Chapter 19
19
Declan was on fire during tonight’s show. I don’t know what got into him, but he channeled it all into his performance. Once we get into the green room, I can’t help but call it out. “You were on another level tonight, bro. What was up with that?”
I can sense the passion still radiating off him as our post-show adrenaline surges.
“Not being allowed to beat the shit out of a deserving roadie will do that to you,” he says as he downs a bottle of water.
Grayson and I shoot each other befuddled expressions before shifting our attention back to our brother. “Care to elaborate?”
“I fired Donny before the show tonight.”
“Do we have the power to fire crew members?”
Declan shrugs as if that fact is irrelevant to the situation.
“Are you going to tell us why?” I push. “The guy is annoying, but I don’t think that’s a fireable offense.”
“No, but sexual harassment is. ”
“Shit. Who did he harass?” Grayson asks.
When he answers, I understand for the first time what seeing red means.
“Tell. Me. Everything,” I demand as soon as Ellie’s name slips from his lips.
“Bryce came to me earlier and said he found Donny cornering Ellie by the merch booth and she did not appear to be enjoying his attention. He wasn’t sure, but he interrupted the moment anyway. SinceEllie seemed shaken up, he came to me about it. I asked security for the footage from that area and her body language screamed ‘back off.’”
Damn it. I knew that guy was going to be trouble. From the first time I saw him eyeing the girls, I knew his intentions were bad, but to try to hurt someone close to us? Is he stupid? Did he think it wouldn’t get back to us or that we wouldn’t care? And why the fuck did Bryce go to Declan and not me? I never confirmed it but I know he knows there is something between us.
“So you fired him instead of kicking his ass?” Grayson asks, keeping the conversation on track.
“First, I asked Ellie what happened. She gave me what I imagine is a watered-down version of the encounter.”
I am fuming. If this is the lite version, I know I am going to be pissed to hear the full thing. And I will hear the full thing. My brothers don’t know what went down last night. Ellie and I haven’t had the chance to talk about it. I went back after my shower, but she was already asleep. I didn’t want to let my brother’s in on what she could potentially label as a mistake.
“You said Bryce told you. Was Ellie planning to tell any of us?”
“She said she was still deciding when I approached her. To be honest, I’m not sure she was.”
“That’s bullshit,” Grayson growls. “She should never have to deal with something like this on her own. No member of our tour should, but especially not her.”
I couldn’t agree more. I know she was avoiding me after what happened last night, but I can’t believe she wouldn’t have come to me about this.
“Where is she now?” I ask, itching to check that she’s okay on my own and to know what the hell she was thinking.
“I gave her the night off. She should be on the bus.”
Without another word, I storm out of the room. I don’t acknowledge anyone, not Eliza, not security, not even my screaming fans. I say nothing to no one until I step foot on the bus and see Ellie huddled up in a blanket in the lounge. Heading straight toward her, I pick her up and place her back down on my lap.
Placing my forehead against her temple, wet hair cools my temper as her sweet floral scent surrounds me. “Are you okay?” I ask.
“Declan told you?” is her reply.
“Yeah, he did. And I’m pissed I didn’t hear it from you, but right now all I care about is that you’re okay.”
“I’m fine. Why would I tell you?” she asks, genuine confusion in her voice.
“Why would you tell me that some douchebag is harassing you? Are you seriously asking me that?”
“Yes. I mean, what could you have really done about it without any proof? Plus, if you did do anything, you would be confirming what he said. I wasn’t sure you’d care. I was probably going to tell Eliza, but Bryce told Declan first.”
“Fuck that,” I huff indignantly. I lean back and twist until she’s underneath me on the couch. I know she sees me as the good time guy who doesn’t take things seriously, but when it comes to her, I find I can be rather possessive and unreasonable. I plan to tell her as much.
“First, I could have done a hell of a lot. Kicked him off the tour at minimum—which is the least he deserved. Second, if you think I wouldn’t care, you weren’t in the same room as me last night. I may be the ‘chill one,’ but I am anything but laid back when it comes to you. I don’t care if you confirmed his suspicions about us. I don’t care if you told him we’re secretly fucking married. You are mine and if he had a problem with that, he should have taken it up with me.”
“I’m yours?” she questions, hope and nerves evident in her pretty features.
“Yeah, Wildflower. You’re mine.”