Ember

24 - Blackmailed

Ember

Nate presses me back against the tour bus. He’s so cock.y that he doesn’t give a damn that my bandmates are onboard waiting for me. Nate hasn’t left me alone since we started this tour nine weeks ago. He corners me whenever he gets the chance. He also thinks that it’s perfectly okay to tell me how he’s going to fuc.k me awake or passed out; he’s not fussy. I have to be careful with my drinks when he’s around because I’m worried that he’ll spike them and do all sorts to me when I’m out of it. I wouldn’t put it past him, at least.

Nate is such an asshole that he believes that nothing he does will have consequences. He even told me that no one would believe me if I told them he’d taken what he wanted from me. Others had done just that in the past, and it got them nowhere. He has a good PR team that always makes him look like the victim.

What kind of people help a man like Nate to get away with the vile things he does to women?

People paid to do so, Ember. They aren’t paid to think; they’re paid to turn a blind eye.

It’s disgusting, and Nate Rigby shouldn’t be allowed to get away with rape. That’s precisely what he’s doing to those poor women, and all the while, he makes them think it was all their fault. Nate tells anyone who listens that they want him, that they came on to him, and that he’s the one being punished because they want money out of him. He looks even more like the victim when those women take payoffs they’re not allowed to talk about.

Some have also made videos stating they lied, and the comments those women get are outrageous. Of course, they would get shi.t from others; they looked as though they’d prayed on a famous person and slandered their name.

I will not be one of those women!

“Get your damn hands off of me!”

“I’m gonna have my hands all over you, sweetheart.”

“Like hell!” I hiss and push Nate away from me. “I think my boyfriend might have something to say about that!”

“Boyfriend?” He laughs sarcastically. “Everyone knows you don’t have a boyfriend, Ember.”

Think fast, Ember!

“I’m with Marco, you cretin!”

Christ, why did I say that?

Because you want this piece of shi.t to back off, Ember, that’s why.

“Huh,” Nate nods his head while scratching his jaw in thought. “You and poster boy, I should have seen that comin’. Everyone else did.” He raises his eyebrow and takes a deep breath. “No matter, I still want you.”

I slap his hand away before he can touch my face. “Not going to happen. Why won’t you leave me alone? I don’t want to be with you in any way, Nate. Why can’t you understand that?”

“Because,” He leans in close, and I have to turn my head away. The smell of alcohol on his breath is nauseating. He sniffs my hair, and I cringe. “I always get what I want, Ember. Every damn man here wants you, and you won’t give it up. Why?”

“Are you deaf? I already told you that I’m with Marco. Now back off, Nate,”

“Here’s the thing, I can’t back off until you give me what I want, Ember. If you don’t, then I’ll have your little band kicked off this tour. Not only that, I’ll put the word out that you’re a little slut who slept with every man here. Then, to top it off, I’ll put a call into the record company and…”

“What the fuc.k is going on here?”

I close my eyes, grateful that Marco came looking for me. It’s not going to end here, though. If I don’t do what Nate wants, he’ll destroy Dun’s Dungeon. I can’t let that happen when they have worked so hard for this. Of course, I want to be the girl who tells the sleaze-ball to go fuc.k himself and that I won’t sleep with him.

But what choice do I have?

If I don’t sleep with Nate, he’ll ruin us. The others will never forgive me, and I won’t forgive myself. It would be easy for me to say that Nate’s all talk, and he could well be.

But what if he’s not?

He knows everyone in the business, and badmouthing us would be detrimental to our careers. I don’t know what it is about me that makes Nate want me so much, but I do know that I can’t let him win. I also don’t want to sell myself to save the band, but I don’t know what else to do.

Be honest with the others and tell them what Nate is threatening you with. They’ll understand and help you figure out how to shut him up.

Nate takes a step back from me, his eyes wide and his head shaking slightly. He’s afraid of Marco; it’s written all over his face. This piece of shi.t is scared that I’ll tell Marco what he said.

“Ember?” I drag my eyes away from Nate. I’m not going to save this asshole. I won’t let him threaten me and think I’ll let him get away with it. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing.” Nate smiles at Marco while forcing his hands into the pockets of his super-tight jeans. “Ember and I were just having a little chat.”

“With your body pressed against hers?” Marco’s eyes narrow. Marco knows how much I despise Nate, and he knows that I’d never be out here with him like this unless Nate cornered me.

“He was telling me how if I don’t sleep with him, he’ll have us kicked off the rest of the tour. Not only that, but he’ll tell the record company lies about us. Christ knows what lies, but I’m guessing nothing good, so they’ll drop us before we’ve begun.”

Marco’s eyes shoot to Nate. “You’re trying to blackmail Ember into sleeping with you?”

I grab Marco’s arm as he takes a step towards Nate. “Leave it, Marco. I already told him that you and I are together, and there’s no way I’m sleeping with him.”

I note the smirk trying to break free on Marco’s lips. However, he used the same thing on a girl not so long ago; it’s only fair he repays the favor.

“It was a misunderstanding, is all, Marco.”

“I understood you, Nate. However, I hope you understand that I won’t be threatened by you or anyone else. I am not the one, Nate. Trust me, you’re playing with fire, and you will get burned beyond recognition.”

Nate scowls at me.

“Don’t you dare look at her like that!” Marco yells, drawing the attention of Colin, Saint, and Bob. All three are now walking toward us with curious looks on their faces. “You come near Ember again, and I’ll rip your goddamned throat out!”

Nate smirks. “Don’t threaten me, Marco. You know it can only end badly.”

“What the fuc.k is going on out here?” Colin asks, and I notice more people are watching us.

“Why don’t you ask this prick!”

I need to get Marco out of here. If anyone watching decides to video what’s happening, it could end up online, and Marco will look bad. Marco will be painted as the villain in the piece, and that would be beyond unfair. I can’t have that because he’s only standing up for me.

“Marco,” I pull myself against him, my hand in his, and I hold my mouth to his ear. “Don’t do this. This is exactly what he wants - a reason to have us thrown off this tour. Remember what Caren said about opportunities. People are watching, and if they film you going postal on Nate, you’ll be painted as the bad one. Please, Marco, walk away with me, and we can talk about this.”

Marco looks at me for a moment, and I see so much anger in his eyes that my stomach turns. I know that it’s Nate who Marco is angry with, but I get the feeling he is with me, too. Marco’s chest heaves as he clutches my hand tightly in his.

He looks at Nate. “Stay away from Ember. I’m warning you,” He hisses at Nate, then drags me away with him and back to the bus.

“Marco, are you angry with me?”

“Just get on the bus, I need some air.”

I shake my head as Marco walks away from me. I watch as he weaves in and out of the parked tour buses, and I wonder what he’s thinking right now.

“Don’t worry,” Colin smiles slightly. “We’ll go after him.” Colin, Saint, and Bob take off after Marco, and I make my way inside.