Chapter 13 Rust
RUST
The shouting starts as soon as Tally picks up.
Dalton is so loud, it sounds like he’s on speakerphone. “Where the fuck are you? You better haul your lazy ass to the concert venue right now!”
The legs of my chair screech as I push myself off the table. It takes inhuman restraint to not fly to my feet and rip the phone from her hand to give Dalton a piece of my mind.
How dare he speak to her like that? I should cut his tongue out for it.
Tally frowns. “Let me explain! I—”
“I’ve spent all fucking morning on the fucking phone, cleaning up the fucking PR nightmare you’ve created with your childish temper tantrum!” he yells.
She puts a hand on her full hips. “Would you listen to me for once? Something happened and I can write again. I have an idea for a new album, but I need a little time to—”
On the other end of the line, Dalton cackles sarcastically. “Hallelujah, you finally got over your pathetic creative block! Thank fuck! Now I can get the fucking record label to climb out of my ass and you can start making money for me again.”
I thought he was just a dick to get me out of the way. But is this how he’s been treating Tally all these years?
Everything in me screams to protect her, but I know it would do more harm than good. I hate how powerless I was and still am.
Dalton drones on. “There’s no discussion here.
Fix whatever you have going on and write that stupid album.
Because you promised me new music, I’ll reschedule the first gigs of the tour and add the missed dates at the end.
We’ll start you off in LA instead. And while you’re there, you’ll present your new album to the label. ”
Tally deflates visibly. “The concert in LA is one week from today! How am I supposed to write a whole album until then?”
Dalton chuckles maliciously. “You’re a professional, sweetie. Figure it out. Don’t make me come and drag you home. You know what happens to little divas who disobey the Dalton…”
Tally’s mouth gapes as the connection drops. Her eyes drift to me, cheeks pink. “Sorry you had to witness that.”
“Ain’t nothing to apologize for, but I don’t like the way Dalton talks to you. I swear if he sets foot on this property, I’m gonna make him intimately acquainted with my shotgun. You’re safe here.”
She smiles faintly. “Thanks, but he’d never drag his ass out of his ivory tower in Nashville to come to rural Kentucky. And short of puttin’ a tracking collar on me like I’m his damn dog, he has no idea where I am.”
I try my best to tone down the worry in my voice. “Is he always like that? Sounds like the guy has forgotten he’s working for you, not the other way around.”
“That was him being nice cause he’s smelling money from a new record.”
The truth sinks in like a rock to the bottom of a lake, settling heavy in my gut. Dalton’s been abusing her while I sat here idly, unknowing.
I left her in this asshole’s clutches! How could I be so blind and let him get away with this?
A red veil of rage drapes across my vision but I need to keep a cool head for Tally’s sake. Dalton said she can’t know the truth about Vegas. He never mentioned I couldn’t tell her my honest opinion of him.
“He’s an asswipe, Trouble. Did he seriously talk about himself in third person and call himself the Dalton? Now I don’t usually mind some cursing, but his usage of fuck was definitely over the top. You should fire him.”
She lets out a wry laugh. “I can’t. He’s too well-connected. If he wanted to, he could ruin me with a single call and he’s made it clear that he wouldn’t hesitate if I step too far out of line.”
Shit. I get the full picture now.
Breaking us up wasn’t personal. He wanted to isolate Tally before luring her in with promises of fame. Once she found success, those promises turned into threats to take it all away if she disobeys.
He controls her.
“What about the rest of your team? Producers, lawyers, anybody? Can’t they help?” I ask, failing to keep the desperation from my cracking voice.
Her shoulders creep up to her ears. “Everybody’s afraid of Rex and my team is an extension of him. They’re his puppets. I stopped talkin’ to ‘em cause every conversation eventually ends in ‘I have to ask Mr. Dalton first.’”
A muscle in my jaw ticks. “That-that must be illegal!”
“I was young and inexperienced when I signed with Rex. He caught me in a predatory contract allowing him to control every aspect of my career and my private life. Pretty sure if he wanted to, he could even have my bank accounts frozen.”
I cradle my head in my hands. Tally is suffering and I’m fucking useless! What in the world could I do to help her?
“Rex loves to tell me that he made me.” She picks at her fingers. “He says I’d be nothing without him.”
“Nobody made you a star!” I bite out. “You worked hard for everything you have. Absolutely nothing was ever handed to you!”
She lifts her chin, standing taller. “Thank you for saying that. I refuse to let my career die because of him. One day, I’ll break free. I have to bide my time until I find a way to hit him where it hurts cause I’ll only get one shot to take him down.”
She shuffles her feet, bare toes curling against the floor. “But you sound angry. Do you think I’m a coward for not leaving his management company?”
I choke on air, too eager to respond. “Fuck no! You’re stuck between a rock and a hard place. I’m damn mad at myself cause there ain’t a thing I can do to help you!”
Her eyes light up a fraction. “Actually, there is something you can do…”