Page 188 of Fame & Rhythm

“Yeah,” he says. “Just one quick stop first.”

I nod.

“Let’s go.”

Chapter Thirty-Five

Annie

We spent the next few hours getting inked, and while it stung a little, Aston was the one complaining that it hurt like a bitch. To be fair, he had a lot more done than I did, but still, I handled it better. Girls definitely have a higher pain threshold.

By the end of the session, though, the artwork was finished, and it looked incredible. There’s something powerful about knowing we’ve marked ourselves like that—permanently. Watching Aston sit through all that pain to show me how much he loves me hit me right in the chest, and I know nothing will ever take that moment away from us.

We spent the night in Aston’s hotel room, making love slowly and quietly into the early hours. Ella’s room was right next door, and at one point, I heard giggling, then sounds that definitely weren’t giggling, which made me laugh softly into Aston’s shoulder. It’s nice knowing she’s experiencing something real too, even if a small part of me worries that Danger might hurt her. Dad will absolutely kill him if he does.

I’m curled into Aston, his fingers tracing slow, lazy patterns along my arm, when a scream suddenly cuts through the quiet. My eyes snap open at the same time his do.

“What the hell?” he mutters, already sitting up as raised voices follow the scream.

I push myself upright and listen more closely. “Wait… is that Ella?” I ask, and he nods immediately. “Shit.” I jump out of bed, scrambling for clothes while my heart starts to race. I drag on my panties, then pants, pulling a shirt over my head as quickly as I can, my hands shaking slightly as I move.

“Aston, hurry,” I urge, already heading for the door while he pulls his shirt on behind me.

The tension outside is thick, heavy with anger, and I don’t even think as I reach for the handle. I just act. We fling the door open and freeze at the scene unfolding in front of us.

Dad has Danger pinned against the wall, his fist twisted in the front of his shirt, forearm pressed hard against his throat. Ella stands beside them, wrapped in nothing but a sheet, desperately trying to pull Dad off him, while Danger is completely naked and struggling to breathe.

“Holy shit,” I breathe, already moving forward. “Dad, let him go!”

Mum appears from her room at the same time a few other doors crack open, curious onlookers gathering as the situation escalates.

Dad turns sharply at my voice, fury flashing in his eyes, until his gaze shifts between Aston and me. “Wait… were you two in a room together as well?”

He releases Danger, who drops to the floor, gasping, while Ella immediately crouches beside him. But the moment is short-lived, because Dad’s attention snaps straight back to us.

I step in front of Aston without thinking, blocking him as Dad moves toward us. “Stop right there,” I snap, pointing at him. “You do not get to be angry at Aston.”

He keeps coming, but Mum reaches him first, grabbing his arm. “Colt, stop.”

“And you’re okay with this?” he demands, gesturing between us.

“They’re adults,” Mum replies calmly. “Annie and Aston are a couple—”

“What about Ella?” he cuts in sharply. “She’s not with him. I don’t need her—”

“Dad,” I interrupt, holding my ground. “We’re adults. That means relationships. That means tattoos. That means sex.”

He mutters under his breath, dragging a hand through his hair.

“And you don’t get to take that out on them,” I continue, my voice steady now. “If you’re angry, be angry at us, not them.”

He exhales hard and turns away, bracing his hands against the wall as he tries to get himself under control.

“I know this is hard—” I start, softening slightly.

“Wait.” He spins back suddenly. “What did you say about tattoos?”

Mum’s eyes flick straight to me, and I hesitate for a second before lifting my sleeve to show the ink.