Page 123 of Play Dirty (Brooklyn Dawn 1)

“What?” His dark brown eyes warmed as he slung his arm around her shoulders. “I didn’t scare you, did I?”

She elbowed him in the gut. “I swear, you guys get off on freaking me out.”

He hauled her closer and kissed her forehead. “Because you are so damn jumpy.”

Teagan slung her arm around his back. She’d finally started easing into the natural brotherly affection that everyone in our band seemed to have. I frowned a little at the puppy dog level of adoration going on in Cooper’s gaze.

Hmm. Maybe not so brotherly there.

Teagan glanced over at me. “Want us to wait for you?”

“No, you guys go ahead.”

“Okay. I think we’re going to head out for some food.”

I smiled. “Have fun.”

Teagan gave me one last look, her huge bluebell eyes making sure I was good. “Okay. See ya.”

I couldn’t hold off any longer. Either it was Alex or a VIP. If it was a VIP, I’d probably have to do a lot of ass-kissing.

I grabbed my bag and phone before heading toward the green room. I couldn’t stop myself from checking for a message one last time. Naturally, there wasn’t one.

“Ass,” I muttered. I knocked lightly and opened the door.

There was no one in there, save for an old Brooklyn Dawn poster ripped in two and a hole where my face used to be. Not just a cut-out. No, this was burned straight through.

I tripped on a bump in the carpet as I backed away and nearly tumbled into the hallway. Still bent over, I slammed into the metal doorknob with my ribs and hissed. Only a quick grab on the doorjamb kept me from falling flat on my ass.

“Lindsey?” Darcy was walking down the hallway, but when she saw my face, she moved into a sprint. “What’s wrong?”

“Who was in here?”

Darcy gripped my arm. “The green room? No one since before the show.”

I dropped my bag and clutched my aching side. “Shannon came to my dressing room. Said someone was here to see me.”

Darcy eased by me into the room and swore. She lifted the little mic she had attached to her ear at all times. “Shannon, are you still here?” She paused, obviously listening to someone talking. “Where is she? What do you mean she’s gone?”

I dragged in a panicked breath but forced myself to settle. Dammit, I was usually better with this kind of thing. Fans were intense sometimes and some weren’t balanced. They just didn’t usually get this close to me. At least not in a damn long time.

Darcy was barking orders and two security men came charging down the hallway.

Instantly, I wondered if I was overreacting. It was just a poster. But it didn’t feel like just a prank. It made my skin crawl and the hair along my nape stand up. The fact that Darcy’s skin was as gray as mine steadied me. Darcy was cool under pressure.

Usually.

I was pretty sure the last time I’d seen her get this worried about something was when I got stuck out over the crowd during a solo for an extra three songs. That night, she’d been certain she would have to go out and get me with a crane.

Jamie had come to the rescue that night, taking me back on her mini stage. Improv nights were stressful and usually incredible at the same time. We’d sung two Lita Ford songs and a Heart cover with a Joan Jett chaser as we came back to the main stage.

Darcy had been screaming then.

This quiet Darcy…

Yeah, it made me itchy to leave. To get as far away from the scene as possible. At the same time, it was my responsibility to keep my band and the people we employed safe.

Which meant I had to talk to Donovan. And I so didn’t want to do that.

---