Joel arrives just in time for the show in Chicago. He kills it the way he always does.

After we finish, I spend an hour hanging out with fans. I've been skipping my usual autographs, conversations, and pictures thing in favor of hanging out with Violet.

Occasionally, fans get a little too grabby or rude. Otherwise, they're great and I love chatting with them. I can talk about Dangerous Noise music all night and I know how to make people feel special without pulling out all sorts of bullshit.

Still, I'm relieved when I finish mingling and make my way backstage. There's no sign of Mal, Joel, or Kit in the hallway, but I can still feel the tension in the air.

Fuck, this is stupid. Mal has always been bossy, but this time he's out of line. I'm not sure it's possible to talk sense into my older brother, but I'm going to try.

This band is too important for petty shit. It's not just that we're on the cusp of being the next big thing. We're a family.

We need to move past the stupid fight to the part where we forgive each other.

It's not happening right now. There's no sign of Mal in the hall or in either of the dressing rooms. No doubt he's locked in his hotel room with one of his fuck buddies. Mal has an M.O. Once he closes the hotel room door, he's not opening it unless it's an emergency.

Shit. There isn't much time before Violet and I have to leave. I go back to the strangely empty dressing room to look for Kit.

He's not here but Joel and Violet are. The two of them are sitting on the couch.

He plays with her e-reader. "How do you read this sci-fi shit?"

"It's a sci-fi romance." She grabs the device. "And it's good." She nods hello as her eyes meet mine. "Hey Ethan."

"Ethan, hey, don't tell me you've got a few groupies lined up." Joel slurs his words.

"You drunk?" I ask.

"Yeah, must be pretty motivated to be drunk this fast after a show, huh?" He shakes his dirty-blond hair. "Okay, I get that look. I'll stop cock-blocking you."

Her voice gets soft. "No, stay, Joel. We should go out, the three of us. Kit too. But then he doesn't drink so does he go out?"

"Sometimes, but I'm not sticking around. And Ethan's got a surprise for you." Joel winks at me. "He thinks I don't know, but word travels fast around here."

Violet looks up at me. "You have a surprise?"

I nod. "Yeah."

"What is it?" she asks.

"Valentine, it's a surprise. He can't tell you." Joel pushes himself off the couch. He scans the room. When he sees no sign of Kit, he takes a step backwards. "You seen Rhythmic One?"

"He was watching the Sinful Serenade set. Haven't seen him since they finished." Violet's eyes flare with frustration. "Joel, I'm sorry. I was just looking at numbers. I didn't want something like this to happen."

"Not your fault, sweetheart." Joel's eyes flare with frustration. "Really, Violet, it's nice that you're around. I'm glad Ethan's happy for once. You're not the reason I'm about to get on a fucking train." He shakes off his frustration to shoot her a playful look. "Even with all that loud sex you two are having on the couch."

Violet blushes. "Who told you?"

"Fuck, I knew it!" Joel claps his hands together. "You should never fall for an accusation unless there's evidence. That's a tip for you. Though I'm sure you prefer a tip from Ethan."

She laughs. "Where's the train station?"

"Have to ask Google that," he says.

"How about I walk you? Or take a cab with you?" She looks to me for my blessing. Once I nod, she turns back to Joel. "Just the two of us. You can fill me in on all the gossip."

"Yeah. Okay." He nods. "But uh, I don't want you to get the wrong idea. I know I'm all kinds of sexy. And Valentine, if you weren't Ethan's girl, I'd already have your panties off."

"Is that your technique?" she asks.

"I don't have a technique, Valentine. I read body language. Do what feels right in the moment. But you're my bandmate's girl. I'm not gonna fraternize with you. Loyalty means something to me."

She laughs, trying to keep it light. "Damn, I was hoping for a threesome."

He laughs but it doesn't wipe the frustration from his eyes. "I figured. I get that a lot."

She pushes herself off the couch and wraps her arms around me. "Is this going to ruin your surprise?"

"No. We'll be okay." I run my fingers through her short hair. "Thanks."

"For what?"

"Talking to Joel. It's sweet you want to help him."

She shrugs. "He's a friend." She presses her lips to mine. "Besides, I don't think Kit took the money either."

"Yeah?"

She nods. "But that's above my paygrade." She plants another soft, slow kiss on my lips. "Meet you back here?"

"At the hotel."

"Done."

* * *

Back at the hotel, I go straight to Kit's room and knock on his door. I haven't got a clue what the guy does for fun. He's always kept to himself but since rehab, he's doubled down on that trait.

He answers right away. He says nothing, just peers out at me from behind his mass of curly hair.

Fuck, no sense beating around the bush.

I stare back at him. "You know all this shit Mal's been saying about the stolen money?"

"You here to accuse me?"

"No. I don't think you took it."

He holds a poker face. "I didn't."

"You know anything about it?"

"From what Joel said, I figured it was that asshole manager we fired, Aiden. He's gone, the money's back. What's it matter?"

Damn, I wish Mal thought like that. But there's no wishing here. I'm fixing this. "You know Joel's taking this bullet for you."

"Tried to talk him out of that." Kit pulls the door open and motions come in.

I do.

We take seats in the plush armchairs lining the wall.

Kit leans back in his chair. His expression stays intense and mysterious. "I did a lot of bad shit when I was using. I don't blame Mal for assuming I took that money." His voice gets low and serious. "I get that he's trying to protect you, but running around behind my back is an asshole move."

"Yeah, it is."

Kit's curly hair falls over his face as he shakes his head. "Ethan, I'm only putting up with you being here because Mal is your older brother and everybody knows you look up to him."

Is it that obvious?

"I get wanting to impress somebody and never feeling like you can do it. And I've always liked working with you. You're a good guy, a good brother, and a hell of a guitarist. Fuck, I like Mal most of the time. But I'm not going to put up with this shit."

"One of you has to break the silence."

"I'll think about it."

"For whatever it's worth, I trust you, Kit. I wouldn't be able to step on stage with you every night if I didn't."

Kit chuckles. "You're a sweet kid."

"You're only two years older than I am."

He shrugs. "And you're a romantic about music."

"You aren't?"

"Haven't been a romantic about anything in a long time."

"Violet's talking to Joel. I'm not sure what she's saying, but I can tell she feels awful."

Kit nods. "He likes her."

I raise a brow.

"Not like that." Kit chuckles. "Like a sister."

"Yeah."

"I know Joel acts like he doesn't give a fuck about anyone but himself, but he's been pulling for you two. You should have heard the shit he said when you let her walk away the first time."

"Yeah?"

Kit nods. "Wasn't the most complimentary." He pushes his hair out of his eyes. "Don't worry about shit with me and Mal. Fix you and Violet. The way that girl looks at you—nobody's ever looked at me like that."