Chapter 28
TWENTY-EIGHT
“She fucking what? ” I hiss. The anger I’m feeling is enough to bring down the whole goddamn plane.
“I handled it,” Kai says, brushing me off, but his ease does nothing to keep me calm.
“What do we need to do to keep Mel safe?” Markus asks, cutting me off that thought and pushing me into a more productive line of thinking.
“That’s the real question, isn’t it?” Kai runs a hand through his hair.
“What about a legal gag?” Markus offers, fiddling with a few of the bracelets on his wrist and I know that he’s worried.
“Just so we’re all on the same fucking page,” I step in, one arm crossed over my chest and the other cutting the air between us all, “I could care less if the whole world knows we’re…
whatever we are. But my main focus and worry is how she would be treated if word got out and not told the way we want it told. ”
“Agreed.”
“Obviously.” Kai shakes his head in agreement. He pulls out a phone and hands it to me. “She has something on here. Don’t know if it’s video, pictures, audio, but she was recording Adam when he walked out. Mel does not go past these curtains until it’s time to land.”
I turn the phone over in my hand. I’m not a genius with tech, but I’m better than everyone here and humble enough to admit it.
“Code?” I ask and he gives me the ridiculous passwords. “Wow. Okay.”
“We told her she’d get cash for a new phone when we land, and that she was fired. Effective the moment we land.”
“Good.” I nod. “I’ll work on this. Hook it up to my laptop and make sure we don’t have anything serious here. You two, figure out how to deal with that.” I point out in the direction of the galley.
“I know how I want to deal with her,” Kai growls, “We have parachutes, right?”
“Don’t.” Markus shakes his head. “We have just a little under four hours until we land. Let’s just get through them. Protect Melody. Get away from the situation.”
“Fucking spoil-sport.”
I pull my shirt over my head, and gesture towards the bathroom to Kai. “It’s free if you want. The three of us showered, but didn’t use all the water.”
Kai nods, pulling his shirt off and climbing gently over the bed before closing the bathroom door. My eyes catch on Melody. My Reverb . Adam’s got his arms wrapped around her so tightly as they sleep, I can’t help but smile.
This whole dynamic might be a little odd to me still, but seeing him hold her like that and look so at peace? It makes me feel lighter. For the first time in years, it’s like I can breathe.
“I’m calling dibs. I’m laying right there beside her, don’t even think about it.
When Kai gets out, we’ll talk,” Markus says, slipping in on the other side of Mel.
I don’t know how Kai’s getting out of the bathroom now, but I don’t think any of us really care.
If I didn’t need to search through the phone, I definitely would have crawled in there myself.
I watch as he slides in, resting his hand over her arm, and laces their fingers together.
Markus closes his eyes, pretty much instantly falling asleep.
God, it’s so annoying that he can do that.
It’s nearly impossible for me to sleep well with the nightmares…
My heart beats harder in my chest when I realize.
The nightmares haven’t happened since Melody and I fixed us. Since she walked back into our lives. Since she forgave me. It’s her. She’s the reason why we’re all better. She makes us all so much more relaxed, peaceful, happier, than we were before. Of course, sleep comes a little easier.
God, I’m the luckiest fucker ever.
I step out of the curtain, and grab my backpack, not sparing a glance to make sure that bitch is in the galley where she should be. That’s my first mistake.
“Reis, Mr. Mathers, please. I didn’t mean anything bad by it.” The stewardess comes up to me frantically, and grabs my arm. I freeze at her hands on me, I’m not used to being touched without warning, and my initial reaction is to throw a punch.
My hands clench at my sides, my fingers tightening dangerously around the phone in my hand.
“Get your hands off me.” My voice is like a pitchfork through gravel, rough and ominous.
She lets go immediately, holding both of her hands up in surrender.
“Please, I didn’t mean anything malicious by it.”
What a load of bullshit. Idiot.
I shake my head and scoff. “People like you “never mean anything by it.” But that’s an outright lie, isn’t it?
You always do. Fifteen minutes of fame, cash, some kind of payout from the magazines.
Scum like you–people willing to sell private, sensitive information–are always looking for something.
And you,” I growl, “you picked the wrong girl to fuck with. She’s ours, and we’ll protect her with the full fucking weight of our names. ”
Sarah’s eyes widen, filling with tears as she realizes just how much she fucked up. “I haven’t sent it to anyone yet! I swear!”
“Ahh, there it is.” I laugh maliciously.
“You didn’t send it to anyone—yet. You haven’t sold us out—yet.
You haven’t done anything you think is wrong—yet.
But you know what? You’re not sorry you did it or of the effect it would have had on us, on her , you’re only sorry because you got caught.
” I watch with a sick, cruel satisfaction as she crumbles and cries, because I know I’m right. More importantly, she knows I’m right.
“So… Thanks for telling me you’re an awful fucking human. I already knew that.” I bend over grabbing my bag roughly, and pushing past her to grab the basket of snacks we always have on here, and at least four bottles of water. The others can deal with this bitch when they get hungry or thirsty.
“I’m sorry!” She cries out, pulling at my leg as I pass her.
“Get the fuck off me,” I snap, and shrug her off.
“Oh god!” She wails, and I turn around quickly, getting in her face to shut her up.
“Keep your fucking voice down,” I snarl, fingers clenching with the need to cover her mouth so Melody doesn’t hear. If it wasn’t drilled into our heads not to lay a hand on anyone due to how easy it would be for them to sue us into oblivion…
“I’m so sorry!” She cries loudly, and I snap.
“If you say one more goddamn word on this flight, I will make sure that you don’t walk again. Do you understand me?”
Her eyes widen, but I don’t think she understands just how serious I am. There’s a look of disbelief in her eyes, so I lower my tone and press in menacingly.
“I might not be able to break your legs myself, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t have people in my back pocket that won’t hesitate.”
Her jaw snaps shut and she goes mute.
“Depending on what I find here… you might be getting a visit from them anyway. So here’s the warning for you to give out to all your scumbag buddies.
That girl in there? She’s off-limits. She’s ours.
And we protect what’s ours. To whatever end.
” There’s a finality in my tone, and I absolutely fucking mean it.
The words that I chose were awfully reminiscent of the first time some ass made an off-handed comment about Melody back in high school.
I didn’t play about her then, and I don’t now.
Sarah nods, looking down at the ground, and the tears stream down her face.
I shake my head in disgust before turning my back on her.
Do I really know people? Not really. But I’d figure it out if she tried anything.
The four of us are used to this. Snakes in the roses, always trying to get more from us.
We’ve actually talked about how we feel like we’re more of a commodity than actual people these days.
With fame, there’s always going to be a level of expectations and openness that the fans want.
By giving them that, we forfeit our right to be offended or protective of the opinions of our person.
They think I’m a bad person? Probably, but it’s none of my business what they think.
They think Kai’s one bad problem away from going full-on serial killer? He’s not, but it’s none of his business what they think.
They think Markus is a womanizer that’s got ten baby mommas? All lies, but it’s none of his business what they think.
They think Adam wants to leave the band because he doesn’t ever smile on stage? Maybe, but it’s none of his business what they think.
Opinions about our personal character, and ramblings from fans are not what we focus on. But it doesn’t mean that it doesn’t sting to read or hear sometimes. The stories and rumors can get brutal. People get intense and mean with the safety of a screen.
We signed up for this. We worked for this.
Melody didn’t.
I pull the curtains closed abruptly, and Kai’s crouched by Markus' head as they whisper to let Adam and Mel asleep. It’s obvious that Markus didn’t want to leave though because his hand is still threaded with Mel’s and now one of his legs is in between hers.
Adam’s sleeping so still I’m shocked. We weren’t kidding when we said he normally is like a boxing alligator in his sleep.
His subconscious must know that he’s got her nestled against him, and let him finally sleep for once.
Good, the guy needed it. I don’t think he’s slept through the night in a long time based on the nightly logs to the gym that pop up on my phone for security. He’s usually there late into the evening and then back at it a few hours later.
The guys whisper in the corner, and I get to work. It’s quick, and not hard to do since I know the passcode and password.
The last video recorded is of a black screen but it’s two minutes long. My stomach drops. I reach into my backpack and get my headphones, connecting them to my laptop so I can hear exactly what it is.
““Oh god, that’s so fucking hot.” Kai moans softly.
“Move a little to the side,” I hear my own gruff voice, “No, angle upward. See, fucker,”
“Adam!” Melody cries beautifully.
“Like that, man.” Markus whispers.