Page 155 of Dirty Like Jude
He never talked about it, but I could seeit.
I wasn’t even sure if the rest of the band really saw it. It wasn’t something I’d mention to Jesse. Jesse and Zane liked to needle each other’s weak spots, and Zane didn’t need any needling overthis.
Brody saw it, and the both of us did what we could to make sure Zane was solid before he went onstage. For my part, that meant clearing people the fuck out of his space to give him room to deal with whatever shit was going on in his head, have his smoke, and mentally get where he needed toget.
“Happy fuckin’ New Year,” I said, giving him a little punch on the shoulder. “You ready for this orwhat?”
“Always ready, brother,” he said, but he looked distracted as fuck. “Who’s that guy?” He tipped his chin and I followed his gaze, down behind the stage… and saw Maggie standing with some of the crew and a couple of my securityguys.
“Maddox. He’s with me tonight.” I looked at Zane, watching him watch Maddox and Maggie talking. “He’s a King. You’ve methim.”
“Right.” He smoked his joint, his jaw kinda rigid. “Keep an eye on her, huh?” He didn’t say her name, but I knew who hemeant.
I watched as he put out the joint on the side of an amp and flicked it into the dark—just as the lights out front dropped and the crowd noiseswelled.
“You know,” he said, “lots of fucking drunk assholes at thisthing.”
“Sure,brother.”
He turned toward the stage just as Jesse walked by, smacking me on the shoulder and giving Zane ashove.
Zane shoved back, just lightly. Jesse had his guitar slung on and did a little air guitar riff on it, then walked out onstage. The crowd exploded. Dylan and Elle followed him out. Seth went next, and I patted him on theback.
“Hey,” I said, as Zane started after them. When he glanced back at me, I told him, “Make ’em happy outthere.”
It was pretty much what I told him before every show. Since day one, that was pretty much the summary of Zane’s job at a Dirtyshow.
Make the crowdhappy.
And Zane Traynor was damn good at hisjob.
“Always do,” hesaid.
Then he headed outonstage.
Isighed.
It wasn’t exactly the first time Zane had asked me to keep an eye on Maggie at a show or wherever. Or asked me about some guy she was talkingto.
Who the fuck is thatdickwit?
Did you see that fuckwad withMaggie?
Can you tell that asshat to move the fuckalong?
I was getting used to thesequestions.
I didn’t love what they told me, because they told me shit I really did not want toknow.
Shit I did not want to have to dealwith.
I watched from the side of the stage as the band kicked into “Get Made.” Great, heavy, sexy song to start their set off and set the tone for thisevent.
Then I headed off to do myrounds.
* * *
Later,while Dirty was still onstage and I was still doing my rounds, I headed out back to find Piper talking to a few of my guys in the alley. He was wearing a plain black motorcycle jacket, and I pulled himaside.
