DEVLIN
It wasn’t kidnapping if her health was at risk. It wasn’t kidnapping if I was taking her to a place where she could get some help. That imbecile was pretending to care while plying her with alcohol on an empty stomach. Couldn’t he see how pale she was? How her face was misted with sweat? I saw him watching her like a predator after her performance. When he followed her out of the backstage area, I made it my mission to keep an eye on him.
I waited until he left his parents’ box before walking inside. I didn’t owe him an explanation for my concern. And it appeared I had been right—she was passed out in a chair. Anger thrummed against my skull, battling a wave of fear. Her hand was curled under her chin and her smooth skin was frighteningly colorless. Her chest moved up and down lightly and she let out a soft sigh. The fierce musician of an hour ago seemed so fragile.
I picked up her glass and sniffed it. I didn’t smell anything, but I’ve never seen someone fall asleep so easily either. Maybe she had spread herself too thin. Maybe the solo tonight was too much, too soon.
Roderick Chagny’s sudden appearance back in town was an unfortunate complication. If ever there was a person who could ruins my perfectly laid plans, it was him. He represented every user and abuser in the industry; an agent who saw dollar signs instead of people. I took a steadying breath. I didn’t want to do something I would regret in a moment of anger.
Then I saw the empty bottle of champagne. I took out my phone and shot my brother, Wes, a text. He had already planned to come over after the show. My new plan required his help. He responded immediately, just as I thought he would.
Maybe I was acting impulsively. But I wouldn’t stand around and watch her get taken advantage of. I scooped her into my arms. Holding her settled a feeling of rightness deep in my bones. She needed to be kept safe from toolbags like Chagny. It scared me. She was stronger than this. It was unnerving to see her so defenseless and trusting. Didn’t she know what people were capable of?
“Kim.” I hadn’t meant to say her name, but she seemed so fragile in my arms.
Kim Dae was a creation of curiosity. I had surreptitiously watched her enough to know that her eyebrows would constantly move with all of the questions that flowed through her mind. All that questing for knowledge would crinkle her flawless skin, while intelligence would flash in her dark eyes.
In contrast, her pseudonym, Christine Day, stood back from the crowd and mirrored the cold beauty of an instrument waiting to be directed. Her dark hair was always arranged artfully while she gazed at me during rehearsals. Every muscle would pause as if my slightest wish would move her to the creation of beauty.
But this woman in my arms, she was all of that and more. Her beauty was breathtaking when she was at peace like this. I’d seen her heart-shaped face, a younger version, in my dreams. Now, her long brown hair was twisted in a tight knot that looked painful, with a few loose tendrils breaking free. I wanted take it down, but I wouldn’t even know where to begin. With her eyes shut, her face was a flawless canvas, save for the two dark slashes of her eyebrows. She looked so much the same still, yet older. Mature. Sharper features, but with a delicate bone structure. I wondered what she would think if she saw me without the mask.
I stepped out of the room, but not soon enough. I ran directly into Mr. and Mrs. Dae, led by Chagny.
“Chagny,” I said flatly.
“What’s this?” He gestured to Kim.
I didn’t respond to him. My focus went to her parents who shared similar looks of worry. “She’s dehydrated.”
“Oh my, she’s so pale,” Mrs. Dae said to her husband.
Chagny stepped forward. “She didn’t say she was unwell. Quick. Take her to my car. The hospital is only a few miles away.”
Again, I ignored him and spoke to the parents. “The hospital wait time will be hours. Dr. Thurston lives near me and can be at my house by the time I arrive home.”
“To your house?” Mr. Dae frowned.
“You’re welcome to follow me,” I said and tried to step around Chagny.
“I’ll go with him, honey. You meet the guests,” Mrs. Dae said to her husband. Then turning to me she added, “We’re hosting a small soiree tonight. I’ll make sure she’s okay and then bring her home.”
“This is crazy. You can’t take her to—”
“I have many spare rooms,” I cut the dirtbag off. “She’s more than welcome to stay at my home until the morning when I can return her safely.”
“It will be very loud at our house and she needs rest. Today was such a big day,” Mrs. Dae said. “Honestly, if this wasn’t fairly common for her, I’d be more worried. Most likely she just needs to eat and sleep.”
Kim shifted in my arms with a soft moan. Her parents exchanged another worried look.
“You’re right.” Mr. Dae glanced at his watch. “Okay. What about the car? How will you get home?”
“Oh shoot.” She frowned. “I didn’t think about that.”
“I’ll drive you, Mrs. Dae,” Chagny insisted. “I have much I’d like to discuss with you.”
“Oh, that would be lovely, thank you, Roderick.”
I glared. “Not necessary.”
“I insist.” He smiled with all his teeth at me.
“No—”
“Excellent. So it’s settled,” Chagny spoke over me. “Let’s go. Devlin must be getting tired, holding Kim like that.”
Mr. Dae kissed his wife goodbye and headed out. The rest of us started toward the exit.
After I gave my address, I walked away from the group, not waiting to ensure they would follow. When I was a few feet away, Chagny said, “How unfortunate for Carla that she missed tonight.”
“Oh yes. But good for our girl,” Mrs. Dae replied.
“Somebody mentioned rehearsal had been intense today. The Maestro is very stern with the musicians. Maybe she just needed a night off,” Chagny said with saccharine sweetness.
I kept my focus on breathing and not punching him in the face.
What game was he playing at? I put more distance between us. Wes’s car sat idling waiting for us. A minivan wasn’t my vehicle of choice, but my brother had it ready and waiting.
“Is she okay?” Wes asked.
“She will be. Help me get her in,” I responded.
He opened the passenger door for me. I placed her in the seat, leaning it all the way back so she could get comfortable. She curled up, still more out of it than anybody should be after just a little bit of champagne. She mumbled incoherently—something about food and notes.
Once she was situated, Wes cleared his throat. “I’m not aiding and abetting criminal activity, am I?”
I shot him a look.
“Don’t answer that. Just give me the keys to the bike and we can pretend this never happened.”
I tossed him the keys and he caught them happily.
“I’ll see you back at my house,” I said.
Once in the driver’s seat, I finally smoothed the loose strand of hair out of her face, tucking it behind the soft shell of her ear. Electricity shot through me.
I balled my fist and pulled it away.
Kim could help me with my music. Nothing more. I wouldn’t let old feelings get in the way of new goals.
“It’s not kidnapping,” I said to Wes. Wear a mask and people automatically paint you as the bad guy.
“You keep saying that like it’s true.” My brother closed the door behind him as he came into the front hallway to whisper-yell at me.
Kim was still asleep in the guest bedroom upstairs. I didn’t think Beethoven’s Fifth would wake her right now. Though I did keep my hat and mask on just in case.
“Thanks for the car and for bringing my bike back.”
He made a gesture like I was dumb for thanking him. “Just don’t tell Kelly.”
I made a gesture like he was dumb for having to say that. But yeah, I would definitely tell Kelly at the earliest opportunity if it meant I got to see my brother smacked upside the head by his pint-sized wife. “And you don’t have to whisper. She’s fine. Just tired.”
“That’s good. Still weird that she’s here.”
I sighed pointedly at him. “For the record, her mom followed me here.” And left again at the soonest opportunity. Chagny, too. Every second he was in my company he would subtly undermine me in passive aggressive ways. They guy was smooth. I’d never be able to charm her parents like he did so effortlessly. None of that it mattered as much as her health. Thankfully, Wes had arrived shortly after and could out charm a used car salesman. When Chagny realized he was outmatched, he cleared out. Mrs. Dae seemed eager to return to her party, and Chagny relented as soon as she’d made it obvious she was ready to go.
“I didn’t just whisk her away in the night. They agreed that it would be better if I took her here and called the doctor rather than wait four hours at the ER.”
“Sure, this is all a totally normal thing to do. Nobody will think anything of it. Rumors won’t start.” Wes made his way toward the kitchen and I followed. He helped himself to my fridge and snagged two beers.
“Could you not lay into me? I’m exhausted.” I rubbed my eyes until white spots danced in my vision. I grabbed the beer he nudged me with and leaned back against the counter.
“You’re exhausted?” Wes clinked my beer. “You just made Dr. Thurston drive all the way up here to your creepy mansion by the lake, just to find out she was tired and needed food. That man’s too old for this. What’s this really about? Is she the reason you’re back here?”
“He lives five minutes away. Don’t be so dramatic.” I pulled the gaiter mask down under my chin and swallowed four deep gulps of beer. After wiping my mouth on my sleeve, I said, “I told you why I’m back.”
“Yeah. You did. How will staying through a season at the SOOK prove you’re hirable?”
“The last three symphonies fired me for my temper, right? Just ask anyone.” I glanced to the side. “I need to show I can play well with others.”
“And what’s with this cellist?” He shook his head. “There’s something here I’m not buying.”
I picked at the label on my beer bottle and debated unloading on him.
“It’s gonna break Ma and Dad’s heart if you up and leave again with no warning.” He leaned on the counter next to me and crossed his ankles. “The girls too.”
“That’s dirty. You know I’m defenseless against my nieces’ dimples.”
He smiled and I saw a copy of my own face. Or at least my face when I had smiled. In front of actual people. Mask free. Wes had the same almost-black eyes and matching dark curls, though he kept his hair trimmed short. We shared the same intense glare that our mom said could get us out of anything as kids. The difference was Wes wielded his with an easy smile to charm, and I used mine with a frown to intimidate.
“Can you take off the hat? At least you pulled down the frickin’ mask.” He gestured to my face. “I can’t even remember what you look like.”
“Like your reflection. But better looking.” I cleared my throat. “I can’t. If she comes down—”
“Yeah, yeah. I get it.” He cracked open two new beers against the counter like any good ol’ boy learned to do by the age of fifteen. “You built this beautiful home and you’re hardly ever here. Short visits only. Now, you’re back for at least six months and you’re telling me this has nothing to do with the woman currently sleeping in your guest room?”
I swallowed. It was complicated. She herself didn’t know of our connection in the past and if I brought it up too soon, it might push her away. I would need to talk to her first. Eventually. I set down the beer to wipe my palms on my pants before picking it up again.
“I needed to be back home and back in these mountains to feel inspired. To finish something through to the end. Kim, that’s her name, is going to help me. Though she goes by Christine now, actually.”
“Okay.” Wes shook his head and blinked rapidly like he was trying to make sense of everything.
“I heard her practicing after rehearsal a few times.” I explained. “She has incredible talent. But it’s not about her.” I held his gaze.
His eyes narrowed. He wasn’t buying it but sensed I wasn’t saying any more about her.
“What’s that other guy’s deal? The one hovering over Kim’s mom?”
“Roderick Chagny.” My voice was heavy with distaste. “I’m not sure why he’s back. I don’t like it.”
“I don’t trust him. Too charming.”
“Said the pot about the kettle.”
“Yeah, yeah. I’m sincere though. I can’t help it.” Wes’s eyes drifted over as I spoke. “Wait. Chagny … I know that name.”
“His parents are rich.” I forced cool indifference into my voice. “Big donors to the SOOK performance center.”
“How would I know any of that? Wait.” Wes snapped his fingers. “He was that kid that you hated from camp.”
“You can’t remember your wedding anniversary, but you can remember some kid a lifetime ago?”
He threw his arm around my neck. “I remember people that mess with my little bro.” He tugged off my hat to give me a noogie before I could stop him. He was two and a half solid inches shorter than me and had gained a post-football season gut about fifteen years ago, but he never passed on an opportunity to show me he was the older brother. I pushed him off and put my hat back in place.
“He didn’t come after me,” I growled. “He just got under my skin. I was a counselor when he was there, and his parents’ wealth made him untouchable.”
“Didn’t he do something? Some drama?” Wes asked.
“Not officially,” I mumbled. “He managed to never get caught doing anything. He’s just one of those people. Everybody loves him. He says just the right things. But I would always catch him in these little lies. For no reason. Always claiming something that was small, almost harmless. But blatant, pointless lies.”
“Yeah, I know the type. Like ‘I’ve got four parakeets,’ when you know for a fact they don’t, but also who the fuck lies about having birds?”
“That’s a real specific example, but yeah, exactly. And you can’t call people out on stuff like that or you look like the jerk.” I took another slug of beer.
Wes nodded and gulped down the rest of his bottle. “I hate guys like that. Don’t worry. If you want, I'll kick his ass.” He flexed and kissed his biceps. “These guns haven’t lost their bullets.”
“It amazes me that we’re related.”
Wes pushed my head and I pulled a punch to his gut.
“I better head out. The girls are probably threatening to tie Kelly up and break out the cookies.”
I laughed and walked him to the door.
“I’m glad you're back. It’s nice being able to stop by like this.” Wes squeezed the doorframe, checking the sturdiness all while avoiding my gaze.
“Yeah,” I said, sniffing once before stuffing my hands deep in my pockets. I wouldn’t be here for long. I didn’t have the heart to tell him that. Not right now.
“I hope you find what you’re looking for.” He held my gaze. “With the SOOK,” he added.
“Me too.”