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The next trio was Peyton Lynx, who was Greer’s brother, and Perry Altair Jr.’s bodyguard. Perry was the CEO and owner of the company Greer worked for. Peyton and Perry were in a relationship with Dominic Summit, who I couldn’t tell if he was high or if he was normally this energetic. He was very nice though and poked fun at the other guys to make me more comfortable. He was a dancer at Dexen’s club.
Then there was Xaiden Dremest, Dexen’s brother. Between the two of them and their parents, they had many businesses. Xaiden looked like he could kick ass too. He was with two partners as well. They all wore matching wedding bands on their ring fingers. I’d never seen three men together in a committed relationship. Before me sat three groups of them. It was great to see.
Val Dremest was the smallest of the bunch, but damn did he have a hell of a personality. He was blunt and must have seen something in me. He told me if I ever needed to talk, to get his number from Reed. It was as if he knew what I’d been through by witnessing what occurred.
Dr. Corbin Dremest instantly put me at ease. I learned he was an ER doctor, which made sense given how friendly and calm he was. He asked if I wanted him to check my foot to make sure I was okay. He must have overheard Reed. I declined, though thanked him for the offer.
It was a lot to take in. A lot of big guys who, once I got to know a bit about them, weren’t as frightening as I originally thought. I was still nervous, still fought my inner demons being this close to them, but with Reed next to me, I was safe.
Casper, Slater, and Dash returned soon after. Casper tucked close to my other side, a guardian daring anyone to fuck with me, including their friends at the table. I had to resist leaning against his side to soak in the security he provided.
9
CASPER
If Greer hadn’t looked completely apologetic, I probably would have decked him. He only had an inch on my six-foot-four height and his arms were bigger, not by much. I’d still fucking take him on for causing Elic distress. If Xaiden got in on that and wanted to fight, well, I’d do it, but I’d probably get my ass handed to me. He wasn’t as big as Greer, but Xaiden was an ex-professional fighter. He could kick all of our asses, even his friends’.
Slater clapped a hand on my shoulder. “You good, son? We have to go on.”
I nodded, though was loathe to leave Elic’s side. It was ridiculous, but I couldn’t seem to help myself. There was no danger here. Even Cadence would jump in and kick ass if someone threatened him. But I couldn’t turn it off like a switch. Between Elic and Reed, I’d destroy everyone and everything in my path to keep them safe.
Elic gave me one last look before going back to work. I hoped he had time to watch us perform, to listen to our music. He’d heard me strumming my Martin Acoustic at Reed’s. Martin Guitar wasn’t located too far from here in Nazareth. They’d made me a few customs over the years.
Reed’s eyes met mine. What I wouldn’t give to reach out and bring him in close. Hold him in one arm, and Elic in the other.
Shaking my head, I turned toward the stage. What the hell was I doing? I’d fucked Reed up enough. Elic didn’t deserve for me to do the same to him.
This line of thinking wouldn’t get me anywhere. Elic had a shit life and finally seemed to be heading in the right direction. Me entering the equation had epic disaster written all over it. Plus, what about Reed? I couldn’t let him go. He was branded on my soul.
We took our positions on stage. It was a small setup, nothing glamorous. This was where we liked to have fun with our music. Sure, touring had its perks, but we were being paid to be there. It felt good to play with my friends here, to let loose. It was also where we’d try new music to gauge the reactions of the people who came in. They didn’t know we were testing new pieces out. We blended the current with the new to see if the beat took. If it did, we’d mix a few new vocals in here or there. Just enough to gauge interest.
Slater started us off on the rhythm guitar. Dash came in next on the drums, then I joined them. Reed followed with his voice. On stage, even on this small one with a fraction of the equipment we had on tour, it was like the world melted away and we were the only ones who existed. Just us and the music. On stage was also the one place in public I could watch Reed and not have anyone realize I loved him as much as I did.
The fact we were stepbrothers didn’t mean shit to me. What did was the value of Reed versus the value of me. Reed was shining bright gold, increasing the value of anyone near him. I was aluminum. Good for covering a pan to cook on, but definitely nothing to be cherished. Not like Reed was.
No matter where in the world we went, people threw themselves at us. Reed got it the worst. He didn’t hide he was gay. None of us gave a shit what people thought of our sexuality. I was bi. Slater was pan. Dash was… well, he never put a label on himself, which was his choice. It wasn’t anyone’s business who we spent our time with. Except we were celebrities, so the public thought they could dive into our lives, seek us out, and try to get us to tell them our secrets.
We let them have their fantasies. Let them think we were playing our songs for them. But each one of us had our reasons for making the music we did. Mine was standing feet from me, looking like the rock god he was, with his skin dotted with sweat as his body moved to the heavy beat. I could play these songs in my sleep. Watching Reed was the best part of being up here.
One song bled into another and another. I watched during that time as Greer, Xaiden, and Peyton got up to go to the front of the restaurant and handle the crowd. It happened. We liked to spread the word we were here. It brought more business to the family and also meant the people who worked here got to keep their jobs. There was no off-season. Even when we were on tour, we’d sometimes fly home during breaks to get away from it all. Being on the road was tough. At least, it was for them. For me, it was when I got everything I wanted.
Except…
How could I have been getting everything I wanted if I found my gaze drifting to where Elic stood with a tub on his hip as he leaned against the wall with his eyes on us? A smile lit his face. He was a different man than before when he was scared as hell. When I wanted to wrap him in my arms and keep him safe.
Fuck, I was really losing it. I couldn’t go near Elic. Hell, I should stay away from Reed, but that ship had sailed. I had managed not to touch him again or talk to him since it went down in the kitchen. Leaving the house before he got up and not coming back unless I knew he wasn’t home or most likely asleep, was what I’d been doing. I should stay at my place. It was there. No one slept in it. But I couldn’t seem to pry myself away from Reed and Elic.
By the time we were done playing, no one was eating. They were watching us with drinks in hand, keeping the bartenders busy. Rich was one of them tonight. I saw my mom and Cadence waiting tables. Elic had little to do out here with no one leaving, so he went into the kitchen as we wrapped up. There were probably stacks of dishes they needed help cleaning. It was a good night for my family’s business.
Fans approached us as soon as we walked off the stage. People asked for autographs and photos. None of us minded, completely used to this. The people here didn’t swarm us like they did at big shows. We made our way through the crowd, eventually ducking down the hall that led to the office and supply rooms, as well as a back door.
Dash put his arm over my shoulders. “It never gets old playing here.”
Reed bounced on the balls of his feet when we reached the door leading out. “It makes me want to write.” People’s passion for our music helped fuel our creative processes. To know we made others happy, that we touched a part of them, was fucking amazing.
Slater pushed the door open, the dimly lit hallway bleeding into the darkened night. Out here, the stars were easier to see. There was no light pollution hampering the view of the untouched beauty above. It didn’t compare to the man in front of me though.
Reed’s cheeks were rosy. His hair was slicked with sweat. It made me think of other times he looked like this. When the sweat on his skin was because of me. When I could taste that salt and take a part of him into me because he was mine in those moments.
