Page 138 of Second Sets Omnibus

“I still don’t fucking believe it,” Kieran growls, throwing himself back into his chair. His fists clench when he leans forward, placing his elbows on the table.

Ignoring their questioning glares, I pull out another copy of their contract, flip it open to the page marked by Zepp, and scan the words.

“Well, believe it. As a matter of fact, don’t forget it. I’ve been doing this for three years now, and this is how it will go. There are moving vans on their way to all your residences right now.” I raise a brow when Kieran glowers at me with an unrelenting stare, but I shake him off. Nothing he can do will deter me from doing my job. “You’re to pack whatever you want to take with you on a six-month vacation.”

“Six months?” Rad gasps with wide eyes, finally looking up at me again. My heart pounds as memories of him and I on his dirt bike come back to mind but quickly dissipate. I don’t have time to rehash memories that bring me nothing but pain. The quicker they get this done, the quicker we can move on with our lives.

“You’ll never have to worry with me, Pretty Girl. I’ll fight off the monsters and keep your brain in your head,” he murmurs, shoving the helmet over my head with force and buckling it under my chin.

I shake myself out of that stupid, childish memory. I did have to worry about him. He loved me with his entire soul and pursued me the hardest. Only to drop me for whatever reason. Was it the Van kiss? Or did they decide they’d gotten their use out of me with Battle of the Bands? I did my job. They just didn’t hold up their end of the bargain.

“You can’t be serious,” Kieran shouts. “I can’t leave my place! That’s mine. There’s no way?—”

“It says it in the contract,” Callum cuts in with a quiet but authoritative voice.

“Why the fuck didn’t we read that better?” Kieran grumbles, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Why didn’t you?” He glowers at Callum, who reads through the contract again, shaking his head.

Clearly, their friendship is falling to pieces. Judging by their cutting glances at each other and snarky attitudes, they can’t wait to leave each other’s presence. The Kieran I knew beforewas neverthiscruel to anyone. Sure, he had an attitude problem. But this? This seems like more.

“Yes. You owe West Records six months of total dedication. You’ve had time to sow your wild rock star oats, and now you need to prove that our investment was worth it. Six months at the Band House. Six months of practice, therapy, and rebuilding yourselves up. Six months of being mine.” An ominous grin spreads across my face, making each of their expressions drop. “And if you fail, you can say goodbye to your contracts and hello to unemployment. No other record company will dare to sign you after you leave us. They’ll all know you failed my program because I’ll make sure of it. The choice is yours. Music or nothing. At any time during this process, you’re free to leave. But your contract will be void. Oh, and I’m the ultimate judge. So, piss me off again, and you’re done.” I hold Kieran’s stare when his gaze hardens again. But for the first time since stepping foot in this room, he bites his tongue.

Good boy.

One point River. Zero for the boys.

“What the fuck did we sign up for?” Rad asks, swallowing hard, apprehension crossing his face.

“Bullshit, that’s what,” Kieran so helpfully adds with a huff.

“Glad we have that settled. Moving vans are at all your places now. I suggest grabbing everything you’ll need for the next six months. Your new home will be furnished, and a recording studio will be in the basement. I expect all your instruments to be there. We’ll start practice at 8:45 a.m. Monday morning.”

“Eight AM?” Kieran shrieks again with wide eyes. “What the fuck?”

“I’m well aware of your extracurricular activities, Mr. Knight, which include not waking up until two in the afternoon, but this is rock star boot camp. Welcome to your new hell,” I say, gathering my papers into the folder and nodding at eachof them. “You’re dismissed. A limo will pick you up at your respective homes, and they will escort you to the Band House. There we will have another meeting of expectations, rules, and another six-month contract for you to sign.”

Each of them nods, looking more confused as I step away from the table, clinging to the file folders resting against my chest. It’s the only thing grounding me. I hold my breath the entire way through the back doors, only releasing my breath when they close behind me and block me from the boys I once loved.

My brothers rest on the loveseat near the wall, cautiously eyeing me as I rigidly stand there. Everything inside me wants to crumple into a ball and not exist for a day just from seeing them. I’m all for putting on a brave face, but right now, tears burn the back of my eyes. Once upon a time, they meant the world to me. Apparently, I meant nothing. An ache forms in my chest as I collect myself, swallowing the hurt and betrayal.

“You did good,” Seger sings his praises, rising from his seat. Having observed the entire encounter through the two-way mirror, he probably watched me like a hawk.

Immediately, he engulfs me in his arms, holding my shuddering body. “So fucking good, River. You’re going to knock them into shape; I can see it now. We know your history with them, but you’ve got this.”

I give myself a moment to break down. And then, I back away, lifting my chin at their praises.

“Very impressive,” Zepp says, nodding his head as he approaches me. Placing a hand on my shoulder, he gently squeezes, taking me out of my momentary freak out that I’ll save for later. “We believe in you, River. We would never have made you do this if we didn’t think you could handle it.”

“This feels like a shitty test,” I grumble through a quivering lip, recalling the ugly name the band used. Central Trash. Itfucking hurts to be reminded of where I came from. But then again, it proves how far I’ve come from the girl stumbling through life.

“You’re a fucking rock,” Seger adds, sidling up to me on the other side. “No one in this fucking place can do better than you. We know you’ll be able to help them turn their fucking life around.” He raises a sharp brow, emphasizing his belief in me.

A belief I don’t feel.

I came into that room with revenge bleeding through my veins, begging for vengeance against the men who fucking ruined me. And now, I have to face them daily, organizing their lives and hoping they don’t wreck me all over again.

We all flinch away from the two-way mirror, watching in horror as Kieran practically destroys the conference room with his anger.

Instead of running in there to stop him, Seger chuckles. “Ah, that one will be the fucking worst to tame.”