Every Heart Sings (Serenity Island Series) (24 page)

Ben’s eyes snapped to his. “Wh—Well—Hmmm—” He squirmed in his seat and his eyes shifted back and forth before he settled on something. “Damn, I don’t know. I must have pulled up that old contract by mistake.”

“We’ve always been honest with each other, Ben, right? We’re like family? No matter how hard the truth has been. We’ve always laid it out straight.” Josh leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table.

“Always. We’ve shared everything. You’re the son I never had.”

“So why are you lying to me?” Josh kept his voice low, quiet, calm, and at his most dangerous sounding.

Ben stuttered. “I’m not—I don’t know—”

“Cut the shit. The jig is up. I saw what you did to Tony—the unethical contract, signing my name to convince him I was on board with it. Hell. Did you think no one would find out?”

Ben sat back, looking bored. “You’re crazy, man. You been doing lines tonight? Smoking something?”

“No, Ben. My drugs only came through you and you know that. It’s how you controlled me. How you kept me complacent so I wouldn’t dig too deep into my own business, wasn’t it?” Josh’s fury coursed through his body, but he kept his voice tight, soft. “I just had a lawyer look into my contracts. All of them.”

Ben’s eyes widened.

“All my contracts and sales. Do you want to guess what I found, Ben?”

Ben shook his head slowly, his jaw clenched tight. He didn’t utter one word. Not in denial. Not in confession.

“We’ll talk more about the money in a minute, but what I really want to know, no, what I need to know, is why?” He dug in his back pocket and pulled out the wad of letters from his grandfather and tossed them on the table between them. He’d tied a piece of soft leather cord around them to keep them together. The packet thumped on the table. A solid, thwack echoed in the silence. “Why would you keep my grandfather’s letters from me all these years?”

Josh caressed the table. Then he stared straight into his manager’s brown eyes. He held the gaze of the man he’d trusted with his career, his business, his money, his pain. The man he’d idolized to as a giant in the industry—a man who had filled the void when his father and his grandfather weren’t around . . . the man who had become the only father figure in recent years.

Tears blurred Josh’s vision and he blinked them away.

He would not cry over this man.

“Help me understand, Ben. Why would you do this to me? Keep me reliving that pain year after year when the solution was right here.” He tapped the letters. “Saul apologized. And you kept that from me. Why?”

Ben stood and turned away from Josh, watching out the window. “It’s hard to explain. I never meant to keep them from you. It just kind of happened. Then, it snowballed. After I hid the first letter, it became easier to justify it. I was protecting you.”

“I thought you were my friend.” Josh shook his head. “That kind of protection I didn’t need, Ben. It did more damage in the long run.”

“I’m sorry, Josh. I never meant to hurt you. I just wanted a solid place in your life. And with Saul Cohen out of the picture, I kind of filled in as your dad. I liked that. I never had anyone look up to me the way you did.”

“But then it changed,” Josh said. “When you started to steal from me. How long has that been going on?”

“From you, only a few years. I swear, I didn’t steal money from you before that.”

“But then, you needed to keep Saul out of the picture to make sure he didn’t have any influence over me, didn’t dig into my financial reports.”

Ben hung his head. “Yeah. Like I said. It got complicated.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I just wanted a place in your life.”

“Well, you kind of screwed that up when you started to steal from me, didn’t you?”

“Yeah, I guess I figured you’d never notice.”

“And I wouldn’t have if it wasn’t for Tony and Jordan.” Josh was angry with himself for not catching on sooner. “Where’s the money now? Why did you need it? Gambling debts? Drugs?”

“The money is just sitting in a bank in the Caymans.” Ben shuffled his feet. “It doesn’t mean anything to me. I’ve earned enough honestly to live a good life.”

“Then why do it?”

“Because I could. Temptation. See if I could get away with it. Made me feel smart. And maybe greed played into it, too, knowing that one day soon my career would run its course and I’d no longer be relevant to the newer generation.” Ben’s tone took on a bitter edge. “All you artists are the same. Think you’re God. Most of you don’t have college degrees. Don’t have a thing going for you other than you can sing or play music. And you look good. Shit, you can train a monkey to do what you do.”

“Is that right? I didn’t know you had so much contempt for me and what I do. If I had, I might have considered firing you well before now.”

Ben blanched, all the blood draining from his face. “I’ll pay it back, I swear.”

“Absolutely. You will. Every penny. You’ve got one week from today. Luke Alexander’s money will be paid directly to his widow. Every dime. And the money you stole from me, you will donate anonymously to a foundation.”

Ben looked confused. “All five million?”

“So you
do
know exactly how much you stole from me?” Josh shook his head, bemused and a little more than heartsick.

Ben shuffled his bare feet and stared at the floor. “Yes,” he mumbled.

Josh stood and ambled up to Ben, looking much more relaxed than he felt with fury coursing through his veins, then he tapped Ben on the chest lightly with his index finger. “If the money is not returned to the Alexanders or paid to the foundation of my choosing in one week, this mess will go public. In a very bad way. Do you understand me? Your days in the industry are over, either way. You’ll make this right, and you’ll find something else to do—otherwise, you’ll go to prison. My lawyer is holding the information. She’ll wire it to the authorities at my word. They’ll have all the information they need to arrest you by morning. I’d suggest that you not make this harder on yourself than you need to. I will do it, if I have to, so help me God.”

“I understand. I’ll do as you say. I’ll return all the money.” Ben stepped back from Josh, bumping into the wall of the camper. “Just no jail, okay, buddy?”

“And don’t even think about running, either.” Josh ground his teeth together, baring them at Ben. “Because I will hunt you down. There’s no hiding from me.”

“No, I have no desire to run. I know I’ve done these people,” he lowered his head, “and you wrong. I’ll face the consequences.”

“I’m glad to hear that, Ben. You’ve screwed your last artist-musician.”

Ben studied Josh with a resigned look. “I will pay it all back within the week.”

“Good, I’ll have my lawyer call you first thing in the morning with the details about the foundation, and to release me from all my contracts with you. And you’ll nullify Tony’s contract.” Josh picked up the packet of letters and tucked them in the back waistband of his jeans. “And, Ben? I’ll be watching you. Stay away from musicians and artists. Do not even think about dabbling in the business ever again. Find another hobby, and stay out of musicians lives. Or I will destroy you.”

“I swear, hand to God.” Ben lifted his hand.

“Ben?” Josh shook his head and chuckled without any real humor. “You’re an atheist.”

“Oh, right.” Ben’s mouth lifted in a tired grin and the sadness in his eyes reflected in Josh’s soul. “Still. I mean it.”

“One week,” Josh said, before he turned and walked out.

Chapter 18

Taking Leave

The phone rang at seven o’clock the next morning. Jordan moaned. Couldn’t someone get that? Shit. She swatted at the nightstand. She’d been up half the night and she felt hung-over. Dry mouth, scratchy eyes, queasy. Oh, wait, that sick feeling in her stomach might be from the gargantuan betrayal she’d experienced at the hands of the man she thought she loved. A crazy rock star with no moral compass.

She licked her dry lips and punched talk on her cordless phone. “Hello.” Her voice croaked.

“Jordie?” Helene asked.

Jordan groaned. “Not a good time, Mom.”

“Are you sick?”

“Yeah, something like that.” She was heartsick, but she wasn’t about to tell Helene and give her a weapon to use against her. Hell no. Because somehow this would be her fault. Life was rotten enough at the moment. She didn’t need someone else against her right now.

“Poor, baby.”

“What did you need, Mom?”

“Well, I just wanted you to know that your coming out last night made a big splash. You’re E! News. And TMZ featured a spot on the late show last night. It will re-run later today.”

“Great.” Jordan’s stomach, already feeling bad, hollowed out and rolled like a whale surface diving. “So the world now knows where I live now. Great.”

“Well, they didn’t report you live in Serenity, only that you attended the debut of your nephew, Tony, at The Down Dog Café. And . . .” Her mother paused dramatically.

She was in no mood for her mother’s drama this morning. “And what? Spit it out, Mom. I’ve got a huge headache here.”

“Well, honey, they also reported that you had a lovers’ spat with Nicodemus. That hottie who was at your play the other week. The one I thought could be a model. You could have told me he was a famous rock star. Tsk. Tsk.”

“You wouldn’t have listened to me any way.” It was true. Helene was so focused on herself and what she was doing that if it didn’t have to do with her career and launching it higher, she didn’t want to hear it.

“You wound me, dear.”

“Right, Mom. If that were true, I never would have had to declare my independence from you years ago. You never listen to me.”

“I listen. I just don’t always agree. That’s what family does. They disagree. Then they work through stuff. We love each other, we tough it out. That’s what we’ve always done.”

Jordan realized in that moment, her mother was right. They had toughed it out over the years. Her mother was her mother. Family was family. You didn’t get to choose what family you were born into, you just made the best of it. Wounds and all. There were days, hell whole years, where Jordan felt like she’d been more bruised from her mother and father than anything else, but her mother had always stuck by her.

She didn’t harbor any delusions. Their relationship might never be a good one. But her mother did love her in her own way, and she’d tried to look out for her, flaws and all.

“You’re right, Mother. It is what we’ve done. Thanks for calling to warn me. I’ll watch the spot on TMZ.”

“And you’re wrong.”

“About what?” Jordan tried to follow the conversation with her sleep-deprived brain.

“I do care about you. And I want you to experience that heart-pounding, life-changing love.”

Jordan scoffed. “Yeah, like the love you and Dad had? No thanks. I can do without the middle-of-the-night blow-ups, the on-again off-again whirlwind passion that devastated everything in its path. Not for me.”

“We were young, Jordie. Love doesn’t have to be like that.”

“Listen, Mom, this thing between me and Josh . . . it’s complicated . . . and I don’t think it’s going to work out.”

“Are you okay?” The genuine concern in her mother’s voice made her heart catch.

“Maybe.” She paused. “I don’t know. I’ll have to get back to you in a few days, when the dust settles. When I work through a few things.” She didn’t say that what she had to work through was to figure out Josh’s true involvement with Tony’s contract debacle. She wanted to believe him, but she didn’t know if that was hope springing eternal, the rampant slut, or if, somehow, there was truth behind the niggling trust that was trying to fight for life within her heart.

“Okay, dear. It’s just that I worry about you. Always have. Yeah, maybe my concern gets a little blown out of proportion. I’m working on staying within the boundaries.”

That was new. Her mom actually trying to work on something important in their relationship. Jordan blew out a breath.

Helene made kissy noises into the phone. “Gotta go, hon. I’ll call you in a couple of days.”

“Thanks.” Jordan whispered into the phone, touched by her concern. “And, Mom?”

“Yes?” Helene paused.

“I love you.”

“Aw, baby. I love you, too.” Helene’s tone softened. “Maybe I can make it over to Serenity next week. Spend a couple of days with you.”

“Thanks. I’d like that.”

“And we can start planning your comeback, now that you’re out in public again.”

Jordan growled softly. “Bye, Mother.” With those words, she hung up the phone and buried her head in her pillow. She did not want to get up and face the world yet. She peered at the clock. No reason she had to be up at the butt-crack of dawn today. She didn’t run the café any more. And she sure as hell didn’t want to plot out any type of comeback for her acting career.

But apparently, her stunt last night had brought her into the limelight again. She sighed. So she’d have to deal with it.

Her thoughts turned to Josh. She’d said some pretty unfair things to him last night, accused him of maliciously hurting Tony and of going behind her back to sign him with Ben when he knew she had reservations. For good reason, according to the numbers Caitlin had shared with her.

Did she really believe Josh had that in him? No, she didn’t. He cared for Tony, and she believed he cared for her too, on some level—as much as he could.

Again, like her mother.

Only Josh wasn’t a true narcissist. He was a protector.

He looked out for the needs of everyone else. His band mates, those who worked for him, even those people here in Serenity he’d gotten to know. He was someone who took care of others.

It didn’t add up.

So what the hell had happened with that contract?

How did Tony get suckered in to it? Had Ben really forged Josh’s signature to sign Tony? Who the hell did that? Someone desperate, that’s for sure.

Pure shock had registered on Josh’s face last night when she’d confronted him with the contract between Ben and Tony. He’d seriously had no clue. Josh might be a performer, but he wasn’t a true actor. He couldn’t have pulled that kind of deception off. No, this had been all Ben.

Hell. She’d made a huge mistake. She palmed her forehead. Why did she need to let her anger overcome her reason? It had always been a problem for her. Came with the passion. Shit.

She needed to apologize to Josh.

But, first, she had some choice words for Ben Johnson.

She jumped out of bed. Come to think of it, she did want to get up. She had a score to settle with a certain business manager. And what better time than now to catch the worm still in his hole?

Yanking on clothes, she headed out the door to find Ben at the campground. The early bird always got its worm, right? And she planned to eat Ben for breakfast.

Josh came downstairs into the café from his apartment at seven o’clock the next morning to find Tony sitting at a table with his guitar. He dropped his duffle and guitar case near the front door. “Hey, kiddo. What’s up?”

“You’re leaving, aren’t you?” Tony kept his head bowed and picked at a few more notes on the strings of his guitar.

Josh walked to the kid and placed a hand on his shoulder. “It’s time for me to go. You’re here early.” He looked around. “You alone?” He couldn’t help the hopeful jump his heart took, thinking that Jordan might be in the kitchen, ready to apologize for the misunderstanding last night and greet him with a hero’s kiss.

“Yeah. It’s just me. I needed to apologize to you for last night.”

Josh rubbed his aching chest. Jordan had not come.

“You okay? Things kind of blew up there at the end.”

Tony stopped playing and looked into the distance. “All I’ve ever wanted to do was play music.”

“I know. I’ve been there. But we can’t make decisions that will short-circuit the long-term dream.”

“But you’re living the dream now.”

“Yes, but I wasn’t always ready for it. And it took me years and years of working in obscurity to get here.” Josh pulled up a chair next to Josh and rested his hand on the back of Josh’s chair, facing him. “Fame isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Sometimes, I wish I led a quiet life, playing and writing music—really living. You know? Fame makes everything so surreal and artificial. You never know who your friends really are. And who will turn on you for money.”

Tony watched him closely. “I think I understand.”

“Pretty amazing performance last night. I didn’t get to tell you afterwards. Quite a few talent scouts took notice of you. Saw them chatting you up.”

A dazzling smile broke the somberness of Tony’s expression, his eyes warmed, and his cheeks flushed with excitement. Then he squeezed his eyes shut and dropped his chin to his chest, shaking his head back and forth.

“Yeah, I’m not ready. But it sure was nice talking to them. Gives me a little taste of what it could be like in a few years when I do launch my career.”

Josh watched Tony in silence, letting him continue.

“I talked it over with my mom last night. And with Jordan. She’s a smart woman. Still got industry savvy.”

“Yes, she has a good perspective.”

“Sometimes.” Tony paused. “They want me to go to college first, so I have something to fall back on if music doesn’t work out.”

“Sounds like the right move for you. Plus, your mom and your aunt need you around here with them for a while longer.”

“What will happen with the café?”

“We had a good opening last night. I think it’s got a great future.”

“Can’t you stay?” The kid’s tone was wistful.

“No. I can’t. My album is due. And because of the situation with Ben, I need to be in L.A. right now. Sort my business out.

“What will I—the cafe do without you?” Tony asked, changing it up mid-sentence.

“You will keep your mom and aunt out of trouble. You’ll focus on your studies and work hard on your music, okay?”

“Sure.” Tony rubbed his ear on his shoulder, then looked at Josh with a sober expression before glancing away. “I’m going to miss you.”

“I’ll miss you too, kid.” Josh ruffled Tony’s hair. “I’ll be back. Gotta make cameo performances here to keep the name of the café in the news. Your aunt and I have unfinished business.”

“Do you think it’s going to work out between you two?”

“I don’t know. I’ve got to sort out a few things first, though, with my business—put a few things in motion for the future. And she’s got to believe in me.”

“I’m really sorry. It was my fault. Your fight last night.”

“No, Tony. It’s not your fault. It was only a symptom. There’s a deeper issue here. No relationship works without trust. Remember that. And Jordan’s got trust issues to work through before she settles down with any guy.”

“Well, I hope it works out. For her sake and mine.” The kid smiled.

“Hey, what about me?” Josh chucked Tony on the chin. “Me, too, kiddo. Me, too. I hope it works out for us some day, but that’s not entirely up to me. No matter what happens with me and your aunt, you and I can still be friends.” Josh pushed himself out of the chair to stand and look around at the café. “I never thought I’d say this after such a short time, but this place is important to me—the café and Serenity. So you’re not going to get rid of me that easily. I’ll be back as often as I can.”

“The café is a great idea,” Tony said.

“Yeah, I think it will do well. Especially when word gets out that former record exec Tommy Robbins is coming to oversee and manage it for me. You met him last night. Tall, blond guy.”

“The guy with the flashy suit? Wow. Really? Didn’t he say he was in film first? He seemed really nice.”

“Yeah, Tommy’s looking for a change. He started out in TV and film. He’s not really old enough to retire, but he’s a little burned out and he loved the vision of the café and he thought Serenity might just be what he needed next.”

Josh had invited Tommy because he thought he might buy into his vision for the café. When he’d pitched the idea to Tommy of him overseeing the operation, he’d jumped at the opportunity, but only after he’d mentioned Jordan’s interest in renovating the cannery and opening a community theater.

Tommy’s interests had always straddled the music industry and the stage. Serenity offered him both. Tommy was aware of Jordan’s current struggle to keep her personal life personal and yet get her toe back into the acting arena. He’d help her when she was ready.

“I look forward to getting to know him,” Tony said.

“So are you and your mom definitely staying on the island?” Josh braced his hands on the back of the chair. Jordan needed family around. It would be good if Tony and Grace were here permanently for her.

“I think so. Mom enrolled me in the high school for my senior year. I’m excited. I’m starting to make a few friends.”

“Yes, you are. And I hope you’ll count me as one of them.”

“I do. Absolutely.”

“I’m just a phone call or a Skype chat away. Okay? If you need to talk music, or guy stuff.” Josh shrugged. “Just call me, okay? I can get really busy, but I’m never too busy to talk to you. And Tommy’s going to schedule a series of well-known artists to come in to mentor. So take advantage of that, okay?”

“I’d love that.”

Josh extended his fist to Tony.

Tony bumped it with his own fisted knuckles and grinned at him. “Thanks. You’re a pretty cool guy.”