“But these last couple of years—”
“Were shit,” Mark cut him off. He shrugged again, his words going quieter. “Yeah, things were bad, man. Fucking brutal. But just because my world stopped moving, didn’t mean I expected yours to stop, too. You’ve been chasing after this for years.” He cracked a smile. “Believe me, I’d knock you on your ass if you gave that up.”
After a show in LA two years ago, Baz and Lyrik had gotten themselves into a ton of trouble. Baz had ended up behind bars for the better part of a year while Lyrik had fought to piece his life back together after he’d lost his family because of the mistakes he’d made that night.
That whole time, Zee knew Mark had struggled. Knew he’d been getting lost to those dark places more and more often. Pumping his veins full to cover up the fear and loss.
It’d seemed impossible for Zee to reach him.
But over the last year since Baz had gotten out, Sunder had regrouped for a comeback.
Their label had honored their contract, the same as their new manager, Anthony di Pietro. They’d laid down a new album and had been out on tour promoting it. Their popularity had seemed to gain speed with each day that passed.
Between those two things and Zee’s own crazy schedule, he felt like he hardly had the time to connect with Mark.
But Mark was right.
Nothing could lessen their bond, because there they were, sitting under the stars. Same as they’d done when they were kids.
It was like a day hadn’t passed.
But that didn’t mean things hadn’t changed.
Zee hesitated before he muttered what he knew sounded close to a confession. “Met someone.”
Mark’s attention jerked his direction, eyes wide. “No shit.”
Zee rubbed a knuckle across his upper lip as he was hit with another rush of affection. But this was an entirely different kind. This was something that flooded his stomach and pulsed in his chest.
“No shit,” he said.
“Is it serious?” Mark asked.
Zee lifted his head to meet his brother’s stare head on. “I love her, man. Like crazy.”
Mark laughed under his breath, grin pulling at the corner of his mouth. “So my baby brother went and took the tumble, huh?”
A short laugh rippled free, and Zee shook his head. “Guess I did.”
Truth was, he’d tumbled hard.
Mark’s brows narrowed in speculation, the words on his tongue full of the same kind of ribbing he’d given Zee for years. “And you’re just gonna give up on the girls that flock to you every time you walk through my door? All that easy lovin’? It’s like you’re the rock star with the way they go all starry eyed every time you decide to show. Tell me you aren’t gonna miss it.”
“Don’t miss it,” he said. Honestly. “Being with Julie is…easy.”
The best thing he’d ever done.
Mark chuckled and sank deeper into his chair. “Falling in love is the easy part.”
He took another drag of his cigarette and turned back to the sky. “It’s picking up all the pieces in the aftermath that’s the hard part.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Zee
I jerked to a stop a little too quickly at the curb. So maybe I was still fuming that I had to leave Alexis’s warmth to deal with this bullshit tonight.
For just one goddamned night, I wanted to pretend.
The second the texts had started coming through, I’d wanted to put my fist through a wall.
Last thing I wanted was to look at that good, good girl and give her some lame ass excuse about an old friend needing me.
But I’d just been asking for this, hadn’t I? Taking the bits I shouldn’t?
My passenger door flew open.
“Where is he?” They were the first words that left my mouth.
Anger ate through my spirit, this vicious ache that took me whole when I looked over at Veronica sliding into the front seat of my car.
I’d taken a cab home from Alexis’, grabbed my car, and drove straight there.
She scoffed. “I don’t even get a hello? Always such the gentleman.”
Yeah. Because she was the epitome of class.
“Think we’re a little past that point, don’t you?” It was all a sneer.
She rolled her eyes. “Whatever.”
“Where is he?”
“At my mom’s.”
“Good.”
A scowl twisted her face. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Was she really that clueless or was she just playing me?
“It means at least I know he’s bein’ taken care of. That he’s safe.”
“I’m his mother.”
I wanted to shout at her to act like it then. Demand to know what had changed that she’d all of a sudden think it was fine to take him into that hellhole.
But once I’d stopped to think about it, there’d been warning signs. She’d always been manipulative, doing whatever she had to do to slant things in her favor, like she got off on making me suffer. Previously, it’d never come at the cost of Liam’s safety and happiness.
Over the last couple of years, I’d felt that sliding. Maybe I just hadn’t wanted to fathom the idea of her slipping into her old ways. Truth was, I probably should have been expecting it all along.
This wasn’t the first time I’d been in the same situation, driving across town to meet her in the middle of the night. She’d texted, saying she needed to see me immediately. It was an “emergency”.
I rubbed a hand over my face to try to clear all the bitterness.
“You ready to tell me what this bullshit is all about? It’s three in the morning, Veronica, and it doesn’t look like you’re bleeding.”
So maybe it was a dick move.
A frown pulled tight across her brow. “You’re supposed to be here for me.”
Right. Because we were just one big, happy family.
“Which is why I’m here. So spill.”
She dropped her gaze, fiddled with her fingers. The innocent, helpless act. “I need rent.”
Of course she did.
My laughter was hostile. “Funny, seems like there’s a whole lot of money that went missing.”
She shifted in the seat. “My momma needed help.”
My jaw clenched. How many times had she used that excuse? Anthony had his guy digging, seeing if it was true.
“How much?”
“A couple thousand would be good…to cover rent and utilities. Food and stuff.” She was all defenseless and forlorn, playing it up.
Goddamn it.
I bit down on the edge of my bottom lip, drawing blood, wanting to fucking lash out. Instead, I sat forward a fraction and dug out my wallet. Already knew what her big emergency would be, so I was prepared.
It wasn’t like this was something new.
I pulled out a fat stack of cash. “I’ll give you a thousand. Your regular allowance will be landing in your account next week. Make this last.”
She pouted before she caught my expression. The rage that floated just beneath the surface. Waiting to snap.
She snatched it out of my hand. “You make me sound like a child.”
Then stop acting like one.
I gripped the steering wheel, and she reached out and touched my cheek.
Too softly.