Deliver Me (17 page)

Erik
grabbed a stack of napkins out of the cabinet. When the
hot now
light
was on, the glazed donuts were fresh, and the glaze got all over your fingers.
He pulled out enough coffee mugs for everyone and poured them all full. He
reset the coffee pot and grabbed his own donut.

As
Bethany handed Brady off to Sloane, she said, “I think this should be a
tradition - donuts the day after.”

Mack
pulled her in for a hug and said, “As long as you pick them up from now on.”
The big man held Bethany in his arms and kissed the top of her head.

All
too soon, Lee and his crew had to leave for the airport. The goodbyes were a
little easier to say this time knowing there were only two weeks left until
they’d be together again.

When
Lee told Erik he wanted him at the final concert, Erik didn’t hesitate to say
yes. Anne was coming over to watch both babies so Bethany could go with him. He
and his receptionist had gotten really close over the last few months. He had
given her a couple of raises when she refused his help otherwise. They had a
week to wait before the Nashville show, and Erik had something special he
needed to do. He and Bethany were closing down the clinic when Sarah came in.

Both
Erik and Bethany did a good job at hiding their reactions to the woman’s
appearance. She looked worse than the last time he saw her. The first thing
Erik noticed once he got past her clothing was the fact she didn’t look
pregnant. Oh God, had she lost the baby? “Sarah, how are you?” Bethany found
her voice first.

“Fine.
I wanted to talk to Erik. See if we could go out to dinner.”

“Sarah,
I wish you had called. Bethany and I have an appointment this afternoon. How
about tomorrow?”

“Are
you two together now?” Sarah asked. Her eyes shot between the two of them,
almost accusing them of being intimate.

“Sarah,
you know I’m gay. Bethany is like a sister to me. How are you? How’s the baby
doing?”

She
placed her hand on her stomach and looked down. “I’ve got to go.”

“Sarah,
please wait,” Bethany called after her, but the woman was already out the door.

“Something’s
off with her, Erik. I wonder if she lost the baby.”

“I
was thinking the same thing. I will reach out to her tomorrow, go by her house.
For now, let’s go shopping.”

Erik,
Bethany, and the babies loaded up in the Range Rover and drove the short
distance to the strip mall where Erik had an appointment. They went inside the
jewelry store, and an older, elegant man met them at the door. “You must be
Erik. I’m Kristoff, the owner, and I’ll personally be seeing to your needs
today.”

Kristoff
made sure Erik was completely satisfied with his purchase before he left an hour
later. They took the kids and went out to celebrate at Bethany’s favorite
Mexican restaurant. “This is so exciting. I can’t believe you’re really going
to do it.”

Erik
sipped his beer and said, “I’m really going to do it.”

“And
I can’t believe we are going to be front fricking row for the concert!  How
cool is that?”

Erik
laughed at her enthusiasm. She didn’t fan girl in front of Lee and the guys,
but to have special privileges at the biggest show to hit Nashville all year
was pretty spectacular. What was even better was knowing the hot as fuck rock
star on stage was all his. If someone would have told Erik a year earlier he’d
be involved with inked up Taggart Lee of 7’s Mistress, he’d have laughed in
their face. Now he couldn’t see himself with anyone else. Ever. Lee was it for
him, and he couldn’t wait to let him know.

“I
have Anne lined up to come to the house Friday. Echo said the limo will pick us
up at six. Lee wanted to have dinner with us, but he has to meet with the
executives from the record label. Since Lee wouldn’t go see them, they’re
coming to see Lee.”

“I
can’t wait for the after party! We get to see how the other half really lives.”
Bethany practically bounced in her seat. Erik laughed at his friend and rolled
his eyes. The only after party he was interested in was the one between his
legs when he got Lee home.

Echo
explained to the record label that 7’s Mistress would be taking an indefinite
hiatus after the Nashville show. Of course, they didn’t believe their biggest
money maker would actually stop making them money. Tag sat the band down and
told them his plan to start his own production company in his house. He had
every intention of moving in with Erik and Delilah. If, at some point, Erik’s
home got too crowded, they could find a larger one, because he wanted Delilah
to have a brother or sister. If he and Erik ever decided to move into the
mansion, Tag would find an office building to house his business. He also told
them if they wanted to start a new band with a different lead singer, they had
his blessing. He doubted Sloane and Pauly would continue on with Cade after the
shit he’d put them through, but he also had a feeling they might want to
continue making music together.

Tag
had one thing left to do before they returned to Nashville. He called on an old
friend in North Carolina and met him at his shop in Myrtle Beach. He had drawn
a rough sketch of a tattoo, and his friend had turned it into something so much
more. By the time he got home for the final concert, the ink would be healed.

Cade
was a completely different person the last eight weeks of the tour. He still
played his heart out during the shows, but it was evident his heart was broken
from losing Tag. Their friendship had taken a hard hit, but Tag wanted to work
on getting them back to some semblance of the relationship they used to have.
It was up to Cade on whether he could accept being only friends.

The
two weeks dragged on, but it was finally time to go home. Tag had something
special planned for the show, and he made sure everything was perfect. Extra
security was hired, because his bodyguards would be on the floor with the
crowd, surrounding Erik and Bethany. There was no way Tag would allow them to
be trampled in a mosh pit.

 He
wanted to meet them before the show and eat supper with them, but the
executives had demanded a meeting before the concert. Now, Tag, Sloane, Pauly,
and Cade were sitting in a conference room in Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. Cortland
Reed, CEO for MG Records, was sitting across from them. Tag had answered the
same fucking question five times, and no matter how many times he gave the same
answer, the man wasn’t buying it. “I tell you what, Mr. Reed. Here’s the deal.
I quit. Is that plain enough for you? After tonight, I will no longer be in
your employ. I have recorded my last album as lead singer for 7’s Mistress. My
band members are welcome to form their own band under another name. Now, if
you’ll excuse me, I have a show to get ready for.”

Tag
left Cortland sitting there with his mouth agape. Pauly and Sloane followed him
out, but Cade stayed behind. That was perfectly fine with Tag. He hoped Cade
found his happiness somewhere. Sloane dropped an arm around Tag’s shoulder as
they walked. “This is it, huh? Our last show together. I just want to tell you
it’s been an absolute honor to rock the stages with you, Lee. You aren’t just
the best lead singer I’ve ever heard, but one of the best friends a guy could
have. If Pauly and I decide to carry on, we want you to be our producer.”

Tag
was stunned. He was touched. And he was speechless. Pauly stopped them and
pulled them both into a group hug. The three of them stood quietly, enjoying
their moment. Heels clicking on the concrete floor brought their heads up. Echo
smiled and asked, “Is this a private party or can anyone join?” Pauly stepped
back and allowed Echo to join them. “I love you guys,” she whispered. She
removed her arms from around their waists and wiped her face.

“There’s
no crying in rock n roll,” Sloane joked with her.

“There
sure as hell is,” Tag responded. “I have a feeling tonight’s going to be full
of tears. This is the end of an era. And I want to say thank you, all of you,
for having my back out there. And I’m sorry if you feel like I’m letting you
down by going off in a different direction.”

Pauly
stepped next to Sloane and wrapped him up in his arms, kissing him in front of
Tag and Echo. “I think it’s safe to say we’re ready to go in a different
direction, too. What about you, Sunshine?” he asked Echo when he broke the
kiss.

Echo
smiled at all of them. “I’m willing to manage a really hot super couple if I
ever find one,” she said with a wink. “Erik and Bethany are center stage. Good
luck out there, all of you. Let’s go rock this bitch.”

Tag
checked his appearance in the mirror one last time. He would be hot and sweaty after
a couple of songs, but he wanted Erik to see him as Taggart Lee for a few
minutes. He pulled the key out of the t-shirt so it was visible. When he was
satisfied with the way he looked, he joined his two guitarists at the side of
the stage. They stood quietly as the road crew got the sets swapped out. Cade walked
to where they were standing and said, “It has been an honor to play with you.
I’m sorry I caused dissention these last few months, but I’m ready to go show
Nashville just who the fuck 7’s Mistress is.”

Tag
pulled Cade into a tight hug. “Love you, Cade.”

“Love
you, too, Tag.” They touched foreheads as they often used to do.

When
it was time, Cade took one last look at Tag, wiped the tears from his eyes, and
made his way to the rotating platform.

Seeing
the tears on Cade’s face had Tag choking up. He probably would have started
bawling if he hadn’t gotten a glance at his man in the front row. He was
wearing the 7’s shirt Tag sent him, and he looked like sex on two long gorgeous
legs wearing it. The sight had him weeping in a different way. Tag adjusted his
dick and got ready to go sing for his man.

Sloane
and Pauly took their places on stage. Instead of standing at opposite ends,
they were back to back with their heads on each other’s shoulder. The sight of
his friends allowing the world to share in their normally private moment
kick-started Tag’s heart. They only broke apart when Tag took center stage. The
cheering crowd roared, and Tag grabbed his microphone, diving right into the
first verse of
Heaven’s Hell
. When the song was over he yelled,
“Nashville fucking Tennessee!” He looked down at Erik and winked. The lights
weren’t always optimal for seeing the crowd, but he had requested they pan the
front row at certain times during the set. When the crowd quieted somewhat, he
yelled, “Who’s ready to rock this fucking place down?” Nashville was on fire. He
gave Erik and Bethany one more smile before he stepped back, and the band went
into the next song.

Any
time he had the chance, Tag kept his eyes glued to Erik. For a few moments, it
was as if they were the only two people out of the twenty thousand plus. When
they were halfway through their set, Tag removed his t-shirt and stepped to the
front of the stage. He pulled the microphone from the stand and told the crowd,
“We’re going to do a new song now. Unless you’ve been to one of our shows in
the last couple of months, you won’t have heard it. It’s called
Deliver Me
.”

Tag’s
heart was lighter than any time he could remember being on stage. It had
everything to do with the man he was singing to. When they reached the final
verse, Sloane and Pauly allowed Tag to sing alone since he had changed up the lyrics
just for Erik.

Deliver
me from this place

Of
never ending strife

Take
my hand and guide me

To
the other side

Deliver
me from this place

I
don’t want to be alone

Take
my hand and guide me

Please,
take me home

Deliver
me

Deliver
me

Take
me home

Take
me home

Tag
held on to the key around his neck, looked Erik in the eye, and sang
Take me
home, Take me home
. Up until that point, Erik had sung every word to every
song right along with Tag. Since Tag had changed the lyrics, Erik stood gazing
up at his man. When Tag sang the last lines, Erik nodded. Tag winked at him and
left the stage.

He,
Sloane, and Pauly stood at the side of the stage guzzling water while Cade
performed his drum solo. Their normal setup was in the round with Cade’s platform
rotating a full three hundred sixty degrees. For their last show, Tag wanted
their stage to be set up at the end of the arena so he could stay in front of
Erik all night. He moved across the stage when the lights were off his lover to
give the other fans a glimpse of him, but when he could see Erik’s face, he was
right there in front of him. With Cade’s solo over, it was time for Tag to sing
Erik’s song.