Dolly flops down next to me and holds the phone away from me.
I sit up. “What? And who told you not to show me?” I reach for it, but she has speed on her side right now.
“Everyone.” She waves her hand. “I wasn’t even a Granger fan, but fuck, Gia.” She winks as a wave of adrenaline flows through me.
“Give me the phone.”
Dolly smiles and hands me the phone as she digs in her bag for her cigarettes. Her screensaver is Edge and their baby, Gunner, who has red curls and fat, rosy cheeks. Dolly and Edge need to have more babies. He’s incredibly cute.
“What’s your password? And I love this picture.” She smiles and lights up, taking the phone back so that her face can unlock it as Cindy sits on the other side of me, fixing her dress. Maybe she’s not as numb as I thought since her energy is rather aggressive.
“What’s the deal with your friend?” she says curtly.
“Why?” I may sound defensive, but fuck it, my life is out of control, and I need to watch the video. Her eyes laser on me.
“Cindy. Do I need to slap your tits?” Dolly leans over me to give Cindy a warning stare and hands me her phone.
“Is this going to upset me? Because I can’t—”
“God, Gia, really?” Cindy rubs her head. It’s kind of harsh since I don’t know her all that well. She’s close with Charlie. Dolly and I stare at her.
“I’m sorry. I’m a bitch, but come on. The fucking Rock God is singing about how his heart beats for hers, and she’s sitting here crying.”
“She doesn’t know any of this. And you’re cut off,” Dolly snaps right back as Cindy stares straight ahead. The only thing moving is her heeled foot, bopping up and down.
Suddenly I want to hug her. I’ve seen that look in so many women’s faces. Desperation, it takes over. You’re consumed with a person who you know, deep down, has moved on, but you can’t accept it.
“It’s okay, Cindy.”
She looks over at me, her blue eyes full of tears, and I nod. I want to say I get it, but the way she looks at me makes me think I should watch the video. Dolly takes her phone and presses play as she shakes her head and rolls her eyes at Cindy.
“This is actual footage of the Rome concert yesterday.” She sounds bubbly, excited.
“How is this up?” I say, because seriously this looks like Sebastian’s stuff. It’s up close and clean, not gritty like a fan shot it from below.
“Shhh, you’re gonna miss the best part.” Dolly cuddles up with me as my heart skips at what I hear next.
“Fuck you, Gia.”
Dolly pauses it. “I’ve got goose bumps.” She lifts her arm so I can see them.
I have to hear it again.
“Fuck you, Gia. One. Two. Three. Four.”
I bite my bottom lip as the dreaded tears I’ve been holding back spill and I hear his voice sing.
Smoke and whiskey, I can almost smell him as he grabs the microphone.
Baby, I don’t want to see you cryin’. But I can’t live without your love. This hunger that eats me up, only your lips can cure. Ammo’s guitar comes in hard and fast as it builds. I make everyone bleed. But that’s nothing compared to my heart. It bleeds for you.
It’s strong and powerful. And mine beats for yours. Nuke’s drums add the beat, and I’m mesmerized as I watch the magic.
It beats for you. Dolly’s hand takes mine, hers warm, mine cold as I watch him fucking destroy me with his voice and words.
Let me match your breathing; let me steal your breath, rest my racing mind. For this moment, I’m at peace. I can’t make you love me. I can’t control your heart. But baby, mine is yours. It beats for you. It beats for you.
The crowd starts chanting “beats for you.” Like someone addicted to pain, I swipe my finger to go back to the beginning.
“There’s been a lot of talk lately about my personal life. Shit that means nothing. But this meant something. I wrote it for another, but it belongs to you.” I jump when another video comes on of him. And I hand the phone back to her as I sit and smoke, the room filled with his black magic as all three of us can’t help but hear his voice in our heads.
“Well?” Dolly says.
“Well, what? That video means nothing, except that he’s drunk and wrote a song to me, then gave it to his real true love: his fans.”
“Snap out of it.” She claps her hands in my face. “You love him, he loves you.” She holds the phone up. “That was hot, and you know it.”
I clear my throat and wipe under my eyes. “He’s a rock star. I will agree he’s beautiful, but it’s way more complicated. I can’t always be worried he’s cheating or getting someone pregnant or dealing with his fans and the band—”
“Please. Welcome to our world. Why do you think I fucking stabbed Edge?” Dolly waves her hands, then leans back and crosses her legs like that’s a normal thing.
“Dolly?” We both jump as Eve walks in and looks at all three of us.
“You showed her?” She puts her hands on her hips.
“Of course I did. It’s freaking hot,” Dolly retorts.
“Are you okay, Gia? We all agreed to let you see it after the wedding.” Her eyes narrow on Dolly who answers for me.
“She’s fine.” Dolly turns to me and frowns. “Well, she will be.” She rubs my shoulder as I shake my head and stand.
“At least I know why you guys were looking at me weird.”
“We were not looking at you weird,” Eve says, shaking her head at Cindy who keeps staring at the wall in front of her.
“Let’s go. They’re ready to make a toast, and brunch was already served, plus they’ll be cutting the cake soon.” Eve motions for us.
“Let me fix your eyes.” Dolly stands and grabs my hand.
“Cindy? You coming?” We all look down at her.
“In a minute,” she says to the wall, then turns and looks at me.
“Stop it, Cindy. You’re definitely cut off. I’m serious.” Dolly frowns at her, then pulls me as we follow Eve.
“We need to get Charlie to handle Cindy,” Dolly states.
“Agreed. What is she on?” Eve hesitates. “Which one is the bathroom again? This house is huge.”
“That’s it.” Dolly points to the far door. “I know she’s on a new antidepressant. You think it’s that along with the alcohol?” she whispers, already digging inside her giant purse. She pulls out her makeup bag as Eve opens the door.
Only it’s not the bathroom.
We all three stop in horror. I think I scream, or maybe it’s Eve, but Julianna’s eyes pop open. Her blond hair and pink dress are like a flare alerting us. That, and their loud groans, along with her legs wrapped around Ryder’s waist as he fucks her against the bedroom wall.
“Holy fuckkk.” Dolly drops her bag with a loud thud.
Julianna screams.
Ryder doesn’t even seem bothered. He keeps thrusting, snarling for us to get the fuck out. I go to back up only to bump into a pale-faced Cindy.
“Oh. My. Fucking God,” she explodes. I try to grab her, but she’s already lunging at his back. “I’ll kill you!”
If I thought my life couldn’t get worse…
It just did.
RHYS
Present – Thirty-five years old
Rome, Italy
“Hey, brother, wake up,” Ace’s voice vibrates in my sluggish brain. I open my eyes and try to remember where I am. Sitting up, I reach for the bottle of Jack, tossing the cap on the floor. I shake my head as I let the warmth travel down my throat.
“You got Visine?” I say, looking at the tarmac and our jet waiting for me.
Ace opens up the glove compartment and tosses me some. I saturate both eyes and lean my head back, trying to let the sting subside before I get out.
“Mr. Granger, we have the G6 ready. We should be in Los Angeles in about eleven hours.” Tim, our pilot, walks over to me as I slam the SUV door.
“Perfect.” I pull out my cigarettes and
turn to watch the limo pulling up and stopping right in front of us.
“Fuck you, man,” Ammo says as he gets out with two groupies.
I light up and smile. “What are you doing?”
“I don’t know. What the hell are we doing?” He points at me with the bottle of Jägermeister. Rafe steps out on the other side as Hunter and Sebastian come out with the camera on.
Inhaling, I shake my head. “This is a personal trip. No cameras.”
“Relax, Granger,” Hunter says. “Think about how you can always have this moment recorded for your kids. Pretend we’re not here.” He takes the stairs to the jet.
Sebastian walks up, turns off the camera, and we stare at each other, both of us in love with her, but I’m the one who owns her heart.
Rafe walks over. “I’m counting on you to do the right thing. If it’s personal, I don’t give a shit what Hunter wants. Turn that thing off.”
Sebastian nods at me and turns to Rafe. “You have nothing to worry about. I edit everything.” He shakes his head and laughs as he runs a hand through his hair. “So, you got a plan, Granger?”
“I’ll think of something.” I toss my cigarette and stomp on it, moving toward the stairs only to see Cash and Nuke step out of the limo.
When I raise a brow at Cash, he smiles, reaches in to grab his bass, and walks by saying over his shoulder, “You didn’t think I’d miss out on this, did you?”
Nuke, who’s shirtless, as usual, hops around from foot to foot.
I snort. “You gonna make it?”
“I’m fine,” Nuke says. “We need to go home and you’re my family. If you’re gonna go get Gia, I’m coming with you.”
I motion for him to pass. Even as fucked as I am, I’m not gonna lie. Having my brothers with me calms me.
He takes the stairs two at a time while Ace stands talking to Rafe. I look around wondering how it went from me and Ace to my whole family, because like it or not, that’s what we are. In a way it’s not bad having Sebastian with me. At least if she sees the camera, she’ll have to let me in.
Not that I’ve forgiven her.
But I can’t seem to live without her, so we can fight later. Get into all the shit we should have hashed out earlier. I climb the stairs and enter the jet, and for the first time in years, I have absolutely no idea what I’m gonna do, but I’m not alone.
They didn’t leave me.
Ammo hands me his Jägermeister as the doors close. Rafe sits down next to me as Hunter walks over with a joint and hands it to him.
“You want to get into the studio. We need to record ‘Heart Beats for You’ as soon as possible. I don’t want it pirated any more than it already has been.”
I lean my head back and close my eyes. I’ve been running for so long, the thought of staying put sounds really good.
“Yeah, I like that. I have a bunch of songs I’d love put down in the studio.”
Rafe nods and inhales, eyes narrowing as he offers me the joint. I take it. Maybe I can pass out and wake up with some incredible idea about how to get Gia to move in with me, rather than picking her up and forcibly taking her with me.
“What time is it gonna be when we land?” I mumble before I inhale and hold.
“Probably around eight a.m.” Rafe smiles at something on his phone. I exhale and lean forward.
“You got something going on that we should know about?”
His blue eyes look at mine. “I never tell my secrets. You know that.”
I recline my seat all the way back, smiling. “Wake me when we land.”
“Granger, man.” I crack my eyes open to see Ammo laughing with a groupie on his lap and drop my feet to the carpet with a thud.
Scooting up, I look around the jet. Everyone seems to be up already, besides Cash who’s still lounging on the couch. This was actually one of the better flights. I slept.
“I’m gonna take a quick shower. We almost ready to land?”
“Thirty minutes,” Sebastian says as he passes.
I turn the water on and take a quick rinse-off in case others want to use it. I rub my hands across my scruff. I need to shave but fuck it. I slather on some deodorant, brush my teeth, and open up one of the cabinets where we keep clothes. I’ve probably spent more time in this jet than anywhere else lately.
I pull on a black tee and some jeans and run my hands through my hair. Exiting, I go straight for the bar and a bottle of Jack and drop into a chair, seeing Sebastian out of the corner of my eye. He’s filming already.
“Hey,” I yell at him.
“Yeah?” He lowers the camera.
“I’m thinking of a concert outside her place. How big of a deal would that be?” He brings the camera back up.
“So, what? You want to start playing a concert in the middle of Venice Beach, California?”
“Yep.” I crack the bottle.
“Excuse me, what did you say? No fucking way, Granger. We need permits and all kinds of shit.” Rafe looks like I’ve asked him for a million dollars.
“Nah, I’m doing it. Even if it’s one song, that’s enough.” I take a swig.
“You’re gonna get thrown in jail,” he threatens as if I’m five and he’s trying to have patience with me.
“Get her flowers, show up on your knees. But you’re not serenading her.”
“We need to have you Say Anything her,” Cash says from the couch, not even removing his arm from his eyes.
“What?”
“Say Anything. The movie. John Cusack stands outside the girl’s bedroom window with a boom box playing Peter Gabriel’s ‘In Your Eyes.’” He sits up.
Ammo glances behind him at Cash. “I had no idea you were a Cusack fan.”
I can’t help but fucking laugh. Cash, of all people, watches eighties’ romantic comedies? It’s perfect. I bring the bottle to my lips.
“Refresh me, did he get the girl?”
“Of course.” He lights up a cigarette, lifting his hip to pull his phone from his back pocket.
“We’re going to jail,” I say to Ammo.
He throws his head back, laughing and bringing the Jägermeister to his lips. “It’s been too long. We need a little jail time. Make us mean again.”
Rafe brings the phone down and his eyes narrow. “You two are getting too old for jail, and it’s bad press. This is not happening.”
I grin at him. “Hey, Ace?”
“Yo?” His voice comes from somewhere behind me.
“We’re gonna need equipment,” I yell.
Nuke stumbles over and I almost tell him we have a shower. I don’t think he’s been out of those black leather pants in a week.
“Why don’t we have a bet on how many songs it takes for Granger to get Gia?” He grins as he sits down next to the other groupie who’s snorting cocaine. He holds up his finger, bends down and takes a bump, then looks at us, eyes wide as he laughs. “Or we can bet how many songs it takes before we get arrested.” I have to bite my tongue not to say, You’d better hope we don’t get arrested. Detoxing in jail is a bitch.
“Here.” Cash sets down his phone, bringing my attention back to him as he hits play. “In Your Eyes” by Peter Gabriel starts up on a YouTube video. “See, the boom box.”
I look up at him. “Yeah, man, I see the stupid boom box and a girl who can’t seem to sleep. What the hell, Cash?”
“Just watch.” He nods.
I take a breath, and the video ends with John Cusack standing alone by his car, playing the song. “That’s it?” I rub my face. “That’s what you think I should do?”
“Yeah, it’s perfect. We play ‘In Your Eyes,’ and you’ll get Gia.”
“Jesus Christ,” Ammo says.
“Cash, he didn’t get the girl.” I motion to the phone, laughing. It’s so fucking absurd, I’m tempted to do it.
“Fuck you, guys.” He sits down. “Cusack gets the girl later. You have to watch the movie, assholes.”
Leaning over for the pack of cigarettes, I look at him the
n Ammo, trying hard not to laugh again.
“Trust me, if you want to be romantic, this is the way,” Cash says with conviction.
“All right, any other tips?”
“Fuck off. I’m giving you great advice.” He grabs his phone.
“Why can’t I just play one of our songs?”
Cash sighs as if I’m not right in the head. “It’s the whole production, Granger. ‘In Your Eyes,’ it’s—” He searches for the word only to have Rafe interrupt him.
“You can’t be thinking of listening to him, can you?” Rafe says wide-eyed. I grin. “Jesus Christ. You’re all fucked in the head. We have no permits. This is going to be chaos,” Rafe says all this as he texts.
Looking up, he snaps, “Ace, beef up security.”
“We all know ‘In Your Eyes,’ right?” Cash asks as Ammo chokes on his swig of Jäger.
“What the fuck has happened to you?” Rafe snarls, shaking his head in disgust.
I stand and hand him the bottle. “Drink up, Rafe. Looks like we’re going to jail.”
GIA
Present – Twenty-five years old
Venice Beach, California
I hear music. Loud music, like it sounds right next to my head. Groaning, I roll over and blink at the morning sun shining into my room. And consider the fact that I wasn’t dreaming about hearing music.
“Who’s playing Peter Gabriel at shock volume?” Julianna grumbles next to me.
My heart leaps to my throat as I slap her awake and bolt up. “Holy fuck.” My stomach flutters and my face heats up as I hear it.
“Gia. Gia Fontaine?” It vibrates around my small bedroom as I try to breathe.
“Oh my God, Julianna. It’s him.” My hand goes to my neck. I try to swallow.
“Wait. What’s happening?” She sits up on her elbows. Her mascara and the residual makeup we forgot to remove last night makes her look a bit like Harley Quinn.
“Gia Fontaine, please come to the front of your house.” His gravelly voice is loud and clear as Julianna grabs me.
“Oh. My. God. It’s Granger. Outside your house playing ‘In Your Eyes’!”
Rise: A Second Chance Rockstar Romance (Rock God Book 1) Page 28
