I said, “We’re going to need weapons.”

Braden asked me over his shoulder, “You used to have a Taser when we were kids. Do you still?”

“You want me to tase him?” I just won the lottery.

He hesitated, “Well, we might need to.”

Luke wasn’t listening. He walked forward, his hand closing and opening in a fist. He stopped right before Emerson. His shoulders were tense. He was waiting for an attack, but it didn’t come. Emerson looked at him like a feral animal. His chest was heaving, and his eyes were fully dilated, almost pure black, but he still didn’t move. He was watching, waiting.

Luke glanced back at me, and with a jolt, I realized what he was going to do.

I nodded and started forward. He’d better protect me, or I swear to god…I stopped thinking and let out a ragged breath.

As I drew closer, Emerson straightened. The urge to say, “Here, kitty kitty,” was on the tip of my tongue, but I held back. Eyeing my cousin warily, I stopped when Luke held out his hand. Then I waited. I was here. My cousin hated me. He should’ve lunged by now.

Luke moved so he was standing to the side. He shifted back on his heel, ready for the attack. Oh fuck it, I thought. I looked into Emerson’s eyes and taunted, “What are you waiting for, Emerson? If you’re going to hit me, this is the best ti—”

It happened quickly.

Emerson sprang for me. His arms were outstretched, and his hands were open. He was going for my throat, but—Luke hit him. It was a good solid punch to the side of his face, and Emerson dropped to the floor.

I waited, holding my breath, but he didn’t move. Luke had knocked him out. I swung my gaze to his, my knees shaky. “Well, that’s one way of handling it…” I trailed off. Luke’s eyes darkened before he looked away from me. For a moment, we’d been the old best friends that we used to be. That moment was over, and it was back to him hating me.

I stepped aside, and Luke bent to grab Emerson. Braden, Paul, and two other guys came into the room. All of them carried him down the stairs. I followed behind them, shutting the door. Crissy was wringing her hands together. She darted to the side as the guys took Emerson to the car.

“What happened up there?” she asked me in a rush. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead, and she wiped them off with the back of her hand.

“Uh.” What did happen? “Nothing much.” And that was the truth. Nothing much happened. Emerson was high. We got him out, and now it was back to life as usual. I hadn’t been given a window to my old friendship with Luke. It was a façade. He needed me to act as bait. That was it. Nothing more.

“Oh.” Crissy’s laugh trembled. “That’s good. I was worried.”

“Yeah…” I squared my shoulders back. Whatever. I walked away from Luke three years ago. That had been my choice, not his, but even as I tried to make myself believe that, I couldn’t. I missed being Luke’s friend. Getting that feeling again and then having it taken away, I felt something missing inside me.

They started to put Emerson behind the driver’s seat, but Luke shook his head. “No. Do the middle. If he wakes up, we can restrain him better this way.”

Hearing those words, Crissy stepped back, bumping into my side. I expected her to move away, but she didn’t. She stayed there. Her arm started shaking, and that told me one thing; she wasn’t going to help much.

I started for the front seat, but Luke stopped me. “What are you doing?”

“‘What are you doing?’” I indicated Emerson. “You need to sit next to him if you’re going to be able to restrain him.”

“I know.” He held his hand out, and Braden gave him the keys. Luke held them out to me. “You drive. Braden and I will both sit in the back.”

“Oh, thank god.” Crissy darted for my seat.

She closed the door for me, pulling on it so I was forced to step back. Luke laughed slightly. He asked, “Still want to join the band?”

“What do you mean?”

“Not much has changed in three years. Emerson gets high. We carry him home, and we do the best we can. This is how it is.”

I already knew how Emerson operated. Was it worth dealing with my cousin, that’s what he was warning me about, but the real question I needed to ask myself—was this all worth it, to play with Luke again?

My hand closed around the keys, and I went to start the car, but I already had my answer. Was it worth it?

Hell yes.

There wasn’t much of a reaction from Luke when I told him. All I got was a nod, and he said, “We’re playing Candy Lake’s house party tonight. It’s a good paying gig. Don’t fuck this up.”

Don’t fuck it up. Sound advice. I smoothed my clammy hands down my pants and nodded. “Sure. I can do that. I mean, I can not do that. Not fuck it up, I mean.” I was already messing it up.

Emerson rolled his eyes. “Are we sure about this? Chicks bring drama.” His lip curled up into a sneer. “Especially this one.”

Braden yelled from the van behind us, “One, she’s amazing on drums. Two, even though she’s my sister and it pains me to say this—it really does—she’s hot. We got the girls coming in droves to see us, but guys will come too now. Sorry, Bri. I feel like I’m pimping you out.”

I shrugged.

He continued, “And three, she needs to stay busy. We need to keep her away from Turner in her free time.”