AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“The label doesn’t like the new material.” And there it was. I let out a dry laugh as he continued. “They feel that, compared to your older albums, the new songs are too depressing.”
“They aren’t depressing. They’rereal.There’s a fucking difference, Cal.”
The music industry could be a real bitch, whether you’d already made it as an artist or not, and as a country singer, my fans had gotten used to my style, which was the fast pace, feel good songs you could dance to. There were reels all over social media of special line dances that had been created to go with my songs. I wasn’t going to lie, that kind of shit put me on the map in a big way, and now my name was being mentioned alongside some of the biggest names in country music. I had a shelf full of awards, and had walked down my fair share of red carpets.
Over the past decade, I achieved every single thing I’d set out to do. I was famous. My face was on fucking magazine covers. I was one of the most played artists on the radio. You couldn’t flip past a country station without hearing one of my songs. I played for sold-out stadiums across the country. I couldn’t go to the grocery store without people clamoring to get a picture with me, for christ’s sake.
And I was sick of it.
Allof it.
For the first time in my career, I’d made the albumIwanted to make. No country anthems, no ass-shaking, two-stepping beats. I wrote and recorded songs that actually meant something to me. I’d dug down deep in my soul where I’d kept all those feelings hidden for the past decade and pulled each and every one of those words out. It had beenpainful. But so worth it. These new songs were a part of me. They were in my blood, in my bones.
Just like she was and always would be.
Those songs were the realest thing I had ever created.
“I think I’ve made those assholes enough money over the past several years that I’ve earned a little bit of leeway in the music I make.”
I could see it written all over Cal’s face. He didn’t agree. What the label wanted, the label got, as far as he was concerned. They were the big dogs.
I took another sip, pinning my manager with a hard stare as I said, “If the label doesn’t like the new material, maybe it’s time for us to part ways. Because that’s the album I’m making. Whether they like it or not. And if you can’t get behind that, maybe it’s time we part ways as well.”
I heard his sharp intake of breath, but I’d already turned away, looking back at that view that meant nothing. In the past handful of minutes, the sun had started to lower beyond the horizon, painting the sky in deeper shades. The lights from the city below began to wink on, and, as I’d experienced more times that I could count, the clubs, bars, and restaurants were setting up for the incoming crowds. Day might have slowly been turning into night, but this city didn’t sleep.
In fact, it was gearing up while all I wanted to do was strip down to my underwear, crawl into bed, and watch ESPN highlights in the dark until I passed out with the remote in my hand.
And, christ, but that thought made me feel old as hell.
“You know what? I don’t think this is the right time for this conversation,” Cal stated magnanimously. Like the prick was doing me some kind of favor. “Clearly you’re in a mood, so we’ll table this discussion for the time being, come back to it when you’re feeling more yourself.”
I let out a snort as I brought the glass back to my lips. What the bastard failed to realize was I was feeling more myself than I had in years. The real me was a miserable, unhappy asshole now that all the shitty decisions I’d made in my youth were coming back to bite me in the ass.
“Whatever you say, Cal. You can go ahead and see yourself out.” I held up the glass, dismissing the man without even turning back to look at him.
I didn’t turn around as I waited in silence for the sound of my front door opening and closing. Once I heard it slam harder than necessary, I reached into the back pocket of my jeans and pulled out my cell, scrolling through my contacts. I hit Call the instant my thumb landed on the number I’d been looking for.
It only took three rings for him to pick up. The moment the familiar voice carried through my ears, the corners of my mouth curled ever so slightly in the closest thing to a smile I’d felt in days, or hell, even weeks.
“Well I’ll be. If it isn’t Roan Blackwell. It’s been a while, man.”
“Lincoln. Good to hear your voice, buddy.”
I’d met Lincoln Sheppard several years ago, back when my career had just shot off. I’d been playing a set one night at the Bluebird Café, and when I got home, I discovered an overzealous fan had not only climbed over the privacy fence that surrounded my old house, but she’d also managed to pick the lock and get inside. I found her naked in my bed.
The whole thing had been a huge mess. The cops had come to haul her ass out of my house, and she sure as hell hadn’t made it easy for them. By the time they finally got her out the door, both officers and I were sporting fresh scratch marks and she’d managed to break a mirror, a glass end table, a lamp, and a coat rack. It was so bad they’d had to taser her.
I’d asked around for the best security company in the business and got Lincoln Sheppard’s name. He owned an operation over in Virginia and was usually booked months out. His firm, Alpha Omega, did a hell of a lot more than install security systems, so getting an appointment was damn near impossible.
It just so happened to be a lucky coincidence that he’d been a fan, and when I told him the situation, he made an exception—after charging me double the already astronomical cost—and set me up with a system that was completely impenetrable.
When I bought this place, he’d come out again to do the same—and again, charged me through the fucking roof, knowing his work was worth it and I had more than enough money lying around.
“How are things down in Nashville treating you? Don’t tell me you’re moving again, brother. That last place I set up for you was a fucking beast. What more could you want in a house?”
I let out a low chuckle. “Nah, nothing like that. I actually have something else in mind. Tell me, how good are you and your team at finding people?”
He made a sound of offense. “Shit.That’swhat you’re calling for? I was hoping you’d at least give me a challenge. What’s the name and date of birth? I’ll have an address for you in no time.”
