Page 15 of Backstage with a Billionaire Rockstar

The floor creaking under someone’s weight has my attention snapping up immediately and Carmen already has her hands up defensively as she walks closer to me.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to make you worry.” She takes a look at the bag in my hand and nods her head at it. “Mind some help?”

Normally I’d insist on doing this job alone, it’s the reason I’m here, but looking at the almost overflowing bag of fan mail is enough to have me nodding my head in agreement. Even I can admit defeat – sometimes.

“Sure,” I mutter.

She sits down next to me, quiet for a moment, then sighs heavily. “You think we’ll ever be able to figure this out?”

I shrug. “Only time will tell, there’s no clear indication of who the suspect could be.”

Before we can get further into this discussion, I dump the contents onto the small table in front of us and throw the bag onto the floor at my feet. Carmen leans forward, pressing her arm into the middle of the pile, and distributes it evenly between the two of us.

At least it’s going to take me less time to look through everything now.

“He’s a sweet guy,” she says softly while ripping open an envelope with hearts drawn all over the front. “I don’t understand what would make someone hate him so much.”

“I’ve seen it happen many times… people hate power and fame, and become too jealous of it.” I look at her and the sadness in her gaze. “It’s part of their life, even if they never thought it would be.”

“I guess you’re right, maybe we should keep you on even after the situation is under control. It’d give me a chance to sleep better at night if I don’t have to worry.”

For the first time since I arrived for the job, I chuckle softly. “As much as I understand that, I can’t agree to do more than this. I’ve got obligations at home.”

She nods and flashes a sad smile at me. “I understand, was worth a shot though.”

For the next two hours, we go through every piece of mail, even the smaller packages containing simple things like drawings of the guys and handmade items with each of their names on them, but nothing has stood out as dangerous so far.

My fingers are cramping, and I’ve managed to get multiple paper cuts along the way that are burning like crazy. Nothing will stop me until I find more evidence about who could be targeting Evan.

It’s odd that he’s the only one being struck, especially if fame is the trigger for our suspect – if there’s anyone in the group who should be targeted, it’s Brent.

“Look,” Carmen whispers beside me, eyes widened at the piece of paper in her hand.

I pluck it from her fingers and scan the words on it.

It’s not much, a simple message, but it showcases how much things are progressing.

I can’t wait to see you lose everything you love, just like I did.

“Evan!” I say immediately while clutching the piece of paper in my hand. “Get out here. Now.”

Instead of a single pair of footsteps rushing out to the living room, every pair in the bus shakes the bus until they all come to a stop inside the narrow doorway. Evan’s hair still has shampoo in it, and he’s got a towel wrapped around his waist, face red from the exercise and, I’m sure, the heat from the water he was standing under.

I swallow, not able to take my eyes off him, and someone clears their throat.

Right.

Get it together, Mia.

Julia smirks at me from behind Evan but doesn’t comment on my obvious pause, and right now, I’m silently thanking her in my head for that.

“You received another letter,” I choke out before darting my gaze away from his bare chest.

There’s water dripping down it, inviting me to lick the condensation from his body, but I’ve got a feeling that would be inexcusable to the people surrounding me. His heavy footsteps are much louder than necessary as he walks over to mine and Carmen’s place on the couch, his fingers pinching the paper in my hand to pull it away.

Except, I’m gripping it so tightly that he rips a small piece of the corner off. He chuckles, the deep sound of it making my heart race, and says, “I can’t exactly look at it if you won’t let me, darlin’.”

Oh God… that nickname.

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