Page 2 of Encore
They went back and forth yelling at each other about the drugs, but I could tell from the other side of the room that he was high right now.How was everyone missing the signs?
The jitteriness.
His red eyes.
His shifty body language.
The man was guilty as fuck.And high as a kiteright now.
“Do you seriously have nothing to say to me?”Harper finally asked, her voice trembling as much as his hand had.
“I don’t know what you want me to say.Whatever you found isn’t mine, and you can’t prove it is.”
“Get the fuck out of my sight.”She stared him down until he finally shrugged and turned to leave.
“Wait!”She hollered then continued without even waiting for him to turn back around.“There better not be any shit in any other kit or luggage.I will not be doing prison time for you.”
Noah swung back around and pointed a finger in her face.“You better watch how you’re talking to me.I’m the fucking client here.”
I stood up from my crouch and clenched my hands into fists.I didn’t care who the fuck he was.If Noah was going to take even a step toward Harper, I had her back.
“When it comes to my livelihood and my fucking reputation, I’ll talk to you how you fucking deserve.”Harper sneered.“Now get the fuck out of here before I call security on your ass.”
“Actually, that’d help me since—like I said—I’m looking for Diego.”Noah gave her another angry glare that would’ve made me wilt, but Harper was too pissed off to even flinch.
My pulse pounded in my ears.This wasn’t good.He was all but threatening her.And it was just the two of us small women in here against him.
Fuck.
Fuck.
Harper keyed the mic on her headset.“Marisol, I need security to my location.At least three guys.Donotsend Diego.Security to my location.”
Noah tossed her a disgusted smirk before slamming through the door.
Harper took a deep, shuddering breath before answering someone on the headset.“Cancel security.Threat is under control.Code green.”
I unclenched my fists and shook out all the tension that’d had my whole body knotted up.Of course when I did, I managed to tip over the box holding a backup ride cymbal.
The clattering of boxes had Harper swinging around, fists high, ready to fight.I gave her a sheepish smile.
She relaxed with a sigh.“Right.Sorry, Alice.I forgot you were here.”She took a few more breaths.“Uh, about that whole scene—”
“Forgotten.”
Harper shook her head.“I don’t want you to forget anything.I want you to go through every piece of drum kit yourself and verify they’re clear.And you’re going to have to do thateverytimewe ship.I’ll stick around and help tonight, and it’ll be either me or Marisol lending a hand in the future.”
I nodded determinedly.
“I don’t have to tell you this is a delicate situation.”She went on, “To date, the only people in the know are you, me, and Noah.And in a few minutes, Marisol.It better stay that way.You’ve signed an NDA.We can and will make sure that you abide by it or pay the penalty in your contract.And trust me; no one wants that to happen.Especially you.”
I gave her a stoic stare.I didn’t need the veiled threat.I knew who paid my paycheck, and it wasn’t druggie Noah Hawker.“I hear you.I’ll get started.”
“I have a few phone calls to make, then I’ll be back to lend a hand.”
I nodded again, already arranging my kit.I had a shitload of boxes to go through before we shipped off for the UK tomorrow.Joy.
Fucking addicts.
