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“I know, but he’s all over the map. Talking about suing Ty. Scared about Carter. Furious at Carter. I love him. God, he’s my life. He’s put everything on hold for me to focus on the restaurant. You have no idea how much he needed LTZ to reunite. Now? I’m fucking scared for our families.” Fiona gives in to her emotions and collapses on the table. Her entire body is wracked with the kind of grief that only happens when everything you held dear in your life is ripped away.
We should know.
Ronni and I glance at each other and, almost in tandem, sandwich her from both sides. Fee is not a cuddly, needy woman. She’s always quick-witted, a bit abrasive, and wickedly funny. In the years I’ve known her, I’ve never seen this broken side of her. Even when she was going through Mia’s custody bullshit, Fiona always exuded confidence. Something tells me, she needs us.
So my wife and I continue to sit with her.
For hours. She cries a bathtub full of tears until, exhausted, she falls asleep in my arms. I cradle her like a child. Ronni strokes her hand. We give each other a little smile. We’re not going anywhere anytime soon.
And that’s okay.
I can’t help but stare at my beautiful wife. She leans against Fee’s shoulder, keeping hold of her hand.
Despite her own crisis, which is monumental and has the potential to ruin her professional life forever, Ronni’s here. Supporting me. Supporting my bandmates and their families.
Unconditionally.
In this moment, despite the fact two of my bandmates found out they’re related and LTZ is very likely done, nothing is clearer.
As long as Ronni and I are together.
Nothing else matters.
Holy mother of God,my neck is killing me.
My eyes blink awake. It takes me a minute to figure out where the heck I am until I realize I’m staring at the polished concrete floor of Gus. Stretched out across a booth, my head is resting on my arm like it’s a pillow. It’s numb. Using my abs, I hoist myself to a sitting position and shake my wrist vigorously when the pins and needles start. I’m still fully dressed in my black satin jumpsuit. My six-inch platforms are strapped to my feet.
Yawning, I glance around the room. No sign of Connor or Fiona. I turn my head from side to side. Up and down. Reach around to massage my nape. I’veneverslept in anything but a bed. I never had any of the normal high school and college experiences high school and college kids had.
“Ah, Mae. You’re awake. I had to take a piss.” Connor emerges from the back, stretching his long arms behind his back.
I can’t help but yawn again. I’m exhausted. “Where’s Fee?”
“With Zane. They’re in the office.” He sits next to me. “Ty was released early this morning. Zane is…well, he’s not good.”
That wakes me up. “Of course he’s not. How’s Carter?”
Connor peers past me toward the kitchen and his gaze flicks back to me. He keeps his voice quiet. “Two stents. He’ll be in the hospital for a few more days. Apparently, the injuries from the fight were bad. His nose was smashed to bits.”
“God.” I continue to rub the back of my neck to try to work out the kinks. Connor notices and takes over. I moan when he hits the exact spot that needs attention. Whine a bit when he withdraws his hand.
“I think we should get our boys. We can check in with everyone later. I talked to Jace, he and Alex spent the night at her mom’s. They’re on the ferry heading home with Mia.” Connor stands and holds his hand up to me.
“Yeah, this wasn’t the best place to sleep.” I tilt my head left and right to try to release some tension. “My purse is back in the office, though.”
“I’ve got it.” Fiona holds my Valentino clutch out to me. Zane follows her, his designer jeans and black sweater rumpled. Connor’s right. Zane, who’s normally lit up from within like a firefly, looks like his switch was turned off.
Ignoring my purse for the moment, I gather Fiona to me and hug her hard. “Babe, are you okay?”
“Honestly? No.” She crosses her arms around her middle when I let her go. “We were just talking. I think we’re going to close the venue and postpone opening the restaurant until later this year. It’s not definite, but when Carter gets home from the hospital we may go to Hawaii. Mia has a couple months before school starts. I think the three of us need to get away and do nothing. Recalibrate.”
Zane doesn’t say anything. He’s eerily devoid of emotion. Like the events of the past day have sapped all his energy. And his personality.
Connor flexes his hand against my neck and squeezes gently. Uses his thumb to knead at the knot. “We’re off to retrieve our wee boys. My ma wanted me to invite yous over for some Irish stew tonight. Just us, my folks. I think Cillian and Seamus might join. Might be an opportunity for us to have a peaceful night.”
“Can I call you later? We need to go back to the hospital for a while.” Zane’s voice is flat. He sighs. “My mom won’t leave Carter’s side. I don’t get it. She just found out he fucked an underage homeless girl and fathered a child a couple of months before she was pregnant with me. Why she didn’t fly back to Denver, I don’t know.”
Fee tenderly strokes Zane’s face. “She loves him, Zaney. He’s her person. It’s not all that different than our story.”
