She's Still The One: A Brother's Best Friend, Rockstar Romance

by Kaci Rose

  Landon and Dallas both insist Mason, who I'm learning is the head of their security team, stay on my detail, and the woman will also be with me to accompany me to places a male cannot, bathrooms, and dressing rooms were a few places he mentioned.

  I didn't interject and tell him I had no intentions of really leaving the house, much less going shopping and trying on clothes.

  They go over details of where security will be and protocols, if someone gets on the property and a bunch of other things.

  Once again for Mason and the security guys, I have to go over in detail what happened with Branden for Mason. He has some questions, while Landon runs upstairs to get the key and the card from my nightstand.

  "It's a Nashville address," Mason says, as he plugs the address into his phone.

  "It's not in a great part of town and looks to be an apartment complex. I’ll dig more into it. My guess is with enough money the landlord will give us anything we want. I've worked with those types of guys before."

  They talk about what the private investigator found, and Mason agrees they need to look into their books. He asks for a copy of the file and any info they find on Dave. I guess Landon texted all this new info to the PI as well.

  "Okay, let’s get her to the ER, and I’ll call a detective buddy of mine, so he can come down and get a statement. I'm sorry, Austin, but you’ll probably be repeating the story several more times, before the day is over." Mason says.

  "Super," I say sarcastically.

  "Wait. Branden knew when I was alone, which means he's been watching not only me, but this place. He's going to know something is up the moment we step outside. Hell, he might have known the moment you guys showed up." I say.

  "Good. Best case he comes at us, and we can get him behind bars tonight. My guess is he's going to stay to the shadows and try to get you alone again, which we won't let happen. Let's get you checked out, talk to the police, and we’ll work on the next steps."

  I nod, and then there’s a flurry of activity. Both Dallas and Landon insist on coming with me to the Emergency Room. That means there will also be six bodyguards following us. Oh, what fun we will have.

  Mason drives us with another guy, and the rest of them follow in another SUV. Dallas sits beside me and keeps the ice on my wrist. Every so often, he turns his head and plants kisses at my temple. While It's a simple gesture, it comforts me.

  Once we get to the hospital, we’re whisked right to a private room. They don't even blink at the bodyguards. I guess one of them called ahead, and this being Nashville with loads of musicians, it's pretty normal.

  After I talk with the nurses, the doctor comes in and agrees with me that it's probably not broken, but he still wants to get an X-ray done to be sure.

  Mason and Dallas go with me to get the X-ray and stand behind a wall the entire time with their eyes on me.

  When we get back, the detective Mason mentioned is waiting on me, and I have to tell the whole story over again. This time starting from when I met Branden, his proposal, me leaving, running into Dave at the label, and all of it. It's exhausting.

  As we wait for the doctor to come back in, I guess I drift off. I wake up, and I'm sleeping on Dallas's chest, who is on the hospital bed. Landon is in a chair next to us, and the six bodyguards are on the couch and standing around the room.

  When the doctor walks in, he just shakes his head at everyone, before focusing on me.

  "No broken bones; no fracture. Just a sprain with lots of swelling. I'm going to have a nurse come in and wrap it, but keep ice on it, and take some ibuprofen for the swelling." Dallas and Landon are both hanging on the doctor's every word, but I just want to go back to sleep.

  A different nurse comes in to wrap my arm. She’s older, about the age my mom would be, if she was still alive.

  "Where's the other nurse?" Dallas asks.

  The nurse chuckles.

  "She fangirled a little too hard and got reassigned." She says.

  "On the way out, we’ll sign autographs, but just want to make sure she gets taken care of first," Dallas says.

  "The rest of the staff will appreciate it."

  "Also, remind them of the HIPPA laws, and they apply to us being here. We will follow up on anyone who leaks anything regarding Austin's visit." Landon says.

  "Oh, rest assured, they have already been given that lecture twice, since you’ve been here. Once from the head ER doctor, and a second time from the head of the hospital that happened to still be here. That’s why I got sent in. The only people I'd fangirl over are dead."

  "Thank you," I mumble. She starts on my wrist that’s resting on Dallas's chest. He refuses to move, and I don't have the energy to sit up, so she just uses Dallas, like a counter to wrap me up.

  "Out of curiosity, who would you fangirl over?" Dallas asks her, before she leaves.

  "Elvis and Johnny Cash." She smiles and turns to leave.

  "Elvis got all the girls." My brother jokes.

  "Wake me, when we get home," I mumble, closing my eyes again.

  "Go to sleep, baby girl. I got you." Dallas says.

  I don't remember getting home, just that Dallas wakes me up to feed me and get me some medicine, before taking me up to bed, so I can go back to sleep.

  Chapter 36

  Dallas

  It's been four days, since Branden attacked Austin. There hasn't been a peep from Branden or Dave. That's fine by me. It gave us plenty of time to make our plans. Austin has spent a lot of time relaxing and reading, since she can't do much else with her wrist. This has allowed us plenty of research and planning.

  Today, is the first time I will be away from her, since that day. Landon is also with me, so it's the first time she will be home alone. She has her bodyguards and a hand full of other security with her, but she still didn't want me to leave. I didn't want to leave her either, but this meeting has to happen today.

  We were able to finally get a meeting with Dave on the threat of contract violation. That got his attention and got us a meeting.

  We walk into the label, and Deanna greets us with a huge smile.

  "Hey! I wanted to ask if Austin was okay. She's been going through books like crazy the past few days, but she says she’s fine and changes the subject." She asks.

  I step up to her desk. "She's okay just hurt her wrist, so she can't get much work done. If you have time this weekend, we'd love to have you stop by." I lower my voice. "We'd like to talk to you but, not here." I look towards the office, so she understands.

  She nods. "I'll stop by this weekend to check on Austin."

  I grab a card and scribble our address on the back, before Dave enters the reception area. It takes everything in me to not lunge and beat him to a bloody pulp. Landon has told me several times that won't help matters, but I told him give me a sign and I'd make it happen.

  We follow him back to his office, and he closes the door behind us. As soon as we’re seated, he speaks first.

  "I'd like you to drop the charges against my son."

  "He attacked Austin. In our home." Landon says.

  We agreed he'd do most of the talking, because he's the more levelheaded one and doesn't anger as quickly as I do.

  "He needs help, and I can't get him that help with a warrant out for his arrest," Dave argues.

  "Oh, he needs help all right, but he sang a very different song, when he attacked Austin," Landon says with a smirk.

  "He needs help, he isn't stable," Dave says, and this is where I’ve had enough.

  "Let's cut the bullshit. We aren't dropping the charges. He attacked Austin as a way to get back at us for dropping you. It all adds up, because when you saw her here at the office, your son mysteriously shows up at the house. A house we never gave him the address, too. He sought her out, why? To marry her, and, then use her as blackmail for us?"

  Dave's face goes tomato red, and I know his cool composure is gone. Good. This is what I wanted, the angrier he gets the more he will let slip.

  "What d
id you expect? You’re trying to end me. As soon as you drop me, the label wants me to retire. They won't put me on another band. Do you know how much of a pay cut that is for me?"

  "Oh yes, we do, because we had someone go over our books." Landon full on smiles this time.

  Dave's face pales, but he tries to regain his composure.

  "What?"

  "Yeah, once we found out Branden, well Jimmy, was your son we took a closer look at you. You’re paying three employees who don't exist from our record earnings. The money is going to accounts, and then gets filtered and lands in your offshore account. How convenient. Offshore accounts that have hundreds of millions of dollars by the way. You’re not hurting for money; you’re just mad the gravy train has dried up. So, you set all this up, didn't you?" Landon says.

  "You guys would be nothing without me. I lost my wife, and my son turned to drugs, because you took up all my time making you into stars. You weren't easy to deal with in the beginning, and the pay was horrible."

  "What I don’t get is your legit pay is still several million a year. Are you really that greedy?" I ask.

  He grunts. "I do all the work. All you two do is sing. Why should you get all the money? And no, I didn't set all this up, Jimmy did, but it made sense, so I went along with it. Got him addresses and info."

  "Great, well we’re done. You are released of your job as of today." Landon says.

  "Like hell, I am. You still have another year on your contract!" Dave yells.

  This time it's me who smirks. "Hard to do your job from a jail cell."

  We walk out of his office and right to the studio big-wigs, who have been waiting in a conference room for us. We close the door and sit down.

  "So, what’s this about that we all had to rearrange our schedules?" Milton asks. He is the owner of the label, and while his tone is nice, I know he was none too happy, when we called. He knows this is serious, because we have only ever called one other meeting with him, and it was when we did the drug ban on our tours.

  Landon pulls out the tape recorder and sets it on the table, as everyone eyes it.

  "We just had a meeting with Dave that we wanted to inform you about, before we go to the police and the media gets wind of it," I say, and everyone sits up straight. They never like even the slightest hint of a scandal.

  Landon starts, "As you know, we have been upfront and honest with you about wanting to go off on our own and turn around and help the next generation."

  All the heads around the table nod.

  "Apparently, Dave didn't like that. His son sought out Austin in Portland and started trying to date her. When he proposed after three months of seeing each other, she left and came home. That was right before the last tour." I tell them.

  Landon goes on to tell them about the run-in with Dave and Austin after the tour, his son showing up at our house multiple times, him attacking Austin, and down to the meeting we just had. Then, he plays the recording of the meeting.

  Pens are flying across paper, as everything starts to come to light, along with many angry and worried faces.

  Once the recording is finished, Landon leans forward in his chair.

  "We want out of our contract with you and Dave as of today. This evidence and everything we’ve learned we’ll be taking to the police, and we’re pressing full charges against Dave and his son. Any money recouped will go to charity. You let us out of our contract, and we’ll spin this story about how helpful you were, once it came out and we’ll sing your praises. You don't? We will assume you were involved, and you’ll be the next investigated." Landon says and sits back.

  We both wait, and finally, Milton looks back at us.

  "Will you gentleman give us a moment to talk? You can wait in my office. Also, I had our security detain Dave. He was trying to make a run for it." He says.

  That explains what he was doing on his phone, as we talked.

  We head to his office and collapse into his leather chairs.

  "Think this office is bugged?" I ask.

  "Wouldn't surprise me, if they are listening to us now. Text Austin and check on her, please." Landon says.

  I pull out my phone and shoot her a text.

  Me: Hey, baby girl. How’s your book?

  Austin: Good. Just finished it and started a new one.

  Me: You doing okay?

  Austin: Yes, I'm good. Hurry home.

  Me: I'm trying. I did invite Deanna to stop by this weekend. Give you time to talk books and have girl time.

  Austin: Thank you. I love you.

  Me: Love you, too.

  "She's fine just reading. I told her about inviting Deanna over, and she's excited." I tell Landon.

  "Good. I like she found someone who shares her interest in books," Landon says.

  "Me too." I agree.

  "Boys, we’re ready for you." One of the ladies who were in the conference room earlier peeks her head in. I think she's a secretary, but I can't remember her name.

  We follow her back into the conference room and take our seats. Since they didn't talk long, I hope it's good news.

  "Gentleman." Milton starts. "I will let you in on a little secret. We had always planned to let you out of your contract early. Yes, we hate to lose you as clients, but I love what you’re doing to help the next generation. But we have a few stipulations, and if you agree, I can send you home with a contract to have your lawyers look over."

  "What are they?" I ask.

  "The biggest one is we ask that you don't poach any of our clients. If they choose to leave us and go to you it's one thing, but what we don't want is you pursuing them."

  I look over at Landon, and he looks at me and nods.

  "We agree to that. We want new talent we can help grow, and not old ones who need their handheld," I say.

  That earns a few laughs around the room.

  "That describes some of our clients perfectly." Milton says.

  “But we ask the same of you in return.” I say.

  "Agreed. Next, we'd like you to consider working with us." Milton says.

  "What do you mean?" Landon asks.

  "Well, you’re a huge name and have many fans that will follow the people you sign strictly, because you signed them. Whereas we have a huge marketing team and contacts. We'd like to be a sister company. You’d be your own company, and do your own things, but we'd like to work with you on marketing. Honestly, we don't want to lose your band completely. We work together. We promote your artists, and you help promote ours."

  I look at him and shrug and mouth the word 'drugs'. He gets what I mean instantly.

  "We'd be up to talking about it with one condition. Any artists we promote have to be drug free. We made that rule for our band and roadies and will make it for our artists. Anyone we promote must follow the same rules." Landon says.

  Milton smirks.

  "Done, and I’ll let you in on something that isn't widely known yet. After all, the support you guys got about banning drugs from the tour; we started working it into all our contracts as well. As of the beginning of the year, all of our artists have a no drug clause in their contracts. As does everyone who works on their tours, and those here in the office as well." Milton says.

  I'm a bit shocked if I'm honest. I've seen some managers with other labels feed their client’s drugs to get them on stage in order to manipulate them. Labels have turned a blind eye for years.

  Milton takes advantage of our silence.

  "Here are the contracts we drew up. They’re fairly simple. No poaching for either of us, no drugs, different promotions, and ways to work together, and the legalities of parting ways. Take a look at it and read over it. Either way, we’ll let you out of your contract, as of today." Milton says.

  We stand up, and everyone shakes hands. Milton hangs back, and when it's just the three of us in the room, he turns to us.

  "You two remind me of me and my partner, when we first started. We were never a band though." Milton says.

  His partner
died of cancer a few years back, and he had taken over the main operations of the label.

  "With that being said, I'd like to be a mentor to you guys. Be a sounding board, answer questions, and help get you off the ground." He says.

  "Why?" I ask.

  "Honestly, because it's what Charlie would have done." He says, speaking of his partner. "He always loved your band, as a fan, and as your label, he was proud of you taking the stand on drugs. I think that will help revolutionize the music industry and help clean it up. I want to be a part of that."

  "We'd like that,” Landon says.

  We say goodbye and head out to the car. Our next stop is the police station, and then on the way home, we both do nothing but read the contracts in our hands.

  Chapter 37

  Austin

  This is the first time I've been alone, since Branden attacked me. Okay, let's face it, I'm not alone, alone. Mason is here, along with the woman who doesn't talk to me. There are also two other guys in the house who don't talk to me. There are at least six outside that I have seen. The only one who talks to me is Mason. He said he's my point of contact. So damn formal.

  Today, is my first day alone without one of the guys here. I feel safest with Dallas, but Landon runs a super close second. Without one of them here, I'm a bit jumpy. Every time I see movement from the corner of my eye, I spin around. Every time, it's been Mason. I try to shake it off, but for some reason, I just can't.

  So, I've started pacing the living room. Mason has his back to the wall with his arms crossed watching me, and another guy is standing by the back room. This room is large, I could probably run laps around it for a decent exercise, but the pacing is enough right now.

  "Austin, why don't you try to watch some TV?" Mason says.

  I shake my head.

  "Okay, why don't we do some baking? Dallas is always talking about much he loves your cookies." He says.