Chapter 24
TWENTY-FOUR
W e turn up to the address he texted Fox in three hours, not two. He doesn’t get to order us around, and I wanted him to wait, so I fucked Fox’s brains out while we were getting ready, making sure to leave marks all over his neck for his petty fucking ex to see.
It’s a fancy-looking house on the east side of the city. I wonder if it’s a rental, but I suppose it doesn’t matter as we walk up the stone steps. I knock loudly on the door, and it opens a few seconds later. Theo looks irritated.
“I said two hours,” he snaps.
“And you don’t get to order me around,” Fox responds, his voice tight and angry.
He finally looks from Fox to me, his eyes narrowing further. He’s wearing nothing but some low-slung, gray sweatpants, showing off an impressive chest. His muscles are clearly sculpted to look good, not for use. I can’t imagine this man has worked out a day in his life.
“I didn’t realize you were bringing backup,” Theo sneers as he looks me over.
“And I didn’t realize people still used steroids,” I retort sweetly as I barge past him, hitting him with the door as I step inside.
“Let’s get this over with. We’re busy.” I glance back at him.
“Unlike some people. Fox, come.” He ducks past Theo and follows me into the living room.
I sit on the sofa, blocking one side so Fox can sit on the other.
He does so silently as Theo slams the door and follows us in, sitting opposite us.
He crosses his arms, posing so his muscles flex, and eyes me for a moment before looking at Fox.
His gaze lands on Fox’s exposed neck, then he glances at me, and I smirk as I rest my hand on Fox’s leg and arch a brow, daring him to try me. I kept quiet yesterday, but I won’t today.
Fox is mine, not his, and it’s time he understood that.
“Nice neck,” he comments as he leans forward, his eyes heating as he eyes Fox hungrily. “You always did like it rough, but I remember you were the one who liked to mark me, not the other way around.”
“Enough, Theo,” Fox snaps, not rising to his bait. “Take the post down.”
“Let’s talk first,” Theo says as he leans back.
“No.” Fox stands, taking my hand. “Either you take it down or I go.”
“Alright, alright!” Theo huffs when he realizes Fox is serious. Pulling his phone from his pocket, he focuses on it for a moment before tossing it to the sofa. “It’s done. I could have posted a lot worse, you know.”
Pulling my phone out, I check it to make sure, and only then does Fox sink into the sofa. “Why are you doing this?” he asks, and he sounds so hurt, I hate it.
Theo senses it and pounces. “Because I can, and because I always get what I want. I want you, so get rid of my replacement and come back to me.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Fox growls. “I told you no yesterday, but let me make it very clear. I’m dating Ryker, and I love him. I am going to spend the rest of my life with him. I have no intention of ever coming back to you. Even if I wasn’t with Ryker, I wouldn’t, so stay out of my life.”
“No,” he replies with an arched brow. “I want you back.”
“Why?” Fox throws his hands up in frustration. “You have everything you want here, no doubt thanks to that idiot you cheated on me with, so why me? Why now?”
“I made a mistake,” Theo admits, staring at Fox with longing, and despite his bravado, I realize he truly means it. “I didn’t know how good I had it with you.”
“Putting your dick in someone else is not a mistake. Forgetting to text back is a mistake, but fucking someone else is a choice. You made that choice, and I chose to walk away. Respect that, or at the very least, accept it,” Fox replies coldly.
Theo isn’t going to back down, though, and I refuse to let Fox stand alone. He’s mine, and it’s time Theo understands what that means.
“Now that you’ve spoken, let me tell you something.
You might think you have ammo here or a chance, but you’re wrong.
I’m friends with every rich, powerful man in this country.
If you come for my boyfriend or my band again, you are going to find out what power tastes like.
You crave that, right? Power and wealth?
That’s why you fucked that guy when you were dating Fox.
Well, I’ll happily show you. Just keep testing me.
” I stand. “Here’s what is going to happen.
You will post a statement apologizing and admitting you two have not been in contact in years, and then you will disappear.
I never want to see you in his life ever again,” I warn, my voice cold as I glare at the man Fox used to love.
“Does he speak for you?” Theo snaps, looking at Fox.
“Absolutely,” Fox answers as he stands as well.
“I’m his first love.” He looks at me, and I laugh.
“Yeah, well, I’m going to be his last.” I run my eyes over him cruelly. “You made the mistake of letting him go. I never will.”
“Let’s go,” Fox murmurs, clutching my hand before he looks at Theo. “Stay out of my life, Theo. Despite everything, I hope you’re happy, I really do, but I will never be part of it again.”
I’m so proud of him, I squeeze his hand as we reach the door.
“That’s too bad.” He sighs, crossing his legs as he looks at us. “I guess I have no choice then.”
“About what?” Fox mutters.
“Exposing your relationship. You aren’t allowed to date, right? I’m sure if your label finds out, you’ll be dropped for breaching your contract.” His smile grows as we stare at him, shocked and scared. “Ah, so my intel was right. Interesting.”
He looks at his nails idly. “I always get what I want. I warned you.”
“I didn’t realize how much of a cruel streak you had,” Fox sneers.
His smile is bitter as he looks at us. “That’s because you never wanted to see the true me, only the person you wanted me to be.
I could never compare to the image you built in your mind.
I was never kind enough, never funny enough, so I hid it so you would still love me.
” Standing, he eyes Fox once more. “But it doesn’t matter.
You can hate me, but we both know you’ll come back to me because unlike me, you are a good guy, and you would never risk your band’s future.
I know what you’re like. You’re so by the book and straightlaced, you would never put anyone else in harm’s way, especially for you.
I have the money and lifestyle I wanted, it simply took a few years, and now I want you.
End it and come back to me, or I will be forced to act. You know I never bluff.”
Standing, he pats my shoulder as he walks past. “First rule in this game, rock star, is that you have to have something to bargain with, and you have nothing.” He looks at Fox. “You know where to find me when you’re done playing with him.”
We watch him go, both of us silent, and when we share a look, there is fear in our eyes.
“Do you think he’ll do it?” Strike asks softly. We are sitting around the dining table, discussing what happened. Fox looks anxious and ashamed. Gripping his hand under the table, I squeeze it to let him know I’m here.
“I don’t think he was lying,” I admit, which I hate.
“Me either,” Fox says. He’s been so quiet. “If he found that out about our contract, it means he’s been digging. You only put that much work in if you are willing to follow through.” He scrubs his face, looking so lost it makes my heart ache for him.
“Shit,” Dash exclaims, banging on the table. “That fucker is willing to ruin your future and everything you have worked for just because he can’t have you?”
“We should kill him,” Strike says, and we look at him. “It was just a suggestion.”
Smiling, I lean into Fox as he stares at the table. “I’m sorry, guys. This is my mess, but it’s affecting you.”
“Shut up,” Strike demands, his voice harsh, and we jerk around.
“We are a family, so your mess is our mess. You aren’t inconveniencing us, so don’t apologize.
When Dash got drunk and crashed, who helped him?
When Ry made all those mistakes, who helped clean them up?
We help each other. That’s what we do. You aren’t at fault. ”
“He’s right,” I murmur as softly as I can. “You had no idea he would do this. Nobody did. You can’t blame yourself for simply loving someone in the past.”
“But what do we do?” He looks so lost as he stares into my eyes. “Tell me and I’ll do it. Every option I think of ends the same way. I’ll lose you or I’ll lose this band. I can’t do either. I don’t want anyone to get hurt.”
“Remember what I promised you?” I ask, unconcerned that the others are watching.
“We are in this together now, no matter what. I love you, Fox, and I love this band. I will not let you lose either of us. I will protect you. No matter what, we aren’t giving in.
” I look at Strike and Dash then Fox. “Whatever the consequences, we stay together.”
“Together.” Strike and Dash nod.
“But what if—” Fox starts.
I kiss him to silence him as I grip his cheek. “Let him come for us. As long as we have each other, it doesn’t matter. Okay?”
“Okay.” His eyes close as he presses into my touch. “I love you guys.”
“I love you too,” Strike replies before he coughs. “Just not in the way Ry does.” That makes us break apart, and Strike grins. “What? He’s a big boy. My poor ass couldn’t handle that.”
Laughter explodes from us, and even Fox chuckles.
Let him try to ruin us. I don’t care. This is all I need, right here. Fuck everyone else.