The Girl's Got Secrets (Forbidden Men #7)(74)

We’d just arrived at the Grenada where the band Sticks had named was on stage, already performing.

“Yeah, I did. I said two other groups would be playing tonight before us,” I called over the blaring sound.

“But you didn’t specify that Fish ’N’ Dicks’s would be one of them.”

I frowned at him, wondering why he sounded so pissed. Then I shrugged. “I don’t see the big deal. Their song ‘Tomorrow’s Promise’ is kick-ass.”

That comment seemed to catch my drummer off guard before he said, “Really?” as if I’d just complimented his outfit. Then he suddenly straightened his shoulders and cleared his throat. “Their lead singer’s an *.”

I only laughed. “If *s bugged me, I never would’ve made a band with Gally in it.”

“Huh?” Gally glanced over, only hearing his name.

Remy glanced at the bass guitarist and promptly turned back to me. “Good point.” And he shut up about it from that point on...until we actually ran into the other band backstage as they were coming off and we were preparing to go on after the second group sang.

Yeah, I said that right. We were the grand finale performance. Boo-yah.

“Well, well, well, if it isn’t Non-Castrato,” the lead singer said as he spotted the four of us together. I think his name was something Fisher, but at the moment, his given name escaped me. “It’s Hart, right?”

When I nodded, not letting him know I didn’t remember his name in return, I simply said, “Hey, man. What’s up?”

He slid his gaze to Remy, who I felt tense beside me. “Not much. Heard you guys had to get a new drummer. The last one did...what again? Went to jail for burning his entire family in a house fire, was it?”

“He was asking where you lived, too,” Remy spat back.

Gally started hooting at his burn, which got Holden to chuckling too.

I sent Remy a behave glare, but he was ignoring me, narrowing his eyes on the guy with the fish tattoo taking up half his face.

“Who the f*ck are you?” Fish Boy demanded, scowling at my drummer.

And my drummer scowled right back. “None of your f*cking business.”

The two stepped toward each other as if to start brawling then and there, so I put up my hand between them. “Hey, hey, hey. We’re here to play tonight, fellas. Not brawl.”

Remy immediately blew out a breath and retreated, but the other guy kept glaring.

“Your drummer has a serious attitude problem.”

“He’s fine,” I assured him, patting his chest to send him on his way. “Good job tonight.”

Finally pacified, Fish-face sniffed at us and whirled away to storm off.

“What the hell?” I hissed to Remy as soon as he was gone. It was usually Gally I had to worry about acting up and getting into a fight.

He shrugged and glanced away. “I just hate that bastard,” he mumbled.

I lifted my eyebrows. “And you actually know him, because he didn’t seem to know you.”

Remy glanced at me. “I...I know a girl who dated him...and royally got screwed over by him. To say the least, I’m not a fan.”

“Okay, fine,” I relented. “Just warn me next time you’re going to get mouthy with an opposing band so I’ll be prepared.”

“Well, if I’d known he was going to be here—”

“Fine. Fine.” I lifted my hands. “And I’ll warn you if we ever play in the same venue with them again.”

“Thank you.” He sent me one last pouty glance and that was that.

We had our turn on stage, played our hearts out, and left the crowd screaming and begging for more. As Gally, Heath and Remy started for the back room that had been assigned to just us for the evening, the owner of the club stopped me with a cash payment.

I grinned at the money and told him we’d love to come back again when he invited us. I tried not to worry about my Forbidden friends. All the guys had bitched and moaned when they’d learned I wouldn’t be there again for another karaoke night. They hated having to deal with all the technical issues that I usually took care of.

Pick had told them all to shut up because my new gigs were big opportunities for me, but I worried about him too. He’d helped me get started, given me more opportunities than anyone, and here I felt as if I was abandoning him.

I knew he wouldn’t want me to be that way, though. It was strange having a family member who only wanted what was best for me. Made me wish I could do more for him.

Shaking those thoughts away, I hurried back to the guys, who looked as if they were already plastered as they passed around a complimentary bottle of Grey Goose that had been left in our room.

“And there’s the man of the hour,” Remy called, lifting the bottle in cheers. “Everyone give it up for Asher Hart.” He made the sound of a roaring crowd before taking a big slug.

“Watch it, you greedy bastard,” Gally complained, stealing the vodka mid-gulp so that Remy ended up spilling some down his chin.

“Fucker,” he told Gally as he wiped the back of his hand over the leak. Then he grinned glassy-eyed at me. “What’s up, boss?”

No idea why he called me boss, but I lifted the cash we’d made and fanned my face with it. “It’s payday,” I announced.