Free No Strings Attached by Hilary Storm

let him get to me, but the asshole does. 
    Walking up to them, I notice him staring me down.  It doesn't stop me from continuing. 
    "Yeah, so the fourth number will be ours?"
    "Yes.  I'll bring you in from the right side, so stand over there until I bring you on."  He walks off and she turns toward me but doesn't look me in the face. 
    "So, what has he cooked up?"
    "Luke, he's just using me for one of their numbers in a duel type performance."
    "Drums versus guitar?"
    "Nah.  He’s goin' up against me on guitar.  I'm not worried about him.  I've got this."  Her confidence is well-deserved.  I know just how good she is—after all, this is something we do all the time.  This time she's going to take on another musician on his own stage.  If that isn't badass, I don't know what is. 
    I've seen Garrett on the guitar. He’s good, but she will have no problem keeping up with him. A couple of my groupies stand close as I wait for her to go on.  The two of them tuck themselves in close to my sides.
     
    I watch proudly as our girl steals the spotlight on stage with 'Beckoning Reality'.  She has fun with it and isn't afraid to tear it up.  They treat her with respect and they get the reaction they deserve.  The crowd goes wild in response to this never before seen performance. 
    She seems comfortable with Garrett, almost as secure as she is with me on stage.  Don't get me wrong, I'm happy to see her succeed, I'd just like to be a part of her success.
    The lights go out and I wait for her to exit.  She goes the other direction, so I begin to move around the back to find her.  With the groupies on my heels, I see her step down into a group of fans.  Her smile is captivating and she's obviously loving this moment with her fans. 
    I stand back and watch until a guy begins to grope her.  Holden and the guys are nearby and move in quickly, but the whole thing hits me wrong.  Storming through the crowd, I push my way until I reach this motherfucker.  He's cocky and obviously drunk as he stutters and starts to sway a little.  I hold him up by his shirt and pull his face right into mine.   
    "Hands off of her, motherfucker."
    "Ahh.  She likes it.  I'm sure she's a slut, dressed like that."  There's no need for any other words.  My grip on his shirt switches to his neck and quickly turns lethal.  Slamming him into the nearby wall becomes my one and only mission.  I want this fucker to shut his mouth.  Pushing through the fans again, I'm abruptly pulled to a stop.  Holden and Aiden both have my shoulders and both begin to pull him out of my grip. 
    "He's not worth it, man.  Let it go."  I let Holden's words sink in.  If I assault this motherfucker like I want to, there'll definitely be controversy.  The last thing 'Rebel Walking' needs is any more publicity.  Thinking hard about all of the consequences, I release my grip of this bastard.  Aiden pulls him away and Holden stays to pull me out of the crowd. 
    The fans part like the Red Sea when I begin to walk through.  The anger in my eyes and the pissed off look on my face probably has them all concerned for their own lives.  That fucker set me so far off.  Who does he think he is touching her like that and acting like he has the right to it?
    Searching for Lilly, I shove off Holden's hold on me.  I don't see her anywhere and it's frustrating the hell out of me.
    "Where is she?"
    "She's back on stage near Garrett.  He stopped playing the drums to pull her back on and away from all of this."
    "What the fuck, Holden.  Tighten security before I kick your ass."
    "Chill.  We had it under control.  You just need to calm the fuck down."
    "I'll calm down when that asshole is out of my sight and I know she's okay."
    "Follow me to the other side and you'll be able to see her."
    Walking back around, I try to take a few deep breaths to calm my shit.  It pisses me off how quickly that set me off, but he deserved what I wanted to do to him.  He needs to