Just One Spark (The Kingston Family 4)

Dean slid his hands into his pockets, lifting his jacket in a slick, contrived move of nonchalance. “Of course. Isn’t that my goal? To get you the best deals? To take care of you all?”

Cassidy didn’t buy the man’s calm posturing. He knew Dash was furious by the voicemail Dash had left the day of the rehab event and on the messages sent at other times as Dash tried to reach him.

“I don’t know, Dean.” Obviously agitated, Dash tapped a foot on the floor. “How is second-guessing what the band wants in our best interests? How is you treating my girlfriend like dirt a good managerial move? And in what world is you reporting my private visits at an anonymous rehab center taking care of me?” he asked, voice rising.

Cassidy had never heard that low, seething anger in Dash’s tone before. He’d always been the easygoing brother. The one who laughed most and loudest.

Without thinking, she placed a hand on his back, as much to steady him as to let him know he wasn’t alone.

Dean’s gaze locked on the motion, a sneer crossing his face before he caught himself and cleared his expression. “Dash, I didn’t tell anyone about the meet, but you have to admit the publicity would have been great … had that woman not followed you outside hurling accusations,” he said of Heather.

Dash shook his head in obvious disgust. “And there it is. Publicity. That’s all that matters to you, isn’t it?”

“Of course not!”

“Well, that woman lost her brother,” he spat out.

Cassidy didn’t know what to say or do to calm him down. This confrontation needed to happen, and it wasn’t her place to get in the middle. Even if they were in the visitors’ room of a television studio.

“It’s not enough for you that the Original Kings are a household name,” Dash said. “Not enough that we lost Dom and are still on schedule with Axel joining us. Not enough that you’ve made a fortune on us over the years. You still want more, and you don’t care at whose or at what expense that comes.”

A red stain rose to Dean’s cheeks. “That’s bullshit and you know it. I’m the voice of reason for the band.”

“Reason. Right. First you try and undercut Axel with one of your pet projects, trying to put more money in your pocket by convincing us to take on your drummer of choice. You object to my publicist’s idea of Cassidy as the girl on my arm when, let’s face it, picking her”—Dash gestured to Cassidy—“a woman who is both gorgeous and down-to-earth, makes me look smart and like a changed man. And I don’t believe for one minute you didn’t call the paps and violate my privacy. So let’s just end this now.” He folded his arms across his chest and met Dean’s gaze. “You’re fired.”

The manager’s eyes opened wide, as did his mouth. He clearly hadn’t seen this coming. How, Cassidy didn’t know.

Pulling himself together, Dean adjusted his suit jacket and met Dash’s gaze. “You don’t want to do that. You need me.”

Dash raised an eyebrow. “The band believes you’re no longer a good fit. We took a vote and it was unanimous. Make no mistake, Dean. This is a group decision.” He grasped Cassidy’s hand, clearly ready to walk away.

“This is your fault.” Dean pointed a finger at her, way too close to her chest.

She flinched and took a step back at the same time Dash grabbed the digit in his fist. “Don’t touch her. Don’t make it worse. Just walk away and you’ll be hearing from our attorney to finalize things legally.”

He released his hold, and the other man shook out his hand, a grim, pissed-off expression on his face. “You’d be nothing without me!”

Dash frowned. “Don’t mistake my gratitude for the past with my anger now. It’s time,” he muttered. “Let’s go, Cass.”

Dash put a palm on her back and led her out of the room, leaving his ex-manager behind.

* * *

Dash stepped outside, the cool fall air settling around him. He breathed in deep, feeling lighter than he had in ages.

He led a silent Cassidy to the waiting limo and they climbed inside. Leaning back against the seat, he let out a relieved whoosh of air. The interview, smooth as it had been, helped his mood somewhat, but firing Dean had lifted the cloud hanging over his head even more. The move had been necessary and something that had been building long before Dash and Cassidy had become a couple.

Though Dean blamed Cass, the fact was he and the band had outgrown each other long ago. It had just been easier to maintain the status quo rather than deal with firing the man who had given them a chance when nobody else would. Looking back, Dash wished they’d acted sooner so their parting wouldn’t have been ugly.