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“I am.”

“Okay.” I bite my lip to hide my smile. What can I say, the ass is growing on me?

“Everyone’s trying to steal my girl,” Lick grumbles as he wraps his arm around my shoulders and leads me away, taking me towards the back of the room where the doors lead to the upstairs. “I want to spend some time alone with you before I have to go.”

“Why, Noah? Are you planning on having your wicked way with me?”

“When am I not?”

I laugh, slipping my hand into his, and follow him up to his room.

How can a girl resist an offer like that?

22

Lick

Iscroll through the pages of my book before throwing the Kindle on the bed beside me. The issue isn’t the book, it’s me.

I’m grateful that my father spoke to Jameson, and he agreed to my proposition. There is no way I can keep this up. I think of all the rock legends out there who were also parents and wonder how they did it. Perhaps they took their families on tour with them. That’s the only way I’d be able to carry on this way. Of course, that would put them in a whole heap of danger that I’m actively trying to avoid.

The reason my father called me into his office weighs heavily on me. It’s no secret that the Bloody Scorpions have been a thorn in our side for as long as I can remember. They don’t have as many clubs over here as they do stateside, so they haven’t been much of a problem for us. But that’s changed in recent years. I can’t help but wonder if it’s simply that our growing numbers make them feel like they need to expand too. Though if they focused on the shitty clubs they already had, things might not be as bad.

Still, the fact they’d been spotted locally, wearing their colours, tells us trouble is on the horizon. The club has agreed to keep Emma close. When she’s not at the club, she’ll have a prospect on her. She’ll think it’s just me being possessive. Yeah, that might be it to an extent, but I have to know she’s safe. Her and the baby. I just wish I could tell her the truth, but how do I explain that the reason I need to keep her safe is that her association with me puts her in danger?

No, it might make me a selfish bastard, but I won’t risk what we have. Not on a vague possibility that something might happen. I have to make her love me first. I have to make it so that walking away isn’t an option.

So far, we’ve been on the road for six nights and seven days, and all has been quiet. But I can’t shake that ominous feeling that something is waiting in the wings for the perfect moment to strike. I get to my feet and move to the bathroom to splash cold water on my face. I’ve been driving myself insane thinking about all the things that could go wrong. I roll my eyes at my reflection. “Get your shit together.”

I pat my face dry and yank the door open, heading to the front of the bus, past the bunks to the kitchen area. I grab a bottle of whisky from the cupboard above the microwave. I don’t bother with a glass. I take the bottle to the seating area and sprawl on one of the two sofas separated by a table. Twisting off the cap, I put the bottle to my lips, tip my head back, and drink down a couple of mouthfuls just as TJ walks out, rubbing his head. He sees me and heads my way, grabbing a bottle of juice from the fridge as he passes.

He sits opposite me and watches me take another sip. “Rough night?”

“Something like that.”

“So…” His voice drifts off as I pull the bottle from my mouth and wait him out. “We’re splitting up?”

I roll my eyes. “Nobody can ever keep their god damned mouths shut. No, we’re not splitting up. The rest of us just don’t want to tour anymore, so we’re starting our own label and using Shooters as a home base. The band will still perform there, and it will double as a place for people to audition.”

He leans back and rolls his tongue ring against his teeth. “I love being in the band, but I don’t know if that’s enough for me, Lick.”

“Honestly, we didn’t think it would be. Way I see it, you can give it a go as a solo artist under our label, or we could scout out talent for another band.”

“No joke?”

“I’m not about to leave you high and dry. We can figure out the details later, but yeah, that’s the gist of it. Out of curiosity, which way would you lean?”

“What, going solo or joining a new band? Band probably. I know I can sing, but a lot of people can sing, and there are a fuck-ton out there better at it than me. A band complements my style and fits my vibe. Plus, touring like this would suck if I had to do it alone.”

“Alright then. When we get home, I’ll put out some feelers. How did you hear about all this anyway? I didn’t want to say shit until I had my ducks in a row.”

“Take a wild guess.” He chuckles before drinking down his juice.

I sigh. “Fucking Tash. I swear to god that woman will put me in an early grave.”

“My advice is, get rid of her if you’re starting a label. She’ll bully the women and fuck the men.”

“I’m working on it. Trust me. You sure you’re okay with this, though? It’s a shitty thing to have sprung on you, I know.”