Page 90 of Dead Rockstar

“Are you?” He smiled. “I'm a bit surprised. I thought you were quite uneager to-”

I cut him off again. “Don't you want to know my terms?”

“By all means.”

“You'll leave them alone. Forever. Forget they exist.” He stared at me, emotionless. “You'll release Sloan from your employment, and from whatever...relationship you've got her trapped in. You'll get out of her life for good.” I gestured to Lee. “And him, too, if that's what he wants. I know he's your son, but he doesn't want to work for you, either. He's trapped between you and Lydia and he's fucking miserable.” Out of the corner of my eye I could see Lee's shocked expression.

“What about me?” Tess piped up, finally acknowledging I was in the room. “You gonna release me, too?”

“No,” I said, not bothering to look in his direction. “You're on your own.” I heard a laugh bubble up from Sloan in the corner.

Guthrie was smiling through tight lips. “I hardly think-”

“I'm not done,” I went on. “I imagine you know your wife Lydia is dying. And I’m sure you don’t care.” Sloan’s eyes widened. “But if…when…she succumbs to her illness, I’d like to bring her back. It was what she wanted, and I’m prepared to do it.” If he was surprised, he gave no sign. I felt butterflies in my stomach as I talked. It was only yesterday, on the long drive home, that I’d even begun to consider helping Lydia. I hadn’t fully decided I would until I’d stood in Guthrie’s foyer. Then I’d known, without a doubt, that I wanted to help her. Living with this man for years could not have been easy, and despite her gruff, abrasive demeanor and shady dealings, I knew she’d done everything she had to try and protect Lee.

Plus, I had a lot to learn, and who better to learn from?

“You’ve got quite a list of demands, don’t you, doll?” he said smoothly.

“I’m not your doll,” I spat. “Lastly, you'll leave Phillip alone. I want him to be free to live his life – a real second chance. It isn't his fault that any of this happened. He didn't ask for it, not really. He didn't know what he was asking. He’s...good. But he thinks he’s not, and that’s partly your fault.” I felt tears prickle my eyelids and willed them away. I didn't want to cry in front of this man. “I will need your word that you'll leave him alone – forever. Or the deal’s off.”

“My dear, you don't have the first idea of what you're talking about. You don't even know half of your own powers, much less mine. We need to sit down and talk about all of this before-”

“I don't care,” I said, meeting his cold blue eyes. “I don't give one single solitary fuck. I know the most important thing. Me, my magic, whatever it is, is important to you. Important enough to stalk me, have me kidnapped, spied on through the people I love. I’m important to you. So make the choice, Guth. Me, or all your little henchmen.”

“You just want me to release them all?” he asked. “And you'll give yourself over to me.” I felt a chill as he said the words.

“Yes.”

“I'll require a contract,” he said after a moment. His face, somehow old and young at the same time, was thoughtful.

“Fine.” I wanted this to be over.

He smiled a slow, chilling smile and stood up. “Give me just a moment.” He left the room and I turned, triumphant, relieved, until I saw the looks on the faces of both Sloan and Lee, who were staring at me in horror. Even Tess looked vaguely uncomfortable.

“You don't know what you're doing,” Lee said in a quiet voice. “Stormy, rethink this. He's much more powerful than you know. You have no idea what he-”

“It doesn't matter,” I said, shaking my head firmly. “I don't care. All that matters to me is getting the people I love out of harm's way.”

“By putting yourself in our place?”

“If that's what it takes,” I said steadily.

He shook his head, beginning to say something else, but was interrupted by a loud banging on the front door. Sloan jumped about a mile in the air. The four of us sat there, frozen in the living room, waiting for Guthrie to reappear and answer the door, afraid to move or breathe. Something had come, and it was angry.

Twenty-Four

The banging resumed, loud enough to wake the dead.

“Christ,” Lee muttered after a moment, and wrenched himself off the couch, heading for the foyer. “I'll get it.” He pointed a finger at me. “But we’re not done, Stormy. You can’t do this…this…madness.”

The banging continued, louder now. “Fuck!” Lee reached the door and threw it open. “For fuck's sake, where’s the fucking fire-”

He was literally thrown backward, landing on his ass in the hallway, dazed, as three men thundered into the room, the door going back on its hinges so hard it knocked a fist sized hole in the drywall. I shrank back instinctively, my hands going out in front of me.

He was by my side in a flash pulling me up off the couch with one arm, drawing my face forward to meet his glittering dark-green eyes, which were full of fury and fire. His black hair was wild, shaggy and unbrushed, and the five o’clock shadow on his jaw told me what I knew without a doubt – he had left his house for Jekyll before his hair was even dry, fresh out of the shower, my note folded into his pocket. He had come to find me the moment he knew I'd gone. Phillip.

He held the note out to me now, shaking his head, fixing a haughty gaze on me, eyes flashing. “If you wanted to break up with me,” he said, pushing the note into my hand, “why didn't you just say so?” I caught the hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth.

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