Under the Lights (A Brothers of Rock - GONE BY AUTUMN - Novel) (23 page)

“
Fuck
you,
”
Ryan spat. He looked
at Jules.
“
And you
’
re in this too? Using the band
to get you where you want to go?
”

“
Me?
”
Jules asked.
“
What? I don
’
t
…”

“
She
has nothing to do with Richie,
”
Tanner said.
“
Listen to me,
damnit. He came to me. He was begging me to sign with him."

“
And
…”

“
And
I did nothing,
”
Tanner
said.
“
I sent him away,
again and again.
”

“
But
you never told us,
”
Ryan
said.
“
You kept that part
hidden. Why?
”

“
Shit,
”
Tanner said.
“
Come on, Ryan. Give me a break.
”

“
No.
Not when I have some guy telling me that he
’
s
signing you and Jules.
”

“
Signing
us?
”
Jules asked.
“
I never met
…”

“
You
think that
’
s how it works?
”
Ryan asked.
“
Jump in bed with Tanner and get
yourself a contract? Don
’
t
you have anything better to do?
”

“
No,
it
’
s not
…
,
”
Jules said.

“
Hey,
”
Tanner growled. He grabbed Ryan
and pushed him into the side of his car.
“
Don
’
t talk to her like that.
”

“
What?
What are you going to do? Punch me? Do it.
”

“
Christ,
Ryan, I didn
’
t do anything
wrong.
”

“
Then
spill it. Tell me why
…”

“
You
are on the cover of everything,
”
Tanner yelled, shoving Ryan again.
“
You
had all the spotlight and we were background noise. It hurt, man. I
’
m sorry about your father, but
it was unfair to us. We were at such a critical point of gaining popularity and
all the attention was on you. We
’
re
a goddamn band. And when Richie came snooping, yeah, I came up here and grabbed
the old demos. I wanted to hear my voice. And I did. And I like it. But I
’
d never leave the band, Ryan. I
’
m sorry I didn
’
t say anything, okay?"

“
You
think I did all that on purpose?
”
Ryan asked.
“
I would never
go solo. It's not about me. It
’
s
about Gone by Autumn.
”

“
I
know that,
”
Tanner said.

“
Enjoy
your new contract,
”
Ryan
said. He looked at Jules.
“
Hope
it all works out.
”

Ryan stormed away and Tanner called
after him.

Tanner then looked at Jules.

“
What
was that?
”
Jules asked.

“
I
don
’
t know. I have to get
him. I have to stop this shit.
”

Jules slammed the storage unit shut
and they jumped in the car. Tanner was speeding after Ryan, driving like a wild
man. The look on his face was full of hurt and anger. And guilt. Jules feared
there was too much running through his head at once.

“
Tanner
…”

“
Don
’
t,
”
he said.
“
This is why I
have rules. Because I find a way to take things too far.
”

He gripped the wheel and drove
faster.

Jules looked out the window,
watching the world fly by. Her heart twisted and started to ache. She could
never come between the band. This was why she left those two mornings. This was
why she promised herself to focus on the music and nothing else.

This was why
…
it was time to go
home
.

(21)

The press had piled up outside the
loft. There was a wild buzz about Gone by Autumn and perhaps a breakup. Sam
called Tanner and wanted to know why the hell there were pictures surfacing of
Tanner chasing Ryan down, both of them in their cars speeding at unsafe speeds.
Tanner gave the quick rundown and Sam said he
’
d
get to the bottom of it.

Tanner dropped Jules off and told
her he
’
d back be soon.

When he got to the loft, he battled
through questions and having his picture taken to get into the building. He
found the rest of the band sitting in the loft, looking lost and confused.

“
Guys,
”
he said.
“
Where
’
s
…”

Tanner saw Ryan. Standing on the
other side of the room, pacing like an animal ready to attack.

A second later, Sam busted into the
loft.

“
It
’
s madness,
”
Sam said.
“
But it
’
ll die down.
”

“
They
want a story,
”
Gabe said.

“
The
truth,
”
Blake said.

“
What
’
s the truth?
”
Ryan asked, eyes on Tanner.

“
There
is no truth,
”
Tanner said.
“
I
’
d
never do anything to hurt any of you. Richie was trying to blackmail me into
signing with him. He
’
s
spreading this shit. The guy
’
s
an asshole.
”

“
Tanner
’
s right,
”
Sam said.
“
There
’
s no way you guys can sign
another contract. There
’
s
no reason for it either. This Richie guy is a worm. He tries to exploit people
to keep his own name in the limelight.
”

“
Look,
I fucked this up,
”
Tanner
said.
“
I let a little
jealousy get to me. I should have said something about Richie earlier. I
’
m sorry I didn
’
t. But I
’
m here. We're Gone by Autumn
…”

Ryan charged at Tanner.
“
And you blame me for this?
”

“
I
’
m sorry,
”
Tanner said.
“
The
magazines and stories
…”

“
They
weren
’
t me!
”
Ryan screamed.
“
I didn
’
t fucking write them!
”

“
Whoa,
”
Asher said.
“
Take it easy, guys. We can
’
t do this to each other.
”

“
We
can,
”
Ryan said.

“
We
can
’
t,
”
Tanner said.
“
That
’
s what he wants.
”

“
He
told me he signed you and Jules,
”
Ryan growled.

“
She
doesn't even know who he is,
”
Tanner said.

“
Ryan,
it
’
s impossible,
”
Sam said.
“
If he wanted to sign Jules, that
’
s one thing
…”

There was a knock at the door.

Tanner rushed to the door and
opened it, ready to unleash on whatever ballsy person from the press decided to
bother him.

But it was Richie. With a big smile
on his face. He had a folder in his hand.

“
Tanner,
this is paperwork to dissolve the contract
…”

Tanner growled and grabbed Richie
by his suit. He pulled him into the loft and shut the door. The look on Richie
’
s face was priceless. He must
not have been expecting the rest of the band to be there.

“
Shit,
”
he whispered.

“
Did
I sign anything with you?
”
Tanner asked.

“
Tanner
…
come on
…
I was at your place
…”

“
Uninvited,
”
Tanner said.

“
Look,
we can
…”

Tanner backed up and swung at
Richie. It felt so good to pop the guy in the face.

Richie collapsed to the ground,
moaning.

Sam grabbed Tanner and pulled him
back.
“
Don
’
t hit him again. Leave it to the
lawyers to figure out. We
’
re
going to sue him until he
’
s
run out of the business.
”

Tanner looked at Ryan.
“
I would never leave this band,
brother. This is my life. All I have is you guys
…
and Jules
…”

“
Christ,
”
Ryan said. He approached Richie
and made a fist.
“
Answer
the question. Did you lie to me? Is Tanner signed with you?
”

Richie shook his head.
“
No. I told you that
…”

“
You
piece of shit.
”

Ryan gave Richie a shot to the face
and that was the end of it.

Sam ordered everyone to back off.
He then helped Richie to his feet and opened the door.

“
Get
out,
”
Sam said.
“
You
’
ll hear from our lawyers.
”

He slammed the door and locked it.

“
That
’
s going to be interesting,
”
Blake said.
“
As he walks by the press,
bloody.
”

“
Rockstars,
”
Sam said.
“
You guys need to figure this
shit out right now. Clear the air. Figure it out.
”

Ryan looked at Tanner. Tanner
looked at Ryan.

“
Why
were you up there?
”
Ryan
asked.
“
Again?
”

“
I
showed Jules the box,
”
Tanner said.

“
What
box?
”

“
The
box,
”
Tanner said.

“
Holy
shit,
”
Gabe said.
“
Are you serious?
”

“
Yeah,
”
Tanner said.

“
Nobody
knows about that,
”
Ryan
said.
“
I mean, besides us.
”

“
Exactly.
That
’
s what Jules means to
me. And you thought we were packing up to leave? To do what? Go to a different
city?
”

“
I
don
’
t know,
”
Ryan said.
“
I
…
I lost my family a long time ago. And then my father came back right at the
height of us becoming stronger as a band. After what happened with my old man, it
made it clearer that you guys are my family. The only family I have. And you
’
ve been off, Tanner. Distant.
Looking lost. I shouldn
’
t
have listened to that guy. I
’
m
sorry I did. But it scared me.
”

“
You
thought you were losing your family,
”
Asher said.

“
Yes,
”
Ryan admitted.

“
That
’
s how I felt with all that press
about you,
”
Tanner said to
Ryan.

“
Oh,
shit,
”
Blake yelled.
“
We
’
re
like a bunch of babies in here. We
’
re
rockstars, guys. Can we just punch each other in the face?
”

Tanner smiled.
“
Yeah, he
’
s right.
”

Ryan offered his hand to Tanner.
“
I
’
m
sorry, man.
”

“
I
am too. I shouldn
’
t have
let that guy get within a foot of me without punching him in the mouth.
”

“
That
felt good, didn
’
t it?
”
Ryan asked.

“
Really
good,
”
Tanner said.

“
I
wonder how much that punch is going to cost,
”
Sam said.
“
He
’
ll come after you.
”

“
Screw
him,
”
Tanner said.

“
I
’
ll take him out,
”
Asher said and cracked his
knuckles.

“
So
we
’
re hit men now?
”
Gabe asked and laughed.

“
Okay,
enough,
”
Sam said.
“
Is this all good now?
”

“
All
good,
”
Tanner said.

The band went in for a big group
hug. They were brothers. They were family. They were allowed to fight. To have dumb
arguments. The only difference was that when they squabbled it was put on the
cover of magazines.

“
I
didn
’
t know you were so
serious about Jules,
”
Ryan
said.

“
I
am,
”
Tanner said.
“
I
’
m
in love with her.
”

“
You
sap,
”
Asher said.

“
What
’
s wrong?
”
Gabe asked.
“
You
’
re not in love with your backup
singer?
”

“
No,
”
Asher said.
“
That was a mistake.
”

Everyone laughed.

“
Could
have called that one,
”
Sam
said.
“
Oh, wait, I did.
”

Tanner
’
s phone beeped. It was an unknown number.
“
Should I answer it?
”

“
Do
it,
”
Ryan said.
“
Hang up if it
’
s bullshit.
”

“
Hello?
”
Tanner said.

“
Tanner?
This is Tara.
”

“
Tara?
”

“
Jules
’
roommate.
”

“
Oh,
Tara. Right. Hey. Is Jules okay?
”

“
No.
”

“
Damn.
Look, I
’
m coming
…”

“
No,
Tanner. She left.
”

“
She
what?
”
Tanner yelled.

“
She
left. She grabbed two bags and said she was gone.
”

“
Oh
shit,
”
Tanner said. He
looked at Sam.
“
I need a
ride. Right now.
”

“
The
press
…”

“
Get
me a ride,
”
he ordered Sam.
Then he addressed Tara.
“
Where
’
s she going?
”

“
I
don
’
t know. She was upset.
She said she broke up the band.
”

“
I
’
ll find her. Thanks for calling.
”

Tanner hung up and looked at Ryan.
“
Remind me to punch you later.
”

“
Why?
”
Ryan asked.

“
Jules
thinks she broke up the band. She took off. I have to find her. I'm afraid if
she runs home, I'm never going to get her back."

“
Let
’
s move,
”
Sam said.
“
I
’
ll set up a distraction.
”

“
Thank
you,
”
Tanner said.

“
Get
her, man!
”
Asher yelled.

Tanner opened the door and cut down
the hallway. There was only one way out of the building right now and that was
through the window. He stood there, shaking his head, knowing if he jumped and
landed the wrong way, he
’
d
break an ankle.

But he needed to get to Jules.

She promised she wouldn't leave
again, and this wasn't her fault. He had to tell her that. He couldn't lose
her.

Tanner wouldn
’
t allow it.

His heart wouldn
’
t allow it.

Love wouldn
’
t allow it.

*

Jules saw the car behind her, but she
just kept driving, tears in her eyes, two bags on the backseat. It wasn
’
t supposed to come down to this.
And it was her own fault. It figured she would finally have the chance of a
lifetime and she would let herself fall in love with one of the guitarists and cause
the breakup of the band.