the time.”
And didn’t we know it. But we hadn’t even checked in yet, coming straight from the interview at Rock Vegas FM.
“The Die Hearts were already camped outside the hotel waiting,” I said what we were all thinking. “They knew we would be here.”
“Maybe someone saw Eva arrive.”
“It’s possible,” Jake agreed but I saw the tightness around his eyes. He didn’t wholly believe it.
Someone from hotel management met us at the service elevator. “On behalf of The Lyndham, I’d like to apologize—”
“Just keep them out and we’ll be good,” Levi waved him off.
“Of course. We have extra security posted at all entrances and we’re liaising closely with the local PD. Your safety and privacy are our number one priorities, you have my word.”
“Unless things change in the next hour, we’ll need to adjust our plans for getting to Caesar’s.”
“Just tell us what you need.” The guy practically tripped over himself at Jake’s looming presence. He took Hotel Guy to one side and reeled off a list of demands before dismissing him and following us into the elevator.
“Caesar’s,” Hudson let out a long breath. “I fucking love that place.”
“Dude, the last time we performed there you almost pissed your pants before we went on stage,” Levi snickered.
“Fuck off, Hunter. It was a big deal.” Las Vegas shows always were. “And now, Eva gets to experience it all for the first time.”
“Alistair say anything about when they want to get her into the studio?”
“Not yet,” Damon said. “But it won’t be long. Our downloads are through the roof and we can’t deny some of that is down to her.”
“Don’t give her too much credit,” Levi said around a shit-eating smirk. “It’ll go to her head.”
“Not possible, she’s one of the most grounded people I know.”
“Excluding us, you know about five other people, Donnelley. It’s not exactly a shining endorsement.”
“Fuck off.” Damon flipped Hudson the bird.
“I don’t get paid enough to listen to your crap,” Jake shook his head, stepping off the elevator and doing a quick sweep of the hall. I could see Travis and Grayson standing in position outside of Eva’s room.
“Everything good up here?” Jake asked them.
“Nothing to report. Although the friend is very... excitable.” Travis’ brows pinched.
We all looked at Hudson and he balked, “What?”
“Nothing.” I smirked, making a beeline for our room. “Nothing at all.”
“I can’t believe this, Eva. Caesar’s Palace, Caesar’s freakin’ palace.”
Me and Damon shared an amused look while Hudson grumbled beneath his breath.
“I mean it’s Caesar’s Pa—”
“Say it one more time for the people in the back why don’t you?” He let out an exasperated breath, slumping back against the van’s leather seat.
Security had vetoed us going to the venue in separate cars, deciding to put us all in the van with a security detail in front and behind us. Levi had thought it was all a little unnecessary until a group of Die Hearts rushed the van, clawing and banging the glass. I hadn’t missed the way he’d moved closer to Eva, quietly asking her if she was okay.
If I wasn’t so stunned, I probably would have turned green with envy.
My brother had a heart.
Who fucking knew?
“I’m sorry, did anyone hear somethin’ just then?” Molly retorted, smirking at her best friend.
“Funny, Steinbeck, real damn funny.”
She blew Hud a kiss. Jesus, she was out to push his buttons, not that I blamed her. Dressed to kill in a tight-fitting dress and shoes unworthy of one of our shows, Damon had pointed out she might want to rethink her wardrobe. But Molly had simply flicked her hair over one shoulder, looked right at Hudson, and said she was ready to enjoy the night.
I’d seen the flash of lust in his eyes, the way he’d greedily dragged his eyes down her body. He wanted her, which was hardly surprising. But I had a feeling she was going to put him through the wringer. It was hard to feel sorry for the guy. Hudson had a way of telling girls what they wanted to hear without ever really saying a thing. Even though he said he never made promises he had no intentions of keeping, it didn’t stop the trail of broken hearts left in his wake.