Protective Shadows (The Protective Series, Book 2)

Chapter Two

Janne's weight crushed against my side like a giant, triangular iron dumbbell. Jarmo and I struggled to keep ourselves upright as we walked downstairs, where Asko was engaged in light conversation with a tall, thin, eccentrically dressed man.

He wore a purple suit coat and pants, open over a lime green frilly button-up top. Dark shades covered his eyes, and a round, purple hat sat atop of his wild, shaggy auburn hair forming a mullet down to the nape of his neck. He chuckled as Asko told him a joke, thoughtfully stroking his handlebar and chin puff moustache.

"Here they are now," Asko cleared his throat, glancing up at the three of us. "Guys, this is Devon Fisher, Dan's brother. He says he knows a guy who would be interested in filling our empty manager position."

I raised a thick, blonde eyebrow, exchanging a baffled glance with Jarmo. "Look, buddy, we don't want to be fucked over. Your brother did that enough to us."

Devon shook his head impatiently, holding up his palms as if being held at gun point. "Boys, boys, I promise I won't do that to you. I am merely interested in helping you four reach your potential, and truly blossom in the music industry."

"We've blossomed enough without your help," Janne snapped. Just by the genuineness of his tone, I knew he was angry right now, and that his intoxicated side had nothing to do with this. "We're sensations, in case you missed it, Devon. We're selling out venues across Europe, US and UK."

"Perhaps we could take this matter somewhere else," Devon murmured, glancing down at his many ringed fingers, before lifting his head and locking his intent gaze on Janne. "There are several matters that I wish to discuss with you fine gentlemen."

Janne's eyes averted to me, his gentle irises pleading. I didn't know what to say, apart from that I didn't trust this guy. My gut was tying itself into many complicated knots just by being in his presence for a long period of time. My mum had said, when I was ten, that you should always trust your gut instinct on everything and everyone. Ever since then, I had lived and breathed that principle in my every day encounters.

"Okay, we'll come with you," Jarmo replied, noticing mine and Janne's silence. "But if we think you're going to screw us over, we're out of here as fast as you can say oops. Got it?"

"As easy as pie," Devon smiled, turning on his heel and strutting through the crowd. They parted down the centre for him, not daring to look twice. "Come, Protective Services."

I swallowed the rising bile in my throat, venturing off after him, but kept a safe distance. Asko and Janne walked by either side of me, keeping their eyes and ears open. I was grateful for their presence, even if Janne wasn't exactly on friendly terms with me right now. Having these two men by my side, through thick and thin, made me feel less isolated and alone. They were the only ones, besides my brother Jevan, who were always there for me right from the beginning.

Devon came to an abrupt halt at the gutter, clicking a button on the key he held. Orange blinkers shone out of nowhere in the pitch black, almost making me jump.

"Hop in boys," he smiled with his lips, the sides stretching up over creased, wrinkled skin, reminding me of a skeleton. "I'm going to take you to see Izzy, my friend who is more than willing to be your new manager."

Both Janne and I reached for the back door to the limo at the same time. Our fingers brushed, sending shockwaves through my entire body, along with both fond, and haunting memories.

"Um," he cleared his throat, visibly disgruntled, "you first."

I wished I could have hugged him, and reassured him that everything was okay. I wanted him to know that even though he screwed up, multiple times, half of the mess had been from my own doing. But Asko was here, and so was Jarmo. It was a rare possibility that Janne and I would end up alone again anytime soon.