I laughed under my breath. “That she is. Pretty sure she is the draw. She’s an amazing girl.”
Talented and gorgeous and sweet.
Truth was, the whole band was crazy talented.
“She deserves every bit of the limelight that is coming her way,” I said. “All of them. They have worked their asses off to get where they are. I jumped on the train after they’d already paid the price. After they’d made every sacrifice. Can’t take any of the credit, but what I can do is make sure they get where they’re supposed to be.”
Guilt pulsed. Just hoped I didn’t fuck up before I helped to get them there.
Ash’s smile turned soft. “Get it, Leif. They’re your people. I’m just messing with you. Country might not be my thing, but there is no missing the fact Carolina George is stupid good. Great things are coming their way. After listening to you today? Can’t wait to witness that for you.”
More of that guilt.
This time suffocating.
“Thanks,” I managed to mutter. Turning away before it ate me alive, I started to pack my shit because it was clear I needed to get the hell out of there.
I’d allowed myself to get too close to Rhys, Richard, and Emily. Something I’d promised myself I would never do. Refused to make that mistake again.
With these assholes, it would be easy to get wrapped up. All of them too damned likeable for their own good.
Ash’s phone buzzed. He dug it out of his pocket, and a giant smile shot to his face. “Family’s here. I gotta go.” He bolted out the door.
Focusing on stuffing the rest of my things into my bag, I chuckled a disbelieving sound, wondering how the fuck I’d gotten myself here, the road I was supposed to be traveling getting twisted.
This band.
This city.
That girl.
Austin headed for the door. “See you upstairs. Don’t know about you, but I’m fucking starving.”
“Actually, I’m gonna take off,” I mumbled.
Thank fuck my bike had shown up this morning. Band had seen to it that it and the rest of my things were shipped here from my condo in Charlotte.
I sure as hell wasn’t going to stick around for some kind of family gathering.
Austin stalled, his hair damp from sweat, his grey eyes kind when he looked back at me. “You sure?” he asked. “You’re totally welcome. Think it’d be cool for everyone to get to know you.”
“Need to work on some Carolina George songs.”
“Ah, got you. No problem. See you at practice tomorrow.”
“Sure thing.”
The door shut behind him, and I breathed out a sigh of relief, only to tense when the voice hit me from the other side of the room.
“You played good today,” Lyrik said, leaned up against the far wall with his arms crossed over his chest.
“Think we’re going to jibe.”
“Yeah,” he agreed.
I kept stuffing nonexistent things into my bag. Didn’t want to acknowledge the questions I could feel swirling through the air.
This guy’s intensity fierce.
Loyal.
Savage.
Mix it with mine, and we’d bring the house down.
“About last night . . .”
Fuck.
I scraped a hand through my hair, blowing out a sigh. I chanced a glance his way, figuring I’d cut him off at the pass. “Heard the alarm go off and went to check it out. Thought I saw something.”
“Did you?” he asked, straight up.
I hiked a shoulder. “Not sure. Gut tells me someone was there, but if there was? Fucker’s a ghost. Was gone in a split.”
“You didn’t think too hard about chasing them down.”
I didn’t know if it was an accusation or not. Would take it, either way. Like I’d told Mia, if I dragged someone to their doorstep, I was going to be sure to drag them right back off.
Preferably in a body bag.
“Figure if I’m staying at your place, your place becomes my responsibility.”
“A lot to take on.”
I shrugged. “Life is what it is. You protect the ones you should. Hunt down the rest.” I let a smirk crack my face.
Lyrik nodded, his voice rough. “Thought so. Guess you and I are alike that way.”
“Doesn’t surprise me.”
“No. Doesn’t surprise me, either.”
I lifted my attention, intent clashing with his from across the room. “You want me to go? Just say it, man. I can find another place. No big deal.”
It would be for the best, anyway.
Disbelief rumbled from Lyrik, his voice turning light. “Do I want you to leave? Fuck no. You run faster than me.”
I gruffed out a cynical chuckle. “So, you didn’t want a drummer. You wanted a security guard.”
He laughed, low and dark. “Nah, dude, you’re here to play. But it definitely doesn’t hurt to have you around.”
Didn’t hurt?
Clearly, he had me pegged wrong.
Shifting, he pushed forward from the wall.
Warring.
Hesitating.
Like he was considering if he could really trust me.
Should do him the favor and tell him right then that he couldn’t.
“Going to be straight with you. I’m not sure my sister is safe. Some really fucked up shit has gone down in her life. Brought her out here to protect her. Have to admit, any extra eyes on her won’t be a bad thing.”
Bitterness bled from me on a sigh. “You don’t want me looking after her. I promise you that.”
He lifted his chin in a challenge. “You’ve got your eyes on her, anyway. You might as well.”
Wow.
Okay.
I scrubbed a hand over my face. “Already told you that I wouldn’t touch her.”
Yeah, and we saw how that went, didn’t we?
That lie a thousand pounds on my chest.
The girl perfection under my hands.
He pushed the rest of the way from the wall. “Listen, know she’s a grown woman. I mean, fuck, she has two kids. I can’t stand in the way of her making her own choices. She’s wicked smart. Strong and talented. I know I have to let her make decisions on her own. Doesn’t mean I don’t want to keep her from pain, and she’s had more than anyone should have to shoulder. Just remember that, and we won’t have a problem.”
Denial blazed through my being. “You don’t need to worry about it. Nothing is going on with us.”
He took a step my way. “Guess that’s what we all say when we’re drowning, isn’t it? So gone we have no idea that life is right there, waiting all around us. Love with a hand outstretched to rescue us.”
“Don’t believe in fairytales.”
And if I did, mine were buried six feet underground.
Lyrik crossed the room, heading to the door. Right before he opened it, he paused. “Neither did I, man, neither did I. Funny how life turns out, though, isn’t it? Now come and eat some chicken. Tamar insists.”
The fucker winked. But it was me who was completely fucked.
Fourteen
Leif
Climbing the stairs from the bottom floor, I hit the main level and quickly moved for the backdoor.
Like I thought I was all kinds of sneaky as I bypassed the kitchen that was packed with bodies preparing for a feast. Place filled with laughter and voices and clattering dishes.