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I sighed. “Of course I did. Our music made us who we are. I couldn’t take that from you.”
“Gray?” Mav looked at me, pain etched into his face.
“I should have told you all the minute I got out of the hospital, but I knew you’d all quit. For me. And I couldn’t do that. The band is your life. It might not be mine anymore, but it’s yours and I wouldn’t take that from you. When I threatened to quit because I wanted to be with Ethan and Ivy, Hazel reminded me that they owned the rights to all our music. All our past songs, all the new ones, and all the future ones for the next five years. She promised the label would take them all if I didn’tbehave.I tried. I tried so hard to do what they wanted. I gave up my marriage. I became her puppet. I wanted to keep the band and our songs safe for you all. I’m so sorry I failed.” I dropped my head, unable to look at any of them.
I felt Tanner on me first, leaping out of his seat and ripping my face upwards to look at him. “All this time? All of it was because you were trying to save us? Gray, what the fuck? Why didn’t you tell us?”
“I knew you’d let me go… that you’d give it all up for me. I couldn’t take that from you all.”
“You are more important than any band, any song,” Mav whispered, squeezing my shoulder. “We could have helped. Fought them together. Gray, why did you go through all that on your own?”
“Remember when we were in that hot, sweaty garage and all we wanted was a moment in the spotlight? We had that. We’ve had it for years. Bigger than we ever could have imagined. It was amazing, but I would give it all up… we would all give it up if it kept you alive, Gray. You in that hospital. It was too much. To know the label drove you to that with their threats. That shit can’t happen again. I’m so sorry it ever happened to you, and we didn’t realize. We have to do this differently. You’re right. We’ve become puppets. We deserve something more. I’m knackered. When was the last time we had a day off? I mean we have this six-month break and that’s only because they know they fucked up with the evil Hazel.” Tanner sighed, ruffling my hair like he used to do when we were kids and he wanted to say something but didn’t want to get too emotional.
“I know it’s been a tough few months, years even, but I really believe things are about to change. I’ve failed you all by being weak. I’m so sorry for that. I should have told you all what was going on and not cared about the NDA they had me sign or what threatened me with so I wouldn't tell you all. I promise. From now on, you four are the only thing that matters,” Addi promised.
“Addi, you can’t do this on your own anymore. We all see how tired you are. How exhausted you look.” Mav replied, reaching out for her, taking her hand in his.
She shrugged out of his hold. “Thanks, dickwad. You really have a way with words. But I’m not on my own anymore. I want to introduce you to our new press officer, and they can explain. Now, before I do, you should know they don’t have much experience, but unlike the others we’ve tried, this one loves the band and has your best interests at heart. I believe this one would protect you all fiercely. In fact, they already have.”
My brows furrowed, and I couldn’t shake my confusion when Ethan stood from his seat at the head of the table.
Ivy glared at me. “What the hell, Grayson? Did you know?” the hurt on her face was plain to see.
“No, I had no idea about any of this, firefly. I promise.”
“As of 5 pm today, you own the rights to all your previous songs and, if you want to, you can walk away from your contract with Dark River Records. You’re all free to be the kind of band you want to be. Now, that choice is yours, but Addi and I think you should invest some of your money into starting your own label. You could sign a couple of new bands or you could take on some of the others we made Jaxx release from their contracts. If you’ll have me, I would love to do press and PR for you. I know nothing, but I learn quickly. I’ve run my own business for ten years and I will defend you all to the death. Be the band you want to be instead of the one they made you. Tour less, write more, spend more time at home, build a life that isn’t just the band, so you all find your passion for it again.” He winked at me as sat, staring at him, stunned.
“You did this for us?” Tanner asked, sounding as shocked as I felt.
“I did. Addi and I did.”
“Why?”
Ethan sat down before he spoke. “Because none of you are happy. Do you like being on the road all the time? Do you like doing what you’re told? The label nearly broke Gray. I couldn’t just sit back and let that happen or watch it happen to another one of you. I decided to kick some ass. I can be quite scary when I want to be.” He turned to Ivy and winked, but I couldn’t help notice her face stayed fixed, hiding her feelings from us all.
“You’ve been in a band for ten years. You’ve done the hard work, got the record deal, and built your own success, but they were sucking all the enjoyment of it from you, so we wanted to give you the choice. And it is a choice. You can renegotiate your terms and stay with the label. Or you can break free.”
“I mean, our own label would be the dream. Frankie wants to write more. I want to produce,” Mav gushed. “I never even thought it was an option.”
“Thanks to Ethan whatever you want is an option. You guys love to play, but all you do is tour. It’s no wonder Tanner got addicted to drink and drugs and Gray fell apart. If this is going to work, you have to create a band and a life that works for you. None of us are getting any younger,” Addi spoke, her eyes looking excited and passionate for the first time in years, making me remember how enthusiastic she was when we first got signed. “For months, I used Tanner’s behavior as a reason to quit, but really it was because I’m exhausted and tired of fighting fires. I want to see you guys happy and thriving. I think we can do this now, together, if you want to. I’m happy to chip in financially to this venture too, as is Ethan.”
“If it’s okay with Ivy and Gray,” he interrupted.
I moved towards him and grabbed his hand, placing mine over his heart where his tattoo was. “You did this for me. For us?”
“I would give you the whole world if it made you happy, Gray. She hurt you. I couldn’t let that go. Addi and I chatted, and she did some investigating for me. We had enough evidence to threaten the label. Then Addi got other bands to join us. The label crumbled. I did it because they deserved to have their ass kicked for what Hazel did to you. I love you, Gray. You’re never in this alone. Your family, Ivy, Addi, me… we won’t let you ever feel that alone that hurting yourself is the only option.”
I couldn’t help but crash my lips against his, devouring his mouth, groaning into him. I reached for Ivy, desperate to feel her as well while we celebrated. And although she pressed her hand lightly in mine, she made no move toward us.
“Oh my God, you three are adorable and if my brother wasn’t involved, I would say really hot,” Frankie squealed. “Although it’s still weird to think my brother was sexy enough to pull not one, but two people and persuade them to marry him.”
We all laughed as a sense of calm settled over the band that we’d not felt for years. But something had shifted with Ivy, and I was terrified about what she was thinking.
“Okay, okay, are we really doing this? Setting up our own label. Taking on four new bands, finishing the tour, then taking a year off and building our own recording studio.” Tanner asked, sounding like an excited schoolboy.
“I think we are, big brother,” Frankie said happily. “And we all get to do the things we love. We’ll write more, Mav will produce, we’ll decide when we tour, and we can all take some time to live a life away from the band. It sounds so easy, doesn’t it? Why, after all these years, does it suddenly feel so easy? I feel like I’m missing something that's going to mess it all up.”
“Nothing will mess it up, Frankie. If Ethan and Addi tell you it’s sorted, then it will be sorted,” I reassured her. “Now you just need someone to run the label.”
