Page 98 of Heart of a Rebel

I’m sure I should care that her brother is standing right there, but I don’t give a shit. I’ve seen him in more than enough compromising situations over the years that the guy has no right to say crap to me.

“What’s going on?” I ask as he guides me toward the hotel elevator.

We’re in Denver for final interviews and the end-of-tour Fourth of July concert. Afterward, we all finally get to head home, at least until the band figures out what they’re doing.

“We need to chat about what comes next.” Sebastian walks into the elevator and takes one wall.

I face him from the opposite side. “I thought El still hadn’t made a decision about recording another album.”

“She hasn’t. This is different.” He’s wearing an expression that tells me he’s actually being serious, so whatever it is it’s big.

I follow him out of the elevator and down the hall to Noah’s room, where he and Rome are playing a video game.

“Fuck off.” Noah tosses his remote.

Rome climbs to stand on top of the couch, holding his controller overhead. “All hail the champion.”

“In your dreams.” Noah shoves Rome, who goes toppling.

“If that’s what you’re into.” Rome winks.

Noah walks away and joins Sebastian and me at the table. “This fucking clown—”

“Is beating the shit out of you every round,” Rome finishes, twisting a chair around and straddling it to join us.

Noah shakes his head as he ties his hair back at the base of his skull.

“Please tell me you didn’t call me here to mediate these teenagers.” I look at Sebastian.

“Twenty-eight, thank you very much.” Rome nods proudly.

“Not why we’re here, dipshit.” Sebastian shoves him, then folds his arms on the table in front of him and looks at me. “The guys and I have been cooking up an idea, and we want to run it by you. El’s on the fence, but she sounds willing to sway whatever direction, depending on your thoughts.”

I lean back in my chair and cross my arms over my chest. The guys coming up with an idea can mean a couple of things, and I just hope it’s not like the last one that involved a mess of paint and a massive cleaning bill from the stadium.

“What do you think of us starting our own label?” Sebastian asks.

I tick an eyebrow up. “A record label?”

“Obviously.”

The laugh that comes out of me hits so hard, I can’t help but bend over and grab my chest. Tears spring to my eyes as I sit back up and face them. “You’re fucking serious?”

“Your faith in us is flattering.” Sebastian shakes his head.

“Oh, I’ve got faith.” I wipe my face. “Hence me following your dumbasses around on tour for the past six years. But a record label is next-level shit. You’re gonna need faith, a church, a huddle of nuns, and a whole fucking choir to pull that shit off.”

“Hot nuns?” Rome smiles.

Noah shoves his arm. “You’re going to hell, you know that, right?”

“It’s probably where all the hot strippers will be.” Rome shrugs.

“Back to actual business, assholes.” Sebastian narrows his eyes at them.

This is when I know Sebastian’s serious about something. He doesn’t get dragged into bickering with the rest of the band. He’s laser-focused.

“I get that it sounds a little extreme,” Sebastian says.

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