I was ashamed to admit the concert wasn’t something I wanted to think about it. I probably had an excuse to cancel it, but the ramifications would be vast. It would cost me millions, probably generate a lawsuit from Trinity and prolong my connection to them for years as lawyers billed astronomical hourly fees.
I also didn’t want to go back to London.
And I really didn’t want to go back to that life.
Despite the week’s horrible outcome, the past few days, not having a constant entourage of industry people around me, it was… eye opening. And unsettling how much I’d forgotten about what was important in life.
Now, more than ever, I wanted out.
I wasn’t going to say I would never sing again. Maybe I would record more music, but I was done touring. I didn’t want to be in the spotlight anymore.
Adam simply nodded at Ronan and turned in his seat.
André glanced in the rearview mirror at Ronan. “Your texts came through. Police will need statements. All hotel staff and guests accounted for, no fatalities.”
I exhaled in relief.
Ronan’s arm tightened around me. “Copy.”
“Abernathy?” André asked.
Ronan didn’t hesitate. He told them everything. “After the second explosion, he made it to the top floor, detained Sanaa while I was helping Harm, and had a detonation device for third bomb planted on the top floor in the stairwell. I couldn’t reach it. Harm could, but not to disable it. We assumed the building had been evac’ed by that point, so Harm was able to get the device dislodged and away from us. I shot Abernathy. His body and the detonation device are in the suite with the jammed door.”
André nodded. “I’ll deal with the authorities while you two decompress at base. The hotel’s corporate headquarters have so far kept the fact that there was a bomber on site out of the media. They’re already spinning it as an HVAC issue aggravated by the storm. Trefor and I have been asked to keep everything under wraps and inform any of our team to do the same. Consider yourself informed. My guess is they’ll have NDAs delivered by lawyers within the hour.”
“We’re not dealing with any of that tonight.” Ronan’s hand absently rubbed my arm as he looked out the window.
“Copy,” André replied. “I’ll handle it.”
I was so thankful no one else had been hurt in the explosions, but something had shifted in Ronan’s demeanor since we’d left the elevator shaft, and I didn’t know what it was. All I knew was that there was a palpable tension in the car, no one mentioned Leo and we were going to base, wherever that was.
Seven fucking hours.
It wasn’t enough time.
She needed to get checked out, decompress, and get some sleep.
I needed to get my head on straight.
If she wanted her life back, I didn’t know what the fuck I would do. I knew myself. Watching from the sidelines as she sang her heart out to tens of thousands of people every night would kill me. It’d kill me more if she wanted to go on tour by herself. But I wouldn’t ask her to quit, not after the name she’d made for herself.
I’d heard what she’d said to Amherst and what she’d told me, but I didn’t trust it. She may feel that conviction now, but in a month? A year? Singing was all she knew, like the Marines had been all I knew. I hadn’t wanted out, but I hadn’t wanted a desk job either.
Damn it, I didn’t have enough time to sort this shit out with her in seven hours.
Luna pulled into the underground garage at Luna and Associates, and belatedly, I realized the logistics. “Luna, she needs clothes.” I had a go bag here, but all her shit was in that suite.
She reached forward and put a hand on Trefor’s shoulder. “Adam, can you please contact Zane? I left an overnight bag on the plane.”
“Of course.” Trefor glanced back and smiled at her before pulling his cell out.
“Thank you.” Dropping her hand, she looked tentatively at me, like she was nervous. “I learned a while ago to always have backup when traveling. You never know when your luggage will get misplaced.”
I didn’t know if I wanted to kill Trefor because she’d touched him or kiss her in front of everyone so they fucking knew to back off.
Realizing I was losing my shit, I kept my mouth shut as Luna pulled up to the elevator.