29. Locke

Chapter twenty-nine

Locke

Erin grabs my upper arm before I can run off. I turn back to her and smile at the worry lines on her forehead. We’d huddled up at Shane’s house for almost a week, but we needed supplies.

For the last three afternoons, we’ve been going to the resort where I play pool and chat with interesting people from Twin Rivers. Finn manages his legacy, and Erin and Shane work. Sometimes, one of them goes into town with Bray, but both times I’ve asked, they’ve gently but firmly told me no. Today, I gave them no choice. Bray and Shane came in earlier this morning, and Finn was accosted by Alma as soon as she saw us, so it’s just Erin and I standing beside the car.

I can tell she’s uneasy about me being here. I don’t blame her, in fact, I kinda love it.

Erin looks so adorable today in her black dress. It’s got three quarter length sleeves and puffs out under her breasts, making her look delicate and ultra feminine.

I wonder how many other people underestimate her. She doesn’t look dangerous.

“You’re going to get adorable wrinkles, and I’m going to have to kiss them,” I tease.

She huffs. “Be safe and don’t be long.”

My chuckle is cut off when I kiss her. “I will be both safe and not long. I promise.”

She reluctantly lets go of me, and I turn and jog across the street. I need to go see Bray.

I don’t think I’ve ever felt this happy, this free. It’s like I can do anything I want, and all I want to do is be with these four amazing people who make everyone in my fucked up world feel safe and amazing.

I turn the corner and start whistling. I nod to a couple that I’ve seen around. She is heavily pregnant, and it hits me that it could be Erin one day. Carrying our child. My child. Because it doesn’t matter who the father is, the kid will be mine. No, ours.

I’m so lost in the fantasy that I almost don’t see Jason until the last minute. He steps into my path and scowls. Fear and panic streaks through me. This is exactly what Erin warned me about.

Damn it. Oh, shit, I fucked up really badly.

“Locke, it has taken me far too long to see you. I’ve been stuck in this stupid town for weeks,” Jason growls.

I’m rendered speechless. Was he lying in wait? I feel sick. The same shame that he made me feel for telling ‘lies’ returns like it always does, followed by the betrayal and numbness that protects me from everything.

“I was busy,” I say in a bored tone.

“I saw what you were busy with. She’s a hot piece of work for a fat chick, but you can do better. Now, let’s stop fucking around and head back.”

I shake my head, fighting the urge to throw myself at him for insulting Erin. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”

“You’re going with me or you can be in breach of your contract and sued by the company and the other members of the band.”

My stomach flips wildly.

“Sue me then.” My bravado isn’t at all forced.

Jason steps closer. “Listen to me, you little shit. You’re a liar and a fake and a weasel. I didn’t think you were a fucking cowardly little cunt, too.”

I flinch. His eyes shine, knowing he got a direct hit.

“If you want me to send Alpha Labels after not just you but your so-called pack and all their holdings, I can do that. We can watch that pitiful little mechanic lose his piece of shit shop. That lawyer will never be able to work in law again when we’re through with her. The author? He will never get a deal for another book, and I will be slumming it down here in the corporate owned resort while your beta serves us drinks. That’s your future if you don’t get in this car right now.”

“You can’t,” I whisper, but I can barely get the words out.

He pulls out his phone. “One phone call. I’m sure your uncle would love to hear about what’s going on here.”

I shut my mouth. Alpha Typhor Raines married Aunt China. They are Ryn’s parents and psychotic. He hates me, hates Derision and everything we’ve ever stood for. But more importantly, he hates his wife and her sisters. And I am simply an extension of my mother in his eyes.

“Make a choice, Locke. Are you going to enjoy your freedom and risk your whole life but more importantly destroy every other person in the process? Or do you want to be sensible, get in the car, and come back to the tour?”

I swallow hard and realise I’m perilously close to tears.

“Okay?”

“Okay?” Jason mocks me. “Get in the fucking car, you piece of shit!”

I reach for the handle and look up, locking eyes with Shane. I know I won’t be able to get in the car if I don’t at least say goodbye in this small way. I lift my hand, watching his expression morph to fear. I tear my eyes away and throw myself in.

I slide into the back and close my eyes as the car starts, but as soon as we start moving, I open them, lunging across the seat, my hands on the window, staring at Shane, who is running towards us.

I fucked up.

I made a mistake. I need to get out. I let my fear make my decision when I should have fought for them.

“Stop! STOP!”

Jason turns the music up and keeps driving. I glance at the windows and see Shane and Bray racing towards the car.

They turn with us as Jason drives past them. Shane charges towards the car, veering, trying to keep up, but Bray turns away.

And then we’re gone and crossing the bridge. We’re going to head up through the mountains.

No.

Tears burn in my eyes. I can feel the hell I’m going back to threaten to swallow me up. The familiar feeling of wanting it all to end, the desperation.

But this time, there are four reasons to stay. Four reasons to fight back. I watch the road and wait for the right moment.

“Jason, what the fuck are you doing? This is kidnapping,” I say five minutes later. I’m calmer now, and Jason doesn’t look nearly as smug and happy as I’d assumed he’d be. He turned down the radio as soon as we left town and spat out a steady stream of curses.

He actually looks quite ill.

“You’re a pain in my ass, Locke Raines. I don’t give a shit if they say it’s going to end me. I’m more afraid of Typhor Raines than I am of you.”

I snarl in frustration. But this makes sense. I’ve seen Typhor end careers because they brought him the wrong coffee.

“This is my pack. I found them. I don’t want to go back. Being the lead singer of Derision is hell!”

Jason looks in the rear-view mirror. “I know you think you believe that, but this is just a phase.”

I stare at him silently, weighing my next words. “Did you set my mansion on fire?”

Jason jerks the car to a screeching stop. “What the fuck are you talking about?”

If he didn’t do it, who the hell did?

“Someone keeps trying to kill me.” I growl. “The overdose at Cressia Falls Festival. I had one bottle of water. One. I didn’t take any drugs.”

“Your tox screen-”

“I know what the damn tox screen says, exactly the same as it always says, all drugs that normally are given by someone else, not ingested myself.” I snap at him. “The limo I was in that suddenly lost control of its brakes.”

“That was an accident.”

I nod my head sagely, watching him intently. He hasn’t taken his eyes off me in that mirror.

“And then the stage lights falling on me?”

Jason finally looks away, his fingers tighten on the steering wheel. “I checked. For days, I looked at the security footage. I couldn’t find anything.”

I stare at him, shocked to hear he’s been taking this seriously.

“You make us all very rich, Locke. Without you, Derision is nothing. I checked the footage, of course. I checked.”

“I woke up to my bedroom door locked. My windows locked. That fire was the last straw. Someone is trying to kill me. You know what she’s doing to me. and someone else wants me dead.”

Jason moans, but it’s so soft, I almost miss it.

“Don’t send me back to that, Jason. Please. There’s no one I can trust. I’m alone.”

“What do I tell them?”

“Say you didn’t find me.”

“Typhor will come after you.”

“Typhor has to go head-to-head with Erin Bradley first,” I say quietly. “She won’t let him win. Besides, he hates Derision. He’d be happy to see us all gone.”

“What about everyone else?”

“Should anyone earn money from someone being exploited and abused? I hate that band, and to be honest, I hate writing music. I hate performing. This has been my nightmare for years, Jason. You’ve seen the bruises. You’ve seen me the morning after. Hell, you know what’s going on, you had to escort all those people out of my suites. Please, I’m begging you. Don’t make me go back.”

Jason flinches with every word.

“What if I was your son? What if your son was in my position? Would you stomach it, then? Would you send your son back to be drugged and raped and whored out by his band mates? I know you’ve seen them. I know you’ve heard the rumours. She doesn’t hide it.” I breathe thickly, trying to fight back the memories. “Why won’t you help me? How can you do this?”

Jason inhales on a shudder. A bead of sweat trickles down his temple. The tic of the engine is loud in the silence.

“Let me go, Jason. Say you didn’t find me. Tell them I’m gone. Dead. Whatever it takes.”

“I can’t do that.”

“Then let me have some more time. I’m not ready yet. Oh, please! I didn’t…” I break off, my throat tight. “I didn’t get to tell them how I feel. That they were my choice. Please. We’ve worked together for years. You know I’m not lying. I know you have to do this because of Typhor, but, please, Jason, I can’t live like this. Save me. Help me.”

Jason lets out a moaning sigh. “God dammit, Locke. What the fuck do you want from me? This is my career, too, my life. Typhor Raines is a nightmare. He will crush me.”

I half-hope he does.

“If Typhor can end Derision and see the back of me, he will do it in a heartbeat. I’m an embarrassment, a black stain on the family. He will be happy to end this era. You’ll be given a retirement package or a new band.”

“I’d lose a lot of money.”

“You’ll lose a lot more if I die.”

Jason lets out a low growl and then reaches across himself and pulls up the door lock.

I hesitate.

“Get out. Before I change my mind.”

I slip out of the car and push the door closed.

“Thank you.”

He says something, but I don’t hear because he’s already driving away.

I stand there, alone on the side of the road. Is this what freedom tastes like?

With a smile that could light up a thousand stages, I step off the road, guessing the fastest path back to town and back to my alphas.

This is a second chance, and I’m not going to blow it.