Page 30 of Dare to Rock
“Asshole,” Grey muttered. The man made money off them any way he could and knew that any media attention sold music.
Grey looked at his e-mail next, scrolling through until something that looked like fan mail stopped him cold. His e-mail went through Simon’s agency. Always. Grey’s personal address was off-limits, and he went to great lengths to keep it that way.
Chills traveled through him as he read:
Dear Lover,
You betrayed me. You know we are meant to be together, but you are fucking that whore. I saw her leave your apartment this morning. That should be me. It will be me. I tried to be nice, to send her messages on her blog, but she isn’t getting the hint to leave you alone. Don’t worry. I will take care of things so we can finally be together.
Love, now and forever,
Emerald
Emerald. Emerald. He racked his brain for a connection, and suddenly he remembered one. At the fan event Simon had arranged before their last few concerts in Miami, Grey had been in a particularly good mood, since their touring days were coming to an end. He’d had his game face on, flirting with female fans, keeping them happy and engaged.
A woman had approached him wearing a sparkling green shirt, extremely low cut, her red hair sprayed hard. She’d leaned over the table, getting too close as she’d asked for an autograph. Marco had stepped forward, and Grey had known he had to get the woman out of there fast.
He’d winked at her and asked, “What’s your name, or should I just call you Emerald, to match your shirt... and your eyes.” Corny, but she’d eaten it up.
Unfortunately he’d had to sign her chest and not a photo, after which she’d deliberately flashed not just her tit but also her nipple before Marco had grabbed her elbow and escorted her to the next guard at the exit. It wasn’t a sight Grey wanted to remember, and he’d put it and her out of his mind almost immediately. But clearlysherecalled the meeting much differently and put much more meaning into it. Now all the crazy in his life was invading Avery’s.
Grey swore out loud. Could this fucking day get any worse? It was like the universe was conspiring to keep them apart, placing every potential obstacle in their path. This Emerald chick had been stalking and sabotaging Avery’s blog, and to make matters even worse, the media had painted a target on Avery’s back by accusing her of breaking up the band. The exact kind of publicity she sought to avoid.
He didn’t know if she’d seen the article yet. If not, he wanted to tell her in person. If she had, he needed to get over to her place and exercise some damage control as soon as possible.
***
While Ella showered and finished packing in preparation for overseeing a two-week photo shoot on a Caribbean island, Avery returned concerned phone calls. When disaster and insanity struck, the Dare family banded together... well, all of them except her father. Apparently he only surfaced when he needed Avery’s help for his other kids. Checking on her after she became front-page news must not be a priority for him, she thought, pushing the painful reality away. She didn’t need him. She had the rest of her clan circling the wagons. Even her half siblings checked in, with Alex threatening to kick Grey’s ass—an act she didn’t need or want—and Jason and Sienna each offering her a place to hide out if things became too much.
Olivia and her mother had left messages for Avery on her cell and at home. She’d already called them back and promised she was dealing well with the publicity on her end. They didn’t have to know she’d already had a mini panic attack and taken her pills, or that crazy photographers were still camped outside her apartment. They’d just worry, and her mother had a wedding to plan, and her sister was pregnant. Neither needed added stress.
She’d called her brothers back too, reaching Ian and Scott but not Tyler. And that scared her because there was a very good chance Tyler would take one look at the article and, when he couldn’t immediately reach Avery on her cell, head right over.
A loud knock sounded on the door. “Avery, open up. It’s Tyler.”
“And right on time,” she muttered, letting her brother in.
“Jesus, there’s a massive group of paparazzi out there. Is this what being with that asshole is doing to your life?”
Tyler stood in the doorway, looking less than pleased and ready to take over, something she would not let happen. “If you want to talk to me, back off about Grey. That’s not going to help matters.”
“Who’s causing all the racket?” Ella asked.
Avery turned. Ella had joined them wearing a short silk bathrobe, towel drying her hair as she walked. “Tyler!” she stopped short and stared in shock. Her hand slowly lowered, and the towel dropped to the floor.
“Yes,” Avery said. “My bossy brother’s here to—”
“Check up on you,” Tyler said to Avery... but his gaze never wavered from Ella, whose cheeks turned a rosy shade of pink.
“You, go put some clothes on,” Tyler ordered her.
“Tyler!” Avery called him out for bossing Ella around in her own apartment.
Ella, meanwhile, frowned at him, then bent to retrieve her towel. Her robe gaped open, exposing her breasts, something she didn’t realize until a low growl came from Tyler’s throat.
Ella rose and glanced down. “Shit.” She spun around and stormed out of the room.
“What wasthatall about?” Avery asked her brother. “Are you trying to be an asshole today? Oh, wait, it just comes naturally.”