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Unfortunately, he’s also poking at an old wound. “I didn’t know she was my niece,” my uncle says softly. “My brother left her mother when she was very young, and disappeared from her life. Lennon had a very hard past, none of which I knew about because I didn’t know about her outside of the fact that there was a child from that previous marriage. I became involved with the band because Lenny reached out to me for help with her manager.”
“I’m so glad that bitch is gone,” Mav growls. “Where the fuck is James anyway? I figured he’d have his two cents to say about all of this.”
Closing my eyes for a moment, I shake my head. “He’s in a mental hospital for trying to kill Lenny five years ago,” I rasp. “You’ve been gone a long time, I don’t think you have the right to ask questions of any kind.”
Tyler rubs my thigh as he watches impassively. I can fight my own battles, but I have no problems tagging him in when needed.
“Touché,” Mav says, swallowing hard.
“I feel as if I’ve fallen intoFamily Feud,” Draven mutters.
“A whole lot of history, and most of it isn’t necessary to rehash,” Jordan says softly. “The most important question is can you handle this? Layla is a different kind of performer than you’re used to, Draven. Sometimes she’ll change shit up because she feels like it, which means following her cues.”
“An unpredictable lead singer, hmm. I’m sure I can handle that,” Draven says. I get a feeling his last lead singer may have been unpredictable in another way, but he’s watching me with interest. It’s as if he wants to pull me apart and dissect me, though hopefully not for real.
“Most importantly, I shouldn’t have to say this because you’re adults, but I am. There is to be no sexual fraternization between you and Layla,” my uncle says sternly.
Please, kill me. He just told them they couldn’t fuck me.
I wouldn’t want to, but holy shit. My uncle isn’t leaving anything to chance.
“In fact, expect a contract in your emails with that addendum if you three decide to make this work. Keep your dicks to yourselves, and I think we’ll all manage to make this work,” my uncle says smugly. “You will also find somewhere other than the bus to fuck. Don’t bring girls onto my niece’s bus, and don’tdecide you’re going to flaunt your relationship in front of her, Mav and Atlas. You got me?”
Atlas flushes as he rubs the back of his neck, while Mav glares at me.
“Don't look at me.” I shrug. “I never told him that you were pornographically fucking each other when I came into the hotel room last night. Maybe you should have remembered the gag, Mav.”
I widen my eyes innocently as Draven tries to hide a smile unsuccessfully. Turning to my uncle, I decide to tell him one last thing before we continue with our days.
“I was writing up a storm while I was up on the roof, and I think I have some viable songs. I need my guitar to put it to music, though,” I tell him. Lennon really is better at songwriting than I am. She can feel the words as they pour out of her. I can’t do that usually unless I’m really emotional.
I’m scared of feeling so deeply, and I think that may impact my skills as a musician and songwriter.
“Yeah, I can make that happen,” Jordan says with a nod. “We’re checking out of this place though, and putting you on the bus to Cleveland. It means you’ll be in town early, but I’ll book you into a proper suite. Don’t get it twisted…”
Jordan lobs us with a serious look. It’s why he’s so good at his job, and I’m reminded of all of the careers he’s helped to build and end. My uncle is a damn force of nature.
“You lot will learn to respect each other and get along,” he says. “I want a cohesive band where no one notices the broken pieces because there are none to be seen. I’ll book some interviews with some radio stations in Cleveland to introduce you as Layla’s new band. I’ll send a list of approved questions to them so you won’t have to worry about them trying to fuck you over, either. I wanted to nip this all in the bud before I have to go deal with a forest fire.”
Wincing, I think about the pop star diva who is going to learn the hard way that it’s not all about her. The music industry is about playing ball with the people who sign your checks, too.
“Who am I coordinating with for interviews and such?” I ask. I can only hope it isn’t a twat nugget, because these men may eat her or him alive.
“That’s where it gets tricky, because no one is me,” Jordan says with a shrug. It’s not even ego, because he really is that good. “Kyle Long has been managing bands for the last four years, and his latest group is on hiatus for a few months. Their tour just ended, so they’re taking a break to create music.”
“What's his damage then?” Draven asks. “There has to be something wrong with him, no?”
“The man is a philanderer and likes to fuck anything with legs,” Jordan admits. “I’ll make it known that if he does anything inappropriate around you that he'll be fired, but he is very good at his job and that kind of pisses me off.”
“I’ll start wearing a knife,” I shrug. “Lenny gave me one of her favorite holsters, and I have a throwing knife tucked on my bus.”
“Who the fuck are you now?” Mav asks, staring at me in surprise.
“Someone completely different,” I tell him. “Anything else I need to know, old man?”
“Watch it with the old man, Lay,” Jordan snarks. “No, I’m good. The tour bus will be arriving later today, cleaned and fully stocked. Any questions?”
Thinking, I shake my head, but Atlas nods. “How long is our contract for? We’re looking for something long-term, and I don’t want to be at the mercy of a spoiled princess.”
