Say You Won't Let Go Google(24)

“Hold on, honey. Someone is at the door.” Emily puts the phone down, and I hear a deep voice in the background. Her face fills the screen a few seconds later. “Wade wants to talk to us,” she says, holding the phone so I can see both of them.

This can’t be good.

It’s been five days of quiet. I’d hoped…

“We had another delivery. This time it’s a file with photos.” He clears his throat and looks directly at Em. “I want you off this bus right now.”

“What?” she asks.

Wade takes the phone from Emily. “I’ll send you an email in ten minutes. I’m going to secure Emily and then I’ll fill you in.”

Anger, fear, and nervous energy floods me, demanding I get answers now, but I nod in agreement. Emily comes first.

“Get her safe, and I’ll be waiting for your call.”





Chapter Twelve


Emily



I’m shivering. No matter how many blankets Vince and Luke wrap around me, I can’t get warm. My fingers are frozen, and I can’t breathe.

He had a video camera in my bedroom.

“You’ll stay with us,” Luke says, trying to reassure me. “We’ll add more security to your team as well. Whatever you need, Emily.”

I need Cooper.

Wade is on the phone with him now. Cooper’s too angry to talk to me. The photos were graphic. I was naked in each one. He has photos of me after a shower from two days ago. Pictures of me talking on the phone with Cooper. Pictures that, in the wrong hands, could destroy my life.

I look at Luke with tears falling down my cheek. “Why me? Why now? I haven’t done anything to anyone. I’ve never flirted or given the illusion I was lookin’ for something. I’m just tryin’ to sing.”

He wraps his arms around my shoulders and rubs a hand up and down my back. “This isn’t your fault.”

“How does this happen, Luke? How is this person getting access to my bus?”

Vince gets to his feet and starts to pace. “It’s someone on the crew.”

Luke nods. “It’s the only thing that makes sense.”

I curl my legs tighter to my chest and rest my forehead on my knees. There are so many guys on the crew that it could be anyone. My mind searches for anyone that stands out, but it’s just a sea of faces that all blend together. For the most part, they’re all quiet and don’t pay me much attention. My stage setup is basically nothing.

My band uses Luke’s equipment since it’s too expensive to tow our own, and I don’t have any fancy lights or backdrops.

“I should leave,” I say, wiping another tear.

“Leave?” Luke pulls back. “You can’t leave. We have two months left and you’re gainin’ traction on the radio. If you quit, what happens then?”

Not even an hour ago, I was telling Cooper the same thing. But that was before I saw those photos.

The door opens, and I jump. Wade’s eyes meet mine, his features softening as he sees my tears. “I searched the bus. We got everything.”

“I can’t…”

Wade looks at Luke with the anger back in his eyes. “I’m taking her to the bus. I’ll be interviewing everyone on this tour. There will be full cooperation from your people, right?”

Vince moves closer. Both Luke and Wade look ready to punch the other. “My people will look at the crew.”

“And if the guy we’re looking for is one of your people?” Wade’s chest puffs out. He’s much taller than Luke, and I’m pretty sure he could snap him like a twig. Luke has the good sense to consider this, but then his jaw clenches in denial and Wade digs harder. “Your team hasn’t done a damn thing to protect Emily. They’re supposedly prescreening her mail, yet this is the second package to make it through.”

“Second?” I look up. “What do you mean the second package?”

He doesn’t spare a glance at me. Wade points his finger at Luke’s chest. “I’m the lead on this from now on. Your team reports to me until we find out who this fucker is, got it?”

I stand, letting the blankets fall to the floor. “What do you mean the second package?” I yell, pushing my way between them.

“Not now.”

“I’ll give you not now! I want to know what the hell is goin’ on! Someone isn’t stalking any of you. This person is after me. None of you get to decide what information I get or not.” I glance at all three of them with frustration. How dare they keep things from me? I thought this was the first time in over two weeks.

“We’ll talk about it all later,” Wade says through gritted teeth, and he looks back at Luke.

I stare at him, waiting. “Now.”

Wade’s eyes drop to mine, and he huffs. It’s clear that he’s used to obedience, but I don’t care. I want answers. This information should never have been kept from me. “Fine. You got flowers, but I handled it, and Cooper and I agreed it was best to wait until we had something substantial.”

“Oh, you did, did you?” I spit the words at him.

Unreal.

I grab my phone and glare at Wade. “Since you and Cooper decide everythin’, why don’t I give him a call and he can tell me what exactly I’m allowed to know. You two are ridiculous.”