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“Yeah, she is.” I look back into Dragon’s eyes that look more green than brown in the light of the moon. “She completes the band, Dragon. The only thing we need now, if anything, is a bass player so Cage doesn’t have to pull double duty. But even without a bassist, we rock, man.”
“Yeah, we do. It’s just…” He takes another toke.
I shake my head. “Dragon, you’ve got a major fear of success.”
He lets the smoke out of his lungs and scowls. “What the hell does that mean?”
“It’s kind of like a fear of failure. Except it’s not.”
He wrinkles his forehead. “Exactly how high am I? You’re not making a lick of sense.”
“Fear of failure keeps you from trying. Fear of success is worse. Once things start to happen for you, you rebel against them. We can’t do that, Dragon. We’ve got to see this thing through.”
Dragon is silent for a moment as he watches the ashes burn on his joint. “Maybe Iamafraid of success. You and I both know why.”
I’m not the hugging type, but I pat Dragon’s arm. “It’s going to be okay. You’ve got to remember that rock bands are an entity. Fans don’t think of us as individuals. They think of us as a unit.”
“That won’t stop the tabloids from doing their research.”
“Then we’ll just have to erase everything about your past. You’ve already done that for the most part.”
“As much as I could.”
“Listen. Two of my sisters are engaged to Steels. They have access to all the Steel resources. I’ll see that you’re covered. Okay?”
Dragon shakes his head, chuckling. “Listen to you. I never thought I’d see the day where you might ask a Steel for a favor.”
“Not for myself. But for a good friend? You bet I would.”
Dragon brings the joint to his lips. “Brothers to the end. Sure you don’t want a toke?”
“I’m sure.” I take the joint from him and put it out with my boot. “And you don’t need any more.”
“When you’re right, you’re right. I guess it’s time to get back to the party.” He rises and rubs his hands together. “Besides, it’s fucking cold out here.”
I stand as well. “Dude, that’s the smartest thing you’ve said all night.”
Chapter Five
Brianna
Once the Emerald Phoenix band members take their leave, Angie and Sage find me near the gazebo Jesse vacated.
“Where’s Gina?” I ask.
“She went home,” Angie says. “She’s still… You know, digesting everything about her dad. About her newfound grandmother.”
I nod. “Yeah, I get it. It’s rough for all of us, but probably especially for Ava and Gina, knowing that they’re not descended from Daphne Steel.”
Sage smiles. “She’ll be all right. She loves the holidays, and then we’ll be back at school for the last semester, partying and having fun.”
“Yeah, I know she’ll be all right. I just still…” I push my hair behind my ear. “I can’t imagine some of this. How our parents kept all of this from us for all these years.”
“That’s what bugs Gina the most, I think.” Angie takes a drink of wine from the stemmed glass she’s holding. “She’s pretty mad at Uncle Ryan and Aunt Ruby.”
“What about Ava?” I ask.
“Ava knew about it before Gina. Plus, she’s engaged to Brendan Murphy. That’s the thing about Ava. She doesn’t let Steel drama get her down.”
