Fuck. This can’t be a good sign.

I swallow hard. “Sure.”

I stand and follow Judge down a short hall into an office. There’s a very classic look in here, with chocolate walls, cherry bookcases and a matching desk. There’s even a bottle of Scotch, accompanied by four glasses, sitting on a side table.

The Judge’s eyes follow my line of sight. “You want a drink?”

This is probably some sort of test on his part. If I accept the drink, he’ll automatically think I’m a partying alcoholic, but if I refuse, he’ll think I’m lying.

“Sure,” I answer, but don’t plan on drinking the entire thing.

He walks over and removes the glass cork from the Scotch, pouring two glasses half-full. After handing me a glass, he walks around his desk and sits in the high-back chair. His eyes study me intently as we sit in silence, staring at one another.

Judge sits the glass on his desk and leans forward in his chair. “I’m not a man to beat around the bush about things, Zach. I’m very direct, and I don’t keep what I want secret. If more people were like me, the world would be a better place. We would all know where we stand with one another.”

This sounds like the intro to a speech about him not liking me very much. Instead of starting an argument with the father of the woman I love, I simply nod my head like I’m in total agreement. I could be wrong about him, after all. I barely know the man. “I like directness.”

“Good, because I’m about to lay it all out for you.”

Oh fuck.

“Why are you dating my daughter?”

That’s an easy answer. “Because I love her.” There’s no waiver whatsoever in my voice as I speak my truth.

He stares at me a long moment before he continues. “I can see that you believe that, but I know your type—the here today and gone tomorrow guys. I have to be honest with you, Zach. I don’t want that for my little girl. She’s too good for that. She deserves a man that’s stable and isn’t going anywhere.”

I flinch, but understand his reservations. My past isn’t a favorable one. “I can assure you when it comes to your daughter, sir, I’m not going anywhere.”

He sighs. “I was afraid you’d be stubborn about this. You leave me no choice.”

He slides a print out of some sort towards me. “What’s this?”

“Your sealed record.”

My eyes grow wide as they scan the record of my historical brushes with the law. “How did you get this?”

He frowns. “I’m a judge, son. I can get access to anything.”

“But, why do you have it? Aubrey already knows about all this. You telling her won’t stop her from being with me.”

He nods in agreement. “That’s true, but the press would have a field day with something like this, wouldn’t they? It’d be a shame if this was leaked somehow.”

I shoot up from my seat, sloshing my drink around before I slam the glass down on his desk. “Are you threatening me?”

His eyes grow wide for a second and I can tell for a split second I’ve rattled his tough exterior. “Calm down. This could be a threat, but I would prefer to think of it more as a bargaining tool.”

“What do you mean—a bargaining tool? What do you possibly stand to gain by smearing me across the press?”

“My daughter.”

I shake my head. “She wouldn’t leave me over that.”

“No, probably not. My daughter is fiercely loyal—gets that from me, so she’ll stick by your side. That’s why you’re going to leave her.”

“No! There’s no way in hell I’m going to leave her. She’ll understand.”

“She may, but I took the liberty of pulling the other band members’ histories as well. Trip Douglas appears to have some dirty secrets too. I don’t think Trip would appreciate his secrets being shared with the media, or being made public. If you don’t walk away from Aubrey, then you’re going to force my hand. I’ll tear your band apart.”

My pulse races under my skin, causing my hands to shake. Was I really such a bastard this man would ruin the lives of other people to keep me away from his daughter? Can’t he see I’m a changed man? I fucking worship the ground Aubrey walks on. I’d never hurt her. Why would he try to stop a love so pure?

“Why? Why would you do this? I told you I love her. Isn’t that enough?”

“No. It’s not. I want her with a man who I know will always take care of her. I’m not getting any younger, and I don’t want to leave this earth with the fate of my daughter in the hands of some young punk who’ll ruin her life at some point.”

“I won’t do that. I have more than enough money to give her an even better lifestyle than this place if she wants it!”

“For now you do. What happens in ten years from now when your band breaks up and the money stops? What then? You going to drag her down with you?”

His words feel like a fucking smack to the face. He’s right. I have no other skills. None. Music is everything to me. I’ll never stop doing it, even if I don’t make another penny for it. It’s in my blood. I can’t give it up.

The other thing that kills me is the fact that he’s right. While Black Falcon is on top of the fucking world right now, I know that won’t last forever. There’s always another fame-hungry band ready to out-rock you and steal your fans. God knows we’ve taken enough breaks and cancelled enough shows to leave half our fans pissed off. What happens when I can no longer give Aubrey the life she deserves?