Page 30 of Knot Their Opening Act

As we climb into the minibus to take us to the venue, I catch Liana’s eyes in the rearview. “Any idea where Thomas is?”

At that precise moment, he comes running out of the hotel, hair askew, and glasses, too, with his rucksack half-unzipped.

He hops into the back with a mumbled, “Sorry, guys, sorry.”

Before the door even slams shut, I can smell it.

Her.

On him.

And just like that, a seed of jealousy and need germinates at warp speed in my chest. And I fear this tour is dead in the water.

CHAPTER15

Thomas

For whatever reason,Ash is in the middle aisle of the bus next to Holden, and Liana’s in the front beside the driver. Not sure why he’s along for the ride. The overpowering scent of barbecue rolls of Holden, who’s sat right in front of me. My stomach grumbles. Not only did I miss brunch, I missed whatever happened since.

But it was so fucking worth it.

“To continue our conversation from the bar, and for Mr Ashcroft’s benefit,” says Ash.Oh. Okay, he’s in lecture mode. THAT’S why he’s here.

“If you refuse to thank her in your set, Kai, I will personally stomp onto the stage and kick you in the nuts. My clients support each other, period. You don’t have to make out with her. You have to praise her music, her professionalism, and her involvement. She’s part of this tour and the time I’ve allowed for your shitty attitude has expired.”

“I haven’t said a goddamned word!” growls Kai, but softly.

Ash might not look like the Alpha that he is, but his intelligence, his cleverness, his resourcefulness, and his creativity are huge. He is not to be trifled with. And I’m betting he secretly knows some kung fu or some shit. He’s always struck me as the type. And since becoming a father, theI will sort your shit outapproach has become much more intense.

“I don’t care if you’ve been mute, Thomas. Your feelings about it are as loud as Holden’s stomach,” Ash replies. “If you can’t get along with her, I will force you. Find a way to make it happen, to sell this tour as believable, because we don’t have time to swap her out.”

Silence.

He continues. “I don’t want her going anywhere. Last night was an anomaly. She’s never been known to miss a show, to flub a performance. She’s a dedicated, serious professional and this path means as much to her as it means to you four. Treat her as part of yourband. Whatever you do, be fucking grown-ups. She deserves the chance this could bring her.”

I might hear a note of hesitation in Ash’s voice. He could be worried, but he’s doing a damn good job to gloss over it with strong-armed optimism. So I believe him when he says we don’t have time to swap her—and that maybe he wishes he could.

A protective wall rises up inside me. She does deserve to be here, and being an Omega in heat—and a person with a mental health condition she treats and keeps aware of—should do nothing to preclude her from her shot at this business.

I felt that before this morning. But it’s an even more insistent belief pulsing in my chest now. The problem is finding a way to communicate it to Ash that doesn’t set him against me. I need to understand what his real beef is with her.

If he really is as self-centered as this ordeal makes him look, maybe I’m in the wrong band.

I push this thought from my mind. This is my pack.

And then Ash carries on.

“This is business. This isn’t pleasure.”

Um. Well. I fucking beg to differ …

“You should be having fun—youcouldbe having the time of your lives, if you would get over yourselves because supposedly all of you got into this business to do something you’re on fire about. So start acting like that’s the goal—not like her dreams somehow diminish yours. You each climbed your own ladders to get here. So get the fuck over it.”

I’ve never heard Ash speak like this, and a nervous sweat breaks out on my temples. I shift in my seat and lean a shoulder against the cool of the window, then turn to Nico, while Holden’s suggesting ways we could show more support on social media, and Ash argues it’s about us personally, not the social media team.

“At what point do we admit to Kai infrontof Ash it’s not us that’s got a problem with her? Because I’m getting a little weirded out by the lectures,” I whisper.

Nico looks at me then leans over, comically twisting his lips to whisper back. “The point at which Kai suggests something really stupid that’s going to make us all look like patronizing arseholes.”

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