Rock 01 - FRET (2 page)

“So — what? You think some Bible thumper wants to off him?”

“I don’t know what to think, but Gareth’s tires also were slashed and they cut up all his clothing.”

“Where did this happen?”

“On the tour bus; at his house.”

“Does he live alone? Did anyone see anything?”

“He lives by himself, yes, but it’s a heavily gated property. The tires were slashed at night.”

I looked over the notes again. Some were typed and others pieced together with letters cut from newspapers and magazines.

“Did you get these dusted for prints?”

“Do I look stupid?”

I raised a brow at him and he gave in first.

“Of course I did. They’re clean. Whoever did this wore gloves.”

“Okay, I need to know every damn little detail about who works for you and who is allowed near the guys, on and off the stage. I need everything and I need it ASAP.”

“I can do that.”

Gareth emerged from the other room with wet hair and jeans that clung to his narrow hips. He was shirtless and the colorful tattoos covering one arm drew my eyes. His chest was smooth, also tattooed. He wasn’t sporting six pack abs, but he was lightly muscled. I looked away before I got caught eyeballing my client.

“Gareth, why don’t you and Mr. Blaze talk about everything while I go get what he needs from me?”

“Sure.” Gareth nodded — somewhat sullenly, I thought.

“Okay, then. I’ll be right back.”

Paul left the room and I closed the door, locking it behind him. Gareth flinched at the sound and I turned to face him straight on.

“I’m here to protect you, not kill you. Always lock the door. Always. Got it?”

Gareth nodded and perched on the arm of the couch. He ran a shaky hand through his dark strands and eyed me skeptically.

“So, what is it you do, exactly?”

“Well, right now I’m on babysitting duty.”

“Don’t sound so happy about it,” Gareth snapped. “I know I’m not.”

“It’s not my usual thing, but I’ll be professional about it.”

“What is your usual thing?”

“Honestly?” I asked

Gareth nodded.

“I’m a former SEAL.”

“Look, I didn’t want this and I still don’t. So try to keep your gargantuan self out of my fucking way.”

“That might be hard to do.” I lifted both brows.

“We’re supposed to leave for the hotel soon.” Gareth stood and snatched his jacket from the arm of the couch. “Try not to step on me.”

I ignored him and crossed my arms.

“I’m waiting to speak to your limo driver and then we’ll head out. I need to have my things put in your room as well.”

“You’re staying in
my room with me?”

“It’s a suite, isn’t it?”

“Yeah.”

“Then I’ll take the couch. Your reputation will be intact, princess.” I gave him my best smartass smirk — which is awesome, I’ve been told.

He opened his mouth to respond but before he could get a word out the doorknob rattled, followed by a knock. I opened the door and peered at Paul.

“I’ve got the list you wanted.”

“Good. Let’s get this party started.”

~*~

Trying to figure out what to say to Gareth was a non-issue. I did my job and that was it. He bitched, whined and moaned that he had no privacy and asked if I’d be accompanying him to the bathroom. I did, just to piss him off. I sat on the couch as he hauled his hoodie on and then slipped his leather jacket over his shoulders.

“Going somewhere?” I drawled.

“Yes, I’m going with the band to the bar on the corner.”

I stood up and stretched. “Okay, let’s go.”

“You are
not
coming with me.”

I sauntered over and invaded his personal space.

“Oh, but I am. Until this is over, you don’t go anywhere without me.”

“You know what you remind me of?”

“I’m sure you’re going to tell me.”

“An STD.”

“Isn’t it weird how they all sound like flowers? ‘What a beautiful chlamydia!’”

“You’re a sick bastard.”

“Look at the fragile petals on that syphilis.”

“Fuck my life!” Gareth bellyached.

“When are you going to get it through your thick skull that I’m here to keep you alive? You think the person threatening you feels better after sending a few nasty notes? You think they’re finished? Not from what I read, Gareth. So I will be on your ass —”

“Like white on rice?”

“Use whichever unoriginal cliché you like.”

“People are going to know you’re my bodyguard. You won’t be able to blend in.”

“Tell them I’m your boyfriend. Now move it.”

I stood against the bar right next to Gareth as he and the rest of the band hung out and unwound. I eyed every single person in the bar, my gun tucked comfortably in my waistband, just in case.

“Hey!”

I shifted my gaze to the guy smiling at me. I searched his features and then put a name to the face.

“Jinx, right?”

“Yep. Just wanted to say thanks, you know? For watching out for Munchkin.”

“Munchkin?”

“Yeah, we all called him that when he was younger.”

Oh, I couldn’t wait to use that endearment.

“So, um. You think this shit is going to happen again? Ransom already wants to call off the other tour dates.”

“I’m here to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

“Dude, no offense? But I wouldn’t go anywhere near you in a dark
or
lit alley.”

“Good to know.”

“You ready for Los Angeles?”

“Do I have a choice?”

Jinx chuckled.

“You have to cut Gareth some slack. He’s used to being on his own. Sort of. Ransom is like a mama bear with her cub when it comes to Gareth.”

“When was the last threat against him?”

“Paul didn’t tell you?” Jinx raised a brow.

“I want to hear it from you guys.”

“Last week. A threatening letter said Gareth was going to burn.”

I did not like the sound of that at all. I eyed Gareth sideways. His smile lit up the whole damn bar.

Fuck.

I couldn’t afford to be thinking with my dick right now. This was a serious job and I needed to focus on that. I got an elbow to my side and turned back to Jinx, who was grinning from ear to ear.

“What?” I asked.

“You wouldn’t be the first guy to find Gareth sexy, you know.”

I opened my mouth and Jinx raised his hand.

“Just shut it, will ya? I can see that look of hunger in your eyes. Your secret is safe with me, Big Bird.”

“Well, that’s a new one.” I cocked a brow at him.

He shrugged and shot me a grin. “Jolly Green Giant?”

“Completely unoriginal.”

The guys whistled and clapped as Paul joined them. I excused myself and stood behind Gareth as they moved to the other side of the bar. Paul took out his phone and tapped the screen.

“Tomorrow it’s Los Angeles, then Vegas and then back to Arizona for some R&R. I expect you guys to be in top form tomorrow night. The amphitheater is sold out, so give them a great show. Our first leg of the European tour starts in England, so make sure you know where your passports are. Can’t have a repeat of last time.” Paul stared a hole through Rebel.

“What? I forgot where I put it, okay?” Rebel muttered.

“Now, let’s clear out of here and get some rest.” Paul clapped Ransom on the back.

I got a shove and Gareth looked up at me with what is best described as a sneer.

“Come on, King Kong.”

I rolled my eyes.

The hotel room was swanky, especially compared to the shitholes I’ve occupied. There was a sitting room and a huge master room off to the right. A set of swinging doors opened into a kitchen and everything looked like it came out of a catalog. I did a sweep of the entire suite before I threw myself on the couch and closed my eyes.

“No boogiemen under the bed?” Gareth drawled.

“Nope. If there were, I would have shot a hole the size of Texas in them.”

“How …nice.” Gareth strode across the room and went into the master room. “If you need anything, Sasquatch, don’t call me.”

I clapped softly and rolled to my side. “Night, Munchkin.”

I heard a gasp and then the door slammed shut.

~*~

I stood to the side of the stage as the band finished its last number. The concert was outside, at the Ford Amphitheatre, so I was on high alert. There were too many hiding places for someone out to cause harm. I kept my eyes on the crowd as the band did one last encore.

Gareth hadn’t spoken two words to me all day and I relished the blissful silence. He was very vocal with his brother, however. I’d caught a few conversations between the two of them and Gareth was
not
happy to have a chaperone.

A flash went off and the crowd gasped. I moved from my position on the stage and yanked Gareth back.

“What the fuck!” Ransom shouted.

I turned with Gareth in my arms as another flash went off, as well as a huge explosion. More of the band’s security moved into position as the crowd panicked and scattered in all directions.

“What the fuck is that?” I shouted.

“The pyrotechnics!” Paul thundered over the roar of the crowd.

I moved Gareth off the main stage and darted a look behind me. The spot where Gareth had just been standing raged with fire.

“Call the fire department!” I roared. I shoved Gareth in front of me until the curtains and pillars hid us completely. I looked him over carefully from head to toe.

“Are you okay?”

Gareth stood stock-still, his face almost translucent it was so pale. I noticed his guitar, somehow hanging loosely around his neck by what was left of the strap. The guitar was obliterated.

“Gareth!” I took him by his shoulders. “Talk to me!”

“Guitar’s wasted,” he managed lamely.

“Jesus! You’ll get a new one!” I pushed on my earpiece as I held him around his shoulders. “North side of the stage; get a limo here, now!”

Sirens filled the air as firetrucks headed to the amphitheater. I bundled Gareth into the limo. Reports came through my earpiece that the rest of the guys were accounted for and safely on their way to the hotel. I got the name of the lead fire investigator and asked him to call me once the scene was processed. As I leaned back in the seat, Gareth was softly petting the remains of his guitar.

“Favorite one?” I asked.

“It was Paul’s,” he said softly.

“Better the guitar than you.”

Gareth peered up at me though his lashes. “Some days that’s debatable, Hulk.”

I chuckled softly. “Hmm, that’s better than Jack the Giant.”

Gareth’s eyes widened. “You were eavesdropping?”

“I have excellent hearing.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“It’s not debatable, Gareth. The guitar can be replaced; you can’t.”

“Paul warned me about coming out.” Gareth hung his head.

“You are who you are, Gareth. It took some big, brass balls to come out in your profession.”

“Yeah, look where it got me.”

I couldn’t argue that. My earpiece crackled and Paul was in my ear.

“The fire investigator is on scene. They’ll take it from here.”

“Bullshit. I’m going back to the stage.”

“What? That’s not necessary —”

“Fuck off, Paul.” I snapped. I removed the guitar, grabbed Gareth’s hand and pulled him with me as we went back to the amphitheater. By now, the crowd had dispersed. A man in uniform was kneeling down by the front of the stage.

“Stay right there.” I pointed to the floor and Gareth nodded docilely. I approached the kneeling man and he stood as I got closer.

“You Axel Blaze?”

“I am.”

“I was just getting ready to call you.”

“What can you tell me?”

“Nothing you probably don’t already know. This charge was set at a different angle from the rest.”

I crossed to where he was standing and then backed up a few steps. I noticed the remains of two pieces of tape crisscrossed on the floor. The rest of the stage had the same pieces of tape for where the band members would stand. I furrowed my brows and glanced up at the investigator.

“This wasn’t an accident.”

“Doesn’t look that way. This is the only charge that is tilted at a different angle.”

“And it’s right where Gareth was standing.” I glanced over my shoulder; Gareth was looking around. I extended my hand to the investigator. “You’ll keep me informed?”