“Letty!”
“What? It’s for your Insta. It’s really taken off.”
“My what now?” I asked, frowning.
“Like you don’t know what I’m talking about Mr-I-Have-Over-Eight-Million-Followers.”
“Shit, it’s that many? Wow, I had no idea.” I really didn’t because I let Letty and the team handle all that. “Now, where was I?” I began kissing Eva’s neck as she tried to wiggle free. “You were amazing tonight,” I whispered against the shell of her ear.
“What has gotten into you?” She grabbed my jaw, looking into my eyes.
“Do I need a reason to be happy now?”
“No, but... it’s very disconcertin’.”
“Thanks a lot,” I grumbled.
“I gotta agree with Eva, Rafe. You do seem less broody.”
“I do not brood.”
They were all looking at me now.
So what, I was happy? The show had gone off without a hitch. Levi and I had shared a few moments on stage, especially during The Ties That Bind. Eva had performed with us, and tonight we didn’t have to attend a party or do any meet or greets. We were heading straight for Philly, which meant in less than an hour, I would have Eva underneath me.
Everything was good.
Until Alistair delivered four little words that ruined my good mood.
“We’ve got a situation,” he said around a grim expression. Beckoning the rest of the guys over, he waited for us all to gather. Travis and Fenton were close by with half a dozen other security.
“There’s a situation in the parking lot. It seems the Die Hearts broke through the security barriers. The buses are swamped.”
“So we’re stuck here?”
“Local PD are en route, but honestly, this could turn into a media frenzy. Paparazzi are already gathering.”
“Shit,” Hudson muttered.
“I’ve spoken to security and we’ve agreed to make a break for it. The arena staff have their security guys trying to control the crowd, but I’m not going to sugarcoat it, it’s mayhem out there.”
Just then, a rather breathless Riley jogged up to us. “We should think about moving now,” she said. “Security is concerned they may try to storm the building.”
“You’ve got to be shitting me?” I hissed, tucking Eva into my side.
“What did I tell you, man. Rock City girls are a special kind of crazy.” Hudson grimaced.
“Is everyone ready?” Alistair asked.
“We have some stuff in the dressing room still,” Eva said.
“Leave it. I’ll have someone make sure nothing gets left behind.” Ali ran a hand down his face. “The most important thing right now is getting on those buses.”
The hall became a hive of activity as bodyguards moved into position with their marks. I kept hold of Eva, forcing Travis and Fenton to flank us as we made our way down the long winding hall.
“Fuck me, are you hearing that?” Hudson let out a low whistle. The wail was blood curdling.
“We love you Levi. Rafe. Hudson. Damon. We love you.”
“Stick with me or Travis, okay?” I said to Eva. Her eyes were wide with fear. She’d already faced her fair share of chaos since joining the tour, but this was different.
We all felt it.
It was in the way security flanked us a little too closely, and the way no one—except Hudson—was cracking a joke. We all knew what to expect when we burst out the doors, we’d lived it enough times. But no matter how many times you came face to face with a sea of overexcited and reckless fangirls—girls who would do anything for just one touch or one glance from the guys they worshipped—well, nothing could prepare you for that.
Johnson shouldered the door open and all hell broke loose. “Move, now!” he yelled, Travis and Fenton jostling me and Eva between them.
“Rafe, Rafe. Dump the country skank and come get yourself a real girl.”
Eva inhaled a sharp breath, and I squeezed her hand. “Ignore them,” I yelled over the noise.
“We need to keep moving,” someone yelled. “Get back. Get the hell back.”
Girls were everywhere: hands clawing, their screams piercing the air like a band of wild banshees. These were Die Hearts all right, their grit and determination to get close to us unwavering.
It was a strange thing, fan worship. The way rational thought flew out the window all because we played instruments and made music.
“Rafe, Levi, I’ll let you...”
I blocked out the voices. The things they were offering. Dirty depraved things. A couple of years ago, when we were new to the scene, we would have high-fived at our newfound fame and attention. But it was wearing. I tried to search for Hudson among the crush, knowing he was probably lapping it up. But when I found him up ahead, even he looked worried.
“Back up. BACK THE FUCK UP!” Johnson roared, swatting away hand after hand. It was like an attack of bloodthirsty zombies and we were the hot-blooded snacks.
Travis looped his arm around Eva, drawing her away from me. I knew he was only trying to do his job, to protect her, but it went against everything I felt.
“Eva,” I yelled.
She glanced back, her face pale and eyes wide. “Stay with Fenton,” she mouthed.
“T’s got her,” my bodyguard said. “We’re almost there.”
But someone had seriously underestimated the strength of a few hundred girls. We were swamped and despite the tenacity of our security team and the arena’s guys, it was a fucking shitshow.
“Rafe, Rafe, over here,” someone yelled just as something hit me in the face. I grabbed the lace panties and threw them down in disgust. Fenton chuckled, and I shot him a scathing look.
“Come on, Casanova, we’re almost there.”
The rumble of the buses grew louder as we finally reached them. Fenton pushed me through the door, and I staggered up the steps. “Eva?”
“She’s not here,” Levi said through gritted teeth.
“What the fuck do you mean, she’s not here?”
“She’s on the other bus.”
“The other... are you fucking with me?”
Damon shook his head over my brother’s shoulder.
“I’m going to—”
“Holy crap, that was intense.”
I spun around to find Riley standing there. She smoothed her hair down and gave us a weak smile. “Is everyone okay?” Her brows knitted.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” Levi barked.
“Levi,” Damon warned.
“I’m going,” I said. No way was I staying on the bus with Riley.
I went to move around her, but the bus jerked forward. “Rafe.” A hand laid on my arm. My eyes snapped to Riley and she immediately snatched her hand away. “I’m sure Eva is fine. We’ll stop just outside the city and you can—”
My cellphone began vibrating and I stalked into the bedroom, slamming the door. “Eva?”
“I’m okay,” she breathed. “Before I knew what was happening Travis had me on the other bus. I didn’t—”
“It’s okay, I’m just relieved you’re okay.”
“That was crazy. I mean, I knew things could get... but not like that. They were wild. Is everyone okay?”