Page 69 of Enjoying the Band in Lockdown

The force sent me flying backwards before Xavier caught me.

I hadn’t seen the usual warnings. Usually, his jaw ticked, eyes narrowed. Then I had at least a few seconds warning as his fist formed, giving me one last chance to back down. Usually. Not today. His palm against my face had been too quick to either dodge, or talk my way out of.

Devon was first to reach Angelo, whose fist glanced off Devon’s chin before the goons hurled Angelo towards the limo.

“Please stop!” I cried, pushing Jax out of the way to try and reach Devon. “Let him go. Please, let him go. They’ll have—” My brain reengaged before I could say, guns, “Please.”

Seeing Devon stop, the limousine pull away, and feeling momentarily safe, I collapsed into Xavier’s arms.

My man.

My men.

“It’s time we had that talk,” Xavier said as the familiar white sedan with blue stripes pulled up where the limo had been. “And no, you’re not saved by the boys in blue. You’ll talk to the police, and you’ll talk to us.”

The young constable insisted on checking my credentials, needing to check my identity against missing persons.

“They wouldn’t have reported me missing, not officially.”

“Why not?”

I told them the name of my family’s company. Then Angelo’s. Told the police the names to search online and sites that still had Neve Daniels graduating high school. A few years out of date, but enough information to prove my story. There were even engagement announcements I hadn’t seen before.

While I answered the constable’s questions, the band did their own online searching. Sharing their phone screens. I could only imagine what they’d found, or what they’d thought.

You only promised to stay until the concert. It was good while it lasted.

“How old were you when you started dating Mr. de Rege?” The constable was struggling to believe my story, not that he didn’t believe it but it was the stuff of movies not real life. Certainly not the life of a girl who ended up in a small country pub in his town.

“We never dated. I remember him offering to escort me to my high school dances. It had been a big deal. He was old, rich, and good looking. All my friends were jealous, and I liked the attention. Then at my sixteenth birthday, I got an engagement ring.”

All the things I had avoided telling Xavier when we were together, came out in an avalanche that only got bigger as I answered more questions. I couldn’t look towards Xavier, not when talking about Angelo or who I once was. “Angelo had already asked my father and at first I thought it was better than being grounded. I’d run away to sneak into a concert with friends I met online. My parents were worried and furious. Angelo offered a solution, and agreed not to marry me until I was twenty-five, unless I agreed to an earlier date.”

“Fuck,” the band inhaled behind me. The poor constable didn’t know what to do or say.

“I really don’t want to go into the details, but he took what he wanted, when he wanted. He punished me when I refused. But a couple of months ago, I discovered what he was planning against my family. I didn’t have any proof and they’d never believe my word against his.”

“So you ended up being Sydney from Sydney at the Festival.” Xavier said slowly. “Then you became our dirty blonde.”

“Yes, and I’ve never been happier. Seriously, even with all the shit. When I left, my family cut me off. I assume Angelo insisted I’d return if I had no choice. I got a fake driver’s licence, fake name and set up an online poker account to start raising cash for after here.”

“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear about the fake licence,” the constable said. “But you should tell your family you’re safe. Is there anyone you trust?”

“I’ll call my brother, Ronan. He’s Angelo’s best friend. Hopefully, blood is thicker. In any case, it’ll be their choice. Believe me, or do business with Angelo.”

Chase delivered a hot chocolate, with extra marshmallows as Xavier and Jax escorted the constable out.

“Thanks, I’m gonna go outside and make a couple of calls.”

Ronan understood.

My father would need more convincing and a hell of a lot more evidence than my word.

But Ronan believed me and understood.

“I’ve seen Ang with other women, and believed him when he said you were different.”

“The only difference was that he thought he owned me.”

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