Page 119 of On The Edge
Melody shifts then, stepping behind me, and she tries to pull her hand from mine.
Like she wants to run.
“No, Echo,” Adam says quickly, taking a step back with her. My hand wraps around hers tighter. There’s no way I’m letting her go.
Not ever, but especially not now.
Not when she’s listening to this fucking bullshit and is scared.
“We already discussed this, Louis. Keep your opinions to yourself. We said we’re off for an hour and,” I look down at my watch, “forty-two minutes. We’ll still be there for stage check and to get ready. Now, before you can insult us and our girl any further, please leave. Or maybe we need to renegotiate your contract,” I say strongly.
I’m not usually one to handle the confrontations, but I’m not letting anything convince Mel that what we have, all five of us, isn’t right. Isn’t what’s been written in the fucking stars.
“You can’t.” Louis stands a little straighter like he’s won something, before he looks at Kai. My eyes track the movement and I see Kai standing there, holding a knife, breathing heavily through his nostrils. Melody pulls herself from my grasp and when I look at her, she’s locked in on Kai as well, so I let her go.
If anyone can bring him back without him committing a murder, it's her.
“Kai,” she says softly. “Kai, look at me.” Her hands go to his face as he twists the knife in his hand, still very focused on Louis.
“Kai, look at me,” she pulls him softly so his eyes lock onto hers. “It’s Sync, I’m here. I’m safe, I swear to you.”
“He…” Kai grumbles, but she shushes him softly.
“He’s a loud-mouth with an asshole opinion.” Melody waves it off, and my heart beats a little stronger in my chest.
“Excuse me?” Louis says exasperatedly, but Adam and Reis step forward aggressively as Louis metaphorically rolls over and shows his belly with his hands in the air and stepping back.
I walk over to Kai and Mel, standing right next to them to offer quiet support. And maybe pull him back if his other half takes over too much.
“It’s okay, Kai,” she says softly, trailing her fingers down his arm and slips her hand around the knife, pulling it from his grasp softly before moving his hand to hers.
“Get out of here Louis,” Kai says through gritted teeth, and I can tell we’re at the end of his restraint rope. It’s enough for me.
“Go on,” I gesture for Louis to go towards the door.
“Seriously, you guys. Think about this. Be smart about this. You’ve worked so fucking hard for this success and now you’re thinking of endangering it?” Louis says, but he moves. So he’s not completely stupid.
“Who we are, who we love, and how we choose to spend our lives—it’s no one’s business other than ours.” Adam opens the door, and holds his hand out aggressively. “We owe the world our music, not our lives. Get out.”
“Be at the fucking venue in an hour and a half. If you get spotted, I can’t help you. Or recover us from this.”
“Thanks for the warning,” Reis throws out. He closes the door before turning back to Melody. “Reverb, baby.” And even I can hear the apology in his voice.
“It’s fine,” Melody says stiffly, and I know we’ve just lost her a little bit. Fucking Louis. I step closer, like we all do, to reach out and bring her back to us.
We all know she’s been worrying about what would happen if it got out about the five of us, and at this point, I think I want to just tell the world so she doesn’t have to carry that fear any longer.
Kai’s closest and yanks her back to him. Growling so lowly in her ear I can’t hear what he’s saying. But even in the dim light, we can all see the blush that grows over her face.
“Who’s going first? I know we said one-on-one, but I’m thinking two of us go with her since Louis was a fucker and took up time,” Adam says quickly, looking at his watch.
“I’m going first.” Kai declares, holding Mel even closer to him, breathing her in. “Duke it out amongst yourselves who’s coming with us.”
“Flip a coin?” Adam asks, but I roll my eyes.
“No, you fuckers got to sleep on the plane with her. I’m going.” Reis points his finger aggressively at us both.
“Fair,” I shrug.
