Page 32 of Reverb
Her stalker. So hewashere. Mish shuddered and took another swig from the mug.
Ray’s question was soft. “What can we do to help?”
God bless that boy. He always tried to protect them. Lead them. Take the brunt of whatever the world threw at them. Ray Van Zeller was their soul and their heart, and tried to be their shield. His bourbon-colored eyes were intent and open, staring back at her.
Her shoulder finally unlocked, the booze doing what it did best—making her not hurt for a little while. “Kiddo, you’re already doing it.” The tears she despised suddenly werethereand she shook her head, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Shit.”
Ray moved in an instant, taking the mug from her and handing it off before he pulled her into his arms.
That was the end of every effort to not let the pain, hurt, and rage bubble to the surface. ’Cause Ray Van Zeller held her tight and said nothing as she buried her face into his shoulder and let the tears and the sobs go.
She hated crying, but if she had to do it anywhere—here with her family was the safest place. And maybe, just maybe, she could let them take care of her tonight.
Once David and Adrian had finally finished with the police, the venue was calm and quiet, with only the cleaning staff and security left in the public areas. On the walk back to the tour buses, David raked both hands through his hair, recalling the evening and every wrong move he’d made, every thought and action that had led to failure.
Beside him Adrian let out a long breath. “Don’t do that to yourself.”
David glanced over to find Adrian regarding him. “Do what?”
That got him an eye-roll. “Beat yourself up because you didn’t see that fucker coming,” Adrian said. “No one did.”
“I’m notno one. I’m trained. I’m usually careful, and yes, I should have picked him out as a threat before he got close to Mish.” Sharp, angry words.
Adrian grunted. “The fans are always agitated in the signing line. He could have been perfectly fine. It’s not your fault.”
David came to an abrupt halt and Adrian followed suit, staring back at him.
“Itismy fault,” David said, wrapping each word in disgust. “I fuckingfailedat my job.”
In reality, Ray should fire him. Or he should resign. But that would leave Mish even more exposed, and fuck it all, he wouldn’t do that to her.
Adrian closed the distance between them to less than shouting length. “David—”
“Adrian.” David’s jaw tightened, but he worked hard to keep from grinding out each syllable. “I’m the professional here. I know when I fail.”
Rather than be defensive, Adrian sighed. “Look, I get that it feels that way—”
“It is that way,” David snapped.
Adrian held up his hands. “But I know the band. Iknowthem. No one is going to blame you for not spotting that guy.”
God, these people. “You don’t get it. In this, I don’t care what you—what the band thinks. I know the mistakes I made.” Got too close, too fast, which led to distraction. That would change. It had to.
Adrian looked like he was fishing around for words. “I can’t stop you from taking the blame. I get that you think you should have caught that guy. That’s not the important bit.”
“Not doing my job isn’t the important bit? Jesus Christ.” David stomped away. The sooner he got back on the crew bus, the sooner he could get his head on straight.
Adrian and his fucking long legs caught up with him. “The important bit is not treating Mish any differently now.”
David slowed and his heart flipped around. Hehadto treat Mish differently. That wasexactlywhat he had to do. Why didn’t Adrian see that?
Adrian’s chuckle was a bitter thing. “Yes, I know it’s easier to push her—push us away. I understand the reasons behind it.”
“I have to do it to protect the band.” Protect himself, too.
“Yeah, well, here’s the thing.” Adrian’s voice took on the sharpness that David’s had. “Nothing matters more than the band. Not you, not me, despite my relationship with Dominic. The whole name of the game is to keep the band playing every night with the intensity and love that they need. It’s what they want and what the fans deserve.”
“Fuck,” David said under his breath. He saw the way Adrian’s argument was going, saw it clear as day.
