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“They’ve agreed to come out here tomorrow and evaluate what level of security we need.”
“The highest,” Haze says, his hand squeezing Eden’s thigh. “This needs to be as tight as Fort Knox.”
“I’ve also hired a bodyguard. For Eden,” I add, knowing how much she refused to have one in the past.
“I don’t need someone trailing me everywhere I go,” she says, her voice sounding a mix between nervousness and worry. “It’ll attract more attention than I need. Right now, I can walk into a store, and no one bats an eyelid. If I have a bodyguard, they’ll rake their brain to figure out which celebrity I am.”
“This is LA, and everyone has bodyguards.”
“I’m Eden Rivers, and this is LA, where I rose to fame fast and buried my career in a porn video. People love the drama. They’ll stare.”
“Princess, while you’re in LA, keep the bodyguard. Afterward, you won’t need one in the desert.” I’m glad Haze is with me on this.
She seems to succumb to the idea and doesn’t object further. I find that interesting; she usually picks a fight if she’s firmly against something. Maybe she realizes she needs protection around her. Even if ten years have passed, her life has been threatened, and she recognizes the severity of that incident.
I can’t stand the notion that someone tried to harm her like that, especially when she was our girl back then. But she’s not mine anymore, and as much as I’d like to put that despicable person into their grave, I’ll keep myself calm.
Because Eden doesn’t belong to me.
“Jagger, something came up this morning.”
The lads tell me about the stills from the illicit video circulating online, which causes my blood to boil. Yet, glancing at Eden, she sits there remarkably calm and poised.
Maybe she’s not mine anymore, but she’s part of this group.
“Eden,” her bright green eyes flicker their attention at me. “I say this with the utmost honesty. No one will force you to stay if you don't feel comfortable. It’s just shit is happening, small stuff, and it only started when you returned.”
“I’m staying,” she says firmly. “Regarding the recent stills remaking an appearance online, I’m a grown woman now and can face my issues head-on. I was in a relationship with four boys, thesame four with whom I just formed another band. I’ve been beaten down in the past, but here I am again, standing proud. I don’t have any regrets about what I’m doing now.”
“Good for you, sexy,” Haze squeezes her waist.
“And I speak for all of us. If shit hits the fan, we’ll be on your side, with you,” Ash says, and his gaze rests on me.
The buzzer on the front gate rings, making us jump; we aren’t expecting anyone.
“It’s probably Catalina coming to drop off Storm. I want to take him to his physio today since we’re not at the studio.”
Biting back the sarcastic comment that itches to be released from my mouth about her and Haze, and they are the reason why we’re not recording today. Instead, I warmly smile at her as she gets off Haze and goes to answer it.
As she passes me, I get a whiff of the fresh scent coming from her, and my knob stiffens.
Fuck, this isn’t the time for it!
“You alright, mate?” Asher asks me, and I know it isn’t about my cock but general apprehension and how I left things with Eden yesterday morning at the studio.
“She’s staying,” Haze announces sternly as if he has the final word.
“She’s already declared so. It’s why I got the extra security,” I glower at him. “It’s not us who needs it, you muppet.”
We’re thankfully interrupted by Storm, who happily trots in and greets us all with a shake of his head, a wag of his tail, and his bright, expressive eyes. He immediately beelines it to Asher on the sofa, plopping himself between him and Callum.
Asher’s hand moves in rhythmic strokes as he pets the dog’s fur. His entire face radiates affection and joy as he looks down at his furry friend. The room fills with silence until the muffled sounds from the foyer between Eden and Catalina become clearer.
“It’s not your business to be asking me such questions,” Eden says, and I can sense the tension in her voice.
“I’m only reminding you what happened last time.”
“I’m a grown woman, Catalina.”
