No Holding Back Read Online Free PDF Page A

yelled.
    “ Yeah, hey Mike,” Wade stuck his pinky finger in his ear to drown out the noise while he continued speaking with his agent.
    “ Dude - Os. Didn’t you see that shit, man?”
    “Whatever.”
    “Pfft,” Joe huffed, looking to Chris to explain. “Don’t sweat him.  He’s ‘Mr. Nice Guy’ to everybody.” Then, he turned back to Os, speaking in a louder, more obnoxious voice. “Isn’t that right, dickweed?!”
    “Fuck you, bitch,” Os muttered.
    “See?”
    Chris laughed but only a little. Somehow, she knew that getting Os’ acceptance into Heretic would be no small feat. But she shook off the pessimism as best she could, scratched her nose and became lost out of the window.
    “ Alright, man. We’ll see you in Cali.”
    After Wade finished talking with his agent, he turned and faced Chris.
    “Ok, Chris. Here’s the deal…”
    Chris peeled herself from the window and reluctantly turned to give him her full attention. After all, subjecting herself to Wade ’s soul-dividing stare brought chills that even her thick hoodie couldn’t ward off.
    “ Yeah?”
    “ As of right now, we’re the only people who know who you really are,” Wade explained, motioning to the four of them.
    “What about him?” she asked meekly, pointing bus’ driver.
    Ever since she came on board, h e didn’t so much as look at her or even acknowledge her existence – or anything else for that matter.
    He was a big guy and old – that much Chris strained to see from where she sat. But he never said one word as he sat in his leather clad biker gear as he drove in complete silence. The only thing more absurd was how he wore sunglasses all the time – even at night.
    “Who? Pete?  You don’t need to worry about him. He’s been drivin’ us everywhere since we scored a record label and the best part is: he’s half blind and half deaf. And I can’t remember the last time he’s even said anything. So, he’s pretty handy when the media tries to come and knock on our door.” Wade turned to the front and cupped his mouth while yelling, “AIN’T THAT RIGHT, BIG PETE?!”
    No sooner than Wade bellowed his remark, than Pete raised one of his hands and made the sign of the devil ’s horns before resuming his driving. Wade and Joe seemed accustomed to this sort of reaction and chuckled at his emotionless enthusiasm.
    But then, Chris ’ eyes seemed to widen in fear as Wade’s explanation finally sunk in.
    “ Whoa, whoa… what? You mean to tell me this grandpa is drivin’ us around and his vision isn’t exactly twenty-twenty?”
    Wade burst into laughter. “Chill. For years he was in a motorcycle gang called Divine Apathy. He’s been ridin’ his whole life ridin’ across this country more times than I can count. He knows these roads better than anyone.”
    Chris relaxed somewhat and accepted his answer, but then she thought of something else.
    “And why can’t he talk?”
    Wade thought for a moment before answering, “Swallowed too many bugs?”
    Christ tried to conceal another small laugh and when she looked back at Joe, he broke into a wide grin. She smiled back politely before she buried herself again under her hoodie while debating on whether or not to pinch herself. Despite telling herself numerous times that she made it into the group, she still couldn’t believe it. She was certain that if anyone told her years ago what she’d be doing now, she’d do the pinching.
    “ Anyway,” Wade continued, almost forgetting their original conversation to begin with. “I just got off the phone with our PR guy and even he doesn’t know you’re a girl. Long story short? All he knows is that you’re one badass musician.”
    Chris cleared her through and shifted in her seat uncomfortably again. She’d never received compliments before in her life, let alone a singer from a band she idolized. She peered as long as she dared into his penetrating blue eyes before she was the first to blink.
    “ Now comes the hard