Page 19 of Savage Salvation

“No.” He cuts me off, then hesitates for a moment before speaking. “I’m sorry for not helping you this morning. I should’ve done something.”

“It’s all right. Really.” And it is. I don’t want to be the girl who needs some knight in shining armor swooping in for a heroic save. Stabbing the bastard felt much better. “I don’t need you to rescue me or my car.”

“No, you don’t. But I shouldn’t have sold you out, either.” His head hangs as he crams the envelope into his pocket and joins Cruz in the studio. Spotting the defeat and guilt weighing on Isaac makes me hate Gage more. How does one person cause so much destruction? And all for shits and giggles, or at least that’s my guess. Or maybe it’s out of boredom. Surely the prick can find a hobby that doesn’t include terrorizing humanity.

Ugh, I’m sick of thinking about him. Doing my best to put him and his problematic persona out of my headspace, I get to practice. I don’t like being the only one who’s missing out of the band I’m filling in for. Only. It feels like our band when I walk in and join the guys. It’s always felt great to play alongside them, but I don’t want it to become something that I’ll miss. But I know. It already is.

14

Kinsley

Wicked Riot has definitely had a routine this week that started Monday when the guys and I grabbed a bite to eat after practice wrapped up and the store closed for the night. We’re heading into our Thursday night supper at RD’s, but tomorrow it will be altered since we have a show.

“I think we should lead with our song and add more to the lineup.” Cruz shovels ice cream from his banana split into his mouth as he repeats his theory. Again.

Isaac and Cruz have been debating the set list all week, so I wait for Isaac to retort with his usual response. And he does.

“No. We need to get the crowd to hear our sound, get them sucked in with the covers before we play a song they’ve never heard. Let them fall in love with us playing the classics before we spring something on them, or they’ll immediately decide to not give us a chance. The covers are an easy sell with our sound.”

“It’s not our sound. Even if we put a twist on it, it’s still another group’s music. We need to get our material out there,” Cruz adds, to which Benji agrees—and he doesn’t speak up often.

Isaac looks across the booth at me. “What about you? What’s your vote?”

Do I have a vote? Do I even want one? I’m happy as long as I’m playing. Originals, classics, anything in between. But I have to agree with Cruz on this. “I think adding the originals are a good idea. We really should get the crowd to hear our sound.”

“‘Our sound,’” Isaac cackles, flinging a half-eaten fry onto his plate. “Your vote shouldn’t even count since you still have one foot out the door.”

“You asked for my opinion, and I’m sure you’d want it to count had I agreed with you.” I don’t know what’s been up with him recently, but he’s been so hot and cold that I think I’d prefer the drunken reckless flirt who kissed me over the sullen, mood-swinging mope.

“It’s not even that big of a deal.” Isaac’s mood swerves to the lighter side.

Cruz amps up. “It is a big deal. Some of us need and want this as more than a hobby.”

Isaac keeps a flat, unbothered demeanor. “It’s not strictly a hobby for me. I just don’t think it’s that big of a deal.”

Benji chimes in, “So, let’s test it out for a few shows. If it seems to work, we’ll stick with it. If not, we’ll revert back.”

Cruz and Isaac both agree, and I’m appreciative of Benji’s simple solution because everyone seems to chill after the decision is made. And everyone is having a great time until I hear Isaac curse under his breath. My eyes quickly take in what—or more like who—he’s spotted when I glance over my shoulder.

Gage. Along with a few other shitbags from Sacred Creed. Great. The lunatic had chilled out since our “fun” time on Monday when I injured him. I’d like to assume it had finally sunk in that I wasn’t another one of his thickheaded pissants, but I know better. Defying him had wounded more than his leg. His ego took a hard blow too. The only blow he’ll be getting from me.

Whoever the girl is walking beside him looks like she’d be happy to indulge him with a blow right here in the diner as her grimy hands touch him at every opportunity. But he brushes her off in favor of talking to Ryan as their group walks to the back of the eatery and slides into the oversize corner booth. It’s both fortunate (so I can keep an eye on the monster) and unfortunate (because his steely eyes won’t leave me be) that their table is in my view.

“We should go.” Isaac motions for Benji to stand but he continues eating, looking to Isaac curiously. And it is curious, I’ll give him that, because Isaac seems a little panicked.

“We’ll catch up with you later if you want to head out, but I’m not finished yet. And Kinsley is still working on her dessert.” He motions to the apple pie I’ve only taken one bite from. Regardless, though, as good as it is I debate on heading out too.

“What’s wrong?” Cruz asks, catching on to the tension-filled vibe radiating from Isaac and me.

Clearly, we’re both uptight about the ticking time bomb in the corner booth. It can go either way—another nonissue dud, like he’s been the last few days, or he could go on the warpath, destroying everything at any second.

When Isaac and I remain silent, Cruz speaks up. “Y’all know we’re gonna have these spats often, right? That’s what families do. And we’re definitely a family.”

I cringe at the word family. I don’t want to be a family. Because Isaac is correct in his evaluation of me. I do still have one foot out the door in an attempt to make it easier to say goodbye to my old life when it’s finally time to start my new one.

And the part I’m looking most forward to putting behind me sits across the mostly empty diner. “I bet she’s let them run a train on her. No question.” Ryan’s sickening sneer stays pinned on me, ensuring I understand he’s meant for me to hear that and the other crude remarks he continues saying.

When my eyes flick to Gage, he doesn’t look quite as entertained by talks of my sexual encounters as Ryan. He looks more pissed off than anything as he gawks at Cruz who takes note of the unavoidable cackling, and undoubtedly puts together the sudden tension from Isaac and me.