Free Zeck by Khloe Wren

ZECK
     
    Scandals,
2
     
    Khloe Wren
     
    Copyright © 2016
     
     
     
    Chapter One
     
    Zeck
    Loud screams echoed behind me as I followed my
band-mates down the hall to our backstage room. My blood still raced with the
rush of performing and being able to interact with our fans. I let out a whoop.
Our first show here in Paris was now over, and it had been awesome.
    “Man, you crack me up every time. Never know what
you’re going to do.”
    I grinned at Law and did my stupid drunk dance through
the doorway.
    “What can I say? The crowd loves me!”
    We all laughed and fell into chairs around the room.
Except Dillon. He bee-lined for his girl. Like a magnet, my gaze followed him
despite the fact I knew precisely what he was going to do. The way he caressed
his palm over Ashlyn’s swollen belly before leaning down to kiss her had my
stomach twisting. I wasn’t sure why. At twenty-three years old I was in my
prime. I had no desire to settle down. Too much to see and do for that. But
there was something about the intimacy, the bond they had that called to me.
    “ Zeck ? Come with me for
moment.”
    “Sure, Jas.”
    I rose to my feet, grateful for the distraction. I was
struggling to hold onto my carefree facade in front of my friends tonight. Jasko , or Jas for short, was Right Time’s head of security.
He was Russian and as big as a fucking truck. His English was fortunately
fairly good, but occasionally his accent would strengthen and make it hard to
understand what he was trying to say. Knowing he wouldn’t pull me away from the
others without a good reason, I followed him intrigued over what he could want.
    “What’s up, big guy?”
    Jas led me to a smaller room the band wasn’t using,
before closing the door.
    “You look on edge tonight. I wanted to ask you some
question.”
    I crossed my arms over my chest, nervous that he’d
noticed my inner turmoil.
    “I just have some excess energy to burn. We haven’t
been clowning around that much lately.”
    Not only was Dillon spending all his spare time with
his new wife, but Alec was quieter and less energetic. I guessed that, like me,
watching Dillon with Ashlyn stirred up Alec’s inner desires. Law was no better,
although I hadn’t been able to work out why he was suddenly acting so serious
most of the time. On top of all that, we’d been flying all over the damn place
with this tour. Down time hadn’t happened since our brief break for Dillon and
Ashlyn’s wedding.
    The big man nodded, then rubbed his jaw.
    “I know you like to laugh and joke, but underneath you
are thoughtful. You observe around you, help anyone you can. You are caretaker,
yes?”
    I shrugged a shoulder as embarrassment heated my
cheeks. I liked to know everyone who I cared about was happy and safe. Was that
a crime?
    “I guess you could call me that. I know I’m lucky,
that I have more than I deserve so I’m happy to share it around. I didn’t think
management had an issue with it.”
    While we’d been in Sydney, I’d ordered dozens of
pizzas before driving around and giving them out to the homeless I found.
Phillip, our manager, had said it was great publicity and humanized me.
Whatever the hell that meant. I just wanted to help out. Feed a few hungry
people. No big deal.
    “You don’t much like management controlling you, do
you?”
    “Jas, we’ve been touring all bloody year. You know all
of us are over being told what to do and where to be.”
    I swallowed past a lump that had formed in my throat
when I noticed the muscle along Jas’s jaw begin to tick as if he was clenching
and unclenching it.
    “When you take lover, you like to control her, yes?”
    My head snapped up, and anger flashed through me.
    “Where are you going with this? I don’t kiss and tell,
you know that.”
    He grinned at me, a big stupid “gotcha” grin.
    “Tonight we go to a special club. One I think you
like.”
    I’d already been planning on heading out with the
boys. I was hoping I could pick