Ransom(53)

My chest constricts a bit at his words. My dad could have been a big deal back in the day. He’d left his band over a fight with the lead singer—an argument over my mother. He’d given up his big break for her. And look at how she repaid him.

“We all know that, Dad. We want this just as bad as you do. I think we all… well, we hope someday you won’t have that regret either because you’ll look at what we’ve done and know it wouldn’t have been possible without you.”

His head snaps up, and I’m pretty sure there’s wetness in his eyes. I start to get really uncomfortable. Dad clears his throat, a signal that he feels the same.

“I’ll see ya in the morning,” I say, turning again.

“Okay, son.”

***



My brothers and I are pretty much on a high from the show and the VMA news. Our good mood has carried over to the girls and Levi.

Levi arranged for a limo. Cash and Reed supplied it with champagne and whiskey from the dressing room, and they’re both well on their way to being tipsy by the time we get to a club downtown.

“I am so ready to get dah-runk tonight!” Cash yells, pouring champagne for the girls. “What about you, pretty Paige? You wanna get drunk?”

She laughs. “I think you’re already drunk.” She gently pushes his hand off her knee.

I’m impressed. She appears to be over the star-struck thing and is treating my brother just like any other drunk jerk she might meet.

“Good point,” Daisy adds. “Like, when are you not drunk, Cash?”

“Hey.” He pouts. “I am often not drunk.”

“Yeah, sure,” Reed says. “I don’t think you’ve been fully sober since before the tour started.”

“You guys are pansies,” Cash says mock-sadly, shaking his head. “Am I the only one here who realizes that we are fucking rock stars?”

“You’re fucking a rock star, Cash?” Karen asks. “Who?”

Everyone laughs, including Cash, though he also flips her off.

We all pile out, Benny in the lead. He, Frank, and two bouncers form a loose wall between the limo and the door of the club, but many of the people in line recognize us. A few of the girls start screaming, and I instinctively put my hand on Daisy’s elbow to guide her ahead of me. I don’t like being this close to fans, not after the last time one got a hold of me.

It was back in Miami, right when things were starting to blow up, and we hadn’t yet seen the need to hire security. One night, we were accosted coming out of the hotel. A girl grabbed me, pulling so hard on my wrist with her talon-like nails that I had a bruise the next day. In the pulling and shouting that followed, I ended up getting knocked down and kicked pretty hard by a stiletto. It had been a pretty frightening experience; we hired Benny and Frank the next day.

“You okay?” Daisy asks, looking over at me as we enter the club.

“Yeah. Just didn’t want you to get separated and swallowed up in the crowd.”

She smiles, and I realize how close she’s standing. The side of her breast grazes my arm, and a shiver runs down my back. When she looks up at me, her lips are only a few inches from mine. It would be so easy to just lean down and—

“Come on, Daltrey,” Frank says from behind me. “Let’s keep up with your brothers.”

I shake myself and hurry my pace, trying to ignore the way Daisy seems to be keeping her body pressed against mine. The club is crowded, but we’re attracting a lot of attention. Frank is right; we need to stay with the group.

I catch sight of Benny standing beside a raised platform and guide Daisy in that direction. My brothers, Levi, and the other girls are sitting in a sprawling booth on the platform. We join them, Daisy sliding in first to sit next to Paige. There’s not much room left for me, and my leg is pressed right up against hers when I take my seat.

A waitress already stands at the table, smiling, a bottle of Patròn in her hands. “For the table,” she says, placing it in front of Cash.

He gives his best cocky smile and passes her a hundred-dollar bill.

“You think you’re such hot shit!” I have to shout over the music.

He flips me off. “I am hot shit. I’m going to be on the VMAs, baby!”

“Yeah.” I gave him my biggest smirk. “Standing behind me.”

“Now, now, boys,” Levi says, holding up his hands. “I propose a toast.”

Daisy takes the bottle and starts pouring shots for everyone. She has to lean across the table to do it, and I’m having the hardest time not staring at her ass.

Once we all have a glass in front of us, Levi raises his. “To Ransom,” he says. “For coming a long fucking way.”