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“Good to hear. Scars don’t make you who you are, Bowie,” Diamond said. “It’s what’s inside that does. You’re a fantastic guitarist with a lot to offer the world. If anyone shuns you for your scars, they’re not worth having in your life.”

“Here! Here!” Those of us with a drink in hand raised them. “I’ve been telling you that forever.”

“Yeah, well when you’re the size of Diamond, I’ll listen,” Bowie knocked my shoulder. Diamond nearly choked on his beer.

“Pressley,” Diamond called out. Pressley was buried in his makeshift office space, typing away. “Let’s take a walk.”

Bowie’s eyes widened and Pressley winked to calm him down. This was likely about Claude and not either of them.

“Hey Bowie, I talked to Seltzer and we wanted to see if you were down for a jam session while we’re in Vegas?” Josh said.

“Wait, what? Really?” Bowie was as shocked as I was, but Daddy already told me he had plans for us and I couldn’t wait to see what they were.

“What am I, chopped liver?” Stoli shook his head. “Always a bride’s maid, never a bride.”

“Excuse me, sir, last time I checked we were married.” Poor Joey, that guy put up with some serious shit from his hubby. But much like Bowie and I, they’d been friends their entire lives.

“Ha, yeah. Wrong metaphor. But seriously, why wasn’t I invited?”

Josh blinked, then blinked some more before he pulled out his phone and tapped out what I guessed was a message to Seltzer. Seconds later, Stoli’s phone rang.

“What the fuck, Seltzer?” Hearing one side of this convo I could only guess what the other well-known smartass was saying. “So, you can still ask. I’d love to hang. Alright, see you then. It’s a date, boys.”

Joey groaned. “Good luck, to all of you. I’m hanging poolside at Casa de Rhône y Ely.”

“Oh yeah, that’s where we’re all meeting,” Josh added.

“Great, there goes my me time.” Man, Joey can’t catch a break. “Well, at least Ely’s feeding us.” He had a point there. So far the meals have been exceptional. If they were healthy that was an added bonus.

No matter what was planned it was like Daddy and I had a mini vacation and with this being my first time in Vegas, I was game for just about anything during our weeklong break. We could’ve flown back home, but why? We got to hang with more band brothers, take in the Vegas sights, and whatever else he had planned for us.

Vegas, here we come!

Chapter Ten

Wolf

Owe! Fuck! Goddamnit.

Every step. Every inhale. The twinge in my back grew worse as I carried the final piece of equipment to the truck with my team. This was the last thing I needed. Yes, I knew my ass was supposed to be coordinating and not lifting as much as I did each night, but it wasn’t in me to hang back.

Even with the final piece accounted for, I hobbled back to the stage to check every inch of it to ensure that we hadn’t left so much as a cord behind us.

Nope. Not a one. The crew had done their jobs as thoroughly as they always did. We could officially consider this job to be wrapped up. Good. Because my bunk was screaming my name while my back not-so gently hollered its own request for hot water and a heat pack. One thing was for certain, there would be no fun with my boy tonight.

All of the Imminent guys had joined Claude in the pit during Chaotic’s show tonight. Whether it was to keep Claude from getting into trouble again, or because they’d come down off the stage too hyped up to settle down, I wasn’t sure. Tony had caught my eye and made sure I knew where he was going to be, Scythe was right there with him, Bowie and Tibby. I’d seen Harley pass by, glued to Claude’s side, the drummer bobbing and weaving past people like a god damned impatient teenager. He’d just better hope he didn’t bump into anyone moving equipment or he’d have me on his ass. Trust me when I say he’d regret it as much as he had pissing off Diamond.

Laughing and clean, my boy bounced over to me, smelling like whatever woodsy body wash he’d picked up this time. I braced myself to be pounced on, back protesting the sudden stop in movement. My Little Wren surprised me though. Stopping before he reached me, while eyeing the still open truck that was waiting for my final approval.

“Are you done, Daddy? Can I hug you now?” Tony asked sweetly.

“I’d love a hug but…oof…” he crashed into me then. I should have led with be careful instead of groaning, Oh fuck in his ear when he squeezed me tight.

He jumped away from me like I’d scalded him, eyes wide, eyeing me up and down with a horrified look on his face.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hug so hard,” he yelped, lower lip trembling, right before he lowered his gaze to stare at his feet.

“Hey, no, I just tweaked my back is all,” I explained, running my hands up and down his arms. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”