Page 51 of Lick

He shrugs. “Like I said, I love being in this band, but nothing lasts forever. And I knew coming in it might head this way with the age difference between us all. I’ll still wanna join you guys occasionally for a session at Shooters.”

“You got yourself a deal there.”

“Awesome. Alright, I’m gonna get some shut-eye. I was up all night and half the morning writing some new shit, and now I’m paying the price.”

“I guess you’re not as young as you thought you were.”

He gets up and flips me off, making me grin.

“Hey, Lick?”

“Yeah?” I take another swig.

“You ever need to talk, mate, I’m here. And unlike some people, I know how to keep my mouth shut.”

“I appreciate that. I’m just missing my girl, is all.”

“Still can’t believe you’re going to be a dad.”

“That makes two of us. Get some sleep. Tomorrow is gonna be brutal.”

“Aye, aye, Captain.”

I chuckle and shake my head as he walks off. I put the cap back on the whisky. Drinking my troubles away is not gonna be an option.

My phone chimes with a text, so I pull it out and read it, grinning when I see a photo attached. I open it up and see Emma fast asleep with her head on Dot’s shoulder and her feet in Hauler’s lap as Dot reads to her. I can’t tell what book it is, and it’s clear Emma is beyond listening, but there is something about seeing my rough-around-the-edges brothers be soft with my girl.

Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe I’m overreacting, and everything’s fine. One thing is for sure, my brothers will do everything in their power to keep Emma and our baby safe. I just hope it’s enough.

The next night, I’m wiping the sweat from my brow and grinning at Jacko as we wait for the curtain to go back up so we can do our encore. The crowd is going nuts tonight, and even I have to admit the whole place just feels electric. This is the stuff dreams are made of. In another time and another place, this would have been everything. But everything is waiting for me back home. I hold out my fist for Moe to bump before turning to TJ and Jacko on the other side of me to do the same.

We’re all pumped to hell, and part of that has to do with the venue. This place is a huge old theatre, complete with red velvet curtains and gold tasselled tie-backs. The seats where the spectators once sat have all been torn away and replaced with a sandstone floor. The centre of the roof has been cut away to give the place an open-air vibe, even though large portions of it are still under cover, like the stage and lighting areas, for instance. The acoustics are phenomenal and somehow manage to blend the intimacy of a closed venue with an open one. It’s a meshing of two worlds, and oddly enough, it works. I don’t think it will be long before this place pulls in some really big names, and I’m hoping that us having performed here might get me a foot in the door when it comes to our new artists playing here too.

“Let’s do this,” Moe yells as the curtain goes up to a thunderous applause. The lights spin our way, making it hard to see the audience, but that doesn’t mean we can’t hear them screaming our names. I sit down at the drum kit, which is on an elevated podium in the centre, just behind where TJ stands before he starts moving around and working the stage.

I wait until I get the signal and use my drumsticks to count everyone in. Closing my eyes, I let myself get lost in the music for a while. Screaming, and not the fun kind, has my eyes snapping open. I keep playing, looking for the source, but assume someone’s just being a dick. when more screaming splits the night air, I jump up from my drum kit and yell for the lighting guy to turn the lights up so we can see what the fuck is going on. The music cuts out just as the unmistakable sound of gunfire erupts.

Pandemonium ensues. Before I can figure out where the shots are coming from, I’m hit from behind. White-hot lava spreads over my body, stealing my breath and throwing me to my knees. I collapse as I hear Jacko roar my name, but the world goes dark before I can tell him I’m okay.

23

Emma

I’m jostled awake when someone gently shakes me

As my eyes drift open, people move around me. They’re talking loudly, but they’re yelling over each other so I can’t make out a word.

I look up at Dot as I sit up. “What’s happening?”

“Not sure yet. Why don’t you go on up and sleep in Lick’s room for the night? It’s late.”

“How late?” I groan. I seem to fall asleep here more often than not lately. I come so I feel closer to Lick and because I love the guys, well most of them. But they’re going to think they bore me if I keep falling asleep on them. I look at my wrist and curse because I forgot my watch again.

“Where’s my phone?” I grumble, checking my pockets before I remember that I put it in my bag. “Scratch that. Where’s my bag?” I ponder as Dot pulls me gently to my feet.

“I’ll find it and bring it up, but it's late, like 3am late.”

“Jesus, you should have woken me hours ago. I told you this the last time I fell asleep on you.” I grumble. Though I don’t know why I bother. He refuses to disturb me. I pause for a second­—disturb me is exactly what he just did.