Neil.

He was on his way.

I couldn't warn him. Melissa would definitely notice if I started texting. I could do one thing, though.

I slowly moved my hand inch by inch behind my back to hide it from view and trained my eyes on the gun. I swiped across the screen without looking, bringing up the message.

Everyone always said I was addicted to my smartphone, and now it was going to pay off.

I tapped on the keyboard with my thumb, hitting the exact same key over and over again. I didn't even have to look to know where I was typing.

It was the same message I'd sent Neil the last time I hadn't been able to speak, right after he'd gotten me off with only his words on a screen. I hoped he'd see the message and realize I couldn't talk, would realize something was wrong.

Either that or he'd think I was in the midst of another orgasm.

My phone buzzed four more times after that, all within seconds of each other. Neil must have figured out something wasn't right.

While I had my phone hidden, I hit the Call button and dialed 911, turning down the volume and placing my thumb over the speaker so Melissa wouldn't hear the operator's voice.

She was still ranting and Jayce was trying to talk her down when I saw Neil approach from the front window of the bus. He stopped when he was within a few feet, no doubt confused by the scene in the window before him. He resumed approaching cautiously, ducking low to avoid being seen.

I breathed a sigh of relief when I realized Jayce had left the bus door open. Neil would be able to sneak in without Melissa hearing him. I just hoped he was quiet enough to come up behind her and grab the gun.

And I hoped she didn't see him and shoot him first.

"I don't understand why it had to be her." Melissa was still whining. I'd tuned her out, just glad that she was being loud enough to conceal the voice coming from my phone and the sound of Neil's approach.

The top of a head up popped up behind Melissa, hair messy and sticking up in all directions. I held my breath. Jayce tensed up.

Neil didn't bother shouting, didn't bother to get her attention. He simply snuck up behind her, grabbed her in a tight grip, and pinned her arms to her sides.

The gun went off.

"What!" Melissa yelped, craning her neck around, astonished. "You fucker, let me go!"

The bullet missed, ending up in the floor at our feet. I sank to my knees, legs giving out, no longer able to keep myself up. Jayce ran forward and picked up the gun, immediately opening the chamber and letting all the bullets fall out.

Melissa kicked out with her heels and wriggled viciously, trying to escape. Neil put an arm around her neck and squeezed tight, cutting off her air. Her eyes bugged out, and she clawed at his arms.

Jayce ran to Neil, capturing Melissa's flailing legs, grabbing her ankles in both hands to stop her from kicking.

"Thanks," Neil grunted, squeezing her neck tighter.

After a few long moments of bucking wildly and growling, she finally stopped fighting and went limp. Neil lowered her to the floor, but didn't let her go.

"You got anything to bind her wrists?"

Jayce looked around the tour bus, but didn't see anything.

"Your tie?" he suggested, wry and breathless.

"That'll do." Neil pulled at his tie and loosened it from around his neck. He tied Melissa's hands together behind her back, securing it with a tight knot.

"The gun?" Neil asked.

"I took out the bullets."

"Good."

They both turned to look at me at the same time, concern in their eyes. I gathered myself together, wanting to reassure them even though my voice was weak and breathless.

"Glad to see you guys got my message."

Chapter Twenty-Three.

The paramedics had wrapped me in a blanket and settled me into the back of an ambulance. I think they were worried I was in shock. I might have been, a little bit, but mostly I was angry. Some insane fangirl tried to kill me because she wanted my job and she wanted my man? How dare she! How messed up did you have to be to try something like that?

Even worse, she'd put Jayce and Neil in danger. That was what made me angry the most.

I had wanted to see her in the back of a cop car with handcuffs, but instead they loaded her up on a stretcher and took her to a hospital. I guessed Neil choking her unconscious meant she couldn't be taken straight to jail. Damn.

As soon as the police sirens had sounded, the entire staff and crew flooded to the back parking lot to see what happened, pouring out of the emergency exit doors just in time to watch the police pull the unconscious girl from the tour bus. Deena had been frantic, wanting to know just what in the hell was going on, but the police made everyone stand back. Kell and the others had waited behind a line of police tape, looking worried and distraught.

After I had given my statement from the back of the ambulance, I told the police they were my friends. They crowded around me as soon as they were allowed in, forming a protective circle. Their expressions ranged from anger to concern to disbelief.

"How did she even get in?" Deena asked for the tenth time. "Why didn't someone realize she wasn't a staff member?"

"I want to know how she got the gun," Kell growled. "Aren't crazy people banned from owning weapons?" Kell was pissed, taking it personally that someone had threatened his friends.

"You sure you're okay?" Morris asked quietly.

"I'm fine." I gave him a small smile. "It was scary, yeah, but everything turned out okay."

Ren put a protective arm around my shoulder and gave me a squeeze.

Jayce and Neil were both still talking with the police. For some reason, the paramedics didn't think they needed to be coddled and treated like they were glass. I scowled at the double standard and shrugged my blanket off.

"Don't get up yet," Ren said, alarmed.

"Stay here for a little while longer," Kell wheedled. "Let us mother-hen you a bit, okay?"

I grumbled but allowed Ren to pull the blanket back over my shoulders. "I just want to get back to the hotel room and get a good night's sleep."

It was a lie, really. I was buzzing with nerves and couldn't stop fidgeting, a bundle of energy unable to sit still. The adrenaline, most likely.

"Jayce!"

Kell called out the guitarist's name as he approached, finished giving his statement. He took his place in the circle of people hovering over me. Morris gave him a slap on the shoulder and Ren gave him a one-armed half-hug. Kell pulled Jayce in for a tight squeeze and thumped him on the back several times before letting go.

"Don't you ever scare me like that again," Kell admonished.

"I'll try not to get attacked by scary fangirls from now on, I promise."

"Are you finished with the police?" Deena asked.

"For now. There's going to be some follow-up, but they said they were done with me for the night."

I saw Neil out of the corner of my eye, standing awkwardly outside the circle, looking like he wanted to intrude but didn't dare.

"Neil, you finished, too?" I asked, prompting him to come forward.

He nodded and stuck his hands in his pockets. "They told me to go to the station to give a more formal statement in the morning."

"Me, too," I said. Jayce nodded.

"Ailey..." Neil trailed off, glancing hesitantly at Jayce. "You doing okay?"

"I must be doing better than I look, because everyone's treating me like I'm going to fall apart any second. I'm feeling fine. Yeah, it was scary, but we're safe now."

In fact, I was feeling more than fine. My body was awash with adrenaline. I felt like I could get up and run a marathon. They said that experiencing a near death experience gave people a kind of high, a rush of excitement.

Wasn't there a cliche about people getting the urge to fuck after a brush with death? I supposed all cliches had a grain of truth, because I was feeling that familiar tingle right then.

"I just want to go back to my hotel room." And take care of that itch.

"You're right," Kell spoke up, almost too loud. "You should go get some rest. Jayce, Neil," Kell gave them each a pointed look, "Ailey shouldn't go alone. Why don't the two of you take her to her hotel room?"

My mouth popped open and I stared wide-eyed at Kell. Neil looked taken aback while Jayce gave Kell an amused look.

"The both of you better make sure she gets there safe and sound," Kell added with a grin.

Jayce wrapped an arm around my shoulder and Ren let him pull me up and off the back of the ambulance. My knees were a little shaky, but aside from that, I was fine.

"You coming?" Jayce tossed the question to Neil, who looked befuddled but took my hand anyway.

Kell gave me a smug look. I wanted to be peeved at him. Could he be more obvious? Another part of me, though, couldn't help but squirm inwardly in excitement.

I hadn't been able to have that conversation with the two of them like I'd planned.

It looked like I was getting my chance.

Chapter Twenty-Four.

The two of them guided me to a taxi and piled in next to me, one on either side. The taxi ride to the hotel was quiet, as was the elevator ride to my room. Neil tried to speak a few times but always fell silent.

I tried not to be impatient as the lights on the elevator lit up floor by floor, but Neil must have sensed it. He snuck his hand around my waist and pressed it against the small of my back, lending me a comforting touch. I leaned into him and took in a deep breath. I could smell his aftershave along with a woodsy scent that sent warmth flooding through me.

Jayce noticed and brushed his hand against mine, not wanting to be left out. I wondered if Kell had spoken to him. Did he know what was going to happen tonight?

When the elevator doors opened, I took both of them by the hand and led them to my hotel room. I pulled them through the door and shut it behind me. When I turned to face them, I saw two very different expressions.

Jayce's was fierce, hot. Neil's was confused, apprehensive. I felt the need to go to him first. I cupped his face in my hands and leaned against him so close my breasts were pressed against his chest. Those bright blue eyes searched mine for a moment before flicking over to Jayce briefly.

"Ailey, what-"

I cut him off with a kiss, lowering his head with a light pull. I pressed a soft kiss on his mouth, then ran my tongue between my lips. He groaned and parted them for me, letting my tongue stroke leisurely against his until he pulled away sharply, expression almost scared as he glanced at Jayce again.

"Ailey, what are you-"

"There's been too much confusion," I interrupted him. "Too many misunderstandings between me and you, between you and Jayce. Between all three of us really." I shook my head. "It doesn't have to be confusing anymore. It can be simple."

I took both their hands in mine. I leaned up to press a quick kiss to Neil's mouth before leaning over and doing the same to Jayce.

"Ailey, I don't understand." Neil sounded so lost.

"Do you want me?"

"I-" He stopped and snuck another glance at Jayce, who looked both relaxed and tense at the same time, like a languid tiger considering whether to pounce on his prey. Jayce gave Neil a sharp nod, as if in answer to an unspoken question. I knew he was just waiting for Neil's response.

Neil-" I pressed my hand to his chest. "We both know we're better off as friends. But we also both know there's unfinished business between the two of us. I don't want to say goodbye just yet. Forget about your job. Forget about me and Jayce. Just answer. Do you want me?"

"Yes," he replied quietly.

"And I want you. Both of you, even if only for tonight."

"How-" Neil shook his head. "I've never-"

"It's easy." Standing on my tiptoes, I brushed my lips against his. "Just take me."

Neil's eyes flashed with heat.