Page 146 of On The Edge
But the guy’s been really helpful. He let Reis stay logged into his socials so he could keep trying to get to Mel, and there might be some light—not so light—stalking going on. We just need to talk to her.
I’ll approve of whatever he thinks he needs to do if it gets her talking to us.
Sound check goes well, we’re all dressed and ready, doors are open, the crowds ready, and we still haven’t found anything. All of us stand on stage—starting masks on, waiting for the curtain to open, and I see movement out of the corner of my eye. It’s hard to see with these masks on, but luckily we only wear them for the first little bit before we toss them aside.
Louis has kept his distance today, probably the first smart thing he’s done in months. But I see him, slithering backstage behind the tech desk and he plugs his tablet into the charger there, then walks off.
We didn’t check his tech.
I know it’s there.
I sling my guitar over my back and run across the stage.
“What the hell are you doing?” The tech guy’s startled and stops the curtain from opening. “The show startsnow!”
“Give me five minutes,” I say through the mask, my voice muffled as I pick up the tablet, tapping it so the lock screen lights up.
That motherfucking motherfucker.
I push my mask up, dropping my voice dangerously low. “Put on something, tell the crowd we’re going to be twenty minutes.At least.”
“Markus,” he starts to say, but I smack the table and a lot of very expensive equipment jostles.
“Do it!” I snap, turning on my heel, tablet in hand and wave it to the guys. They’re all staring at me with questions in their sad eyes. “I found it. We’ve got twenty minutes.”
And my best friends stalk off the stage like demons in the night with neon masks.
I growl, “Let’s go.”
FORTY-ONE
Our footsteps soundlike an army walking down the hallway in biker boots as we stalk in neon masks, all dressed darkly for our concert, instruments on and drumsticks in hand.
“Where is he?” Reis is the first of us to break our silence, growling at one of Louis' assistants that we don’t know as well as Paul. She’s not usually here, but she’s got a backstage pass, so I’m guessing he’s counting on hiding until he thinks we’ve gotten over Melody.
That’sneverhappening.
And him meddling like this?
I’m going to kill him.
Like, the guys are really going to have to hold me back because I… My hands clench into fists at my side and I try to remind myself that I can’t be with Melody if I’m in prison.
“What do you mean?” This nameless idiot stands taller like her knees aren’t shaking.
“Where is he?” My voice booms as I scream. I’m done playing around and I have no patience. I need to make him paynow.
She turns slightly, her face blanching and points shakily to the door next to her. “In there.”
We don’t thank her, we don’t give her any more attention. We simply turn like we’re one unit and prowl.
I move forward and kick the door open. The wood cracks nicely and I’m greeted with the gratifying image of Louis jumping out of his chair like I’d just pulled a gun on him.
I would if I could.
“Boys, the show’s starting now?” He says that as if it’s a question and not a fact.
“You thought we wouldn’t find out?” Markus moves forward as we all form a half-circle around him.
