Page 54 of The Final Beat

“Actually, you did,” Ronnie added.

Elliot swung around and gasped. “Ronnie, how could you?”

Ronnie held his hands up. “I’m just saying.”

Sighing heavily, I turned back to Joey. “I don’t know what happened tonight, but you need to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

“You don’t know what happened?” he questioned. “Really?”

I felt my heart clinch. He had better not go there because I would go nuclear if he did. “No,” I ground out. “I do not know what happened but I’m telling you it better not happen again. Half the crowd were pissed and wouldn’t have a clue, but I know, and the rest of the band know.”

“Oh, you know, do you? And when did you get your music degree?” He pushed out of his seat and pointed a finger at me. “You have no right to tell me that I can’t do my job.”

My hands thrust to my hips. “I wouldn’t have to if you did it properly.”

“Hey,” Ali said, holding her hands up, “can we not let this degenerate into a slanging match?”

“She started it,” Joey yelled.

“I didn’t start anything. I just told you that you messed up,Joseppi.” I knew I shouldn’t have said it. I knew he’d hate it, but I couldn’t help myself. Even Ronnie groaned like I’d just pressed the button to send off nuclear weapons.

Joey’s nostrils flared as he leaned on the table, his arms straight and his hands in fists. “You know what, you are one spiteful cow.”

I laughed. “Yes, I did know that, and you know what, you’re one shit drummer.” That was a total lie. He was one of the best in the world, but he deserved it because he was also a sulky little child.

“Oh shit.” Beau slunk down in his seat and pulled the neck of his t-shirt up over his face.

“He’s going to blow,” Elliot added.

“This is going to upset him so much.” Ronnie, ever the most sympathetic of the four of them, looked distraught. “He’s going to be devastated.”

Elliot looked at me through one eye. “That was a bit harsh, Dest.”

“No, it fucking wasn’t.” It was. I knew it was, but he had no right to think he could get angry on stage just because of what I’d gone through. It wasmypain.Iwas the one who’d had to live it, not him. I didn’t ask him to try and be my protector.

“What do you expect from her?” Joey blasted, pushing off the table. “She doesn’t give a shit about anything or anybody. As long as she can keep her secrets it doesn’t matter who the hell else it affects. Who else has to worry or stress about it.”

“About what?” Beau asked, his face reappearing as he shifted in his seat suddenly looking a lot more interested.

“Nothing,” Joey yelled.

“It’s none of your business,” I cried at the same time.

Ali stood up and clapped her hands. “Okay, I think the meeting is over. Let’s leave it for now.”

“Can’t we stay and find out what’s going on?” Beau asked.

“Don’t be a dick.” Elliot shook his head and dragged Beau up by his arm.

“Are you okay?” Ronnie asked, and I wasn’t sure who he was aiming the question at, me or Joey.

I smiled at him just in case. My pulse was racing as I watched everyone shuffle out of the room. It felt like my heart was in my throat. The way he got angry about Vinny sent me back to that place, to the darkness. To a time when I thought I’d rather die than live another day with fear. It was all Joey’s fault, he deserved it. Yet, as he stopped next to me, for some ridiculous reason that I couldn’t get my head around, I just wanted to say I was sorry for blaming him. For running out on him, for speaking to him like I just had, for a whole load of things. He, however, didn’t seem to have the same feelings of regret.

“I don’t know why I fucking bother with you,” he hissed.

“No, me neither,” I growled, the walls of protection back up. “So maybe you’d be better off staying away from me in future.”

He flashed a smirk. “Call it a done deal, Daisy.”

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