She huffed out a laugh. “We can’t just sell it.”
“Why not?”
She looked at him incredulously. “What will I do when the tour is over? I need a car.”
Ben tilted his head. “Claire, I realize you haven’t been around much in the last four years?—”
She flinched. He was being nice. She hadn’t been around atallin the last four years.
“—But in case you haven’t noticed, I’m not doing so bad for myself. I’ll buy you a new one.”
“I can’t accept that from you,” she whispered.
“Why?”
“I haven’t been around.”
“Claire, listen to me.” He tipped her face up to his. “You’re my sister, and I’ll always be here for you, no matter how much time has passed. And what if he put a tracker in it? It’s better to be rid of it.”
Tears sprang to her eyes. She knew he was right. There very well could be a tracker in her car, but Charles also knew who her brother was. He wouldn’t need a tracker when he realized she was on tour with Ben.
“Don’t let me go back. I can’t go back. Please don’t let me go back again.”
She couldn’t count the number of times she had tried to leave, but Charles had convinced her to come back. Every. Single. Time. She couldn’t do it again. She knew he would kill her next time. Each time she returned, she ended up worse for wear. It was only because of a secret that she knew she couldn’t go back to the abusive relationship she had endured for far too long. She had to be strong.
Ben tucked her under his chin and held her tightly against him. “You’re staying with me. I’ve got you. I will never let that man near you again.”
4
Jake ran a hand through his freshly washed hair. They were back at the hotel for the night. They had a second show tomorrow evening in Houston, so they had a rare night of being able to sleep in a room versus in their tour bus.
A knock on the door had him pulling it open, half expecting to see Claire standing on the other side. It was Theo, their bass guitarist. His heart immediately sank, and he suddenly felt stupid. Claire had no reason to visit his room. He hadn’t said one word to her yet, and based on her face, she clearly had a lot of catching up to do with Ben.
Will, their manager and best friend, had arranged for Jake, Liam, and Theo to get to the hotel while Ben and Claire stayed behind talking. They hadn’t seen either of them since, and Jake was dying to talk to Ben. He needed to know what happened and when their flight would leave to go murder the man who hurt Claire.
Theo followed Jake into his room and sat on the edge of the bed while Jake continued to pace.
“How are you doing, man?” Theo asked.
Out of all the guys, Theo knew the history between Jake and Claire. Jake had felt like he was spiraling once Claire disappeared, and he ended up telling Theo everything. Holding it in had only created issues with playing. Theo had cornered him one day and forced it out of him. It made it easier for Jake to focus once he had let it all out. Easier, but not by much.
Jake continued to pace. “Not great.”
Theo nodded and watched Jake for a few minutes before scooting back on the bed, crossing his arms behind his head and relaxing.
“I want to punch him,” Jake hissed.
“I think we all do.”
“How can someone beat a woman? Especially…” He stopped himself before finishing that sentence and took a deep breath, standing still and squeezing his eyes shut.
“Especially Claire?”
Jake nodded.
“Have you talked to Ben?” Theo asked.
Jake turned to Theo. “Is he back yet?”
