Page 32 of Don't Bang a Bandmate

“And you agreed to it,” Knox says through his teeth.

Logan nods, still calm. “If we didn’t, they’d pull our contract. They’d cancel our tour. And everything I’ve worked for — everythingwe’veworked for,” he says, gesturing to Goldie and Tesla and their solemn faces. “It would have all been for nothing. I couldn’t let that happen to my girls, Knox. I doubt you’d have made a different choice.”

Knox doesn’t reply, but the stiff hold in his jawline speaks for him.

Before Logan can say more, Katrina steps forward from her keyboard and he pauses, his focus pulled toward her. “Why come to us now?” she asks.

“Monroe’s getting desperate,” he answers after a moment. “He’s not thrilled that you survived the VRL fallout in Seattle, nor that you’re all still standing after the BNB Fest. Time is running out, so he’s willing to get his hands dirty. Starting tonight in Chicago.”

“He’s here?” Harmony asks, clearly not thrilled by the possibility of running into her prick of a stepfather.

“He’s here,” Logan confirms. “He’s having dinner with your manager as we speak.”

Everyone goes silent. I scan everyone’s faces, each of them wide-eyed with surprise.

Except Chrissy.

She notices me and looks down.

“Now,that’sbullshit,” Knox says. “Jordan would have told us about that.”

“I’m not going to sit here and argue with you about something that you’ll easily verify the moment we leave,” Logan says, sitting back. “I’m simply here to urge you to get your house in order so we can move past this and get back to more important things.”

“Why do you care?” Knox asks.

“Yeah,” Jonah adds. “Dethroning us is what you want, isn’t it?”

“It is,” Logan says.

“Then why help us at all?”

“Don’t get this twisted,” Logan says. “I don’t like you. I think your sound is lacking, your brand is stale, and your sense of style is offensive.”

Knox snorts at that.

“But when I take you down…” Logan locks eyes with Knox. “It’s going to be fair. Not through corporate sabotage bullshit.”

“Through the Battle of the Bands,” Addison says, nodding slowly.

“Through music, yes. Yours versus ours. That’s what really matters. It’s like I told you back in Portland, Knox. I don’t care about anything else.”

Knox doesn’t reply, but his expression briefly shows a hint of respect.

“Come Halloween night,” Logan says, “we’ll finish this in the proper way. Until then, I say we work together to tell these suits to go fuck themselves.”

I crack a smile. Little fucker’s actually speaking my language now.

A quick glance at Knox and Jonah shows the same rebellious determination in their eyes. Hell, even Katrina looks like she’s about to smack somebody.

“So, what happens now?” Knox asks. “You stop being such a dick?”

“Now, we keep doing what we’re doing,” Logan says. “You continue your tour. We’ll continue ours. We’ll bump into each other on the road now and then, have our little spats, and keep Monroe happy until an opportunity presents itself. If it were me, I’d start with your manager and whatever he’s whispering into her ear right now.”

My stomach twists.

Jordan…

What are you doing?

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