Anthony chewed at his lip.
“Tell me.” I’d known him long enough to know when he was holding back.
Regret radiated from him as he began to speak. “I first stumbled upon Charlie’s years ago, back when Angie and I first bought this house. Charlie was a cool guy, plus I was still looking for clients back then, so I made it a habit of going whenever I knew there would be a new band playing.”
Clearly uncomfortable, he cleared his throat, sending a round of agitation curling through me.
“This woman…she was always hanging out there with the bands. Gorgeous, but she gave off the vibe she was looking for someone to sink her claws into. At first I thought she was some kind of groupie. You know the type, desperate for any kind of attention, any kind of fame, even if it meant she was getting it from the small, unknown bands playing there. I think it was probably the third time I saw her when Charlie finally introduced her as his sister.”
Shit.
I rubbed my hand across my mouth as if it could wipe away the bitter taste.
Shea’s mom.
Someone I knew absolutely nothing about.
Shea never talked about her. The mystery surrounding her another fucking secret.
All I had were the hints and innuendos Shea had alluded to last night, and this story didn’t do anything to quell the flickers of hate igniting for a woman I’d never even met.
Anthony continued, “There didn’t seem to be a whole lot of love lost between her and Charlie, but still, she and I chatted over the next couple times I ran into her, even though I remained leery. I didn’t want to give her the wrong impression, because I definitely wasn’t out looking for someone to step out on my Angie with.”
He hesitated, then shook his head as he lowered his voice. “She wasn’t looking for sex, Baz. She was looking for a way to get her daughter’s foot in the door. The first couple of times she talked about her, I humored her. Talked with her a little about the business. But I didn’t give it a whole lot of thought. One night she convinced me to listen to a demo. The girl’s voice on the recording was…unbelievable. There’s no other way to describe it. I would have snatched her up in a heartbeat, but Chloe was already acting as her agent.”
“Chloe?” I asked.
“Charlie’s sister…Delaney Rhoads’s mother. Shea’s mother,” he amended a bit quieter, like he was catching on to how little I really knew about Shea.
I bit back the hostile laughter that worked its way up.
Nice.
They were on a first-name basis.
He shrugged, though it was laced with remorse. “I figured, what the hell could it hurt? I never wanted to be one of those guys who only did things to benefit himself, so I sent her to Jennings. That was right when I first began working with him. Back before I knew the kind of trash he was.”
His sigh was heavy with implication. “That was only a year before I sent Jennings to the bar to check you and the guys out.”
With both hands, I palmed the back of my head, trying to beat back the anxiety clamoring through my insides.
Eating me up.
God.
Anthony di Pietro, my agent, but more than that, a friend, a guy I considered an honorary member in my fucked-up family, was the tie.
Of course, I knew it was Anthony who’d sent Jennings to check out Sunder that night we were playing in Tennessee. That was no secret. How many times had Anthony vocalized his regret? Wondering if we’d have been better off if he’d never sent Jennings our way?
But none of us could have foreseen the trouble he would bring.
“The word was, Delaney Rhoads couldn’t cope with the stardom, and she’d tucked tail and ran back home. Sure, there were rumors circulating about an affair between Jennings and the emerging star, but we learn fast in this industry to ignore all of that unless it’s something that affects one of our clients directly. Most of it’s all bullshit, anyway. You know this well enough, Baz. I had no clue Delaney Rhoads even had a kid. She disappeared off the face of the earth. Forgotten in days. I never thought to ask Jennings about what had happened to her. I wasn’t representing her.
He shook his head. “Hell, I’d never even met her. Initially, I did it thinking it was a favor to Charlie. In all the times I went back over the years, Charlie never once mentioned his niece had moved back there or that she was working in his bar.”
He shrugged. “It never crossed my mind.”
Of course Charlie never mentioned her.
Secrets.
Secrets.
Secrets.
Secrets meant to protect and defend, yet here they were, threatening to ruin everything.
“I’m sorry, Baz. When I suggested you go to Charlie’s, I never imagined something I set in motion years ago could possibly affect you now.”
Yeah, I was pissed. Some kind of unknown hurt wound through me as I came to understand how this web had been spun together.
Shea and I unwittingly tied to the bastard who wanted to destroy both our lives.
But how could I regret it?
Because that would have meant never losing control with Shea.
And never losing control with her just wasn’t an option I could entertain.
I pressed the heels of my hands into my eyes. “What the hell are we going to do? He was here because of me, Anthony. He looked me straight in the eye when he took Kallie and reminded me I was going to regret fucking with him.”
A wave of helplessness washed over me, and that was not a feeling I took kindly to. How the hell did you fix something when you had no clue what went down in the first place?
Anthony gave a quick nod. “The second you mentioned his name when you called me, I had no doubt the asshole had ulterior motives.”
He always did.
But I knew it went deeper than that. This muddled maze was more than just about me. He’d hurt her, and clearly he was aiming to hurt her again. But why? To get back at me? That’s what made no fucking sense.
“Shea’s terrified for Kallie.” The words cracked on my own fear. Because the truth was? I was, too. “We can’t just leave her with him.”
Sympathy filled his eyes. “I get that, Baz. You know I’d throw myself on a bomb for my own kids. No, I don’t know Shea, but I can only imagine the hell she’s going through right now. But the one plus in this whole thing is I don’t think Jennings is witless enough to hurt a little girl who’s recently been placed in his care. He’s always meticulous. Covering his ass and letting everyone else take the fall.”
I pressed my hands to the counter and blew out a breath. “Yeah…thought as much myself. He’s devious, but not a fool.”
His tone grew cautious. “You have to ask yourself how far you’re willing to get involved in this. Every time we turn around, this mess gets deeper and deeper.”
I gave one fierce shake of my head, cutting that shit off. I knew he meant well, that his intentions were always good. Anthony taking up our backs to protect the guys and me.
But this was one truth he needed to understand. “I’d give up anything for them. All of it. Every last cent to my name. My freedom. My life if that’s what it takes.”
Silence hung heavy in the air as he stared across at me. Searching for sincerity. Then a satisfied smile pulled at his mouth. “So she’s it, then.”
That affirmation struck home.
Taking hold.
Filling me full.
My voice was rough. “Yeah. She’s it.”
He nodded like the game had changed. “All right, then. You’re going to need to make a statement. The paps are going to be hounding you as it is. Better to clear this up now and let them know exactly where you stand.”
“I stand by Shea.”
A smirk ticked up at one side of his mouth. “I think you’ve made that abundantly clear, my friend.”
I started to laugh, when all the air got sucked from the room. Heavy and soft and blinding light.
My spine stiffened in awareness as the girl stol
e a little more of my breath.
Filled me right up with hers.
Slowly, I turned to look over my shoulder.
Standing near the wall, Shea peered over at us.
Eyes brimming with fear and hope and love.
So fucking gorgeous that this girl once again threatened to drop me straight to my knees.
I tipped my head to the side and beckoned her forward. “Come here, baby.”
Warily, she glanced at Anthony, and I wondered just how much she’d picked up of our conversation, before she shuffled forward and nestled into the safety of my side. I curled my arm low around her back and pulled her as close as I could get her.
Anthony’s attention jumped between us.
“Anthony, this is my girl, Shea Bentley.”
I leaned down and kissed her temple, whispering at the sweetness of her skin, “Baby, this is Anthony Di Pietro. My agent and friend. He’s going to help us get Kallie back.”
An expression of understanding crossed his face. Lacking judgment. Like he saw all the torment swimming in Shea’s eyes.
He moved around the island and extended his hand as he neared. “Shea Bentley. If it isn’t an honor to meet the woman who finally took this one down.”
He cast me a sly glance then smiled softly at her.
Redness warmed Shea’s cheeks, Anthony easily putting her at ease when he wrapped up her hand in his.
“It’s great to meet you, Anthony,” Shea said, all genuine and real, real, real, returning his handshake. “Thank you for everything you’ve done to help us. You can’t imagine what it means to me.”
Everything about him turned warm, like maybe in the course of their brief interaction, Anthony witnessed it, too. The beauty and life. Something pure in her shining light on this wicked world.
“Of course. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“How are you this morning?” I murmured.
A weak smile lifted just one side as she looked up at me, her voice hoarse from the many tears she’d shed last night. “As well as can be expected. I’m just ready to get started on whatever we need to do to get her back.”
Anthony nodded reassuringly. “We have a meeting with the attorney at nine. Kenny assured me he is the best family attorney in Savannah. We’ll be on this first thing and we won’t stop until Kallie is back safely in your arms.”
“Damn right, we won’t.”
Shea and I both jerked our heads to find the source of the voice coming from behind us.
Ash.
He slanted a cocky grin Shea’s way, dude all dimples and rumpled blond hair.
Lyrik and Zee bounded downstairs behind him, Lyrik dragging a shirt over the mess of black on his head, Zee watching with the unique concern that followed him wherever he went.
Didn’t miss that my baby brother edged down the stairs, too. Lagging. Slower than the rest. Wearing that same damned hoodie like maybe he was pretending he could hide away.
Still, he was here. Present.
A partner to my fucked-up family.
Anthony’s eyes widened in surprise. “Uh, you guys do realize it’s not even seven in the morning? Don’t think I’ve seen any of you even cracking open an eye before noon in all the years I’ve known you.”
Ash just grinned. “No chance in hell we’re going to sleep away the day when we have business to take care of. And by business, I mean taking that motherfucker Jennings down. We were all there and know exactly what went down that day. Not about to stand for that kind of bullshit.”
Zee came forward and leaned his forearms on the island. He clasped his hands together as he looked up at us. “Yeah, man. You know whatever we can do…whatever we can say…we’ll be there. We know where Kallie belongs.”
Shea drew in a sharp breath, like she was gaining strength from their encouragement, each word building a steel armor of courage.
Lyrik lifted his chin toward Ash and Zee as he rolled into the kitchen to grab a cup of coffee. “Like they said, whatever you need, it’s done.”
Silently, Austin made his way in, too, surrounding us like the rest. He seemed agitated, which wasn’t abnormal for him. But still, he cast me a look like he was telling me it was a good damned thing I’d finally come to my senses.
That walking away from Shea wasn’t ever gonna be the noble choice.
Not when this girl needed me.
Ash hooked his arm around Shea’s neck and dropped a swift kiss to her head. “See. You don’t have to worry about a thing, darlin’. We’ve got this covered.”
“Thank you,” she said on a broken breath.
“Watch it, man,” I warned, letting a chuckle slide. “That’s my girl you’re kissing on.”
Ash smirked. “What? Good friends share and all of that.”
I reached around Shea and punched at his shoulder. “Not on your life, asshole.”
A giggle slipped from Shea, all self-conscious and shy and every shade of perfect, and those expressive eyes peeked up at me, swimming with faith, hope, and beauty.
My life.
I turned and gathered her face between my hands. I pressed the softest kiss to that even softer mouth.
Anthony cleared his throat. “I think that settles it then.” He let his gaze fall on Shea. “Let’s get your daughter back.”
MARTIN JENNINGS SAT ON the witness stand. Dark eyes gleamed back at me, the man intent to control my gaze as I faced him from where I sat at the table next to my attorney.
The way he’d always attempted to control me.
His expression conveyed every threat he’d ever dealt me, all under the guise of concerned parent.
“You are mine now.”
“I always get what I want, no matter the means to attain it. You’d be wise not to forget it.”
“I will guarantee your silence.”
A rush of fear trembled through my spirit, and I shifted on the hard chair. Painfully¸ I twisted my fingers together as if it could bind me with courage. My stomach felt as though it was tied in a thousand knots as I listened to the false sincerity woven in his tone, and a part of me wanted to cower and cave.
But when it came to Kallie, I never had, and that definitely wouldn’t change now.
If anything, I was stronger.
And I had Sebastian now. I wasn’t alone.
The thought bolstered me, renewed with a charge of determination and fortitude.
Martin sat making a plea as to why he should be granted longer-term full custody of my baby girl.
Each word passing from his mouth only made me sicker.
Ill with the idea this monster could once again take that control.
But this time…
This time I refused to give it to him.
“And why is it now you’re just interested in obtaining custody of your daughter?” his attorney asked.
Playing devil’s advocate.
How ironic.
Still, he was asking all the questions I wanted to demand answers to.
Even knowing every single answer was a lie.
The attorney, Mr. Carbellero, represented the state, though it quickly became clear he was under Martin Jennings’s dime, pressing an issue that wouldn’t have been an issue at all had Martin not spearheaded it in the first place.
“I never sought any form of custody earlier because I respected Ms. Bentley’s wishes to step away from the limelight of the business to raise our daughter in her hometown. It’s a decision I’ve often regretted. When I saw the pictures of paramedics attending my daughter on the beach, I knew I had no other choice than to step in and intervene.”
He settled his soulless eyes on me. “Especially when I found out Shea was allowing my child to be exposed to someone as dangerous as Sebastian Stone.”
My daughter! I wanted to scream. How could he sit there and try to claim her? After what he’d done? What I’d told Sebastian had been true. I’d foolishly hoped Martin had changed. That some sort of conscience had grown within the warped confines of his evil hea
rt.
From where Sebastian sat directly behind me, I could feel the anger roll from him at Martin’s insinuation—the hardness of his breaths and the restraint radiating from his body.
“And you know from experience how dangerous Sebastian Stone can be?” More propaganda from Martin’s attorney.
“I’ve been involved in Sebastian Stone’s business dealings for some time now.” Martin went on to paint Sebastian in the most awful light, a strung-out addict prone to violence. Violence propagated against him.
Just as I knew Martin to be. A liar. A manipulator. Saying whatever needed to be said to get his way. To build himself up while he tore everyone down around him.
Using them as steppingstones.
My heart lurched with the memories.
A masochist.
A destroyer.
Martin acted out his role so perfectly, giving details of the assault, as if there had been no inciting factors. He implied Sebastian had assaulted him for no reason at all. Martin played himself out to be nothing more than an unsuspecting victim in Sebastian’s premeditated fit of rage.
It was just as Sebastian had warned. Martin had the edge. The law on his side. They presented the assault charges against Sebastian as the ugliest kind of blemish—almost as bad as the time he had served in prison four years ago.
My fingers twisted tighter, and I tried to decipher the judge’s expression as she listened to Martin’s testimony. I knew she could easily look at Sebastian in a negative light—view the rest of the guys in that same light—making judgments on appearances and assumptions.
It made me sad few would blame her.
But she didn’t know Sebastian like I did. She didn’t see beneath all the hard lines and scars to what burned bright below.
I guessed her to be in her late fifties, and she wore her hair in a smart gray bob. Thin and tall. Yet everything about her felt powerful and strong.
Stoic.
Giving nothing away.
God, I was just thankful she wasn’t the judge who’d issued the emergency injunction in the first place.
From behind, I could almost feel Baz’s apology pouring from him. Could almost hear the words of self-flagellation churning in his head. He was probably pleading for me to forgive him. Asking me to heed the many warnings he’d given me that he would never be enough, that he would always drag me down and leave me in shreds.
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