Craving Talon (20 page)

“Does it bother you that they’ve made the connection?”
 

I shake my head. “No, the first thing that came to mind was you, and your mom, and how she’d react to seeing this article.”

“Oh baby girl, I don’t care. I learned a lot with the last run in I had with her. I think it is best if I just don’t care what she thinks. There is nothing I can do to fix it, I can’t make it better, I can’t make it right, so I’m just going to leave it alone. So regardless of what she thinks, I don’t care.”
 

“I don’t know whether I should feel bad or be happy for you for that decision.”
 

He smiles. “I’ll let you know. So what are you going to do?”
 

“That’s the million dollar question. We can argue it, put out a press release countering what they’re saying. Which there isn’t much to counter, other than to come out with our relationship; my relationship to one or both of you. They’re already assuming, based on the videos going viral, that Talon and I are together. We can just let it roll with that. They’re attacking my character more than anything. Assuming that my relationship with you is a product of me being engaged to your brother when he died and that I capitalized on that to get my job.” I take a deep breath. “We could have Bold release a statement about why they chose me for the job. Or we can drop it. Right now, it’s one paper. Tomorrow it could be fifty. Dan is the only skeleton in my closet, which isn’t much of a skeleton, it’s just a past.”

He uncrosses then recrosses his arms. “I don’t think we need to announce it as a three-way relationship. If we announce it, let’s do it with Talon, maybe that would pull the pressure off of the Dan story, and our past ties, though truly non-existent. Then, with any luck, they won’t attack my mother for more information.”

“Is that honestly what you’re worried about?”
 

“I don’t want the press harassing her about Dan or our relationship, one that she doesn’t know anything about, but Dan is a major trigger for her and god knows what she’d say. The can of worms she could open up scares the hell out of me.”
 

“So what do we do?”
 

I hear him sigh. “You walk the red carpet with Talon’s arms around you. Then you follow it up the next day with a full press release, confirming your relationship.”
 

“We don’t have any red carpet events until Chicago.”
 

“Anonymous tip? In New Orleans. Have one of the bodyguards call in a tip about where you and Talon are at. Let them capture you being with Talon.”
 

“What about you?” I plead with sadness.
 

“Oh, I know where my place is, and I know where I stand with you and Talon. I don’t need the press to prove that to me. I know at the end of the night where I will be, where you will be, where he will be. We will all be together. Baby girl, it doesn’t matter to me what people think about the three of us, who they think you’re with, or what they think they know. I know the truth and that is more than enough for me.” He smiles sweetly at me. “I mean it, Addison. I don’t need the press involved for me to know that I have you, that I have Talon.”
 

“You know I don’t want that either, I don’t need that. I’ll do it to make things a little easier for your mom, to make things easier for you. I will always do anything to make things easier for everyone, that’s who I am,” I tell him.

“You’ve spent your life doing things for everyone else. You don’t need to do it for me, or Talon, or even my mother. I just suggest it because you can never tell what kind of mood she’s in. She could stand in front of those cameras and tell them all that you’re responsible for Dan’s death. Or that Dan never loved you, that the wedding was a hoax. Those are the number of things I’ve heard over the years, Addison, there’s no reason to air her guilt.”
 

“So I’ll do what I can to protect her and in doing so, I protect me.”

“That’s my girl,” he says with a smile.

“Come on, angel. We have to go.”
 

“I’m comin’,” I holler back. I spent the last couple of hours conversing with Cami, filling her in on our plan. She said it was a bit extreme, but that it should thwart the press from searching for more down the road. I had them push back the sound check so that I could finish up the press release for the day after our little escapade in New Orleans and I spoke with Mills about picking one of his guys to make the anonymous tip. He of course had a near panic attack because doing that could draw out a massive crowd, increasing the risks.
 

I gained so much respect for him in that moment that I promised to not do it again. He laughed and said the hardest part is going to be convincing one of the guys to call in the tip. I told him if it was too hard for them, we could use one of the roadies to do it. They’ll do just about anything without asking questions.

“Come on, baby girl. We gotta run sound. We’re down to less than two hours,” Kyle shouts back as I do my tuck and fluff. I’m wearing my corset, the black skinny jeans that came with my super sexy blue top, and my purple Louboutins. My ribs are still sore, but doing better. I can tolerate the breathing because I could get it on. It’s super soft on the inside, doesn’t breathe well, but it also doesn’t move around a whole lot either.
 

I take a deep breath, checking my make-up one last time and I go toward the front of the bus. I’m dressed early because we’re meeting the new band and I won’t have much time when we’re done to get ready.
 

I come around the last little corner to see my guys standing there, side by side between me and the door, very impatiently. “You didn’t have to wait,” I say.
 

“Oh yes, we did. There is nothing better, well except for undressing you, than watching you walk around that corner when we know you’re dressed and ready to go.” Kyle grins.

“God, Addie, you look fucking amazing.” Talon gives me his lustful look.

“I look forward to peeling that off of you later.” Kyle looks to Talon and smirks. The look they exchange has me wanting to return to the bedroom with them.

“Alright, let’s go you two,” I say shooing them toward the door.
 

“Yes madam,” Kyle teases.
 

As soon as we step off of the bus Talon turns to Rusty. “She’s your responsibility.” He nods and smiles.

“Yes, sir.”
 

I roll my eyes. “I’m a grown woman, I can handle myself.”
 

“We know,” Kyle and Talon both say together.

I laugh and drop the subject as we walk into the venue. I can hear the guys on stage warming up, doing what they do best. We turn a couple of corners and then walk toward the stage. The set up here is interesting, but it works, and Dallas is one of our largest venues with seats for more than forty-thousand people. The venue was changed after the initial ticket sales sold out so fast. The event coordinator was able to get a different venue to sell more tickets. For as fast as the tickets sold out, 69 Bottles is playing some pretty small venues and I’d imagine for the next tour, there will be less stops, more shows and much larger venues.
 

We come up to the stage and walk on. The sound guy goes about setting me up with my mic and we go about our sound check.
 

Forty minutes later and we’re done. We had a couple problems with the feedback, both Talon and I were having trouble hearing it, but we got it fixed and were able to wrap up. When we step off of the stage there is a group of five guys milling about. I’m guessing this is the band.
 

Introductions are made and the guys shoot their shit. One of the guys, the drummer, like Dex, is a dick. But there is something about him that I really don’t like. He actually makes me uncomfortable and for the first time, I wish that Talon or Kyle was doting on me, helping push Mr. Creepy away from me.
 

I excuse myself and am thankful when Rusty follows me. I don’t go to the bus, though that’s where I want to go, instead I duck into Talon’s dressing room. Rusty takes a look at the room and then lets me inside. He takes up guard outside my door and I take a seat on the couch. I try and shake off my nerves surrounding the guy from the other band. I didn’t even catch his name, he just…I rub at my arms and the phantom creepy crawlies. I take a few deep breaths and calm myself down.
 

After about fifteen minutes, I’m joined by Talon and Kyle. “Baby girl, what’s wrong?”
 

“Just nervous.”
 

“About tonight?” I look up at Talon and nod. “Aw, angel. You’ll do great.”

“It’s just a lot of people.”
 

Talon smiles and comes to sit next to me. “When you’re on stage do you honestly think about the crowd?”
 

I laugh, “No, I can hear them, but I usually can’t see them.”
 

“See, so why does it matter how many people are in attendance?”
 

I laugh. “I know, I’ll be alright, just my usual pre-performance freak out.”

Both the guys laugh and they change the subject. They start talking about the opening band and I don’t pay much attention to them as I try desperately to remove my creepy feeling. By the time it’s time to go on stage, I feel better. And I remind myself that I rarely saw Empty Chamber, I doubt I’ll see these guys either.
 

While I am standing stage side waiting for the bands to switch out their gear and Kyle is off doing what he does right before the show, the band, Euphoric, comes off the stage and creepy drummer guy looks me up and down. His eyes are hungry and he licks his lips. I shiver and he smiles wide. Fuck!
 

Thankfully the guys start coming out. They throw out high fives and my guys come up to me. Dex, followed by Mouse and Peacock. Then Kyle wraps his arms around me and Talon cups my cheeks, kissing me. Right before I close my eyes, I catch creepy boy watching me. I try to block him out by closing my eyes, savoring Talon’s warm lips on mine. It works and I’m distracted.
 

Talon proceeds with his new ritual of cupping Kyle’s cheek and I pray to god creepy isn’t watching, nothing like giving him ammunition for whatever he’s after. “Go kick some ass,” I tell Talon and he smiles. The smile melts my heart and he steps on stage. “How you doin’ Dallas?”
 

And just like that the concert is off and running. I look down the hall and there isn’t anyone there. I let out a sigh of relief. “You’re really nervous tonight, aren’t you?”
 

I nod because it’s easier than lying. I decide to let Kyle and Talon in on our little issue later tonight. I take a sweeping look around and see Rusty only a few feet away and I’m comforted further.
 

The rest of the concert goes off without a hitch and just like Talon said, I completely forget the crowd and focus on Talon during our song. By the time we hit the greenroom, all thoughts of Mister Creepy are gone. Like Albuquerque and Galveston, once the VIPs are done with the band, I become their next focal point, again with pictures, autographs and conversation.
 

Once we’re done we all pile into the cars headed for the bar. I’m excited and in desperate need of a drink. When we pull up, Talon turns to me. “Walk in with me. Help set up New Orleans.” I look out and the reporters are in full swing out front. Apparently Euphoric is a news junkie.
 

“Sure.” I turn to Kyle.
 

He smiles. “Knock ‘em dead, panda girl.” I lean over and kiss him.
 

“See you inside.” He smiles again and the door opens. Talon elegantly climbs out of the car and he holds his hand out for me. I take it and slide from the car. As I stand up he wraps his arm around my back, holding me to his side. The flashes go crazy, igniting to a fever pitch when he kisses me.
 

Pulling back from me he says, “Let them run that headline.”
 

I laugh at him and he tugs me toward the door. When we reach it Mills is standing there with a goofy grin on his face. As we pass he says, “About time you admit it.” He laughs and we duck inside.
 

A couple of drinks into the evening I start to feel really woozy. It doesn’t make any sense. I can drink a lot more than this and feel hardly anything. Talon is engaged in conversation with his guys. Kyle is talking to some chick and I can tell he’s turning her down and she’s pleading with him. She gives him the fake goofy laugh and I see him actually roll his eyes at her. I want to laugh, but I’m really not feeling good.
 

I stand up. Talon turns to me. “Where are you going?”
 

“Bathroom,” I tell him and he looks at me a little strange, but doesn’t comment. He smiles and goes back to talking to the guys. I know Rusty will follow me so I take comfort in that.
 

I head toward the back of the bar and the bathroom. Rusty sweeps the room and I stumble in after him. It’s empty which is surprising with the crowd. I stumble toward the handicap stall. I feel a hand come around, covering my mouth, and another arm around my waist. “I knew you’d stumble in here. Now it’s time to take what you’ve been flaunting all night.” My eyes widen in fear. It’s him, creepy drummer, but I am physically too weak to fight. I can’t seem to make my limbs work, can’t put my years of self-defense training to work. I’m at his mercy. He slams me against the wall, banging my head against the tile. The pain radiates through my body and I go completely limp. My mind turns zombie. I can see, but I can’t comprehend what’s happening to me, I’ve blacked out. I feel my corset being ripped apart.