Page 40 of Dirty Little Mistake

Jazz shook his head. "Unless you're going to tell her it's over. You don't tell her anything. No one can ever know you're dating Charleigh for exposure."

"I'm not doing that." My gaze zeroed in on Jazz's hand still on the door. "Move your fucking hand." My tone carried a sharp edge to it.

"Just think about it," Joe said. "Just think about what this one girl could do for your band, your future, your dreams."

"And more importantly, their," Jazz twisted and nodded toward Lennon, Saylor, and Creed, "dreams."

"I'll think about it," I said more to pacify them. "Now, move."

They both stepped back, and I jerked the door open. Stepping out of the room and closing the door behind me, I pulled my phone out of my pocket and pulled up Jax's contact. Jaxtyn was my go-to contact to keep me updated on everything happening back home.

I clicked on his name, pulled my phone to my ear, and strolled through the back halls.

"What?" Jax growled through the speak. Anger colored his tone.

"What's wrong?" My spine stiffened. I could hear it in his voice that something was wrong.

"You're fucking girlfriend took Kaia to the Cages tonight."

"Did something happen to Kai? What about Cam? Are they okay?"

"I don't know," he snapped. "I'm on my way there now. Kaia sent me a text, but I haven't been able to get a hold of her since."

"Fuck."

"I'm about to pull in now," Jax said. "I'll let you know as soon as I know something."

"Okay." I shoved my hand through my hair as I ended the call and clicked on Kaia's name. Straight to voicemail. Fuck. My heart pounded as I paced back and forth in the hall. My pulse raced as an overwhelming, helpless feeling consumed me. I was thousands of miles away, and there was no way I could help.

So I did the only thing I could and paced the halls, waiting for Jax to call me back and tell me they were okay.

Chapter 19

Trystan

One hour, thirteen minutes. Fourteen. The numbers on my phone screen blurred together as I checked it for the hundredth time. Jax's last text burned in my vision: 'Taking Kaia to hospital.' Four words, then nothing. No updates, no responses to my texts. Just the hollow echo of possibilities I couldn't let myself imagine. The only person I hadn't called was Camryn, and that was because if she dragged Kaia to the Cages and Kaia was hurt, I wasn't sure I'd be able to forgive her.

Cam knew I didn't want them at the Cages. Why would she put herself and her best friend in danger like that? Or did she do it to get my attention?

The hotel room's too-bright lights reflected off the floor-to-ceiling windows, turning them into mirrors that caught my restless pacing. My phone left sweaty fingerprints on the glass as I pressed Kaia's contact for what felt like the twentieth time. Outside, Chicago's skyline glittered like broken glass, indifferent to the chaos unfolding in this room thirty stories up.

Finally, the screen lit up with her face, and I blew out a heavy sigh of relief. She was okay.

"What the fuck, Kai?" My fingers tightened around the phone until my knuckles went white. "The Cages? Really?"

"I know it was stupid." Kaia's voice came out small, missing its usual spark.

My shoulders slumped forward as I released a heavy breath and I shook my head. I was just glad she was okay. "Are you okay?"

She nodded. "I'm fine. I have to stay off my ankle for a few days, but then I'll be back to normal."

"Why would you go to the Cages?" Her lips pressed into a thin line, and she said nothing. She didn't have to answer, though. I knew Cam had talked her into it because that wasn't a place Kaia would go on her own, but Cam would. "Cam, right?"

She tilted her head to the side. "This has nothing to do with her."

I rolled my eyes. "Oh no? So, it was your idea to go to the Cages?"

She matched my energy, and I fought the urge to laugh. "You know what? This is your fault."

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