Page 3 of Tortured Tones

“You’re wrong. You care for everyone. You’re the glue that keeps us together.”

Resting my head against the back of the sofa, I stared at the ceiling. “I don’t know anything about being a parent.”

“There’s nothing like been thrown in the deep end.” Flint sighed as he leaned back next to me. “You’ve got to learn to swim, real quick. But I’m here for you. So is Sutt, Slip, Lewis, and Tia.” He turned his head in my direction. Concern darkened his gaze. “If she’s yours, it affects all of us. With the tour coming up, we’re going to have to take extra precautions. You saw the crowd at last night’s show. It was wicked but insane. When I stormed out of the bar after decking you, there were tons of fans waiting in the parking lot. Sutt and I got swamped. It was scary. If it wasn’t for Molly’s security, we wouldn’t have gotten out of there so easily. I called Blake on the way home. He...and I...want us to have full-time security from now until the end of the tour. Like you, I want to keep everyone safe.”

I moved my head in some form of a nod. “I’m okay with that. There’s been more paparazzi hanging around outside my front gate.”

“Mine too. They make Sutton nervous. She’s worried someone will jump our fence and get a picture of us walking naked around the house.”

I chuckled, low and gruff. “That’s not a picture I ever want to see.”

“True.” His eyes glinted as a small smile touched his lips. “We’ve had enough compromising photos of us posted online over the years, and I’m sure there will be more in the future. But let’s stick to the ones taken at events and after-parties, not in our private homes. Blake’s arranging security with Ashlem. They have a contract with Sam’s Security Services. They provide Everhide’s security and have a team here in LA.”

Our friends in Everhide had used private security for years. But they were global mega stars. It was hard to comprehend that we were on the bottom rung, heading toward that level.

“Sounds good.” If this kid was mine, she’d be thrown into the thick of this crazy life. I’d have to ensure her safety too. But one thing about this whole situation still confused me. Shooting forward, I placed the bottle on the coffee table and rubbed my eyes. My ribs constricted and punched my heart. “Why didn’t Shelby ever tell me I had a kid?”

Flint sighed and rubbed my back. “Knowing Shelby...she wouldn’t have wanted to hurt anyone. She probably regretted being with you too.”

Damn. Shelby and I were more alike than I’d imagined.

“I hope this is a huge mistake.” Tomorrow, I’d have to meet with my lawyer and have a paternity test. I’d know the results a day or two after that. But deep down in my gut, I already knew the outcome. Shelby wouldn’t have gone to all this trouble to lump me with a kid for any other reason. Surely, Charlotte was mine. “I never wanted this to happen.”

“Nobody does, man. I didn’t want to lose Phil, or Aidan, or Shelby. But after the darkness there can be light.” Flint clutched my shoulder and gave me a gentle shake. “I found Sutton. Maybe you’ll find your something good as a dad.”

I closed my eyes and shook my head. “I like my life the way it is. I don’t want anything to change.”

“Sometimes life throws shit at you that you just have to deal with, no matter how much it hurts or how hard the changes will be.” He shuffled forward on the sofa and stared toward the bottle of vodka. “I made it through my grief after losing Phil thanks to you and Slip.” His tone took on a hard edge. “If the child is yours, you’re going to have to make some massive adjustments. So, man the fuck up. You will be responsible for her for the rest of your life.”

Me? Responsible? That was a fucking joke.

My head throbbed like a bass drum being walloped with a beater. I turned to Flint and sucked in a shaky, deep breath. “Will you do me a favor?”

“You know I will.”

“Will you come with me? To the paternity test? To the lawyer’s?”

“Yeah, bud, of course.” He drew me into a hug. “You got this. I promise.”

Fuck. I didn’t deserve such friendship, love, and loyalty. He seemed okay about me being with Shelby all those years ago.

But I knew better.

I wasn’t convinced everything between us was right. But I was hell-bent on making it so.

On Monday, I went from the medical center to my lawyer’s to rehearsals.

The hours passed too quickly.

Three days later, I got the results of my paternity test.

The kid was mine.

Fuck.

Anxiety and nausea took up permanent residency in my gut.

I wasn’t ready to be a father.

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