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“Billy,” Zach said. “Sis.”
Faith smiled at him but he thought the expression looked a little tight. “Billy was just telling me he needs to talk to us, Zach.”
“Us?” Zach said. He looked at Eli. “The three of us?”
“Just you and me,” Faith said, shaking her head.
Zach’s gut tightened. “What’s up?” he said just as Eli said, “Dad? Something wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong,” Billy said. “I just want to talk to these two.” He jerked his head toward the studio manager’s office. “Why don’t we go in there?”
He wanted to talk privately? Zach didn’t like the sound of that. Billy wasn’t the “let’s talk in private” type. What the hell was going on?
The studio manager’s office, which had been Sal’s domain for years and was now Leah’s, was tiny. Barely big enough for the three of them. Faith slid around behind the small desk, leaving Zach standing near Billy. Billy closed the door behind them.
“What’s this all about?” Zach asked. He wasn’t in the mood for small talk.
Billy stared at him a moment then folded his arms. “Well, it’s like this. I’m taking the secret slot at CloudFest.”
“What the hell?” Zach said, just as Faith said, “What?”
Billy didn’t move an inch. Didn’t look away. “You heard me.”
Faith sat down in the chair behind the desk with a thud. “Billy—” she started to say, but Billy cut her off with a gesture.
“No point arguing, sweetheart, it’s my right.”
Zach stared at Billy, gut tensing. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“He means the festival trust,” Faith said.
“None the wiser,” Zach said tightly.
“Harper Inc. runs CloudFest,” Faith said. “But the profits go through a trust that was set up for Blacklight. For all four of them. And part of the trust rules is that a member of Blacklight can play at the festival if they want to.”
“I thought that was the headline slot?” Zach said. He’d never seen the legal documents but he’d thought the agreement was for the headline slot. And as far as he knew none of the guys had ever used the clause. It was a non-issue when Grey was alive and they were still all playing together. They took whatever slot in their own festival they wanted. Since then until last year when Danny had stepped in to cover Zach’s screwup, none of them had played at CloudFest since Grey had died. “I’m doing the secret set.”
“The agreement specifies a desired slot, not the headline slot,” Billy said, sounding certain. “And I got my lawyer to check yesterday. I can have any damn slot I want. So the secret gig is mine if I want it and I do.”
Chapter Seventeen
“That slot’s mine,” Zach said, fighting to sound calm. “I need it to launch my album.”
Billy’s expression didn’t change. “Sorry, kid. I’m taking it.”
It would have been easier if Billy had punched him, maybe. Might have been easier to take than this casual pulling the rug out from under him. “Like hell you are.”
“Zach,” Faith said softly.
He didn’t want to look at her but he did.
Her eyes were huge. And apologetic. “Billy’s right. It’s his if he wants it.” She bit her lip. “I’m sorry.”
“What the actual fuck?” Zach said. “Did the two of you cook this up? Some nice little revenge for me bailing last year? Giving me a taste of my own medicine?”
“No!” Faith said. “Don’t be stupid. I’d never do that to you.”
He wanted to believe her. He wasn’t entirely sure he did. In her place, he might well want a little payback.
