She's Still The One: A Brother's Best Friend, Rockstar Romance Kaci Rose (essential reading txt) 📖

I wanted to pay for half the security bill for Austin and half of the bill for the private investigator. He fought me on it like I knew he would. I said I wanted to help take care of her, and I know he's her brother, but she's my girl, my whole life. I have no plans of going anywhere, and if I have it my way, someday it will be my responsibility to take care of her. That seemed to shut him up, and he finally agreed.

We still haven't talked about our relationship or worked on our friendship. It's all been about Austin, and that’s what it needs to be for now. It's helping us keep the peace and things are good. So, for now, we focus on Austin.

Today, I’m taking my turn to meet with the private investigator, who has some news for us. For the most part, we have done well at keeping one of us home with her at all times. Only twice did we both have to be out, and Mason stepped right in.

Austin did say the other night how she feels like she’s in a fishbowl. Always someone right there, even when she takes a shower. She knows it's for her own good, but says she missed just being alone.

I step into the private investigator’s office. The waiting room isn't bad, a little older, but the magazines seem to be new, and his receptionist is cleaning, when I walk in.

The first time I walked in, her eyes went big, when she saw me. I knew she recognized me, but she did her best to keep her composure and didn't bother me, so on the way out, I offered her a photo and an autograph as long as she didn't post about running into me at work. She was so excited.

"Mr. McIntyre, Kurt's expecting you. I'll just let him know you're here." She says with a huge smile. I don't have to wait long, thankfully.

"Dallas, come on back." Kurt, the private investigator, says, as he peeks his head out the door.

I follow him back to his office, and I swear it's just like all those old movies. The walls are all brown wood paneling, and it's dark. Everything is brown, the floor, the walls, the furniture, all but a dark green curtain over the window that blocks the only source of natural light. A wall of bookcases takes up one wall, and a row of file cabinets takes up half of another. I'm thankful the only thing missing from those old movies is the smoke smell.

Despite all that, Kurt's office is perfectly organized. It's clean and everything seems to be in place. No massive stacks of paper, and all that’s on his desk, is a folder I assume has all the information on my case.

I also like that Kurt is a straight shooter. No small talk, he just cuts straight to the point.

"So, your buddy Branden wasn't easy to track down. As you know, Branden is not his real name. It took some digging and greasing some of the right people, but I finally got his real name. Jimmy Buckerton."

"Buckerton, as in our manager, Dave?" I ask, because that’s the only time I've heard that last name in my life.

"Exactly. It's his son." Kurt says and pauses, letting me digest it. Dave being shocked she was here, and Branden showing up a few days later, and then Dave going MIA.

"What do you have on Jimmy?" I ask finally.

"Nothing good, I'm afraid. He was pretty heavy into drugs, the nasty shit, too. That led to some petty crimes, mostly theft, I'm guessing to pay for more drugs, before he moved on to a bigger job that got him caught. He did two years in jail, where he went through a forced rehab program, and a month after, he got out just vanished. That lines up with when Branden Lewis shows up, and he beelines right for Austin from what I can tell."

"Any idea why?" I ask, my throat tightening, as I start shifting around in my chair. Staying still doesn't seem possible right now.

He purposely sought Austin out is what it looks like, which doesn't sit well with me. That means he was up to something, and with that quick proposal to Austin, who knows what that would be.

"That I'm not sure about. If he's tied to your manager, I'd start looking at your books. It’s always a safe bet to follow the money. They might be working together. Has anything changed there?" Kurt asks.

"Well, our contract is coming to an end, and we have been talking about starting our own label, instead of renewing the contract. Especially, after how Dave acted towards Austin, when he saw her after the tour."

"I'm guessing you’re one of his biggest clients, so how much money would he be out?" Kurt asks. I know he doesn't expect an answer, he's just making a point.

"A lot," I whisper. I have a rough idea of what the band makes and his cut on it. He'd be out a whole fuck of a lot of money. We assumed the label would move him on to their next big fish, since that's how we met up with him. He's good at what he does, so he won't have trouble getting more clients, especially with our band on his resume.

"Sounds like motive to me. I don't have proof, but I've seen it more times than not. Like I said, I'd have someone look at your books. I'm guessing this isn't his only way to attack you guys. I will keep an eye out for him and see what else I can find. Want me to dig into your manager, too?" Kurt says.

"Yes," I say without hesitation.

"Okay, tell me what you know about him."

I give him what I know about Dave, and everyone who works with him. Kurt takes notes and asks a few questions here and there.

"This gives me plenty to go on. I’ll get