Chapter 5 Zach
Zach
Zach pushed through the canvas flaps into the back of the stage, tuned out the startled yelps from his bandmates, and ignored the crew congratulating him. Creepy Suit Guy swamped the euphoria of Colton watching. Whoever he was, he wasn’t good news. For anyone; but for Zach, he was terrible news.
There was no good reason for that man to film him. None. He’d leered at Zach with barely contained lust. It wasn’t even sexual; it was possessive. Predatory even. Bad shit was coming.
Colton had obviously picked up on it. The way he’d positioned himself between them, blocking Creepy Suit from chasing Zach across the stage. Like a knight protector. Just like Zach had planned.
Only not like this.
He’d expected Colton would escort him off the grounds, not fend off unsavory goons Ulmstead had hired for… for what? Zach’s seduction wasn’t entirely pure, but he’d expected nothing like this.
Out of time and options, Zach swallowed the regret. He hoped Colton would hear his side before branding Zach as a user. Even if he was.
He’d left his case open on the cot. Plunking his violin into the velvet cocoon with less care than he should, he snapped it shut and grabbed his bag.
Sad that his whole life fit in one bag, a violin case, and a cell phone.
He didn’t even have photos of his parents, just one of him, his mom and Grandpa.
If Grandpa had others, he’d never shared with Zach.
He didn’t spare the time for a last goodbye. He wouldn’t miss it. Well maybe a bit, but only until he could get Maddie away. Then there was nothing left.
“Where are you going?” Maddie asked.
God, that woman deserved an Oscar. She never broke character. Of course, if any of the brothers had half a brain, they’d have figured out that her question was too quick. He’d only cleared the room before she spoke, but it served its purpose. The others would note her shock and surprise.
He pushed through without speaking. If he stopped to answer, he’d lose his nerve. And Maddie’d be royally pissed at him. From behind he heard one brother, Rocky he thought, notice Zach had his stuff and was leaving.
This was it. Blood thrummed in his skull, and his stomach twisted so tight, he’d need a Boy Scout to unknot it.
Zach wasn’t religious. Maddie had tried, but he’d never taken to it much. Today, however, he prayed like never before that Colton was standing outside the entrance like Zach had told him to. If not, this was going to get dicey, fast.
He wouldn’t go without a fuss. If they took him, he’d never come back. With grandpa gone, who would come look for him? No one.
Light snuck through the small slit in the canvas. He sucked in a breath and surged into the night.
Please God. Let him be…there. Standing just at the corner, eyes trained on the exit Zach used, was God himself.
Colton smiled, and if Zach didn’t feel like such a total shit, his heart would’ve stopped. Leaning against the side of the stage, arms crossed and hat tilted just so, Colton was too fucking hot.
The smile wavered when Zach moved closer. Colton waved his fingers up, down and around in front of Zach.
“What’s with the stuff? Going somewhere?”
The guy was hot and smart. Zach hated himself for using him. “That was my last show. I’m leaving.” Suspicion crept into Colton’s gaze. “I’ll explain when we eat, but let’s go.” He heard the brothers drawing closer. “Now.”
Zach groaned the last word in a plea so pathetic he worried he’d scare Colton away. Thankfully, Colton snapped out of his daze. His gaze darted over Zach’s shoulder, and he nodded. “Okay.”
Zach’s relief lasted for all of one second.
Rounding the stage, Ulmstead and Creepy Suit Guy stopped when they saw Zach. A moment later, someone shoved the heavy canvas entrance flaps aside. Trapped.
“What’s going on?” Ulmstead snuck a glance at his companion. “Where do you think you’re going?”
“I quit.” Zach shifted, uncomfortable as hell. “And I’m leaving.”
He eyed his escape route. Ulmstead and his accomplice blocked most of it, but he could get by, so long as they didn’t try to stop him. Ulmstead glared at him and moved to his right to limit the gap Zach could use to flee. Colton moved next to Zach, and Creepy Guy’s eyes fastened on the deputy.
“You can’t leave,” Ulmstead said. His body shook as he snuck a glance at his companion.
Zach had only seen Ulmstead this scared once. They’d had an argument, and Grandpa threatened to blow Ulmstead’s nuts off if he didn’t shut up. Whatever was happening, it had to be bad. “The hell I can’t. Watch me.” He hated that his voice squeaked.
“Not until you pay me what you owe me.”
Ulmstead’s nerve bolstered Zach’s flagging courage. “I don’t owe you a damn thing. You took over everything, and I haven’t seen a penny since Grandpa died.”
“You lying little shit,” Ulmstead said, spraying spit everywhere. “You’re the only one with the password for the bank account. I demand you turn it over.”
Zach had the password right after Grandpa died, but he gave it to the lawyer, who said he’d change it.
“You want to know where the money is, call the lawyer. I told you, I can’t access the account.
” A not-so-subtle reminder that the money was far away and out of Zach’s hands. “Now get out of my way. I’m leaving.”
“You’re not going anywhere until you sign things over.”
Zach shook uncontrollably. Creepy Guy scared the crap outta him. Even if Zach gave Ulmstead what he wanted, it wouldn’t be enough. Ulmstead had incurred a debt, and he expected to use Zach to pay the bill. “I told you, talk to the lawyer.”
“Listen you little asshole.” He jabbed his finger in Zach’s direction. “Your grandfather swindled me. I need the money he stole from me, and only you have the password.”
Anger, red hot, and boiling over, shouldered Zach’s fear aside for a minute.
Ulmstead filched everything from Grandpa’s tent.
Every picture, letter, family heirloom – all of it.
Zach had nothing left to connect him to his family because Ulmstead stole the entirety of Jeb Baxter’s life and threw out anything he couldn’t sell.
Zach’s hand clenched white around the handle of his violin, and his free hand was curled into a fist so tight, his nails dug into his palm. “You have everything. If it wasn’t there, the lawyer has it. Now, get out of the way; we’re leaving.”
Dragging Colton into this wasn’t fair, and later he’d apologize—if he could—but he did what needed to be done. The badge put everyone back on their heels. Ulmstead, however, looked as desperate as Zach felt. Whatever mess he made with Creepy Guy, it was off the charts bad.
Ulmstead’s gaze flickered about, anywhere but toward his companion. That man’s face gave nothing away now. He was scary as fuck. Finally, Ulmstead focused on Zach’s violin. “Fine, you can leave, but the violin stays with the show.”
Zach felt like Ulmstead slapped him with a two-by-four. This was the last bit of his grandfather he had left, and Ulmstead thought he could take it? “Like fuck it does. Grandpa bought this for me.”
“With money from the show. That makes it company property.”
If things weren’t so serious, he’d have laughed at the man’s stupidity. “Grandpa owned the show. He could spend the money any damn way he wanted. And I own Grandpa’s controlling share now. That means this is my show and my violin.”
Given how bad Zach was trembling, his bravado wasn’t likely to cut it. It sure wouldn’t have without Colton’s presence there to dissuade anyone from acting the fool. He felt the others draw closer.
“That’s close enough.” Colton spoke for the first time and put his hand up to stop the brothers from coming near.
“I’m not sure what’s going on, but I know enough.
Zach doesn’t want to stay here. You can’t stop him.
If he owes you money, file a claim, and the courts can sort it out.
You don’t get to keep him against his will. ”
“Fine, but he can’t leave with the violin.” Ulmstead grinned like he’d won the lottery. “It’s too valuable.”
Another lie. The instrument was good quality, and it might be moderately pricey had his grandfather paid full price. Instead, he’d gotten a deal from some ‘guy’. But Ulmstead knew Zach wouldn’t leave without it. “It’s mine.”
“Prove it.” Ulmstead said.
Zach didn’t need the college degree he didn’t have to know they were stalling. A dozen cannonballs dropped into his stomach as he imagined Creepy Guy had friends in the area. They had to leave now.
“You prove it isn’t.” Zach’s voice cracked. He took a deep breath to steady himself. “Grandpa’s lawyer told you the majority interest was left to me.”
“Seems to me that if Zach has been playing it all this time, and he has it now, it’s his. You don’t like it, take it up with the court. For now, possession is nine-tenths of the law. Zach’s been using it all week. Common sense says it’s his, not yours.”
“Deputy,” Creepy Guy drawled. The voice made Zach shiver. “You really shouldn’t involve yourself in things that don’t concern you.”
“Is that right?” Colton said, calm as still water. Zach saw Colton click his radio twice under the guise of readjusting his vest. “Since my uncle is the sheriff, and this here is his county, I’d say this is way more my business than yours.”
“I’ve got six witnesses to prove it belongs to the show, and not him.” Ulmstead pointed to the brothers and Maddie. “Ask them before you let him leave with company property.”
“And what about owning the show?” Colton nodded and exhaled.
“Got six witnesses who’ll lie about that too?
Like I said, you got issues with Zach, take him to court and let them sort it out.
For now, however, I’m going with it’s his.
If I were placing bets at the Montana Nugget, I’d be all in on you can’t prove a thing. ”
Ulmstead glanced behind Zach and gave them the barest nod.
Fuck! He nearly threw up what little he had in his stomach. Shit was about to go tits up.
“Is there a problem, Colton?” Greg appeared behind Ulmstead and Suit Guy, hand on his unsnapped gun, and his eyes looking to shoot someone.