Page 37 of Forever Country (Forever Bluegrass #24)

H olt groaned in pain. The tux might be bulletproof, but that didn’t mean it didn’t hurt like hell when bullets impacted on the surface.

He had to talk to Piper about padding. Holt realized that he’d grown comfortable.

He hadn’t been aware of his surroundings when he had his eyes locked with Annaleigh’s, singing about his love for her.

He didn’t see the shooter move into position and fire from stage right.

He didn’t see anything until he shoved himself up.

The curtains fluttered and the shooter came into view as he raised the gun again.

Holt knew the only way he’d survive was to fight back.

Knox had thrown the gun perfectly to his uninjured side.

The second it landed in his hand, Holt flipped off the safety and fired.

The bullet slammed into the shooter and it was over. Holt fell back down, groaning in pain. “Any blood?” Warrick asked.

“No,” Holt gasped through the pain. He’d been shot yesterday in the arm, and now he’d been shot in the upper arm and the upper chest.

“Then stop whining and go get your girl.”

Holt chuckled, which just made his ribs hurt more.

“Clear! Shooter down,” Cy bellowed out as Scripps and the rest of the undercover agents finally pushed their way through the crowds to the stage.

“Annaleigh,” Holt said, his voice amplified by the microphone lying near him.

He fought to sit up as the crowd grew quieter.

Those who had panicked were now out of the auditorium.

Those who had dove for cover were now sitting back up.

He saw Jackson let go of Annaleigh. It wasn’t only Annaleigh who was rushing up onto the stage. It was all of Keeneston.

“I bet some of our bread pudding would make you feel better, dear,” Miss Lily said sweetly.

“I mean, it wouldn’t hurt,” Holt said with a chuckle that left him groaning.

“Holt!” Finally, Annaleigh was there, surrounded by Dylan, Jackson, and Cody, but with Evie, Sloane, and Maddie shoving them out of the way.

“Hurry up and hug her so we can,” Maddie demanded.

Annaleigh dropped to her knees and flung her arms around his neck. The pain was worth it to have her in his arms again.

“Who is it?” Annaleigh asked, but Scripps and the other officers broke them up and took control of the scene.

“Miss Astore, can you come with me and ID the shooter?” Scripps asked “My officer will get Mr. Everett’s statement, including where the gun came from.”

“I don’t know where it came from,” Holt said. “It just appeared in the air.”

Scripps looked as if he were about to roll his eyes. “We all saw your brother throw it to you. Mr. Knox Everett, where did the gun come from?”

Knox shrugged. “It just appeared in my hands.”

Aniyah began to slowly step backwards.

“It’s mine,” Gabe said, stepping forward. “I shoved it to Knox because he can throw further than I can.”

“Yeah, that looks like Gabe’s gun,” Aniyah said as DeAndre shook his head.

Scripps looked at Gabe and pulled out his cuffs. “You did a good thing, but it’s illegal to have a gun—”

“Let me introduce myself,” Gabe said with a wink to Aniyah. “Prince Gabriel Ali Rahman of Rahmi and here are my diplomatic papers including my right to carry a concealed weapon and my diplomatic immunity.”

Scripps’s brows rose as Kori and Ahmed came forward. “Do you need our papers as well? And what about the princess’s papers?” Ahmed asked.

“President Stratton will also fully pardon any minor infraction you decide to charge anyone from Keeneston with,” Greer said as Sebastian smiled at her proudly. “Would you like me to get him on the phone?”

Clearly overwhelmed, Scripps let the issue of gun ownership drop. “Miss Astore? Let’s do the identification, please.”

Annaleigh didn’t want to let go of Holt, whose amusement at the gun situation fell from his face. “Annaleigh, it’s—”

“Now, Miss Astore.”

Annaleigh squeezed his hand before she stood up.

“I’m only going to get this over with.” Sloane and Evie flanked her as they walked across the stage, their heels echoing on the wood flooring.

Annaleigh knew who it was the second the boots and cowboy hat came into view.

She didn’t need to see the bloody body. She gasped and spun, looking for Maddie. “It’s Neal!”

Maddie was standing with Cody, his arm wrapped around her and she stammered in shock. “What? It can’t be. He’s... he’s nice .”

Annaleigh turned back to stare down at Neal. Her mind spun. How? Why?

“You know him?” Scripps asked.

Annaleigh nodded. “Neal Connor. He was a client of my dad’s until recently. My dad let him go. Maddie and I were going to sign him to our agency. He just won New Artist of the Year tonight.”

“Annaleigh,” Maddie said suddenly. “The flowers started the week after we met him for the first time. Before that, your father had only talked to him on the phone because Neal was in Texas.”

The news hit her with the same force as the bullet that hit Holt. Annaleigh staggered back and would have fallen to the ground if Evie and Sloane hadn’t gripped her arms to make sure she stayed upright.

“Oh my God, you’re right. And the notes didn’t turn threatening until I met Holt. Does that mean he was the one at my house that night?” Still, none of this seemed real.

“Remember the note after that night?” Holt said, grunting as he moved to sit. “ I came to see you at your house and you ran from me and into the arms of another man. ”

“That was right after your dad let him go,” Maddie pointed out.

“He wouldn’t see me at the office anymore,” Annaleigh said, putting it together. “He probably came to declare himself, but scared me half to death and straight into Holt’s arms, which made him mad.”

Scripps was writing this all down as people began to file back into the auditorium and producers started to get pushy about finishing the show. Annaleigh wanted to curse them out, but she was too focused on the stage to really care about the rest of the show.

“We’ll search his house,” Scripps told them.

“But I think this is your stalker. It appears Neal fell for you when he saw you for the first time based on the timeline you just told me. He sent you courting notes and flowers. In his mind he was probably in a relationship with you. Then your father threw a wrench in his ability to see you regularly. It could also be seen as your father’s disapproval of him as your suitor.

Either way, Neal went to see you. When you ran away, he took it as a rejection of his love.

Especially, when you ran to another man.

Then, when your relationship with Holt became public, he knew he'd lost you. So, revenge and anger took over. He tried to run you over because he was so angry at you for that kissing video, but then he turned his attention to Holt. I’m sure Neal thought it was all Holt’s fault that you were no longer in love with him.

Take out Holt and you’d come back to him.

He probably figured he’d kill Holt tonight, then be the shoulder for you to cry on tomorrow.

He’d be back in your life with no competition. ”

Annaleigh wobbled again as she looked over at Holt.

Tears ran down her cheeks as a medic was checking him out.

“Don’t cry, sweetheart. It’s over,” Holt said, giving her a kind smile.

How could he forgive her for this? She brought this all upon him.

He was forced to kill a man in self-defense because of her.

“Annaleigh.” Holt’s voice was in control, but strong.

“I can see your mind spiraling.” Holt yanked the blood pressure cuff off and told the medic to chill for a minute.

Knox held out his hand and helped Holt up and then, even with his torso throbbing with pain, Holt walked over to her and enfolded her close to his chest. “None of this is your fault. It changes nothing about how I feel for you. I love you so much, Annaleigh. Now we can finally focus on our future without having to look over our shoulders.”

Annaleigh wanted to be tough. She wanted to pretend she wasn’t shaken to her very core, but she was. However, Holt’s touch was keeping her grounded. The spiraling thoughts stopped as she finally dragged in a deep breath.

The producer and the president of the SCMP were finally escorted to the stage. “How did people get guns in here? What is going on? Who is that?” Basil Howard, the president demanded to know.

Scripps pulled on a medical glove and picked up Neal’s gun. “It’s 3D printed. Even the silencer. It wouldn’t set off a metal detector. As for the gun thrown to Mr. Everett, it was a legally approved weapon carried by a diplomat.”

“What are we going to tell people? We still have Artist of the Year to announce and a dead body on the stage.” Basil was really close to a meltdown.

“You can tell them that a stalker attempted to kill Mr. Everett and the stalker died from a gunshot wound inflicted in self-defense by Mr. Everett. Mr. Everett will not be charged and more details will come at a later time. As for your production, this is a crime scene. Announce the winner in the hallway for all I care, just not on this stage.”

Annaleigh heard a throat clear. “May I offer my ballroom? There’s an after-party already scheduled to be held there,” Sebastian said. “Announce the winner there.”

The producer said it could work and Basil’s red face tempered down from fire engine to a blushing red. “But it won’t fit everyone,” Basil pointed out.

“Invite in the people at the afterparty and then live stream it on those giant televisions still up on Broadway from the festival. One call and I’ll get the stadium to also stream it on their giant outside boards.

” Annaleigh was pretty sure Sebastian Abel was completely unflappable.

That is until his wife sucked in a breath.

It was barely audible, but Sebastian whipped around to see Greer with her hand on her stomach and wonder in her eyes.

“Are you okay? Medic!” Sebastian was no longer unflappable.

Greer laughed and reached for Sebastian.

“I’m fine. The baby kicked. Here,” she said, placing Sebastian’s hand on her stomach.

His normally fierce face turned soft and full of wonder as he melted for his wife and unborn baby.

His eyes shot to Greer’s, his mouth hung open, and while he’d deny it, his eyes had a sheen to them.

“I felt it.” He took Greer into his arms and buried his face in her neck as he told her how much he loved her and their baby.

“Don’t just stand there!” Basil was flapping his arms now like a chicken.

“We have to move this entire thing. What a disaster. I can’t believe someone got shot.

Who was it? Oh, God. It better not be an SCMP member trying to kill another member.

That would not look... ow!” Basil rubbed his head and turned to Miss Daisy.

“Did you just hit me with a wooden spoon?”

“Someone had to. You’re hysterical.”

“Why aren’t you hysterical! There’s a dead body!”

Everyone from Keeneston just shrugged.

“Come along,” Aniyah said, wrapping her arm around his shoulder. “I have some oils that will calm you right down. We’ll help you get it all set up and moved in a jiffy. We’re really good at that stuff.”

Suddenly Keeneston was on the move. They were rounding people up and guiding them out of the auditorium.

“We’ll take it from here,” Scripps told the remaining Keenestonites, Holt, and Annaleigh. “You’re free to go. I’ll touch base with you tomorrow to let you know what we’ve found.”

“I guess we’re off duty now, right?” Cody asked.

“I think so,” Matt answered, everyone beginning to look a lot more relaxed as they started strolling out of the auditorium.

“Good, then I can do this.” Cody grabbed Maddie around the waist, lifted her up, and kissed her. “Matt, I’m giving you my two-week notice.”

“You’re leaving Keeneston?” Matt blinked his eyes at the announcement.

Cody smiled at Maddie. “I talked to Scripps earlier. I got a job with the Nashville police. Besides, wasn’t it you all who told me when you know, you know? And I know Maddie is the woman for me.”

“We’re moving in together,” Maddie told them.

Annaleigh was so surprised she didn’t know what to say.

“What a coincidence, so are we.” Holt winked down at her. “As long as you say yes, that is.”

“Yes! Of course.” Annaleigh snuggled up against Holt as they all walked as if they were part of a huge tour group down Broadway and into the hotel’s ballroom.

The people who couldn’t fit into the hotel had turned the area around the stadium’s giant television screens into a party of their own. Basil was panicking, trying to bring everything to order and the television producers were frantic getting cameras set up.

“In five, four—”

“Everyone, shut your mouths and open your ears!” Knox yelled after letting loose a sharp whistle.

The room went quiet.

Basil read a statement into the camera about the shooting and then, instead of Neal announcing the winner, which Basil must have realized was the person shot when Neal didn’t come to the stage, Basil began to blubber and Annaleigh laughed when Aniyah grabbed the card with the winner on it and stood next to one of country music’s greatest legends.

“We’re here tonight to name Artist of the Year. Now, the nominees are,” Aniyah said into the camera calmly and with absolute self-assurance.

“Wow,” Annaleigh said, watching Aniyah capture the attention of everyone in the room effortlessly. “Can I be her when I grow up, too?”

“And the winner is—”

Aniyah tore open the envelope. Her face lit up and Annaleigh knew who had won before Aniyah said, “My boy, Holt Everett!”

“A clean sweep,” Annaleigh said before kissing him.

“Come up with me.” Holt laced his fingers with hers and tugged her along before giving her a chance to answer.

Annaleigh felt awkward as Holt accepted the award but then laughed as Aniyah hugged him while jumping up and down. Her excitement was contagious and the once-tense audience was now cheering and laughing as if they hadn’t just been scared to death by a shooting thirty minutes before.

“Tonight was about country music,” Holt began to say. “But, like the songs we write, it’s really about family, friends, and love. Tonight, my family and friends, my hometown, came not only to support me, but to support my girlfriend at the opening of her new agency, A&M Agency.

“This industry can be a family too. There are fights, but there’s also love.

Love of our genre and love of our community.

Thank you for this honor and like always, say it with me,” Holt turned and grinned down at Annaleigh in such a way it made her laugh.

“I love you, Annaleigh,” Holt said as the entire audience shouted it along with him.