The crowds on this tour keep getting better and better. The rush of knowing that thousands of people come out each night just to watch us will never get old. I watch from my spot on the stage as Kacen interacts with the crowd.
“It’s fucking hot in here!” he bellows into the microphone as he rips his T-shirt over his head. I throw my head back and laugh as he tosses it out to the crowd. People are diving just to touch a shirt that he wore.
That shit is crazy! I don’t think it’s something I will ever get used to. Glancing over, I see Logan wearing a grin, her hands protectively on their baby. She knows just like the rest of the world that this is all show. Kacen only has eyes for his wife. He’s adamant about the fact and will tell anyone willing to listen.
Stacy is sitting next to Logan, nodding along to the beat that Tristan is now tapping out on his drums. I force myself to take my eyes off her and get my head back in the show.
“Kace, my man, you shouldn’t have done that,” I say into my mic.
“Here we go,” Gavin chimes in.
“It’s fucking hot up here, center-stage, C,” Kacen replies, and the crowd goes wild.
Gavin and I join Kace center-stage. “Ladies, we need some help,” I address the crowd.
“You see, Kace here has all this.” Gavin points to Kacen. “But we think you would rather see this.” He points to me.
I slide my guitar to my back and lift my shirt. The deafening screams of the ladies fill the arena.
“Or,” I say, pulling my shirt, back down, “this.” I point to Gavin and he mimics what I just did, pulling up his shirt.
The beat stops. “Hold up, fellas.” Tristan grabs his mic and steps down from the drums. “Looks to me like they need to be able to read the full menu before ordering.” He stops beside me. “Right, ladies?”
It amazes me the men who toss their women on their shoulders just to get closer to us. If that was me, and it was Stacy, I don’t think I could do it. I don’t think I could watch her drool and scream over a guy who wasn’t me. It’s also surprising that a good majority of our fan base is women. Who knew?
Tristan takes his turn and, of course, the crowd goes wild.
“Well, my beautiful wife is the only opinion that matters.” Kacen looks to the side-stage area and holds his hand out.
As if they share a brain, Logan slowly stands and walks toward us. He meets her halfway, kissing her before they go any further.
“You all have met my wife, right? Baby, meet this kick-ass crowd we have tonight.” Again, the roars fill the arena.
Logan gives a shy wave. “You heard it, ladies. Your options just dwindled down to three,” Gavin informs them.
The crowd eats this shit up and gives us time to catch our breath before finishing the show. Suddenly, an idea hits. “Make that two, my man. My girl is backstage,” I confess.
I look over at Stacy and she’s grinning. No matter what gets thrown at her, at us, she’s wearing that smile for me. I decide to push my luck a little and hold my hand out for her, just like Kacen did for Logan.
She shakes her head.
“They want to meet you, sweets,” I say into the mic. The crowd lets her know that what I say is true.
She shakes her head again and I can almost read her mind. “Logan’s a wife, I’m just a girlfriend.” But she’s more than that. Someday, I will convince her of the fact.
“Stacy,” I say. The microphone picks it up and they start chanting her name.
“Stacy, Stacy, Stacy.”
Reluctantly, she stands and takes a hesitant step. That’s all I need. I jog to her and wrap my arm around her shoulders. Leaning over, I kiss the top of her head as we join the group center-stage. “Here she is. Babe, meet tonight’s crowd.”
More cheers and chants of her name flow through the arena.
“Looks like our boy Cole is officially off the market. That leaves these two jokers.” Kacen points to Tristan and Gavin.
“Winner gets bragging rights,” I say, keeping Stacy tucked into my side.
“Now, let’s do this so we can get back to fucking rocking!” Kacen booms into the microphone. “When I point, you need to make some noise. Loudest is the winner, you know the drill,” he explains to the crowd.
I drown out the rest of what’s going on.
She’s all I see.
With my arm still around her shoulders, I guide her to stand in front of me. When I have her where I want her, I place one hand on the small of her back, holding her to me, and the other lifts her chin. I don’t speak and neither does she. It wouldn’t matter anyway; the noise of the crowd would drown it out. Instead of words, I give her actions. Bending down, I capture her lips with mine. Instantly, her arms wrap around my neck and I allow myself to get lost in her.
Mine.
When I finally pull away from her, I realize the crowd is on fucking fire, cheering and screaming. I look over at Kacen and he’s wearing a wide grin.
“Don’t stop on our account.” My eyes shift to Tristan. He waves over the crowd. “We’re enjoying the show.”
Stacy immediately buries her face in my chest and I hold her tight. Gavin smirks and hands me a microphone.
“What? You’ve never seen a man kiss the woman he loves before?”
Thunderous.
The fucking crowd is thunderous as they roar with their approval.
I kiss the top of her head, still buried in my chest, before bringing the microphone to my lips. “I’ll see you after the show, sweets.”
I feel her nod against me, and then she turns on her heel and runs to her seat side-stage. Logan winks as she waddles in the same direction.
Tristan is already behind his drums and starts the beat for our next song. We don’t stop again, playing six more songs straight through before calling it a night.
As it’s come to be my routine, I hand off my guitar and make strides toward my girl. As soon as I reach her, fucking Wilson shows up from God only knows where. I assumed he would be at the show tonight since he is in town, but I was hoping we didn’t have to be graced with his presence.
Stacy looks at him, then at me, then the rest of the guys as we’re all gathered in a circle.
“I-I-I have to g-go,” she stammers.
“Stacy.” I reach for her, but she’s too quick. She’s already running away from me.
Logan has her hand on my chest before I can move. “Let her go, Cole. They’re already with her.”
Looking up, I see that her guard has indeed caught up with her.
“I’m heading to the bus. You do what you need to do.” Logan motions toward Wilson. “We’ll see you guys soon. Let me talk to her.”
“I need to go to her.” I run my fingers through my sweat-soaked hair. I pull the tie off of my wrist and tie in a knot.
“Let her go, man. This is all new to her. Let Logan talk to her first,” Kacen tries to reason.
Clenching my jaw, I nod. I don’t fucking like it, but I’m at a loss. Looking over at Wilson, I say, “What the fuck do you want?”
“Now, Cole, is that any way to talk to the man who holds your future.”
“Fuck you, our contract is almost up. What do you want?” I seethe.
That fucker laughs. “I just wanted to say congratulations on a great show. That new bit you did with the girls, the crowd loved it. How did you convince her to play along?”
What the fuck? “Did you hit your head? What the hell are you taking about?”
“The girl.”
My hands instantly ball into fists at my sides.
I feel a hand on my chest, but I don’t know whose it is. “Calm.”
Gavin.
“That girl,” I grit out, “is mine. You stay the fuck away from her.”
He fucking throws his head back as he laughs this time. “She must be sweet, to have your balls in a vise. I wouldn’t mind a taste,” he boasts.
Motherfucker!
I lunge forward, but all three of my bandmates, my brothers from another mother, stop me. All three of them are holding me back, and it’s barely working. I’m insanely fucking pissed off.
“Don’t fucking talk about her, don’t look at her, don’t fucking breathe around her,” I spit at him, because Gavin and Tristan each have an arm, and Kacen is standing in front of me, hands on my chest, pushing me back.
I’m not moving.
“Is there a problem here?” the security officer asks.
“Yes, he’s harassing us,” Kacen speaks up.
“I will fucking kill you, do you hear me? You ever come near her and I will fucking end you!” I scream at him.
“Sir, you have to calm down,” a security guard, who takes Kacen’s spot in front of me, says.
“Get him the fuck out of here,” I growl.
I don’t know what he says to them, but two guards flank Wilson and lead him away. I didn’t even get to swing.
“Stacy.” That’s all I say, and the guys seem to understand.
“I’ll take him. You two okay to clear out?” Kacen asks.
“We got it. We’ll get there as soon as we can,” one of them replies. I’m in too much of a fog to recognize their voice.
I need to get to her.
She ran from me, and then . . . fucking Wilson.
Gavin and Tristan release me and I run. I run through the fans, the roadies, the paparazzi—I run to her.
I don’t stop until I reach the bus. I sling open the door and find Stacy and Logan on the coach. Stacy has tears streaming down her cheeks and Logan looks worried.
I immediately drop to my knees in front of her. “Hey, sweets.” My voice cracks. She doesn’t look at me. My heart is about to beat out of my chest. I take a few deep breaths then try again. “Stacy, can you look at me?” She still doesn’t respond. She just cries. Big tears falling from her eyes, each one cracking my fucking heart wide open.
Standing, I lift her in my arms and take her spot on the couch. She immediately buries her face in my neck as a sob breaks free from her chest.
What. The. Fuck?
My mind races with what could cause this kind of reaction from her. I know she wasn’t feeling well, but something tells me this is bigger than that.
Keeping one arm around her, holding her to me, the other soothingly strokes her hair. I let her cry, hold her while she falls apart. Logan sits beside me, her hand on Stacy’s leg. Kace stands beside Logan with his hand on her shoulder, offering support. None of us says a word; we just let her get it all out. I kiss the top of her head over and over again. Sending up silent prayers that whatever this is, she knows that I’m here, that I want to be nowhere else but where she is.
Her cries soften and she’s no longer shaking. Gavin and Tristan came in about fifteen minutes ago. One look at my girl and Tristan told the guards, “No one gets in or out,” shut the door, and locked it. They’ve been leaning against the counter ever since.
“Baby,” I whisper. “Please talk to me.” I’m pleading, but I don’t fucking care. I’m scared out of my mind. “What happened?”
“Oh, my God,” she breathes and jumps up from my lap.
I reach out to grab her arm, to stop her, and she flinches while yelping in pain.
What?
I jump to my feet. “I barely touched you,” I state the obvious.
“No. No, no, no, no, no,” she repeats over and over again.
I know she’s not doing drugs; I would notice that. Tears are again flowing, faster than ever, coating her now red and blotchy cheeks. I gently take her hand in mine and pull up the sleeve of her T-shirt.
Bruises.
Fucking dark, black and purple bruises. I drop to my knees and study her arm. Fingerprints. It looks like motherfucking fingerprints on her skin.
Squeezing my eyes closed, I suck in a deep breath. I need to keep my head about me; she’s already scared out of her damn mind.
“Baby, what happened?” My voice is so gruff that I barely recognize it.
“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.”
Sorry? “Stacy, I need you to tell me what happened.”
“Stacy?” Logan’s crying too.
“Stace babe, who did this to you?” Gavin asks.
“I’m sorry.” She buries her face in her hands.
Standing, I pick her up again and carry us to the couch on shaking legs. I need to hold her. I need to have her keep me rooted or I might just kill a motherfucker. I still will, as soon as I know she’s okay and I find out who put his hands on her.
I pull her as close to me as I can get her, bury my face in her neck, and breathe her in.
“Cole,” she sobs.
I have to know who did this. I have to fix it. My girl is broken, and it feels like a knife to the gut.
“Baby, I need you to tell me. Whatever it is, you don’t need to be sorry. I just need you to tell me,” I beg her.
“We’re all here, Stacy. Nothing is going to happen,” Logan soothes her.
“I . . . I was trying to protect you. He said he would ruin the band.”
Finally! She’s talking. Now I just need to keep my cool until she finishes her story.
“Who did, Stacy? Who did this to you?”
“I lied. I’m so sorry I lied. Please, I can’t lose you.”
That loud noise? That was my heart breaking open for her. For the anguish she’s feeling. I feel it too.
“Start at the beginning, beautiful. I’m not going anywhere.” I tighten my arms around her to reinforce my words.
“Wilson, he caught me in the hall last night when I went to the bar,” she begins her story.
With every word, my anger rises. If she were not a crying mess in my arms, I would have already been out looking for that bastard. He touched her, her soft skin that I’ve traced with my lips. Her thighs, the ones that hold me tight every fucking time I slide home, deep inside her.
He’s a fucking dead man.
The earlier conversation with him after the show now makes sense.
“He said that if I told you, he would end the band. I didn’t want to lie to you, I swear, I didn’t. Cole, you have to believe me. I couldn’t be the reason you four lost everything you’ve worked for.”
Again, I bury my face in her neck. I can’t speak through the emotion clogging my throat. This entire time, she did this for me. She let him get away with putting his hands on her, these marks on her, because she was protecting me.
She fucking owns me.
“Never,” I mumble the words. “You will never lose me,” I assure her. “I need you to tell me you understand what I’m telling you. I need to know that you understand that I’m not me without you.”
“I love you,” she cries.
Not gonna lie, I can feel the burn behind my eyes. Yep, he’s a dead man. I stand and set her on the couch, looking over at Tristan and Gavin. “I need one of you to stay here with her, and one of you to help me hide the fucking body.”
“Cole! No.” Stacy stands and grabs my arm. “You can’t! I need you here.”
“Stacy, babe, he has to pay for what he did to you.” Stepping back, I gently push both of her sleeves up her arms. “Look,” I croak out. “Look at his mark on you. I can’t let him get away with that.”
“Cole,” Kacen warns.
“You stay with your wife.” I turn to Tristan and Gavin. “Which one of you is staying and which one of you is digging?”
“C-man, there’s another way,” Tristan says.
“The fuck there is!” I roar. “Do you see this? Do you see what he did to her? I can’t fucking breathe knowing he’s getting off scot-free. I will never let anyone hurt her again. I fucking let him. I took her there. She was there for me and then he put his damn hands all over her. She kept this inside to protect me. I fucking failed her, but I won’t do it again.”
I head toward the door, but Stacy runs to jump in front of me. Tristan and Gavin move back in the already tight space of the tour bus.
“Please,” she begs.
“Stace, I need you to move.” I refuse to put my hands on her to move her. I won’t be like him.
She backs up and, just when I think I’ve won, she leaps into my arms. I have no choice but to catch her, placing my hands on her ass, holding her up. She wraps her arms and legs around me.
“Please, hear them out. There has to be another way. You go to him and he presses charges, I lose you. They lose you. Everything you’ve worked for is washed down the drain. Please,” she reasons.
With the grip she has on me, I no longer fear that she will fall. I remove my hands from her ass and bind them around her, crushing her against me. “He hurt you,” I say against her neck. “I’m so fucking sorry.” My voice breaks.
“Just hear them out. For me?”
I will never deny this girl anything. “I don’t like it.”
“He’s gone, man.” Gavin holds up his phone. “I just texted Cassidy. He’s on a fight back to Nashville as we speak.”
At his words, I deflate. I can’t hop on a plane and leave her, not with her begging me to stay.
“Hear me out. If you still want to go after him, then that’s what we’ll do. I’ll be your wing man, or should I say shovel man,” Tristan jokes.
Even though the moment is far from funny, I can’t help but chuckle at him.
“Okay,” I finally concede. That doesn’t mean I’m letting him get away with this, though. It only means he gets to live a day or two until I can get to him.
He fucked with the wrong girl.