Total pages in book: 120
Estimated words: 112917 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 565(@200wpm)___ 452(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112917 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 565(@200wpm)___ 452(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Boomer shook his head insistently. “He didn’t. I checked Bodhi’s financials, and he’s not in a position to be paying anyone for anything. Besides which, he’s not the type. I told you—”
“That he’s nice? Yeah, I got that. Would you stake your career on it?” Bear demanded.
“I’d stake my life on it,” Boomer shot back. His cheeks went pink. “I mean, yeah, I’d definitely stake my career on it. You get to know somebody when you’re tailing them like I’ve been doing, and Bodhi’s like… he’s like Snow White with the animals in the forest. He’s not just a pretty face and a great musician. He’s like… pure all the way down in his core. He’s earnest and kind. He finds musicians who need a hand up, and he gets them contacts and stuff. And he’s not obsessed with Zee. If anything, he’s trying to help people like Zee does.”
I blinked. I wasn’t sure I’d heard Boomer string that many words together in all the months I’d known him… and definitely not that soulfully.
I bit my lip to hold back a laugh. I wondered if Bear noticed the heart-eyes bugging out of Boomer’s face as he talked about my old friend or if that was just something I was attuned to, given my feelings for Bear himself.
“Told you,” I said to Bear, relieved to know for sure. “Bodhi’s a nice guy. One less person on the suspect list.”
We got to the door of the dressing room, and Boomer went in first. Once the space was clear, he came back out and nodded to Bear. Bear gave Boomer a look that said he wasn’t ready to forgive him for trusting Bodhi with my safety, then ushered me in and closed the door behind us, leaving Lou and Boomer out in the hall, guarding the door.
I immediately stepped into Bear’s body and mashed my face into his chest. His arms came around me and banded tight.
“You’re shaking,” he said, moving his hands to the collar of my shirt. He pulled it open just enough to peek on my neck and shoulders and let out a grunt of satisfaction at finding it free of marks.
“I was.” I shook my head. “I’m okay now. Truly.”
“Did something happen? Gerhard and Kasper pulled me aside to give me some, ah… paperwork. When I came back, you were surrounded by people.”
Even though I didn’t want to pull out of his embrace, I wanted to see his expression when I asked the question I couldn’t stop thinking about. “Are you going back to Ventdestine?”
“What?” His eyes narrowed. “Who told you that?”
My stomach twisted, and my heart gave a little lurch. I pulled completely out of his embrace and moved over to sit in a chair in front of the dressing table mirror. Bear put his hands on his hips and waited.
“Gisella mentioned the king and his security guy were offering you a lot of money to go back to them. Obscene amounts, she said.”
“Oh.” His posture relaxed. “Yes, they did. And no, I’m not.”
I knew he’d taken the job in Ventdestine originally because they’d offered him a good salary. I also knew the label wasn’t paying him enough for all the hours he spent guarding me, and I wasn’t allowed to supplement it. All I could do was request he be compensated at their highest established level.
“I would understand,” I began haltingly, “if—”
“Zane. Are you saying you want me to go back to Ventdestine?”
“What? No! Hell no. Of course not. I just…” Feel nauseous. Want to chain you to the wall. Want to tell you how I really feel. “Wanted you to know I would support you. I…” Say it, Zane. “I want you to be happy.”
He crossed his big arms in front of his chest, eyes narrowed. “And you think my happiness lies in Ventdestine.”
“No! I… I don’t know—”
A knock on the door snapped our attention away. “Zane, your stylists are here,” Lou called.
Bear kept his eyes on me as he called back. “He’s ready. I’m going to need you to swap out with me, Lou.” He lowered his voice so only I could hear as the door opened and Lou escorted the stylists in. “I’m going to make sure the royal family find their seats and have everything they need. I’ll see you after the show.”
I clenched my jaw and nodded. I was a professional, and I would remain professional. There was a show to put on, and I was going to rock the fuck out of it.
Bear’s face softened as he reached out to brush my hand. “Break a leg. You got this. And Zane?”
“Huh?”
He leaned in and brushed my ear with his lips. “My happiness isn’t in Ventdestine.”
As he walked away, I turned in the chair to let the stylists have their way with me, my head spinning from his words. What had he meant, exactly?