“Then why are you arguing with her?” I laugh as I pick Lyra up. She tucks her head into the crook of my neck.
“Because she keeps calling me Anal. Dude, wouldyouwant to be called that?”
“I’ll see if Cara can help her with that,” I laugh again.
“How is she? She tell you what happened?” his tone is now complete concern for her.
“She did,” Iaffirm. “She opened up big time, but I am not telling you or anyone else what she said.”
He raises his hands defensively. “I get it. You want her to trust you, but you know it’s going to piss big brother off.”
“Big brother can deal with it. She wouldn’t have told me at all if she weren’t trying to scare me off,” I tell him.
“Didn’t work, I see,” he grins.
“Not even close. Did Henry find the guy?”
“Not that I know of. That guy was long gone in the crowd. Too many people, man. Too easy to disappear."
"Probably for the best," I tell him with gritted teeth. “If I ever see him, I will fucking kill him.”
“Good to know,” Angel doesn’t blink an eye at my threat.“The girls have breakfast for everyone. Bring Cara over so she can eat something.”
I nod and watch him leave.
“Dude, do you plan on telling mewhat happened with my sister?” Dane stalks after me as we head to the stage for our show.
I’m already tense as hell. The idea of leaving Cara behind while we’re on stage is driving me slowlyinsane. I wanted to tell Liam and Henry to keep their eyes on her even if everything seemed fine, but there was no way I could without telling them why.
Dane’s constant nagging, which hasn’t stopped since this morning, is making the tension worse. I get it. He’s worried about his sister. If I were in his position, I’d probably be justas annoying – I mean worried.
But I’ve told him what she told me is between her and me.I’ve not gotten her trust yet. I can’t break it before she gives it.
“I told you, the guy triggered a flashback,” I tell him again without stopping.
“And I told you I know there’s more to it than that,” he is practically yelling, but over the noise of the crowd, it doesn’t have the same effect.
When we get to the stairs of the platform,he spins me around to face him. “That’s my damn sister. I have a right to know what she told you.”
I push him off with a growl. “When yourgrownsister is ready for you to know,shewill tell you.”
His fistsclench at his side. He puffs his chest, glaring at me. My posture very much matches his. TwoPitbulls ready to fight.“I can’t watch out for her if I don’t know what’s going on. Stoptrying to use her trust to get into her pants.”
Red fills my vision. I don’t even think. I just reactwithmy fist flying at my best friend.Hestumbles back a bit, touching his mouth where blood pools at the corner. “Ifall I wanted was in her pants, I’d havebeen there days ago.I’mthe one who slammed the brakes, you asshole.”
People are gathering around us. Groupies with all access, crew members, even other bands are standing around trying to seethe commotion.This isn’t the time or place for this, but fucking Dane can’t stop himself.My asshole best friend is on a mission and has been on that mission for ten years.But he needs to know he’s gone too far with his bullshit.
“Stop trying to use my feelings for the both of you to get your damn way. You can’t control everything anymore.”
“You don’t think I know that?I lost control years ago. I am grasping at fucking straws here.” His blue eyes are glassywithtears he won’t let fall. “I just want to help her.”
“You have helped her, Dane. You’ve done everything you can to help her. Now let me help her. She gave that bit of herself to me last night. Albeit, not because she trusted me. She wanted to scare me off, but I’m not going anywhere. I have been in this for five years. Now that I havemy foot in the door, I am not turning loose, and I am not going to betray that very shaky foundation. Not for you or anyone else.”
His shoulders slump. He nods his reluctantacceptance. He reaches for my shoulder, giving me an apologetic look before he takes the stairs leading up the platform. I drag a hand through my hair with a heavy sigh. I feel like a shitty friend.
“He needed to hear that, mate.” Ryder gives me an understanding nod. “He needed to hear that fromyou.”
“Not before a show,” I point out with a groan.
