Page 26 of Rocking Cedarwood

Chapter Eight

An hour later, Michael pulled into the parking lot of the record company. He’d spent the better portion of the week in the studio with the band, but made a point to schedule time to run with Niall. He needed that private time with his boyfriend. Niall meant more to him than he’d ever thought possible. But Niall didn’t know the truth about him. Still, he hated lying by omission. He wanted to tell Niall everything, but what the hell would happen if he found out? He’d walk. Niall didn’t strike him as the type to need praise or fame. He’d shy away in seconds.

Part of Michael’s agreement to go on tour meant the company kept his car in a private, guarded parking garage. He doubted anyone wanted his vehicle, but fans could be strange. He parked in his spot and left the car. Right now, he needed to practice. The songs were always part of him, but a few hours to refresh himself wouldn’t hurt. He’d spent the last three days and nights with Niall. Part of him wasn’t ready to leave Niall behind. The rest of him wanted to get the tour started so he could get back to Niall. Craziness.

One of the bouncers hurried up to him and grabbed Michael’s guitar case.

Dexter stood beside the tour bus. “You haven’t shaved your damn head. We leave in less than forty-eight hours. The first concert is tonight and you need to look like…you.”

“Good fucking morning to you, too.” He slipped into his Bandit persona. “I’ll take care of it before we roll away. I’ve got time.”

“Was he good?” Dexter followed close behind Michael. “I smell sex on you.”

“Jesus.” He whipped around and stared at his lawyer. “I had sex. Big deal.” He paused. Something Niall had said came back to him. Warning Niall about Bandit. Dexter? He doubted, but he needed to know. “Why?”

“What are you talking about?” Dexter folded his arms and widened his stance. “Are you on something? I told you to keep your nose clean.”

“Christ, I’m not high. I don’t touch the stuff.” He turned around and boarded the bus. Instead of the usual relief, his heart sank and his stomach churned. Something didn’t feel right.

“Then what are you talking about?” Dexter shut the bus door. “It’s you and me here. The others are inside getting shit around. Spill your guts.”

“We’re going to Columbus, Cincy, Indy, then Ft. Wayne, and back to Cleveland for one night only, right?” Michael asked.

“You know where we’re going. You set up the schedule.” Dexter narrowed his eyes. “What’s going on?”

“I saw the ticket and the pass for Niall. Thanks.” He rummaged in the tiny bathroom for the clippers and the paper towels. “Niall wanted to meet Bandit.” He’d already met the Bandit, but Michael couldn’t be that honest. He plugged the clippers in and stepped in front of the mirror. He hated this moment. His hair actually looked good for a change, and what was he about to do? Shave it all off and slather on eyeliner.

“You’d better get moving.” Dexter knocked on the open door. He glanced down the aisle of the coach then dropped his voice. “Okay, since you won’t talk, I will.” He closed himself in the bathroom with Michael. “We have to talk. It’s big.”

Michael turned around as best he could. He liked Dexter as a lawyer, but he wasn’t attracted to him. “Like the implosion of the band big or what?”

“Normally I’d tell you to sit down, but we’re squashed into the bathroom, so you can’t.” Dexter dropped his voice to a whisper. “Leif found out about you.”

Michael wobbled against the toilet and plopped onto the closed seat. His blood ran cold and his head ached. Tension filled the tiny room. “What do you mean, he found out? Please, God, don’t tell me you spilled my secret to him.”

“I didn’t.” The color drained from Dexter’s face and his eyes widened. “I told him I wanted to get engaged and I thought he could be the one. He said something about merging households. That snapped me out of my romantic fog. I couldn’t see living with him. Fucking him, yeah, but not spending all my time with him. Anyway, he got the idea I had a ring and went snooping. I know because I’ve got security cams set up to record what goes on in my office. I saw him in my safe and my private files. I don’t know how he got the combinations, but he was flipping through my stuff. He found the contracts with your name on them.”

“Fuck.” He shoved both hands into his hair. Now the phone call made more sense. “Then it was Leif,” he muttered.

“What was?” Dexter asked. “Did he contact you? The ass wants fifty thousand to keep quiet. I refused and he upped the price to a hundred thousand.”

“No.” No arguing. He wasn’t going to pay the little shit to keep his mouth shut, especially when he knew damn well Leif had already spilled the beans. “He already went public. He’s lying about not doing it so you’ll give him money.”

“Jesus. He did?” Dexter sank backward against the door. “How?”

“Niall asked me this morning if I knew why someone would call him and tell him his future wasn’t going to happen the way he wanted. The only person I know who talks like that is Leif. I don’t know if he used his name, but it doesn’t sound like he used mine just yet. Niall’s smart. If he thinks a little bit about the call, he’ll figure it out.”

“He will. On top of that, Leif contacted the Coalition Against Gays in Cedarwood. They know, too. They’re threatening to kick you out of town.” Dexter folded his arms. “What do you want to do?”

“Corner the little shit and give him a piece of my mind, then take on that fucking coalition. This has got to end.” He shook his head. “I should’ve known the secret wouldn’t stay that way forever. Too many people knew.”

“Just the three of us. You, me and your manager were the only ones in on the deal…until Leif found out.”

“But Niall deserves to know.” Michael stared at the clippers. “Give the fucker a couple grand and keep him right beside you until we get back to Cleveland. As long as he’s quiet, I can do this my way.”

“You’ll tell Niall backstage in Cleveland?”

“Yeah, and I’ll accept it when he tells me to get fucked.”

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