Page 75 of For Wrath and Redemption
Mabel smirks. “Eighteen weeks total, but we get three weeks off in the middle, so only fifteen weeks of shows.”
I do the math in my head. Four shows every week for fifteen weeks...
“Sixty shows, Mabel.”
“Well, we only play two shows in Munich, Zürich, and Milan, so fifty-four.”
I huff out a laugh. “You’re superhuman.”
“Nah. It helps that we love performing and our fans. For a long time, we were lucky to have two consecutive days off total, so this is cake in comparison, and it’s a hell of a lot easier than some bands get.”
I hum, but I don’t respond. I’ve heard Sav and Mabel talking about how rough it was before Hammond renegotiated their contract. It sounded miserable. Like star-studded hell. It makes me feel bad for all of them. No wonder they struggled for so long.
The thought makes me want to turn in my seat to check on Jonah.
I don’t.
Then I lower my voice. “So what comes after?”
“After what?”
“This tour.”
Mabel’s eyes scan my face, and I can’t help but feel like she’s deciding whether to trust me with something. I sit up straighter, but I don’t push. She flicks her attention behind me quickly before sitting forward.
“After, if all goes as planned, we’ll take some time off, and then we’ll do it all over again. Only...”
I arch a brow. “Only?”
“Only we’ll do it under Sav’s label.”
My jaw drops. “Sav’s starting her own label?”
“Yeah. It’s still hush-hush. It’s not illegal or anything, not violating any clauses, but she wants to wait to launch until after we’re out from under this contract.”
“Right. Which is why you need to keep Jonah in line.”
Mabel purses her lips, then glances over my shoulder once more.
“You’re doing a great job, actually. I just wanted you to know that. He’s doing a fuck ton better than he does on his own. He’s less pissy. He’s got more energy on stage. Hell, he even spoke in our last bandmeeting. Plus, Hammond’s been really happy with the buzz you’ve started in the press. You’re crushin’ it.”
“Thanks.”
“I should be thanking you. Truly. Jonah...I don’t know. He’s better than he was two years ago, but we still kind of tiptoe around him. He’s always been really good about keeping his feelings hidden from us.”
I flare my eyes. “Yeah.”
His feelings are the least of it. I don’t know if any of them realize that.
I lay my head back on my seat and once again resist the urge to turn around. It’s nice to hear that Mabel thinks I’m doing a good job. And from a strictly professional standpoint, I am. I’m doing a great job, actually, considering what I started with. But if she knew the whole truth...
Well. If she knew, she wouldn’t be thanking me at all.
“I wanted to check on you, though. Are you okay after last night?”
My muscles go rigid, and my chest tightens. Last night.
“What do you mean?”
