Page 20 of Heart of a Rebel

Fame, money, sex. It doesn’t take someone already in the industry to know how dangerous that combination can be. Add in a record label and manager who cares more about making money than us, and we could really be in trouble.

While it might sound good to have someone guiding our careers who knows the industry, what we really need is someone who will look out for us in ways everyone else won’t.

I haven’t known Adrian long, and Sebastian hasn’t known him much longer. But sometimes you don’t have to know a person for a lifetime to understand who they are on a fundamental level. Adrian might be quiet and seem cold, but there’s no one I’ve met that takes care of those around him as he does. He makes a person feel protected and safe. Which is why, the longer I’ve considered Sebastian’s off the wall idea, the more it makes sense.

“I don’t know about that.” Adrian shakes his head.

“My brother doesn’t quit.” I narrow my gaze.

Adrian smiles. An uninhibited one that’s so rare to see on him. His body shifts and he’s an inch closer.

The hit of black licorice and gasoline sends my head swimming. It almost makes me question whether I want him to take Sebastian up on his offer or not. Because every time I’m around Adrian lately, I feel myself drawn. He’s the gravity and I’m failing miserably at defying it.

Too bad I have to.

If he joins us in whatever capacity, I’d have to draw a line. I can’t be the girl in the band with her heart on the line for the manager. Not to mention, I sense he’s working through something deep inside. Even if we could make it past the rumors and judgments, we’d have to find a way past our own bullshit as well.

“We’ll see,” Adrian says, reaching around me.

For a moment I think he’s caging me in. His body so close the fabric of his T-shirt almost brushes my chest. I tip my chin up without thinking. But when he’s within inches of my face, he pulls back, and I realize he was grabbing something off the shelf.

Adrian turns to leave, but not before shooting a glance over his shoulder that skims me head to toe. Speaking the kind of volumes I could pick apart and make a song out of.

You sound like music to my brain

Harmonious imperfection, I can’t think straight

It’s either control or chaos

Order or disarray

One night of pleasure

Years of pain,

Years of pain.

Everything about Adrian screams contradiction where I’m concerned. Safety and danger. Meticulous madness. I’m lost in it.

After taking a deep breath, I drag myself from the storage room with the bottle of water I came for. But as I turn the corner, I run straight into Sebastian’s chest.

“Woah, sis.” He grabs onto my shoulders and steadies me, a devious glimmer in his eyes as his gaze trails from me to Adrian. “Whatcha up to?”

“Nothing.” I glare at him, rolling my shoulders back and standing tall.

“Mm-hmm.” He looks in Adrian’s direction once more. “Looks like it.”

I open my mouth to argue, but Rome pops up and smacks Sebastian on the shoulder, drawing his attention.

“I figured it out,” Rome grins. “It’s the second chorus that’s the issue, not the first.”

Sebastian drops his inquisition to follow Rome back to the equipment, but I see Noah’s eyes on me from across the bar. He’s thinking the same thing Sebastian probably was.

Bad idea, Eloise.

Noah might as well be telepathically sending the message.

If Adrian does make the decision to come along with the band when we leave, I need to draw the same line in the sand I did with the other guys. Friends. Family. Brothers.

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