Page 110 of Disharmony

His hands shake as he snaps, “You sound like Zed.”

“We need to give her time to finish camp.”

“But she hates it here,” Ripper explodes.

“Maybe you’re right,” I say, knowing he is. Ash doesn’t fit into the Camp Harmony mold and sees things differently from other people. “But we’ve been where Ash is now. She has to navigate the next few weeks. We need to give her a chance to make the most of this opportunity. What do you think she’d do if the Basilisks asked her to leave and tour with them?”

His jaw clenches. He doesn’t say anything but knows I’m right.

While we can’t know for sure, there’s a chance she would pack her bags, move into Buggy and travel on the road with us. Something I know I’d have done myself years before if someone gave me the choice. No matter how hard it is, we have to leave her to work out what she wants on her own.

The door opens and Zed steps inside.

“If I get asked for another autograph, I swear to fucking God I’ll—” Zed stops abruptly as soon as he sees us. His eyes narrow at Ripper in accusation, knowing the angry look on his face too well. “What have you done?”

“Why do you always assume I’ve done something?” Ripper asks. “You’re so quick to think the worst of me.”

“And for good reason,” Zed snarls. “Or have you forgotten what happened when we traveled to London to perform for the Queen and the royal family? How much coke did you ingest before that?”

“Not as much as half the audience,” Ripper mutters in self-defense.

Zed scowls as his gaze moves to the fresh hole in the wall.

“It’s Ash,” I say.

Zed tries not to react but stands straighter. Out of the three of us, he’s been most reserved about what happened that night on the tour bus. None of us expected the natural chemistry we’d share when she was with us… or for the night to end how it did. Zed’s biggest fear is getting close to people, not that I blame him after growing up in that family.

Zed keeps his tone level. “What happened?”

“Jacqueline happened,” Ripper growls. “She took Ash’s phone.”

Zed doesn’t show any emotion.

“You don’t seem surprised,” I comment, observing his lack of reaction.

“Because I’m not,” Zed says. “Jacqueline told me.”

Unlike me and Ripper, who stay away from Jacqueline and Camp Harmony staff, Zed handles the admin side of our contracts. He’s the best at putting on an act and being civil to people he despises. It’s what he was born to do and trained his entire childhood for.

“She told you?” Ripper lurches forward and grabs Zed by his collar, yanking him closer. “When? Why didn’t you say anything?”

“She told me the day after the video leaked. I thought it was for the best you didn’t know,” Zed replies calmly. “We don’t need Ash complicating our lives further.”

“Complicating our lives?” Ripper pushes him away, preparing to fight. There won’t be a beach house left after this confrontation, but it wouldn’t be the first time we’ve paid for damages. In our early Lionheart tour days, we hosted raging parties in the penthouses of the best hotels in the world and had enough money that meant tearing them apart didn’t matter. “What the fuck is wrong with you, Zed?”

“We should never have gotten close to her,” Zed says, looking away. “Letting her in was a risk. With a few weeks of no contact, I figured you’d move onto the next girl, another Victoria’s Secret model like Alexa. Why do we have to bring Ash into it? What happened with her was a mistake that can’t happen again.”

“Ash is different.” Ripper’s nostrils flare. I stay quiet but agree with him. “This isn’t your choice, Zed. You don’t speak for the band. Venom and I get a fucking say.”

“This is why I didn’t mention it,” Zed hisses. “She’ll tear us apart… and I won’t let it happen.”

forty

Ash

After a restless night’s sleep, I head to the main stage for nine a.m. rehearsals. My palms sweat as I approach, thinking about Jacqueline’s request last night.

“It’ll be fine,” Cookie reassures, sensing my unease. The best thing about going into the next phase of rehearsals is the fact she’ll be there. The twins and Leila will also be on hand to help with mixes and lighting. “I’ll be there, remember?”

---