Page 112 of Porter's Angel
“Wait,” Nash said. Porter turned, seeing his twin’s expression turn protective. “Take my shades.”
“What? Why?”
“Because you look like me, and I don’t know if you noticed, but I’ve been going viral lately with a certain little lady, and you’re at her concert.”
“I already figured that out, buddy.” Porter let out a grim laugh. Nash had no idea what a nightmare it had been to get through this crowd. “And yeah, your fans are relentless,” he agreed. He tried to figure out a way that he could use that to his advantage.
“So, this’ll help.” Nash pushed his aviators at him.
Porter took them, momentarily distracted by the touching gesture… of course, Nash was never thoughtful, so what was this really about? He slid the sunglasses on. “What about you?”
“I’ll figure it out.” Nash pressed his brother’s arm and left in the other direction, far too abruptly not to think that he wasn’t also up to something. Porter hesitated for a moment, watching him. Now that he knew that Cadence was safe, he should figure out how to keep Nash that way too. Watching his brother from a distance, he noticed Nash pick up his phone. The light from the screen lit up the most sober expression that he’d ever seen on that familiar face. Here and there, Porter noticed others from the crowd watching their smartphones too.
Something was going down. A murmur rippled through the crowd. Whatever it was, it wasn’t good.
Brushing past a group next to him, he listened in on their conversation.“Emily! Emily and Nash… it was all fake?”
“Yeah. Listen to this video that just got leaked. She admits it herself!”
“They were dating each other to sell more records? Are you serious? Who does that?”
Who did indeed?
Porter should’ve known that Nash was caught up in his own troubles, and it was his usual recklessness that got him there. No wonder West didn’t want to “bother” him with the serious stuff. The complaints grew louder around them.
And still who had leaked this footage? Lacy had talked about his revenge. Was this it?
Porter groaned and dialed West, who went straight to business as soon as he picked up. “Did you find her yet?” West asked.
“She’s by the entrance,” Porter said. “I told her to stay put until I get there. Hey!” He just remembered his latest grievance. “You said that Nash wasn’t supposed to be here.”
“Where is he?” West’s breathless question took Porter aback. It almost sounded like he cared.
“He’s by the vendor tents, near the sound production platform. So far, no sign of Lacy or Crawley and Stein. I didn’t even warn Nash about them. He’s still in sight. I can go back and get him.”
“No,” West said quickly. “I’ve got it. I’m coming for him now.”
Porter nodded and moved through the crowd to get to the entrance where Cadence said she was. “Also, there’s some video…”
“I know,” West said dryly. “Lacy threatened to release that blackmail footage. I guess he followed through.”
At the worst possible moment. Nash’s superfans were about to turn into supercritics. Porter just hoped that the sunglasses would be enough to keep them back from him. Had Nash known what would happen?
Judging by the angry scowls, the lame disguise would be theonlything keeping him safe. “It’s going to make this a whole lot more difficult than it needs to be,” Porter said. “These crowds are getting ugly.”
“I’m on it. Find Cadence.”
Right… because West thought she was the key to getting to Lacy. “I’mnotputting her in danger, West. Once I find her, we’re out of here.”
“Good luck with that. I’ll come meet you as soon as I find Nash.”
Porter ground his teeth at his brother’s superior attitude. “Make it quick. We’re in real trouble here.”
***
Emily played her heart out on the stage above them, belting out the chorus of her new hit, “Little Miss Small Town.”
Cadence watched her with a mixture of dread and admiration.