Page 40 of One Last Verse

I stared at him with my mouth agape.

“Hear me out. If this is the label’s final decision, going on record forDreamcatcherscan be our big break and his moment of truth.”

“Are you suggesting he becomes part of the film? I thought we agreed this was going to be Isabella’s story. We can’t even begin to compare them. Their careers are light years apart.”

“We already have an okay to use their footage from the last studio session. They’re dynamite together. If he sticks to his plans and records the song with her, this is going to jump-start her career, along with his solo one.”

“He won’t do it.”

“How do you know if you haven’t asked?”

“I know. I’m his fucking girlfriend.” Although lately, it hadn’t felt that way at all. I felt like Frank’s roommate. We’d stopped speaking the same language sometime after his accident. We’d stopped having fun.

“Well, don’t jump into it.” Levi rolled his eyes. “Feel him out first.”

“He’s a fucking mess,” I hissed, instantly regretting the words. “Getting in front of the camera is the last thing he wants right now… Actually, I don’t even know what he wants anymore.”

“He’s that bad, huh?”

“Yes.”

“I’m sorry. I really am.” Levi rubbed the back of his neck. “I know dude’s going through hell after the surgery, and I’m not saying do it right this moment. But if you think about it, you’ll see—this is a good thing for all of us. For me, for you, for Isabella, for him. There comes a moment in every major artist’s career when he has to make changes. This is his.Dreamcatchersis a perfect way for him to be heard.”

Levi’s words made sense, but Frank was a wreck, and I couldn’t fathom asking him to emotionally commit to my project.

“Why aren’t you managing rock stars?” I asked with a smile. “You’d be pretty good at it.”

“I already have a baby to grow and nurture. Besides, now that his mom is taking a break, it’s double duty for me.” He grinned.

“Asshole.” I punched his shoulder. “Mom is on vacation. She’s coming back.”

“She better.”

I drove home with the music blasting full volume. My choice of album was almost symbolic. I had an overwhelming urge to live through the pain of my first teenage heartbreak, so naturally, I playedBreathe Crimson.

The first thing I saw when I pulled up to the house was the Navigator parked in the driveway and its owner smoking on the terrace. Roman stood nearby with his hands locked together. I called it his war pose.

I cut the engine and stared at the picture before me. It made no sense. Dante Martinez hadn’t been on this property since the day he and Johnny came over to tell Frank they wanted a new singer. All the communication between the band members was done strictly via lawyers.

“What’s going on?” I asked, stepping out of the car.

“Hey, short stuff. How are you doing?” Dante hollered from the chair. His right leg was swung over his left one and he was mouth-torturing a cigarette.

“Do you need a knife?” I gritted my teeth and began my approach.

“A knife?” He quirked his dark brow.

“Last time I checked, cigarettes weren’t cutting it if you planned on stabbing someone in the back.” I stopped at the bottom of the stairs and matched his hard stare.

He blinked at me a few times, then laughed. His laughter was rough and deep. Smoke puffs floated from his mouth and nose. “You’ve got some dark humor, darlin’.”

He pulled the cigarette from between his lips and brought his body forward. For someone who smoked so much, Dante had awfully perfect teeth. White, shiny, and even. I wondered if they were real. I wondered if anything about him was real.

“Well, what can I say? Life taught me all my jokes.” I couldn’t read his expression. He was every bit the mess he should have been. Eyes bloodshot, cheeks sunken, hair tousled. Only, he wore his vices proudly. He didn’t hide any of his bad habits, be it cigarettes or drug addiction. He didn’t look high to me right now, but I couldn’t think of any other somewhat logical explanation behind his visit.

“Frankie-boy isn’t letting me inside.” Dante motioned at Roman. “I want to talk to him. Can you get your man to come out?”

“I wasn’t sure if you were on something.” I hopped up the stairs and stopped in front of the door. “But I am now.”

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