Wicked (Somerset University #2) - Ruby Vincent Page 0,65
back to work. Want to see some more bands or chill at the hotel together?”
“I’ll stay. There are more bands on my list.” I slid my hand down his arm and laced our fingers together. “And I want to see them with you.” We kissed. “But I’m fine to leave when Beyond Berlin goes on. I’ll catch a nap, freshen up, and then we’ll go out.”
“Sounds good.”
We rejoined the crowd and made good on our threat to see every band we could in three hours. A few weren’t for us. Some we loved. And a couple became our new obsession.
“How did we allow London Panic to sign with anyone other than us?” Jaxson cried. “They’re fucking incredible.”
“Baby, that guitar solo changed my life.”
We stumbled through the crowd laughing and gushing over the mind-blowing experience witnessed by all at stage 2K. Jaxson’s nonstop vibrating phone warned him that our time was up and he had to return for Beyond Berlin’s final warm-up.
“I’ve never heard of London Panic before today, and now I’ll never forget their name.”
“That song they sang about Sadie.” Jaxson shook his head. “Wow.”
“I’ll head to the entrance and call a ride,” I said. “You work your Interstellar magic on the stage.”
“I’ll walk you.”
Hand in hand, we exited the grounds and said goodbye at the taxi stand.
The sun began to set, bathing the city in its artwork of colors. We zipped through the streets for the old Imperial Hotel. Pulling in under the awning, the bellhop opened the door and escorted me inside. I went straight up to the front desk and requested cheese and a substitute for the wine sent up to my room.
An hour later I was bubbling in the tub, munching on cheese and catching up with home.
“How’s Adam?”
“He asks where you are about every five minutes,” said Ezra. “Caroline is distracting him with baking cookies.”
“Aw, my poor baby.”
“Sounds like your separation anxiety is just as bad.”
“Leave me alone.” I laughed. “I spent so much time away from him while I was at Evergreen. Now I get hives whenever we’re apart for more than a few hours.”
“And what do you get when you’re away from me?”
I smirked. “An ache between my legs where you should be.”
His voice dropped. “I can be in New Orleans in two hours.”
“Very tempting, Lennox, but Jaxson and I have the night planned. I’ll be back early tomorrow and we can do all of the things you’re thinking of. Yes,” I teased, “even that.”
A beep sounded in my ear.
“You sure? Because the that I’m thinking of is meeting you at the hangar and bending you over in a private plane.”
“I just said yes, didn’t I?”
“I’ll be there,” he said. “What’s up?”
I heard Maverick’s deep voice on the other end.
“Your phone stop working? Fine.” Ezra got back with me. “Love you, Val. See you tomorrow.”
“Bye, lover. Kiss our son a thousand times for me.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
There was some shuffling and words exchanged. Maverick came on the phone.
“Hey, Val, I want to hear about your trip,” he said over my greeting. “But I found something on Aiden’s computer and you need to know.”
I bolted up, splashing water over the rim. “Did you find out what happened to Teagan and Sawyer? Where Leighton is?”
“No, but now I know why,” he said. “There’s a hidden file on his drive, Val.”
“What?”
“Hidden and very well. It’s taken me this long to find it and it explains why he ruthlessly cut off Ezra when he discovered we were digging into him. People who have nothing to find don’t have hidden encrypted files buried in their computer.”
“Can you get in?”
“No.” I could practically see him shaking his head. “I mean, yes. I could find a way in eventually, but now that I know who I’m dealing with, it’d be stupid to believe he doesn’t have a failsafe in place.”
“Maverick, we’re so close. You’ve proven he’s hiding something. Now we have to see what. In that file could be the proof we need to send to the police. Is there any way you could get in without him finding out?”
“I... can try. I’ll talk to my dad. See what he says. Until then, I’m glad you’re in New Orleans and far away from this guy.”
“I’m not afraid of Aiden Connelly. He should be afraid of us. We’re putting his smirking ass in a jail cell where it belongs.”
Another beep chimed in my ear, alerting me to the text.