Page 61 of Backstage with a Billionaire Rockstar

This is good.

“It’s true,” I say while taking a step toward him. “He wanted me to call you and offer the job back, said that it’s not the same without you.”

For a moment, Mack looks like he’s not going to take the bait, but his shoulders sag with relief and he lowers the weapon at his side with a big smile. “I knew she would be all wrong for you guys, and I’d be more than happy to get you back on track.”

Before he can say anything else, I quickly dart across the room and tackle him onto the ground. He’s still got the gun in his hand, a shot going off, and I suck in a sharp breath. A searing pain rips through my left side, just below my ribs. Warm blood seeps through my shirt, but I grit my teeth and maintain my grip on Mack. The door bursts open, and I hear shouting, but it's growing distant as my vision starts to blur.

“Evan!”

When I glance out the window, there’s red and blue light flashing, but they’re slowly fading into darkness. A pair of hands comes up to me, frantically searching for the space where the bullet hit, and that’s all I remember before the world around me fades away.

***

I peel my eyes open, squinting against the bright lights shining in my eyes, and glance around frantically. The last thing I remember is Mack pulling a gun out on me.

Did he shoot me?

There’s a pain on my side that has me wincing as I try to sit up, and a machine beeps to my left. When I look over, Mia is curled on a small couch with a blanket wrapped around her, and her mouth parted slightly as she sleeps.

Mia?

As I lie here, the reality of what happened sinks in. I almost died. The band, the music, it all seems so far away now. Will I even want to go back to that life after this?

The thought of touring, of being away from Mia and Liam, makes my chest tighten. We have a lot to figure out.

“Mia,” I say gently, and she stirs but doesn’t open her eyes. “Mia.”

She jumps, a hand coming up to her chest as she tries to catch her breath, and her eyes land on me. “Evan!”

Before I can blink, she rushes over to me and wraps her arms around my frame. “You’re awake. Let me get the doctor.”

I don’t have time to object because she’s bolting out of the room like it’s her mission. There’s a soft knock on the door, and I mutter for them to come in, my mother’s head poking through the small gap.

“Evan, honey, thank goodness you’re awake.”

“Mom, what’s going on?”

She cocks her head to the side and frowns. “You don’t remember?”

“Where’s Mack?”

“They arrested him a couple of days ago.”

A couple of days ago?

“Wh—where’s Liam?”

“With your father down in the cafeteria.”

“He’s okay?”

She sighs and shakes her head. “Why on earth would you leave like that? Mia was worried sick, and you’re lucky she managed to get ahold of that Carmen woman.”

“Carmen?”

“The woman had enough sense to track your damn phone,” my mother mutters, then she takes a deep breath and looks at me with glistening eyes. “I was worried about you.”

“I’m okay, mom,” I say gently. “Although my side really hurts.”

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