Page 48 of Chasin’s Surrender

“The woman is fine, great singer, but when she talks, that slow, sexy Tennessee drawl…that’s where it’s at.”

“Brother, you might want to divert your eyes from Chasin’s woman. He’s not looking real magnanimous. Maybe even keep your comments to yourself.” Nix chuckled.

Chasin wasn’t sure he saw the humor in Nixon’s suggestion. There was no doubt Chasin wasn’t feeling charitable about Holden eying his woman. But he also knew Holden was so wrapped up in the pretty widow, Charleigh, he would look—even make comments—however, Holden would not go there.

There’d been a recent shift in Holden, a big one. None of the guys had seen Holden with a woman in months, and not just a few months, but several. Holden wasn’t talking, even after numerous attempts to get him to do so. Whatever was going on, he wasn’t ready to share, and all of them knew why.

Charleigh’s dead husband had been their close friend, a teammate. But Charleigh had been Holden’s first, before she hooked up with Paul. And the only reason Paul got in there was because Holden stupidly let her go for reasons he also didn’t share. Everyone knew he’d loved her, even Paul. Yet Paul took his shot and landed Charleigh in his bed, then put his ring on her finger. Holden hadn’t been right since.

So Chasin was not worried his friend was going to make a move on his woman, but he was surprised he knew her music.

“Am I the only one who had no idea who Vivi Rush is?” Chasin asked.

Seven men muttered, “Yep.”

“Even you?” Chasin looked to Jonny’s friend, Vaughn. The man didn’t look like he’d listen to country music. As a matter of fact, he looked like he listened to death metal and ate babies for breakfast.

“Yep,” he confirmed. “Hard to miss Vivi Rush. Her music plays on every station pretty much on repeat. Nothing against her pipes, because the woman can sing, but she’s the whole package. Her face sells her music just as much as her voice does. But just to say, the chick sitting next to her, don’t know if that bitch can sing, but she’d sell records, too.”

Chasin didn’t stop the smile when he warned Vaughn, “Brother, you look like you can handle yourself, but advice—do not let Bobby hear you call her a bitch. That girl might be tiny but she’s a Rottweiler.”

“More like an ankle biter,” he returned.

“Can’t say I didn’t warn you. Besides, I get the feeling she’s into Jonny.”

Chasin’s comment was meant in jest, but Jonny’s face turned to stone, reminding Chasin he needed to have a word with his friend when this was over.

“Micky finish running the detective?” Weston changed the subject.

“Yeah, he’s clean and she dug deep,” Nixon answered.

“Lazy,” Alec muttered.

“Yeah, lazy and an asshole,” Nix confirmed. “I talked to his captain. He’s reassigning the case, but now that Genevieve’s out of his jurisdiction, he’s not sure what he can do unless something is sent to her house. But anything that happens here, Jonny’s gonna handle personally.”

That made Chasin feel better, but only slightly. They had nothing until this guy made another move. And none of them liked being on the defense.

“What about Chad?” Chasin inquired.

“He was with her the whole tour. Had access to her dressing room. Had access to her hotel rooms, tour bus, everything. Right now, he’s all we got. But other than the arrest, his sheet’s clean. McKenna’s tracking down old girlfriends and friends to see if there’s something that wasn’t reported.”

Most domestic abuse victims didn’t file complaints, they also didn’t talk to strangers about what happened to them. Especially if that abuse was years ago and they were afraid bringing it up would blow back on them and make it start again. Not to mention some wounds shouldn’t be re-opened.

“Not sure asking women to relive that shit is a good play,” Chasin threw out.

“McKenna will go easy. She knows what she’s doing.”

Chasin figured Nixon was right but he still didn’t like the possibility of dredging up old shit for women who should be free to move on with their lives. And he knew Genevieve wouldn’t want that, either. Unfortunately, they didn’t have much of a choice.

A peal of laughter came from the women and Alec chuckled as well.

“She fits right in. I was worried because of who she is…” Alec let that hang and Chasin’s chest got tight.

“Who she is?” Chasin asked with a little more fire than he’d meant to.

“Not throwing shade, Chasin, but she’s got two platinum records and right now she’s got a number one song on the charts. You might not have known her but the rest of the world does. Vivi’s a big deal.”

“She’s also got three CMAs, two Grammys, an AMA, and is BBMA’s top country artist and the top female country artist,” Chasin said. “Yet there Genevieve sits, laughing and joking.”