Falling Into Love

by Selene Chardou

  Her mother said something to her and she nodded before she said, “I will. I promise. Bye Mom.”

  Kaz looked at her before she tossed her cell phone on the sofa and walked up to him before she kissed him passionately. “I missed you madly. What’s the news?”

  He smiled wryly at her before he responded, “Talia is the new lead singer of Winter’s Regret and Seth is being shipped out to Promises as soon as he’s well enough to travel.”

  She bit her lip. “You know I adore Talia, right? I’m not talking shit about her or anything but why do I get the feeling she flaunted her infidelity with Jaden in Seth’s face because she knew he would react the way he did? I’m not saying it hurt her any less when the situation played out the way she thought it would but I don’t buy this being completely an accident. Rubbing the affair in his face was like waving a red flag in front of a bull—you know exactly what is going to happen.”

  Kaz agreed with Syd but he couldn’t tell her that. There was already too much tension and she’d already fallen out with his wife; he couldn’t risk that happening between her and Talia. One of her best friends was no longer around and in rehab while the other was extremely busy when not taking photos. It was too much of a gamble.

  “I think she made a mistake but…you can’t blame what happened with Seth on her. She didn’t give him the needle and she certainly didn’t push that poison in his veins. There is one person and one person only responsible for this fiasco and that is Seth and no one else.”

  She smiled slightly before her arms encircled his neck. “Maybe you’re right and I am just being a bit too judgmental.”

  “Go on, time to get dressed. We have to leave for the Forum in less than a half an hour.”

  Syd kissed his cheek before she let her arms fall away, turned and strolled to the suite.

  Kaz sat down on the sofa and rested his face in his hands.

  That was one crisis averted but how much longer could he keep dodging the bullet? He hoped Seth’s overdose would be the worst incident that happened during the tour but the feeling in his gut warned him everything was going to get a whole hell of a lot more fucked up before it got better.

  Chapter Eleven

  The Forum Concert

  I HAD NO idea why I was so nervous that night about photographing the concert. Maybe it was because Talia walked on to the stage and welcomed the crowd in Danish. She smiled brightly and looked hot in a pair of scarlet tight leather pants and black leather and lace corset. Her shoes were lace-up Doc Martens that were super bad ass and nothing she would have to worry about having her feet killing her in during the show.

  Her dark hair was wild with loose curls and her makeup played up her gorgeous pale green eyes and nude lips allowed her to sing her heart out.

  When they kicked off the concert with “Leave Him”, she’d tinkled with the lyrics and turned the song into “Leave Her”.

  “I run my fingers down your skin and feel the pulse in your neck. You told me you loved me enough to die for me so why I am still not number one in your life? That bitch has you in her fucking arms and she has your dick at night…and what do I get? Lousy happy endings and remnants of a stale Turkish Delight.”

  Kris and Linx played guitar and bass in perfect harmony as Talia rocked out on the stage and the concert fans went crazy. It was almost as if Seth had never been part of Winter’s Regret though I knew he had tons of fans. As far as the crowd in Copenhagen cared, he could have died because Talia was much better at this rock star persona shit than he’d ever been. She had charisma, beauty, talent and more than anything, a real stage presence.

  The only person in her league was my lover, Kaz.

  “You want the honest truth because I don’t think you can handle it. I won’t play second string anymore, I won’t fuck you and then be ignored. Make up your fucking mind because you can’t have us both; she’s gonna end up gettin’ decked and hittin’ the floor or I’ll walk out that door. So what’s it gonna be? What do you want? This isn’t a trick question and I’m tired of your motherfuckin’ shit so…so…so—screw that, I’m just gonna say it! My blood is boiling like sulfur so I beg you…Just. Fucking. Leave. Her!”

  Niko began to bang his drums hard and fast as Linx and Kris played their instruments with precision and the crowd roared again.

  “She’s fucking good.”

  I looked over at Keren as she suddenly appeared out of nowhere stood next to me. She looked her usual decked out biker chick meets rock babe with a short black dress that looked like it had been painted on, a pair of scarlet fishnet tights and her trusty Doc Marten motorcycle boots.

  I took more photos with my paparazzi lens attached to my camera. We could actually talk because the music was muted from a glass box in the back of the auditorium where I stood. We still had to shout but it wasn’t frightening loud as it was when you were actually near the stage itself.

  “Yeah, she is,” I replied not knowing what else to say.

  “Not only that but there is a calmness and a…cohesive quality to the group I haven’t witnessed since before Madison Square Garden. They always looked like they were stepping on eggshells around Seth and praying to a God that doesn’t exist he wouldn’t fuck up but they are chilled out up there and just doing what they do best.

  “I have to hand it to her—she kicks ass and no one cares if she’s a woman because she’s a hot bitch who can sing and knows how to use her sexuality without being vulgar or threatening. I bet you she doubles Winter’s Regret fan base overnight.”

  I put the camera down and undid the extended lens. “How do you figure that? What about fans of Seth?”

  Keren rolled her eyes. “What are you? Blind? Have you not seen Kris, Linx and Niko up close? They are fucking sex on a stick and I can tell you personally that Linx is one of the best fucks I have ever had. He’s got that Jared Leto thing goin’ on and man is he fucking hot in a pair of leather pants with all his tats showing. I thought I was going to pass out the first time he ate me out—”

  I slammed the case shut that carried my extended lens. “I get it, all right?”

  “Listen, sweetheart, all I am sayin’ is that they have three drug-free guys in the band who just want to play music and have a good time. And then there is this sexy piece of ass in front of the microphone with a voice like a fucking angel crossed with the devil, looks to die for and a body to kill for. She doesn’t feminize the group one bit and they are kickin’ ass, takin’ names and rock harder now than ever before. She’s the best thing that could have happened to the group!”

  “Listen, I gotta get some up close photos and we can pick up this conversation backstage. I’ll meet you there.”

  “No, I don’t think so,” she slipped an ear plug in and held the other one between her fingers. “I want to see them up close and personal. I’m coming with you.”

  I loved Keren and thought she was a sweet woman but I liked working alone and she seriously interrupted my concentration with her endless banter.

  “Fine,” I slipped in my earplugs, “suit yourself.”

  Keren kept up as I walked down the stairs with my camera equipment on my left shoulder.

  I just wanted to get these photos over with so I could chill backstage with Kaz and a shot—or three—of Macallan 30 to make it through the rest of the night. Watching my lover on stage always turned me on but the liquor dulled the feeling a little and made me feel all warm and fuzzy instead of wanting to jump on stage and tear him away from the crowd for a quickie backstage.

  Talia spoke to the crowd and I could hear her though she was muted. “The first rock song I ever heard was ‘Would?’ by Alice in Chains and when Layne Staley passed away, I was really young—almost thirteen. I know how powerful music can be and I wanna say to all of Seth’s fans tonight I didn’t want the lead singer of Winter’s Regret to be another Layne or Kurt or any of the greats that have succumbed to drug abuse and ultimately died from it.

  “This is for Staley…and Hendrix…and Morriso
n…and Cobain…and lastly, Seth because please don’t be like your anti-heroes and give in to drugs, babe. From the top, guys!”

  The opening chords of “Would?” began and a familiar voice began the opening part before she joined him. Kaz walked onto the stage and the crowd went wild. How could I have forgotten the song had been a duo between Cantrell and Staley? They were both so fucking good and had such great stage chemistry. Talia sang the chorus the first time before she allowed Kaz to sing it the second time around.

  How long had the band worked on this tribute? Linx, Niko and Kris all knew the song by heart. They switched up on the last lyrics and did it in alternates with Talia finishing the song and the crowd erupted in cheers and claps before they embraced one another before he whispered something in her ear and she nodded before he walked off the stage.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, the irresistible and drop dead beautiful Kaz Gillian from Scarlet Fever!”

  I finished taking my requisite amount of photos and walked backstage where I found Kaz sharing Carlsberg lagers with Jaden. The two were laughing with one another before Jaden remarked, “Fuck, how do you perform with her? Every time I see her, my cock gets hard as a rock. She is such a sexy fucking bitch and just to think, I have to give her up when this tour ends. That sucks ass, man.”

  “I don’t remember Faith being too bad in that department,” Kaz murmured.

  “Yeah but Talia ain’t Faith and Faith ain’t Talia. I’d do anything to be with her and she’s not interested. She has some kind of twisted loyalty to that fuck in the hospital. I would fucking stick a speedball in his arm myself and put him out of his misery if I knew I wouldn’t get caught.”

  I set my equipment down loudly and both men shut the fuck up before I walked over to the refreshment table, grabbed the bottle of Macallan 30 and poured a double shot.

  To be honest, I didn’t have any intention of acknowledging what they were talking about. They were both rock stars and used to having any woman they wanted. Me bringing up what I’d heard wasn’t going to make them feel bad but it might piss Kaz off and I wanted to get laid that night.

  I downed my shot and Keren interrupted my contemplation. “You wanna go outside to smoke?”

  “Keren, it’s fucking negative degrees outside.”

  “Yeah but these electronic ciggies aren’t doing shit and I need a real cigarette.”

  I sighed, poured another shot and downed that one too because I would need it just to numb myself against the cold.

  We walked out of the stadium to the back and both lit up. It was freezing but not as bad as I thought it would be so I shut up and dragged from cigarette.

  “You okay? They’re just guys…you think that was bad, you should hear some of the club talk. Men and their fuckin’ sweet butts, the parties…I’m so happy to be away from that shit. It’s a relief. To be on tour with men who treat women like human beings is refreshing because you have no fucking clue how bad it can get unless you’ve lived the biker lifestyle.”

  I didn’t say anything as she dragged on her Marlboro. “Back there, Jaden wasn’t disrespecting Talia though it sounded like he was. He’s in a pickle because he’s kinda stuck with a woman he doesn’t want yet he can’t leave her and Talia wouldn’t leave Seth even if he was available. She might do it for Kris…but not Jaden. He’s just a distraction.”

  “How the fuck do you know so much?” I wondered out loud as I exhaled through my mouth and nose.

  “Club life. Men are more or less alike no matter what they look like or where they come from. I warned Misty ages ago she was nothing but a sweet butt for Drake but no, he was different. Different my fuckin’ ass. He’s marrying some stuck up bitch from the old country and you know what makes the situation so classic? He’s moving to Hamburg so they can be together. He knows he can’t stay in Washoe county and live…he’s not stupid.”

  I dragged from my cigarette and inhaled deeply as the Macallan 30 began to do its job. “All of this is just so ugly. I mean, I’m not naïve and if you think rich people are any different, they aren’t. I just thought…this tour is hard enough work without the random hook-ups and drug overdoses. I don’t think I could do this again.”

  “I certainly don’t believe Kaz would fault you for feelin’ the way you do. No one ever said it was easy. But just understand this is a cake walk to being some biker’s old lady. I’m on vacation right now because I am just chillin’. I am having the time of my life. When I get back to Reno, I’m gonna get my ass beat by one of my brothers and then my dad is gonna find some fucked up biker to be my old man whether I like him or not.”

  Keren shook her head. “That can’t be my destiny, Syd. You are so strong and you don’t take any shit. I’m not taking it anymore either. I am demanding to choose my man or I will walk out of the club. If I do that…can I trust you to have my back?”

  I looked into the frightened blue eyes of Keren and nodded wordlessly. “Of course. I would never let anyone treat you like that.”

  Silent tears rolled down her cheeks. “Kind of hard to object to a life when it’s all you know. I love my dad but I can’t live like that anymore with no say in my life or my destiny. When I lost Kaz, it wasn’t just our relationship ending…it was my only chance out.”

  I threw my cigarette to the ground before I embraced Keren. “Honey, you don’t have to worry about that. I’ll give you the money myself before this tour ends. If things go pear shaped when you get home, you get the fuck out of there and you don’t look back.”

  She nodded her head vigorously. “Okay.”

  There was a sound behind us in the deep snow and we both turned to watch Kaz approach us. “Everything all right?”

  Keren wiped her tears away, smearing her mascara. “Peachy. I’ll leave you two love birds alone.”

  I watched her walk back inside before I strolled over and wrapped my arms around Kaz’s neck. “Everything is just fine, babe. I didn’t think we’d get any alone time before you went on stage. I missed you. But the duet you did with Talia was fucking hot. You two sound really good together.”

  He smiled before he kissed my lips and my mouth opened automatically. “Did it get you wet?”

  “Fuck yeah. I’m hoping when we get back to the hotel I am in for some goodies tonight?” I inquired in a low voice.

  “Oh yeah. I am gonna do things to you I have been dreaming about since the moment we met each other.”

  “In that case, we’re skipping the after party then?”

  “Yep.” Kaz kissed me again, this time adding plenty of tongue before he reluctantly broke it off. “I gotta go but aren’t you still on duty? You’re obligated by Introspect Records to take photos of both bands performing.”

  I nodded my head and rolled my eyes sarcastically. “I’ll be right inside.”

  “Okay.” He smiled at me again before he disappeared inside again.

  I started rummaging through my purse for another cigarette when someone grabbed me by the shoulder. My heart thudded painfully in my chest before I turned around to see a security guard.

  “Miss, you’ve been out here long enough. Please go back inside,” a middle-aged balding man with bright blue eyes said in perfect English.

  “I’m with the band and I wanted to have another cigarette before I went back inside,” I replied in perfect Danish.

  He looked dubious despite my mastery of his native language. “I think you just had one,” he began in Danish. “This is no place for a woman to be alone. If anything happens to you—heiress to the Landvik fortune—we would never hear the end of it. Now, either you move along on your own or I will be forced to escort you back inside.”

  I bit my lower lip out of frustration more than anything else. “Fine, I’m going back inside.”

  “Thank you, Miss Landvik.”

  There was something about the way he said my name stopped me in my tracks. I turned toward him again and realized although he looked harmless, he was built underneath his suit, all hidden muscles, and had to b
e at least six feet, two inches.

  “Cut the ‘Miss Landvik’ crap. Did my grandfather send you here to keep me safe

  The gentleman laughed out loud. “I have been on the tour the whole time and you have just now put two and two together? Yes, I am here to keep you safe underneath orders from your grandfather and mother. I don’t report anything untoward you do—the sex, alcohol and drugs are your business, you’re an adult after all—however I did have to report the D&C performed in France. It’s not for the reasons you think though. If your life would have been at stake, your mother and grandfather had their private plane on stand-by to fly to see you in France.”

  “Well since you have been my shadow all this time, why don’t you tell me your name?”