Page 31 of Dare to Rock

Tyler blew out a frustrated breath. “Don’t change the subject. I’m here to talk about you.”

Avery shook her head, feeling like she was missing something. Ella knew Tyler, just like she knew the rest of Avery’s siblings, from the two weeks every summer and occasional holidays she’d spent visiting. Had this just been embarrassment? Or something more?

“Avery, I’m worried about you,” he said, his voice softening. “You have a history of anxiety—”

“And I’m on daily medication.” And had Xanax for emergencies like today. “I’m fine.” Or she had been until Grey’s life had exploded around her. But she didn’t want her brother to worry. “I’m not nine years old anymore,” she added as a means of reassuring them both.

Tyler ran a hand through his dark hair. “Between the picture in the paper, the nasty insinuation about breaking up the band, and now the photographers stalking your apartment, you’re in the center of the storm. And considering I do security for a living, I should know.”

Another loud knock sounded on her door.

“Ask who it is.”

Avery shot Tyler a disgusted look. Did he really think she didn’t know how to take care of herself?

Instead of asking, she looked through the peephole and groaned. “It’s Grey,” she said to Tyler and winced inwardly.

The very last thing she needed was a confrontation between Grey and her overprotective brother. But it seemed that was exactly what she was about to get.

Chapter Six

Grey couldn’t believe he had to cut through paparazzi to get into Avery’s building. If he’d known, he’d have found out whether there was a back entrance or brought Marco. The assholes yelled rude questions and tried to crowd him, and it took too damn long to make his way inside. His stomach churned as he imagined what Avery was thinking or feeling. She hated the overzealous female fans, and she’d never been one for large groups of people in general. He just wasn’t sure how she’d handle this. Nor did it help to know that getting rid of him would be the easiest option.

He knocked on her door, unsure if she was home. She hadn’t answered her phone when he’d called on his way over.

The door opened wide. One look at her face and he swore out loud. “I’m sorry,” he said before she could utter a word.

“You damn well should be, Kingston.”

He glanced over her shoulder to find one of her brothers standing behind her, arms crossed over his chest as he glared at Grey.

Avery, her face already pale and makeup free, groaned and gestured for him to come inside. “You remember my brother Tyler,” she said.

Grey inclined his head at the pissed-off man. Tyler, the brother who’d been in the army, who ran the security company, and who rightfully hated Grey’s guts.Good to see you, man, wasn’t going to cut it.

“What do you want?” Tyler asked.

Avery turned to her brother. “I have enough to deal with without you making things worse. If you can’t be civil to Grey, you can leave.”

Well, at least she wasn’t throwing him out yet. “I came as soon as I saw the article. I had no idea the paps had found you.”

“Well, now you know,” Tyler said. “And you showing up here is only going to make things worse. We’re going to have to put a security detail on you,” he said to Avery.

She shook her head. “No way. I can’t live like that.”

Grey remained silent as the siblings went at it. Until he knew where everyone’s head was, he wouldn’t step in.

“Well, can you live like this?” Tyler swept an arm toward the window. “Going through that crowd by yourself every time you want to come and go?”

“No, I don’t want that.” Avery clasped her hands around her forearms in a defensive gesture that gutted Grey.

He’d put her in this position. Somehow, he needed to get her out. Though he might agree with Tyler about security, her brother’s strong-arm tactics were only hurting her more, taking away the feelings of control she was holding onto.

Grey shot Tyler a warning look and moved in, leading her to the couch in her living room. He sat down beside her, keeping her close. “Listen, your brother’s right. We have to talk about security for you, but we can figure out something that will make you comfortable.”

“None of this would be necessary if you’d just disappear,” Tyler added. “She could stay with one of us for a little while, they’d forget all about her, and that would be that.”

Grey stiffened, bristling at her brother’s words, which had too much truth in them for his peace of mind.