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“Bullshit, that’s what,” Kieran so helpfully adds with a huff.
“Glad we have that settled. Moving vans are at all your places now. I suggest grabbing everything you’ll need for the next six months. Your new home will be furnished, and a recording studio will be in the basement. I expect all your instruments to be there. We’ll start practice at 8:45 a.m. Monday morning.”
“Eight AM?” Kieran shrieks again with wide eyes. “What the fuck?”
“I’m well aware of your extracurricular activities, Mr. Knight, which include not waking up until two in the afternoon, but this is rock star boot camp. Welcome to your new hell,” I say, gathering my papers into the folder and nodding at each of them. “You’re dismissed. A limo will pick you up at your respective homes, and they will escort you to the Band House. There we will have another meeting of expectations, rules, and another six-month contract for you to sign.”
Each of them nods, looking more confused as I step away from the table, clinging to the file folders resting against my chest. It’s the only thing grounding me. I hold my breath the entire way through the back doors, only releasing my breath when they close behind me and block me from the boys I once loved.
My brothers rest on the loveseat near the wall, cautiously eyeing me as I rigidly stand there. Everything inside me wants to crumple into a ball and not exist for a day just from seeing them. I’m all for putting on a brave face, but right now, tears burn the back of my eyes. Once upon a time, they meant the world to me. Apparently, I meant nothing. An ache forms in my chest as I collect myself, swallowing the hurt and betrayal.
“You did good,” Seger sings his praises, rising from his seat. Having observed the entire encounter through the two-way mirror, he probably watched me like a hawk.
Immediately, he engulfs me in his arms, holding my shuddering body. “So fucking good, River. You’re going to knock them into shape; I can see it now. We know your history with them, but you’ve got this.”
I give myself a moment to break down. And then, I back away, lifting my chin at their praises.
“Very impressive,” Zepp says, nodding his head as he approaches me. Placing a hand on my shoulder, he gently squeezes, taking me out of my momentary freak out that I’ll save for later. “We believe in you, River. We would never have made you do this if we didn’t think you could handle it.”
“This feels like a shitty test,” I grumble through a quivering lip, recalling the ugly name the band used. Central Trash. It fucking hurts to be reminded of where I came from. But then again, it proves how far I’ve come from the girl stumbling through life.
“You’re a fucking rock,” Seger adds, sidling up to me on the other side. “No one in this fucking place can do better than you. We know you’ll be able to help them turn their fucking life around.” He raises a sharp brow, emphasizing his belief in me.
A belief I don’t feel.
I came into that room with revenge bleeding through my veins, begging for vengeance against the men who fucking ruined me. And now, I have to face them daily, organizing their lives and hoping they don’t wreck me all over again.
We all flinch away from the two-way mirror, watching in horror as Kieran practically destroys the conference room with his anger.
Instead of running in there to stop him, Seger chuckles. “Ah, that one will be the fucking worst to tame.”
“You’ve got this,” Zepp mumbles with reassurance. “We’ll give you a raise after this.”
“Much deserved,” I quip, shaking my head when Kieran storms away.
“Miss West!” Kat, my assistant, comes rushing in with a grim expression on her lips.
“Kat, call me River. Miss sounds way too damn formal,” I grumble, noting the pale expression she’s wearing.
“River,” she murmurs softly, leaning in. “It happened again.” My heart fucking drops into my ass, and I numbly nod.
“Um, thanks for that… I’ll deal with it.” Something seriously has to give. First them, now this shit. How much more can I suffer through in one day? Ugh.
“Okay. I need to…” She motions out the door, and I dismiss her with a wave of my hand.
“Is she doing okay?” Zepp asks, watching her retreating form.
“As good as she’ll get,” I say with a shrug. “Still needs some improvements, but she’ll get there.”
“There you fuckers are!” Chase chides, walking into the tiny room with his arm around their wife, Kaycee. Her brows dip as she looks me over, examining my ruffled expression. But before she can speak, Chase interrupts with his usual cheerful disposition, dipped with concern. “What did you do to Little West?” Chase asks with a frown, eyeing my face and heaving chest.
“Not now,” Seger gripes, running a hand down his face. “We’ll explain later.”
Waving a hand, I shake off the doom sitting on my shoulders and plaster on my best fake smile. “Nothing. I’m fine. Just a hard job ahead.” Hard is the understatement of the fucking century. “I’ll run and get Lyric from the daycare and meet you in the lobby?” Kaycee nods, brows furrowing like she wants to ask what’s wrong, but decides against it.
“Okay,” she says with a tight smile. As I walk past her, she grabs my elbow and stops me. “Something is off. We’ll talk about this later, right? Maybe a girl's night?” She examines my face when I nod, promising to fill her in later over a glass of wine. Scratch that; make it four glasses.
With that, still clutching their files to my chest, I make my way through the large skyscraper and head to the daycare to get Lyric the hell out of this building without being noticed.
