Shane released his brother. “Why didn’t you just let her go in the first place?” Shane demanded, glaring at Axton. “She could have had this whole fucking thing taken care of in five seconds flat.”
Axton shrugged. “Maybe I didn’t want her to stop it. Fucker had it coming to him.” Calmly, as if nothing had just happened, he dropped down in his chair once more and pulled out his phone.
Behind me the producers and staff were going crazy. Someone kept asking Cole if he was okay. The group of fans was shown out and someone was demanding to know what was going on. I was only half-aware of it all happening, too lost in the exhilaration of being in Drake’s arms for the first time in forever.
“Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t have you tossed in jail?” Someone demanded, stopping behind Drake.
I raised my head to find a fifty-something man with a receding hairline and a big belly glaring at Drake’s back. “Do you think that just because you’re some rock star you can act the way you want and get by with it?”
“Do you think fuck-face can talk about his family like that and he would let it pass?” Axton commented from his chair. “Nah, man. Steel was asking for it and he knew it. If he wants to be a pussy about it, then he doesn’t need to be on the same stage as me and Stevenson.”
I raised a brow at the big bellied man. “You had to know what you were getting into when you decided to do a reality show with rockers. They aren’t exactly sunshine and daisies. Things are going to get hardcore around here. But that’s what you wanted, right? Hardcore brings in the ratings.”
“Just who the hell are you?” the man demanded. “You seemed to have caused all of this!”
Drake finally raised his head, turning a glare so cold on the man that he actually stepped back. “She’s none of your fucking business,” Drake said. “Do you understand?”
Instead of answering, the old man turned to check on Cole. “Are you able to continue?”
He was still coughing a little, but there was a grin on his face. “Reminds me of the good ol’ days.” Cole laughed. “Yeah, man. I’m good.” His gaze went to Drake, and he held up his hands. “Peace. Lesson learned and all that shit.”
“Then let’s get back to work!” Big Belly clapped his hands. “Get this place cleaned up and show another group of fans in.” He glanced back at me. “Will you be staying?”
I shrugged. “For a while.” I wasn’t about to take off yet. “And my friend will be too.” I glanced over at the door where Dallas was still standing, having evaded the guards that had escorted the others out. She looked bored and was still texting away on her cell like nothing had happened.
“Get them some passes,” Big Belly told an assistant who rushed to do his bidding.
“Well, that was fun.” Shane sighed as he straightened the turned over chair his brother had left behind when he lunged at Cole. “Hey, Dray. Did you see the way Ax was holding Lana? Want to break his finger?”
“Whoa, bro!” Axton held up his hands. “Do you not see my arm? I think I need a rabies shot!”
I felt Drake tense at first, and then he buried his face in my hair again, his shoulders shaking as he tried to contain his laughter. “You bit him?”
A grin teased my lips. “Yeah. Pretty hard too.”
Strong arms tightened around my waist. “Good job,” he muttered, warm lips skimming across the sensitive skin below my ear, and I couldn’t contain my shiver. It surprised me that he kissed me, and I wasn’t sure how I felt about it…
Sure, my heart was beating like crazy, and my body was aching for him, but I didn’t know if I was ready—if I would ever be ready—for Drake. With reluctance, I stepped back. “Are you okay now?”
“I haven’t been okay for seven months,” he said, his blue-gray eyes intent on my face. “But yeah, I’m good now.”
I swallowed hard and took another step back, needing the added space between us. A glance behind me showed me that Dallas was getting bored with her phone. She was watching me, and I waved her over. “Dallas, come meet Drake,” I told her, and she gave him one of her killer smiles.
He shook her hand when she reached us. “Hello, Dallas.”
“Dallas is one of my roommates and the current foul mouth in my life.” I grinned when Dallas flipped me off. “See?”
“Hey, Lana!” Axton called from his seat. “Introduce us.”
I shot him a sour look. “I heard that you already introduced yourself, Ax. Do yourself a favor and put in some effort, dumbass.”
His brows rose at that. “Effort? What is this ‘effort’ you speak of?”
Chapter 14
Drake
The instant the words were out of his mouth I saw red.
Rage didn’t even begin to explain what I was feeling when the old rocker insinuated that Lana was part of the Hos-R-Us club that were typical groupies. My vision became tunneled; all I saw was that fucker, and I went in for the kill. Jumping up so fast that my chair fell over, I didn’t notice that Axton ducked out of the way so I had better access.
I grasped his throat and pushed until the wall stopped me. Cole’s head made a loud THUNK sound as it cracked against the stone wall.
“Don’t you fucking talk about her like that!” I growled. “She’s mine!” He wheezed as I tightened my hold around his neck. “Don’t say another word about her. Don’t even fucking look at her!”
Someone tried to pull me back, but I shrugged them off. “Lana deserves respect and she will have it.”
“Drake!” I stilled when I heard my name from the only source that mattered, but it didn’t completely clear the red from my eyes.
“Shane!” she screamed. “Shane!” I dimly heard from behind me.
Strong arms wrapped around my left arm and neck. I struggled as my brother pulled me away from Cole Steel.
“What the fuck are you doing, Drake?” he muttered in my ear as he kept pulling me backward. “Let him go, bro.
I struggled harder. “Fucker! You ever talk about her like that again and I will end you!”
“A little help here, Axton.”
I heard the other man say something and then shout as if he was in pain. The next thing I knew, all was right in the world—at least in my world—when gentle arms wrapped around me. It surprised me so much I didn’t believe it was happening at first. Then I realized I didn’t care if it was really happening or not, just that I could feel her. I pulled her closer and buried my face in her hair.