56. Rory
RORY
As I play the video for the police, Jace holds Layla with one arm while he keeps the other around my shoulders. I can’t stop trembling, but it helps to have him by my side.
When the recording ends, the policeman shakes his head as he takes notes. “She seemed like a nice lady.”
“I thought so too.” The EMTs carried her out on a stretcher ten minutes ago. I can’t believe I suspected my friend Quinn when our stalker was Susan all along. “Is she going to live?”
“Paramedics got here quickly, and I don’t know for sure, but it looks like you missed her heart, so that bodes well for her.”
Jace’s jaw clenches. “Susan ran after my wife with a fucking syringe. And that’s after she tried to poison her.”
His wife. My heart melts and I wrap my arms around him.
The cop nods. “My partner found the syringe and cup. I’m going to need a copy of that audio file.”
I nod. “Whatever you need.”
“And don’t worry. You’re not being charged with a crime. The recording helps. Otherwise, we might not have all the evidence to arrest her. She could’ve said you were the one who attacked her.”
Jace scowls, but I put my hand on his chest. “I’m okay. Layla’s fine too. That’s all that matters.”
When the cop walks away, Jace pulls me closer. “I can’t believe she was stealing money.”
“She had me fooled too.”
“What’s going on?” Frank calls out from the doorway. “Why are the cops here?”
Jace curses under his breath. “It’s gonna suck to tell him.”
I rub his chest. “I can do that.”
“No. He’s my manager. He deserves to hear what happened from me.” Jace kisses my temple.
“Let me take Layla.” I hold out my arms, but he shakes his head.
“You’re supposed to be resting.”
“I’m okay. Just a little bruised. I can hold the baby for a few minutes so you can talk to him.”
Jace reluctantly gives in and hands her to me. “Be right back.”
The cop returns to ask more questions, and from the far end of the room, I watch Jace quietly talk to his manager.
At first, Frank looks at Jace like he’s crazy. Then his eyes bulge, and he starts yelling. “There’s no way she attacked Rory! Are you insane? What the fuck, Jace? Why would you say that? My Susan would never do that.”
My eyes sting, and I hug Layla. Even though Frank switched the buses at his wife’s request, my heart goes out to him. It’s obvious how much he loves her. Maybe he was as snookered by Susan as we were.
Then Jace plays the recording for him. As Frank listens to it, his face falls. By the end, he has to sit down. Frank replays the video, the whole time shaking his head in disbelief.
When it ends, he starts sobbing.
Once he composes himself, Frank leaves to go to the hospital to be with Susan, and Jace pulls me and Layla into his arms. “That sucked. He said he’s sorry and hopes you’re okay.”
“It broke my heart to watch him.” I sniffle and lean my head against his chest. “Do you think he had any idea his wife is a psychopath?”
“No, and he was so upset, I didn’t ask him about Susan stealing from our merch sales or getting him to switch buses.”
I squeeze his arm. “Leave it for now. He’s dealing with enough.”
Jace gets us a new room since this one is part of an active crime scene. We’ve just moved into the new accommodations when someone knocks. Jace answers it while I stay on the couch, curled up with Layla.
It’s Cooper, Shane, and Derek. They head for me with a huge bouquet of flowers, balloons, and candies.
Cooper rubs the back of his head. “Sorry I’ve been an asshole. Glad you’re okay.”
Shane points to Cooper. “He’s been the worst of us, but I could’ve been nicer. Sorry.”
Derek nods. “What they said.”
I chuckle and lean over to sniff the flowers. “These are beautiful. Thank you for the gifts.” I eye the candy. “Is it safe to assume those aren’t chocolate-covered cherries?”
They snicker, and I grin and hold out the box.
“Please take some.” When they have their mouths full, I use that as my chance to talk.
“I’m on your side, guys. I want this band to kick ass, and I’m sorry if I’ve ever given you an impression otherwise.
” I take a deep breath to gather the bravery to say the rest as I glance at Jace.
“It’s been tough to navigate a relationship with Jace on this tour, but I love him with my whole heart and soul and want to support him however I can.
” I turn back to the guys. “You’re stuck with me now, so I’d like to make the best of it. ”
Like a fog clears in my mind, I suddenly remember Jace telling me he loved me last night while I was in the trailer.
Cooper nods and shoves another piece of candy in his mouth. “We’re cool. I’ll tone down my partying and try to be nicer.”
“Thank you.” Yes, he’s been a dick to me, but I almost died twice in the last twenty-four hours. I could use a fresh start, and if Cooper is willing to turn over a new leaf, I’m willing to accept it.
I finally glance at Jace, who’s smiling, his eyes twinkling. He points at me. “You love me.”
“Yes.”
“Like, a lot.”
“So much.” His friends start making gagging noises, and I laugh. “Get out of here so I can make out with my husband.”
“Nah,” Jace says as he stares at me with so much love in his eyes. “They need to hear it from me. Hear how much I love you, Aurora. How awesome you are. How much you mean to me.”
Cooper chuckles. “Now you’re just being an asshole.”
Jace’s expression grows serious. “Actually, you’re the asshole for not coming with me to find my wife last night.”
His drummer looks down. “Not my best moment. I’m sorry.”
“Stop being a dick to Rory. I mean it. If you’re a prick to her again, I’m gonna fire your ass.”
I suck in a breath, hating that they’re arguing over me, but at the same time grateful to have a husband who defends me. “Jace, I’m okay.”
Cooper nods and glances at me. “I swear I’m over my dick phase. I promise I won’t run around naked with groupies anymore.”
That makes me chuckle. “Thank you. I appreciate that.”
He rubs his bushy beard. “Before we go, I’ve been wondering… Why’d you run out into the storm last night? To make sure we didn’t sign the contract?”
With everything that happened, I never got a chance to tell the guys the good news. I grab my phone and pull up iTunes. “You have a number one hit.” But then I scan the charts. “Make that two hits.”
Everyone starts talking at once. When Jace sees my screen, he laughs. “No shit.”
“I ran to the restaurant because I wanted you to have all the info. I knew this would give you more leverage, which is why Niles was pushing to rope you into a contract as soon as possible.”
Jace tugs me close and kisses my forehead. “You’re awesome.”
When his bandmates leave to celebrate their chart-topping songs, Jace rubs his hands together and winks at me. “I have a wife.”
“I have a husband.” Layla crawls up onto me, and I chuckle when she squishes my face together. “We have a daughter.” Because I love Layla too, so much.
“I’m a lucky man.” He grabs Layla and holds her over our heads. “Aren’t I, Layla?” She giggles and squeals as he tosses her up and catches her. “Except now I can’t smooch Mommy because our little chicken nugget is up.”
“So if she’s the chicken nugget, I’m what, the hen? Which makes you…”
He turns to me and grins. “The giant cock.”
I snort and snuggle closer and lean my head on his shoulder. A minute later, I yawn and close my eyes. “I’m so tired.”
“Rest. I’ve got the baby.”
“What are you going to do about Frank? It doesn’t sound like he was involved, but his wife stole and got him to do things you didn’t want, like switch the buses.”
“I hate to say this, but I don’t think I can trust him.” He sighs. “I’m waiting to hear back from Niles. We need some time off to regroup, obviously.”
My eyes fly open. “Not on my account, I hope.”
“Babe, you were almost murdered. Twice. What, do you think I’m gonna waltz off to my next gig like nothing happened?”
“But you have a show next weekend. Won’t Niles go after you to recoup losses?”
He rubs his chin. “I’ve been thinking about contracts since last night.
About what you said about signing under duress.
While I was in the ER last night and waiting at the police station this morning, I did some research, and it turns out you’re right—Niles forcing me to sign his stupid contract without a lawyer is considered duress.
Anyway, I have a call out to an attorney right now to help me with this. ”
I grab his handsome face. “I really appreciate the effort, but don’t jeopardize the tour if you can help it. What if I just hang out here for a few days and then fly out to meet you at the Skyline Summerfest?” I’ve always wanted to visit Chicago.
“I’m not leaving you behind,” he says fiercely.
I lean in to kiss him, but someone knocks on the door. “Are you expecting anyone?” I ask.
He shakes his head, and I hang on to Layla as he goes to answer.
When I hear the familiar voices, my eyes widen. Our friends came.
Paige, Baylee, and Rhett hug Jace and the girls beeline it to me. A grin stretches across my face. “I can’t believe you came.”
They sit on the couch, and Paige hugs me and then scoops up Layla.
“That’s what family does. They show up for each other.
We hopped on the first plane we could catch.
Honey wanted to come, but this pregnancy is kicking her butt, and Beau wanted her to rest. And the guys are watching the kids or they’d be here too. ”
It really sinks in. Paige, Baylee, and Honey aren’t just my friends. They’re my sisters-in-law. They’re family. So are Jace’s brothers. My eyes sting as gratitude fills my chest.
Baylee nods and grabs my hand. “As soon as we got that call from Jace and he told us you’d been injured, that your security guard went loco and fucking kidnapped you, we booked tickets.”
Rhett stuffs his hands in his pockets. “How you doing, Rory? Heard you’ve had a tough time.”
“I’m better now. Thanks for coming.” Since they only know about Edmond, Jace fills them in about Susan and how he’s taking off a week or two to stay with me.
Paige looks dumbstruck. “Your manager’s wife attacked you? She seemed so nice.” After I share what happened, I play the video for everyone. Paige shakes her head. “Thank goodness you recorded her. What made you think to do that?”
I rub the bump on my head. “She’d been talking about serial killers, and something felt wrong. I didn’t have time to call anyone. Recording felt like the only thing I could do that might matter later. You know, in case I wasn’t around to explain it.”
She shivers, and Jace sits on my other side and wraps his arms around me. “God, don’t say that.”
I grab his arm and turn to look at him. “You should stick with the tour. You have a music festival next weekend. You shouldn’t miss that. I can fly out to Chicago and meet you in a few days.”
He goes still. Studies me for a long moment. “Explain.”
I blink. “What?”
He tilts my chin up so I have to look at him. “That thing you do where you make everything easier for everyone else and harder for yourself. Explain why you’re doing that right now.”
My throat tightens. “Because the tour matters—”
“You matter.” He says it like it’s the most obvious thing in the world. “More than the tour. More than Niles. More than any of it.” He runs his thumb over my cheek. “I’m not leaving you. So you can stop trying to make me feel okay about it.”
I press my face into his chest and let him hold me.
Paige clears her throat. “Bay and I can stay with Rory until she recovers. That way you don’t get in trouble with your label.”
He kisses the top of my head. “I don’t like the idea of leaving her.”
When I lean back and our eyes meet, my heart melts. Has he always looked at me like this? Like I’m some great treasure? “You’re not leaving me. Not really. And I won’t be alone.”
He sighs. “Let me think about it.”
When everyone leaves, Paige takes Layla to her room so we can get a little downtime. When Jace and I slide into bed, I wrap my arm around him. “The thing that scared me the most was when Susan said she was going to let you think I ghosted you. I hope you know I’d never do that.”
He pulls me closer. “I know that, baby. Go to sleep.”
I yawn. “But what about the make-up sex?”
“There’s time for that. Get some rest. You’ve been through a lot, and I wanna take care of you.” He turns to kiss me. “Don’t worry. When you’re not black and blue, we’re gonna tear up the sheets.”
I can’t wait.