“You’re only human, Walker.” Damon’s frown melted away. “Just because you messed up doesn’t mean I’m not happy to see you. Something tells me, we’re going to need you over the next few weeks.”
I didn’t know what to say to that.
“Damon’s right, we’re glad you’re here. Don’t let anyone tell you any different, okay?”
Just then, the door swung open and Riley breezed into the room. “Oh, Eva, you’re back.”
Letty threw me a bemused look.
“Riley,” I said tightly. She was the last person I wanted to see.
She pursed her lips. “Is Ali—”
“Right here.” He beamed at her, quickly schooling his expression when he realized they had an audience.
“I was hoping we could go over tomorrow’s schedule.”
“Actually, I need to speak with Eva.”
A flash of jealousy flared in her eyes. “I can wait.”
“Why don’t you head downstairs and order for us and I’ll be there in ten?”
Letty smothered a snicker as Riley swished her hair and stormed out of the room. If Alistair noticed, he didn’t let on as he came and sat down opposite me.
“We’ll give you two some space. Let.” Damon motioned for her to follow, but she hesitated.
“It’s okay,” I said. “Go. We’ll catch up after.”
They disappeared, leaving me with Alistair. He loosened the collar on his shirt and relaxed back in the chair. “I did not see this coming, Eva, and that doesn’t sit right with me. It’s my job to know.”
“But tryin’ to make it seem like there was somethin’ between me and Levi… what about that?”
“It was good publicity.”
“You told me I was here to tidy up the band’s reputation. You never said anythin’ about usin’ me.”
Alistair let out an exasperated sigh, running a hand down his face. “I omitted some of the facts, but I think we’re both guilty of that.”
“I agreed to do the tour for one reason: my parents. As far as I was concerned, Rafe wanted nothin’ to do with me.”
He regarded me for a second. “I’ll cut to the chase. I need you to smooth things out with Levi. The band needs him.”
“You want me to what?” Dread slithered through me.
“Rafe is Levi’s anchor but he can’t be that for him right now, so I need you to do it.”
“I’m not sure he’ll want to see me, not after—”
“You’ll figure it out. Levi needs a friend right now, and that friend is you.”
The air left my lungs. “I...”
Alistair stood up. “Travis will take you to him when you’re ready. You’ll be safe.”
Safe?
What the hell did that mean?
“Does Rafe know about this?” I asked, and Alistair levelled me with a look that made me regret the question.
“Rafe is aware he doesn’t get to call the shots, Eva. I do. Cancelling another show is not an option. So I’m asking you—no, I’m telling you—you need to do whatever it takes to get Levi on that stage tomorrow night. Got it?”
The weight of his words was heavy on my shoulders.
“Look,” Alistair’s expression softened, “I know this is a lot. But you’re in this thing now, Eva. I have never seen Levi respond to anyone the way he responded to you. He trusts you.”
He had trusted me. Before the truth came out about my cancer, and Rafe. Now I was just another person who had let him down.
“Eva. It has to be you.”
“I... okay. I’ll do it.” Not that he was giving me much choice.
Alistair gave me a tight-lipped nod. “Good, Travis will be waiting whenever you’re ready.” He hesitated, his expression softening. “We have less than thirty-six hours before the lights go up. Time is something we don’t have right now. I’m counting on you, Eva.”
It was my turn to nod.
I’d ruined the band.
Now I had to fix them.
“So where are we going?” I asked Travis as we rode the elevator.
After my conversation with Alistair, I’d taken a shower and then fallen asleep on the huge bed. It wasn’t until Letty came to wake me that everything came crashing back down around me.
I had to go see Levi.
Alistair was counting on me.
“Levi and Johnson are at The Radisson. We’re meeting them there.”
“Okay.”
The doors pinged open and Travis hesitated, muttering under his breath. Then he stepped out and my eyes landed on Rafe.
“Two minutes,” he said to my bodyguard, never once taking his eyes off me.
Rafe stepped inside, taking the air with him. “Shit, Eva, I’m so fucking sorry. I didn’t know Ali would—”
“It’s okay.” I slid my hands up his arms. “I want to do this. I need to do this.”
“Jesus,” he sucked in harshly. “I fucking hate this. I hate that you’re stuck in the middle of this. In the middle of us.”
“There is no middle, Rafe. I’m yours. Nothing is goin’ to change that. But right now, Levi needs someone.”
“And that someone is you.” He gave me a resigned smile.
“Apparently so.”
Rafe dipped his head, brushing my jaw with his lips. “You can be there for him, Eva. Lift him up when he falls and be a shoulder to cry on when things get hard, but you can’t save him. No one can.”
The sadness in his voice made my heart ache. I couldn’t even begin to imagine what the two of them had endured.
“Eva, we really should go,” Travis interjected.
“Just a minute,” I said, and he backed off, giving me and Rafe some space.
“Your heart is too pure for this life.” He touched his head to mine, stormy eyes holding me hostage. “If he hurts you, I’m scared of what I might do.”
“Ssh. Don’t talk like that.” I slipped a finger to his lips. “I’m a big girl, Rafe. I can handle Levi. Besides, Travis will be right there.”
“Call me the second you get done.”
“I will.”
I felt the urgency in Rafe’s voice, the sheer desperation. But I had to do this. Alistair was right—there was no other way.
“Promise me, Eva.”
“I promise.” My lips ghosted over his. “I should go. The sooner I leave, the sooner I’ll be back.”
“I’ll be waiting.” Rafe was rigid as I edged away, his eyes silently begging me to stay.
“I love you,” I mouthed before forcing myself to turn around and head for the SUV.
“Eva,” Travis said as he opened the door for me. I got in, catching a final glimpse of Rafe as the elevator doors closed.
Less than an hour of being back and Levi was already coming between us. But it was too late to worry now.
Another Hunter brother needed me.
The Radisson was a beautiful hotel on the next block over. It was hardly worth taking the SUV but, as Travis had pointed out, I could hardly walk it.
“He’s in the bar,” he said as we exited the elevator.