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“Stay with me, Tan. You can help me make shit up. You can write your own news for a change.”
He stalked over to me, sweeping me up in his arms, carrying me to his bed. “I promise, no more angry, asshole rock star. I won’t shut you out again, angel. Now, can I get you anything before you busy yourself making stuff up so we can hunt down this mole?”
“Maybe a pen and paper. Oh, and a kiss. I think I deserve a kiss.”
Chapter 21
Emmy
It’dbeentwoweekssince the car crash and my bruises had faded from deep purple to yellow and green. We were in Milan. Matt kept his word and his friend Thomas Lanton came out to meet Addi and the band, with ten of his team.God, they were intimidating.Yes, there was security on tour, but they were there to keep the fans away. Thomas’ men were primed to fight monsters. Dressed head to toe in black, with guns holstered that we weren’t meant to know were there. Faces fixed on the job at hand, lurking in the shadows.
Thomas was amazing. He swept the hotel in Rome and the venue the band was playing at and then met us in Milan and did the same there. He set up some weird surveillance on all our devices that let him check if anyone hacked them and he agreed with Matt that he could leave his team with us for the rest of the European leg if we needed them and arrange security when we landed in the US.
I wrote the fake news stories, and we worked out who we would tell each story to so we could track the ones that were leaked. I had a password-protected spreadsheet on my phone of each one.Yes, I was that organized.But so far, nothing about the Cosmic Gods, other than their success on tour, had made it into the press.
Thomas and I stood offstage, watching the band as they rocked through their set. They seemed to get better and better each time they played, and I adored seeing them each night.
“They’re good.” Thomas grinned. He must’ve been boiling, standing there in his suit and tie, buttoned up as if he was going to a business meeting and not a rock concert. It made me laugh because I remembered how overdressed I’d been when I first arrived. As if covering my flesh would make me invisible. I still dressed conservatively in comparison to everyone else, but the confidence these people had given me helped me remember who I was before I was attacked.
“You and Tanner, have you been together long?”
“No. It’s still new. I’m not sure what will happen with us. I mean, he’s… well, he’s a lot and I’m just me.”
“You love him?” Thomas asked, not breaking his eyes away from the stage.
“I do,” I admitted easily to my new friend.
“Then you’ll find a way. Trust me. I waited nearly a decade for my wife and it was worth every minute because I got a life with her. Even if you can’t make sense of it, it’s worth hanging on to.”
I turned, shocked by his words. “Awe, you’re a true romantic, Thomas. That surprises me. I mean, you look like you could kill a man with your bare hands.”
He looked me dead in the eyes and leaned in closer, so no one else would hear. “I absolutely could do that, but I’m a softy deep down.”
I laughed, turning my attention back to the band. To my rock star boyfriend. To the man who told me he loved me each night before we fell asleep, knowing that he was worth hanging on for.
“I’m leaving tomorrow, but here’s my card. Any problems. Anything you need, Emmy. Call me. Don’t hesitate. And if you’re ever nearby, come and visit. My wife would love to meet you.”
I took it and pushed it into my jean pocket, smiling at him. “Thanks, Thomas. For making us all feel safe.”
“Oh, man, that was a great set. I’m wired. I don’t think I’ll sleep for a week,” Gray announced, running his fingers through his hair, as he walked through the penthouse, sweaty from the gig.
“Why don’t you all shower, because you stink and we can have a game night,” I suggested from where I sat on the sofa, my eyeliner-wearing rock star sitting next to me, his arms firmly around my waist. “It’s been a while since I shot things.”
“You like computer games, Emmy? I knew you were the perfect woman.” Mav laughed out as he shook his head, downing a bottle of water he’d taken from the fridge.
“Shower first and then I will show you my excellent shooting skills. Unless you want to play something easier likeAnimal Crossing?” I laughed out as I pushed Tanner off me, pointing him to his suite.
“Ha, you wish. Challenge excepted. Meet you back here in half an hour. Everyone in?” Mav yelled as he sprinted off down the hall.
The rest of the band all clapped and whooped before heading into their respective suites.
“Hey, angel, you wanna wash my back?” Tanner shouted, reaching his door.
I leaped from the sofa, groaning as I did because my body was far from healed, but I tried to hide my reaction.
“Ergh. Gross,” Frankie shouted as she passed him. “Don’t be late. We’re not waiting for you.”
Tanner
