Chapter Six
CHAPTER SIX
EXCITEMENT BUZZES BENEATH my skin as we ride to the parking garage the label uses to store the buses and trailers they use for band tours. My mom and Pops are in the front seats, having offered to drive us over so our car isn’t sitting here unattended while we are away.
Omen fidgets across from me in the back, tugging at the sleeves of her jacket as she watches the city flow by. Little does my bestie know, we have a big surprise for her! Well, it’s for me too, but I was told about it ahead of time.
To help ease Omen’s concerns about keeping her identity hidden during the tour, my parents dropped a chunk of their savings to buy us our own bus! It’s an extravagant gift, one my best friend would have tried to fight tooth and nail to avoid if they had told her ahead of time.
Is it awful we are springing this on her at the last minute and taking away her chance to decline the surprise? Maybe. Am I going to regret being complicit in the situation later? Absolutely not.
I watch from the corner of my eye as Omen’s brows furrow. She wasn’t expecting my other parents to be here too. The moment she sees the sleek silver bus, it clicks. Insecurity floods her eyes, but she doesn’t voice her discomfort. Not until we’re inside and she sees the dual mini nests at the back, emblazoned with both our names.
My parents shut her down immediately, promising this is for her benefit and is non-negotiable. Omen’s shoulders sink in defeat, so I make jokes to ease some of the tension. It’s all fun until my parents remind me our new bodyguards will join us soon. At least they can drive this thing, otherwise Omen and I would head straight to disaster city.
“We’ll grab your stuff and load it on the bus,” Pops says as they usher us outside. “We’ve already discussed the bus with the executives at Soulbound, but you will need to check in with the rest of the staff.”
Thank goodness for their forethought, because I definitely do not want to start my day by justifying my space to Shiloh. That man would probably look like he was sucking on lemons as he listened to me explain an omega’s need for dark, compact spaces and privacy. I have to bite my lip to stop myself from laughing when I imagine it.
We find Brady in the middle of the lot, directing road crew and band members alike. Shiloh quickly appears, looking out of place among the jean clad employees. Tall with a subtle bulk hinting at the muscles hidden beneath his sleek gray suit. The tailored material adds to the arrogant billionaire vibe he exudes with each breath. Silver streaks his short black hair, and rich umber eyes cut across the parking lot, taking in each employee and assuring they are on task. He quickly checks his watch when he sees me, noting the time I arrive with thinned lips.
Someone is in a wonderful mood, it seems.
“Sabine, you’re with me.”
Fighting back a glare, I glance back at Omen and channel all of my annoyance into an eye roll. Questions spark in her expression, but I don’t have time to answer them. Leaving her to speak with Brady, I hurry after my boss.
Why does my stupid body have to leak perfume every time I see him? He’s an asshole who obviously enjoys tormenting me. I am absolutely not attracted to him. It must be post heat hormones.
Yeah, that’s totally why.
Straightening my soft pink blazer, I square my shoulders and fall into step beside him. I can see the band I’m assistant managing during the tour—Orbital Somatic—lingering outside of their bus ahead of us. They’re new to the label, but have a decent following. This tour with Primordial Covenant will help build their fame further, if we play their cards right.
Which is why I’m here: to ensure they kick ass for the next two months.
“Good morning,” Shiloh greets them. His voice is commanding and smooth, the sound of it making the fine hair on my arms stand up. Jesus, Bea, get a damn grip.
Shaking myself back into professional mode, I cross my arms and meet each band member’s eyes. I may be an omega, but I know exactly how to level a look that will make every one of these alphas squirm.
After fifteen minutes of wrestling control from Shiloh, I finally finish the pre-tour checklist. The bands are all set, and the roadies have double checked everyone’s equipment. As soon as they load the buses, and Shiloh gives us the all-clear, we will be on the road and headed to our first destination.
When Shiloh waves me off, I slip back to my bus to check in with my parents. As I approach the sleek silver gift, my lips purse. The bodyguard duo stands outside with my dads. The last thing I want is to be crammed into a small space with two overbearing alphaholes. As long as they don’t get in my way, we should be fine.
“Okay, bumblebee! You’re all set!” Dad wraps his arms around me, squeezing the air from my lungs in a tight hug. Sadness tinges his buttery popcorn scent. I don’t envy my other parents having to console him on the drive home.
“I’m only a video call away,” I remind him, hugging him tighter.
My mom’s light linen scent joins us, her arms wrapping around both our shoulders. We stand like that for several seconds before my dad sniffles and pulls back. While Mom rubs his back, I give my alpha fathers hugs of their own. They’ll keep dad distracted while I’m away, and I’ll check in often. I’ve never gone more than a few days without talking to one of them, and I don’t intend to start now.
Watching my parents drive out of the label parking lot, I soak in the joy thrumming through my veins. This is a journey I’ve been unknowingly working toward since I was a child. Music has always been something I’m passionate about, so knowing I’m working for the label of my dreams and heading on tour to learn to manage an up-and-coming band is thrilling.
This is the shit dreams are made of. Music, best friends, and hot musician dick.
“Ready to go, sunshine?” Ridley calls out.
My heart races even as I force a frown onto my face. Damn him for looking like a literal Greek god and having a golden retriever personality. I have a weakness for utterly devoted men with ripped shoulders and biceps. “As soon as we get approval from the label, yes.”
His smile widens, reaching his jewel toned blue-green eyes. It is utterly ridiculous the way his eyes literally sparkle as he steps closer to me. My eyes fly over every imposing inch of him. From his short, wavy brown hair to his plush lips, stretched into a cocky smile. His black t-shirt stretches across his chiseled chest and abdomen, revealing a hint of the v leading beneath his cargo pants.
Shit, I need to stop ogling him.
Calm and collected sounds like a great mantra until he winks. This asshole. Sure, there is a slight pull between us. Some visible attraction neither of us can deny on a physical level. If this stunning man thinks he’s going to swoon his way into my nest during our tour, he’s out of his mind.
I’m here to work, not to find a pack.
Not that I’m opposed to finding a pack. I’m really not. I’ve dreamed of having a pack like my parents. Someone so utterly devoted to your existence, they literally breathe for you. I don’t know if Forever Smiling and his sidekick, Sir Grumpster, can be part of that.
“Do you have a problem with me, Mr. Ferguson?” I ask, channeling my inner bitchiness. Lex Ferguson is just as attractive. Slightly shorter than his exuberant partner, Lex’s dark blonde hair falls in soft curls against the top of his forehead. Matching stubble neatly lines his jaw and upper lip, giving him an air of deviance that calls to my inner omega. Why are bad boys always fucking irresistible?!
“No,” he grunts.
That’s it? Just no? This is going to be a rough eight weeks if he only knows how to communicate with grunts and huffs.
Ignoring him, I turn to walk onto the bus. When Lex’s gray eyes narrow over my shoulder, I glance back to see Shiloh stalking toward us.
Omen and Nexus, lead singer of the band she’s working with, appear before my stubborn boss can. They’re cute together. My shy, troubled bestie and the fashion-forward lead singer from Primordial Covenant. The way his eyes track her every move tells me there is definitely something between them. He has moons in his eyes and hers are shimmering with stars. Perhaps Fate wanted her on this tour for more than just a killer career opportunity.
My head whips their way when Nexus jokingly offers for Omen to ride on their bus. There is no way she’s leaving me to deal with these two for the first leg of this tour. I will have an absolute meltdown.
Thankfully, she sees the promise of suffering in my eyes and declines his offer. I’m hopeful she will stick around long enough to help me deal with the bodyguard duo and Mr. Acherley, but she is quick to dip onto the bus. I can’t blame her, though. If our situations were reversed, I wouldn’t want to land in the middle of her drama.
Okay, I would dive headfirst into her issues, but facing my own is a completely different story.
“Miss Powell,” Shiloh bites out as he pulls to a stop a few feet away. His deep, cold eyes cut to where Lex and Ridley stand entirely too close to my body. The jealousy briefly flashing through his eyes must be a trick of the light.
“Mr. Acherley. Meet Omen’s and my bodyguards, Ridley Hale and Lex Ferguson.”
Both men grunt out a greeting, their eyes narrowed on the other man. The toxic masculinity in the air among these three alphas is suffocating. A whine catches in my throat from the weight of it, but I shove that bitch back down. There is no way I’m going to let any of them know they are affecting me.
“Did you need something?”
Shiloh’s eyes turn back to me, the dark roast coffee-colored orbs shining with an intensity that feels like he can see each of my insecurities and imperfections clear to the center of my soul. It’s a struggle to not look away. “You left before we finished.”
“My tasks are complete, unless you have additional work outside of the checklist you provided me?” I raise one eyebrow, daring him to admit he made an error and forgot to put something on his overly detailed list of things for me to do this morning.
Men like Shiloh Acherley don’t handle admitting their mistakes well. When his jaw ticks and the vein on his temple pulses heavily, I have to bite back a laugh. They’re easy to rile. My omega hums in satisfaction, wanting to break the arrogant alpha’s cool confidence. Apologies to my instincts, but there will be no secret office romance in my future. Especially not with a man who refuses to call me anything but my full birth name.
“Next time, you are to check in with me before running off to flirt with your bodyguards.”
Clenching my fist, I’m seconds away from telling this asshole where to shove his haughty attitude, but he turns and stalks away before I get the chance. “Fucking asshole,” I murmur under my breath.
I’m so fucking glad we are leaving Starburgh for the next two months. Maybe I will have cooled off enough by the time we return to not storm in Acherley’s office and tell him to go fuck himself.
“You good, sunshine?” Ridley asks from way too close. I jump, nearly knocking my head against his. He chuckles, reaching out to steady me, but I rip my arm from his grasp and take a step toward the bus.
“They’re giving us the signal to leave,” I tell him, pointing to where the lot staff are directing trailers and buses through the gates. Without waiting for his response, I skip up the steps to my home for the next eight weeks.