Wild Card: Boys of Fall Read Online Free

girls rammed the toe of her high heel into his ass while the other one kicked his shins. I considered adding my boot to the action, but kicking a guy while he’s down isn’t exactly honorable. Even if he deserves it.”
    “Not sure I would have taken the high road.”
    Glen knew Wade would have, but he appreciated his friend’s support. “The bodyguards were still chuckling, letting the girls blow off some steam. I know it sounds like it was a long, drawn-out thing, but in truth, the whole episode only lasted a minute or so. I punched him, the girls kicked him, the rest of the band started cheering the girls on. Whole thing ended when one of the girls got Trent right in the balls and he started crying.”
    Wade winced. “Shit.”
    “Yeah. I guess that’s when even the bodyguards realized things had gotten out of hand. That, and the fact a few of the groupies had pulled out phones. Place went on freaking lockdown. Phones collected, shit deleted fast and furious. The girls were taken to God knows where. I figure our manager, Toby, must’ve used that Men in Black memory-eraser thing on ’em because there hasn’t been a peep on social media about it.”
    Wade snorted. “Pretty sure he gave them a lot of money to keep their mouths shut.”
    “Yeah. Worked out good for them in the end. They got paid to kick Trent in the balls.” Glen picked up his whiskey and downed it, welcoming the heat of the liquor as it slid down his throat. “I wouldn’t have minded some payout for my piece of that action.”
    His friend grinned and slapped him on the back. “You know, I sort of like this superhero look on you. Glen Rodgers, champion of backstage groupies everywhere. Might see if Charlene can whip up a costume for you. Something with a long denim cape.”
    “Let me just go ahead and shut that idea down there.”
    “I’m being serious.” Wade raised his hand at Glen’s narrowed eyes. “Not about the cape, you jackass. But the rest. You’ve always been so easygoing. Live and let live. I like this new leaf you’ve turned over. Nice to see you caring about something.”
    Glen wasn’t sure how to respond to that. He didn’t think of himself as heartless, but when he considered his past, he could see why Wade viewed him as a bit cavalier, maybe even uncaring. He dropped out of high school and ran away from home at sixteen after a falling-out with his dad. He’d never looked back. Just cut all ties with his family so he could do what he wanted. Liked to brag about how he didn’t live by anyone’s rules but his own. It had been a young man’s arrogance.
    “So what now?”
    Glen shrugged. “Toby suggested that I get away for a little while until the dust settles.”
    Wade looked surprised. “So you’re really not fired?”
    He shook his head. “No. The label knows that all Trent has in his corner is good looks and showmanship. It’s the band that’s making the music work.”
    “It’s you making it work,” Wade said. Glen tried to brush off the compliment, but Wade continued, “You’re one of the best musicians in the world, Glen. Yet you’re always content to play second fiddle—to me, to Trent.”
    “I don’t like the spotlight, Wade, you know that. I’d rather somebody else shoulder that burden, so I can just play. The music is the only thing that’s ever mattered to me. Would have made my life a lot easier if you’d stuck with pure country instead hooking up with that Oblivion guy and changing your sound.”
    “You could have come with me.”
    Glen sighed. He could have. But he preferred the traditional, old country style. At the time, he hadn’t been sure he’d be a good fit with the changes Wade was planning to make. Plus the record label had offered him a small fortune to play with Trent. Wade had encouraged him to move on, even though it was tough as hell for them to split up. Glen figured Wade was about as close to a brother as he’d ever get. “Yeah. I know.”
    “Toby is a good manager.