CHAPTER 13
ZIGGY
Ryder gave me a look of sympathy as I walked off the elevator. Riot was giving everyone instructions as I joined the group.
“Hey guys, we’re all leaving soon. It’s a three-hour drive to Portland. We’ll be following right behind Lucky’s bus, and basically just be resting until we get to the venue. Once we’re on the road, I’ll go over the blueprints of the venue and assign everyone’s posts,” Riot said.
“Thanks for doing this, guys,” I said. “I’ll be staying with Lucky, on her bus, and by her side, taking point throughout this whole job. You all have my number. If there’s anything —.”
“—Wait a minute,” Riot said, interrupting me. “That’s not what I planned.”
“What’s the problem?” I asked.
“First of all, this is a Solid Ground job. And because of that, Ryder and I are the ones who work out the logistics. And Grace, too, but since she isn’t here, it’s just us. And the most experienced get the most important, hardest jobs. I’d say the person glued to Lucky’s side would have the most important job, wouldn’t you agree?”
“Yes, but —.”
“— But nothing. I’m sorry, Ziggy. I know you’re the one who found the job, but now that we’re here, we need to follow protocol.”
I stood in front of him, looking back and forth between him and Ryder, my head spinning. There’s no way in hell this is going to happen.
“Fuck protocol,” I said, finally, shaking my head. “I’m not leaving her side. Look, man,” I lowered my voice to a whisper so everyone in the hotel lobby couldn’t hear me, “I already told her we had to cool it, okay?”
“Ziggy, that’s great, but —.”
“— No, man. Look, I care about her, okay? I know I just met her, but I made her a promise and I’m not about to break it. Can’t you guys understand that and make an exception here? I can’t leave her. I just can’t.”
I crossed my arms over my chest to show them I meant business, standing firmly in my boots. The two of them exchanged a glance and Ryder nodded.
“Give him a partner,” Ryder said. “He’s right. Lucky already trusts him, she’ll be more receptive if he’s there.”
“Alright,” Riot agreed. “Slade?”
“No way, man,” Slade spoke up. “I want to be in the mosh pit! Breaking skulls and shit!”
“Slade, there’s no fucking mosh pit at a pop show,” Riot laughed.
“Oh, well shit,” he replied. “Put me where I can crush some skulls then.”
“Look, guys,” Riot said. “This is most likely going to be a boring job. Standing around killing time and surveying the scene. No mosh pits, no backstage groupies, no drugs, no sex.”
“Jesus, dude,” Slade said. “Why don’t we just slit our wrists right now?”
“Shut up,” Ryder barked. “Enough. We’ll figure a more permanent situation out later, but right now we need to get our asses on that tour bus before it takes off without us. Ziggy you can stay with Lucky. Call us if anything’s weird. Take one of the guys with you,” he said, scanning the lot of them. “Take Blade.”
“That’s fine,” I said. “Thank you, Ryder.”
“Just don’t fuck it up,” Riot warned, with a menacing stare.
“Trust me, I won’t,” I replied. Blade stepped up with a determined nod. “Thanks, brother.”
“My pleasure, Zig,” he said. Blade was tall and thin, his limbs wiry and lanky, but he was pure muscle and intimidation. I was happy to have him as a partner. We said goodbye to the guys and headed for the elevator and back up to Lucky’s room.
As the doors opened into her penthouse and I saw she was safe and sound, sitting on top of a bulging suitcase, a look of frustration on her pretty face as she attempted to zip it up, my heart swelled.
“I’m here now,” I said. “Blade’s here, too. We won’t leave you alone again.”
“Good,” she said. “Now, get over here and help me, please?”
“That’s never going to close. There’s too much shit in it.”
“I thought you were here to fix things?”
“We’re here to keep you safe,” I said.
“Well, if you don’t zip this up, I’m going to shoot myself, so maybe a change of attitude is in order?”
Blade burst out laughing, and then so did I, followed by a smirk from Lucky. The urge to pull her into my arms was strong. I swallowed hard and turned away from her, focusing all my attention on her suitcase, which was overflowing with wispy pieces of fabric, all of which smelled exactly like her, which wasn’t helping one bit.
I looked over at her again, standing there watching me with a sweet little grin on her pretty face, her hair hanging in thick strands and falling around her delicate shoulders…
Thank God Blade’s here, I thought.
Otherwise, I’d be in a heap of trouble.