Page 57 of Into The Light

After shooting me a haughty glare, Sheena moved to the edge of the stage, and Aiden waved me forward. I walked toward him at the side entrance and when I peered out at the crowd, the sight of the full house of people screaming Jeff’s name amazed me. He’d always dreamed about hearing the roar of the crowd and feeling the adoration of so many fans. I glanced to Sheena who beamed with pride when Jeff picked up the microphone.

“What did you do?” I asked Aiden. His eyes danced with excitement and he looked like a kid on Christmas morning. He slid an arm around my shoulder and pulled me close to his side. I caught Sheena’s glance at the impressive man claiming me as his own.

Not this time, bitch. I narrowed my eyes and leaned in closer, pressing my body against his muscular frame.

“Just watch,” Aiden said, pointing to Jeff on the stage. I followed his finger and watched the man I once called husband take the microphone in his hand. The crowd roared again while he lifted it to his lips.

“Hello, New York!” he screamed, and they returned the sentiment by screaming back. “I am so thrilled to be here with you! I came here tonight to play you some rock-and-roll! Is that what you want?”

The roar of the crowd reverberated through my entire body, even more powerfully than I could have imagined. Jeff stood in front of them, the blue spotlight beating down on him while the band prepared to count off.

“Before I get started, I have to tell you all something!” he shouted over the noisy crowd.

Aiden’s smile grew while he squeezed my shoulder tighter.

“I don’t belong up here. I shouldn’t be here,” Jeff started, the excitement in his voice dissipating as the crowd quieted down with him. They looked as confused. I glanced up at Aiden who waggled his brows and gestured for me to keep watching.

“I don’t belong here!” Jeff shouted the words this time, and the crowd fell silent. The musicians behind him shot glances to one another, and I realized this was not part of the show.

This was all Aiden.

“I’m a half-assed musician and the only reason I’m here is because I stole a woman’s inheritance after her parents died. I used her to help me get here. I tricked her into marrying me when she tried to take the money and leave. Then, after years of supporting me and taking care of me, after my song became a hit, I left her for one of the many whores I liked to fuck. And I didn’t even feel bad about it!”

One of the whores?

The crowd booed, and I glanced over to see Sheena shifting uncomfortably. Perhaps that was news to her as well.

“I left her with tens of thousands of dollars of debt and saddled with a mortgage while I ran off to live this dream! Then, if that wasn’t bad enough, I dumped my high school bandmates... the ones who helped me get here. I replaced them with these guys because my manager told me I could go farther without them.”

The crowd booed even louder and random items pelted Jeff on stage.

“Then, I slept with the girlfriends of my current band. All of them.”

The band glanced amongst each other again before their eyes all narrowed into slits and focused on his back. If looks could kill, Jeff would have burst into flames.

“I destroyed so many lives to get here that I don’t deserve to play for you tonight. I don’t deserve to have a music career.”

“Get off the stage you piece of shit!” a woman screamed and broke the silence.

The crowd joined her in a chant for Jeff to get off the stage. Boos and shouts replaced the cheers that had greeted him.

“Oh. My. God.” I gasped, glancing up at a grinning Aiden. “You did this?”

He nodded and flashed a bright smile. “Wait for it...”

I turned my attention back to Jeff. There he stood on stage, thousands of people screaming for him to get off, his music career in shambles, and this would definitely be viral online tomorrow... the new musician who got up on stage and tanked his entire career. I couldn’t help but look over to Sheena’s ashen face. She looked more than ready to run.

“I need to admit one more thing before I go!” Jeff shouted into the microphone.

The crowd kept up their incessant booing while he stood motionless on stage.

“I just pissed my pants,” he said matter-of-factly.

My hand flew to my mouth and my eyes nearly popped out of my head. The crowd fell silent for a moment while Jeff stood in front of them.

“Yes!” Aiden shouted, his rolling laughter following.

“Holy shit.” It was still all I could manage to say from behind the hand I still held clasped over my mouth.