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If she was surprised by my mentioning family, she didn’t show it. Ever the consummate professional.
As if merely thinking the compliment had conjured the exact opposite, Zed appeared behind Saya.
“Well, if it isn’t some of my favorite people.” He draped an arm around Saya’s shoulders.
Before I could offer to remove his arm – from his body – Saya firmly grabbed his wrist and twisted out from under his arm, the expression on her face making me wonder if this had happened before. I needed to talk to Finley, and then to Stu and Suzie. If Zed couldn’t keep his hands off my employees, I didn’t even want to think what he did around women who weren’t connected to his career.
“Always the feisty one, Saya.” Zed grinned as she released his arm. He massaged his shoulder but didn’t seem put out by the less than enthusiastic reception to his advances.
That might’ve had something to do with the fact that he was high as a kite.
“I’m surprised you’re here, Zed,” I said tightly. “You usually don’t show up to things that aren’t about you.”
“I’m hurt.” He put his hand over his heart. “Nothing means more to me than the success of God’s Worlds. Gold Stars. Ghost Words.” He frowned. “Whoever the hell they are.”
“I’m sure they appreciate your support.” I didn’t even attempt to hide my sarcasm. “Still, it’d probably be better if you left.” When he didn’t move, my eyes narrowed. “That isn’t really a suggestion.”
“C’mon, Nate. You wouldn’t throw out the man who gave you your first big break, would you?” Something cruel gleamed in his eyes. “Well, not again, anyway.”
Shit.
“Which reminds me,” he continued, “I hear Joshua’s back in town.”
Ashlee shifted next to me, but I didn’t look at her. Zed was treading on dangerous ground, but if he said too much, I’d end up being the one in the hot seat.
“Think he’d be interested in a reunion?” Zed’s expression hardened even though he still wore a smile. “Not with you, of course, but with me and the guys.”
“If you’ll excuse me, I need to go check on the ladies.” Saya was already walking away as she spoke.
“Did you know Nate has a little brother?”
My attention snapped back to Zed, who was leering at Ashlee. “She does.”
“I met him, actually.”
Shit. I could tell she thought she was helping by showing Zed that I’d introduced her to my family, but she had no idea what was actually going on. This had nothing to do with what people might think about our relationship. Zed was trying to sabotage what she and I had, but if I told her that, she’d want to know more.
I was fucked, no matter what.
Zed’s eyebrows went up. “So, the rumors are true. The prodigal’s returned.” He gave me a sideways look. “Although, you always struck me as the prodigal more than a baby brother.”
It was no wonder there hadn’t been as many reports of Zed being caught high as there were of him being drunk. In all honesty, he almost sounded more intelligent when he was high than he normally did.
“This conversation stops here,” I said firmly. “We’re not going to talk about my family.”
Zed held up his hands, palms out as if he was surrendering. “All right, all right. I get you don’t want to talk about them at work…but technically, Joshua was my family too. I mean, he was one of the founding members of Unraveling.”
Thirty-Two
Ashlee
Nate’s brother was a founding member of Unraveling? That didn’t seem possible. I’d been a fan since their first single was released, and I’d been researching every artist Manhattan Records had ever signed. I’d never seen Joshua’s name on anything. No pictures either, and he was a hard man to forget.
I looked up at Nate for a response to Zed’s statement, but one look at his face told me that Zed wasn’t lying, about this at least. Nate was furious, his entire body humming with tension.
“Walk away.” His jaw was clenched so tightly that I didn’t know how he was even managing to speak.
With an obnoxious little salute, Zed backed away, not taking his eyes off Nate. He didn’t have to worry. Nate wasn’t the sort of man who’d wait until someone’s back was turned to hit them. Then again, if what Zed was saying was true, maybe this was another one of those instances where I didn’t know Nate as well as I thought I did.