Just One Spark (The Kingston Family 4)

“Dash!” She waved at him, rushing toward him.

“Cass, what’s wrong?”

She grasped his arm. “We need to talk. There’s a woman who knows you and she been talking about you. She said –”

“You have some nerve showing up here year after year.” A woman he recognized had stepped in front of him, cutting off what was no doubt Cassidy’s attempt to warn him.

He closed his eyes and groaned. “Heather.”

“Wow. You remember my name. I damn sure hope you remember my brother’s because it’s your fault he’s dead!” she said, her voice loud.

Murmurs rose around them and people turned to stare.

Dash ignored the audience. He understood her anger, and there was nothing he could say to make things better. “I’m here because of Billy.”

“Don’t say his name,” Heather spat.

Cassidy looked back and forth between them, and he hated that she was finding out this way. He wished he’d seen her and been able to explain last night, before … this.

“Come on, Dash. Let’s just go. Before there’s a bigger scene.” Cassidy grasped his hand and tugged.

Knowing she had a point, he followed her toward the door and out into the hallway that would take them to the exit. He didn’t see the rest of the band and assumed they were already outside. He needed air and couldn’t wait to join them.

But when he stepped out of the building, instead of space, he was hit with paparazzi calling his name and taking pictures. “Son of a bitch.” This was supposed to be an under-the-radar event but it was fucking obvious who’d tipped them off.

He pulled Cassidy against him and looked around for the guys, catching sight of them surrounded and answering questions, pissed-off looks on their faces.

“Dash, rumor has it you’ve been doing this for years. Why is this cause so important to you?” a man called out.

“Dash, does this have anything to do with Dom and his drug issues?” a woman asked.

He gritted his teeth. Dom hadn’t discussed his issues with Dash or any of the other guys, and the reporters sure as hell didn’t know anything for sure. He wasn’t even taking Dash’s calls.

His best bet was to ignore the paps and head to the car. Make no statement. Let them take photos. He didn’t give a shit.

He wrapped an arm tighter around Cassidy.

“Dash, is this relationship serious?” someone asked.

He tipped his head close to her ear. “We’re going to make a run for the SUV,” he told her.

She nodded.

“Oh, this is great. More publicity about the great Dash Kingston.”

Dash winced as Heather’s voice rang out.

The press or whatever they called themselves grew quiet, sensing a story, and he braced himself for the worst.

He turned to see Billy’s sister, arms folded across her chest, glaring at him from where she leaned against the building’s façade. “Maybe to the world you’re a hot-shit rock star, but to me and my family you’re the lowlife who bought the drugs that killed my brother.”

Cassidy stiffened and everyone around them took a moment to process her words.

Dash didn’t wait. He used their shock to his advantage. “Let’s go.” He started to walk away, his strides long and fast, Cassidy right beside him.

His movement broke the silence, and the paparazzi followed him to the vehicle, yelling questions and no doubt snapping pictures of his escape. Apparently the guys had followed his lead because they showed up seconds later.

Dash had the keys and hit the key fob, unlocking the doors and giving them an opportunity to climb in and shut out the commotion.

“Jesus. They’re like vultures,” Jagger said from behind him.

“Fucking animals,” Mac muttered.

Dash hoped all the equipment had been loaded, but if not, he didn’t care. Someone could return for it later. He started the engine and put the car in drive, slowly easing out of the parking spot.

The paparazzi got the hint and turned back toward the rehab center, and in the rearview mirror, Dash caught sight of Heather talking to a group of people, no doubt giving them the story of a lifetime.

* * *

Cassidy walked into the room with bottles of beer fresh from the fridge and passed them out to the guys. This was her second trip because she could only hold so many bottles in her hands. Dash paced back and forth, crossing the length of his huge family room, over and over again. Jagger, Mac, and Axel had spread out on the sofa and oversized club chairs.

Since their return from the rehab center, Dash had been quiet. The rest of the band took their cues from him and waited, either for Dash to explode or to chill out. Even Cassidy didn’t know which one to expect.

She had questions. So many questions, as Heather’s words rang in her ears. But until she and Dash were alone, she wouldn’t press him for an explanation, though she did wonder if the rest of the band already knew the story. Not Axel, since he was as new as she was, and whatever was in Dash’s past, that was personal and private.