by K E Osborn
The car pulls up to the curb of Vengeance and the guy at the end of the red carpet opens the door. There are a few paparazzi stationed by the other side of the lane ropes, and my muscles are tense at the attention I might get from the media considering my past, but hopefully they won’t even know who I am. I step out, still wearing my Recoil merch T-shirt and torn jeans with a pair of killer pink pumps to match my hair. I know I’m probably not dressed slutty like the rest of the people in here would be, but I don’t care. I like what I’m wearing, and I’m supporting my guy, so that’s all I’m worried about.
Danger steps out behind me and the cameras start their incessant snapping. No one asks any questions though, which is nice, but the people in the lineup all start fussing and wondering who’s going into the club they’re going to be partying in.
Then someone calls out, “Hey, isn’t that Recoil?” just as Ryan steps out of the car followed by Nate and Matt. Then the cheering begins, and a girl breaks free from the line up and bolts for Danger. He grabs hold forcing me behind his back as she screams like a crazy person, but Kane the newest of our bodyguards steps in grabbing the girl and escorting her away just before she reaches Danger. The cameras keep on snapping as the crowd all laugh and cheer while my heart rate spikes and I breathe heavily.
Who knows what could have happened had she gotten to Danger? It could have been as simple as her hugging him like mad, or she could have been crazy and stabbed him, we will never know. But what I do know is I’m shaking as Danger turns to me grabbing my shoulders and forcing me to look at him.
“You okay?” he asks.
I nod taking in a deep breath. “She was crazy.”
He nods. “Yeah, but it happens, babe. Just know I will always protect you from them. Always.”
Smiling, I nod as he wraps his arm around my shoulders and we start to walk the red carpet and into the venue. The music isn’t that great, but it’s pumping loudly and the bass vibrates up through my toes and into my chest making my inner shaking feel even worse. We’re directed straight to the VIP stairs and we traipse up them quickly to avoid carnage in the crowd below. When we get up into the open expanse of the room, it overlooks the downstairs dancefloor with wall to ceiling one-way glass. There’s couches all around the walls, with booths and tables on one side and a dance floor in the middle, and a bar at the side. It’s a great set up and it looks quite fancy.
Smiling as my nerves begin to settle, I look over to the corner to see Luminous are already here and it seems they have an entourage of their own. Groupies probably, but the funny thing is they’re all male. Mainly youngish men, probably ranging from eighteen to mid-twenties. I chuckle as I grab Danger’s hand and gesture for him to look in their direction.
He scowls and turns up his lip. “That’s just weird.”
I shrug. “Just let them have their fun, and they can party their way and we’ll party ours.”
“Hmm… okay. Let me get us some drinks. Go grab a booth.”
Nodding, I let go of him with a quick peck on his cheek and start the small walk over to an empty booth. I sit with my back to Danger so I can keep watch on Luminous and their posse. It’s entertaining to watch and I figure if Danger wasn’t with me there would be a brood of young women here for Recoil, so I don’t see the difference in what Luminous are doing just because they’re girls. They’re all single so let them fuck around if they want to I say.
A shadow appears to my left, and I turn my head to see Nate sliding into the booth opposite me. I raise my eyebrow and smile as he places his hands on the table in front of him and grins. “How you doing?” he asks, and I chuckle.
“I’m good, how are you?”
“Yeah, really great, I’m on a high after the show. It’s so good finally being the front runners. We’ve worked so hard to get here and it’s finally paying off. It’s great to know people like our music.”
I scoff. “Nate, they don’t like your music… they love it.”
He tilts his head and sighs. “Well, I hope they do. I know I love it. This band means so much to me. Always has, it’s all I have. I mean Matt is so talented in everything he does so he can get by with anything, but me, all I’m good at is music. The drums are everything to me, so being in this band gives me purpose and drive. This is what I’m meant to be doing, you know what I mean?”
Smiling, I’m seeing a new side to Nate. He’s opening up a little to me, which is something new and I kind of like it. I know he doesn’t really have many people to lean on besides his brother, so it would be nice if I could be here for him like I am for Danger and Ryan.
“Well, I’m sure you’re good at things other than just playing the drums, Nate. You’re a smart guy.”
He scoffs. “Not really, I was a bad kid at school. Didn’t pay attention. Didn’t graduate, unlike Matt. I don’t know your basic math, and I can’t read really well other than music. So when you say I’m smart… I’m really not.”
My chest tightens and I frown wishing I could make him feel better about himself. “Why don’t you get a tutor to come and teach you some stuff? Like how to read and also some math?”
He shrugs. “Ryan and Danger don’t know how dumb I am, only Matt does, and having a tutor around on tour would make them ask questions I don’t wanna answer. So yeah, don’t tell Danger any of this, I just feel like I can trust you.”
“Of course you can. I won’t say anything. Nate, I’m here for you if you need to talk.”
Danger appears by my side with two drinks and he sighs as he slides in next to me putting the conversation to a complete halt. Danger looks from me to Nate and then back to me.
“I’ll see you later,” Nate says, then he slides out of the booth on the opposite side walking off with his head down low and his hands in his pockets. A sweeping pang of sadness washes over me for Danger’s band mate—and kind of nemeses at the moment—and I wish I could tell Danger what we were talking about but I know I can’t. I promised.
“What’s happening later?” Danger asks, and I smile and chuckle.
“Nothing, it was him saying goodbye. You read too much into things.”
Danger huffs handing me my small tumbler of whiskey and shakes his head. “I know he’s my band mate and all but I don’t trust him, Lunar. I don’t.”
“Oh, you’re being melodramatic.”
“Am I? I don’t think so.”
Suddenly, a bubbly blonde slides into the booth opposite us with a young guy and she looks as high as a kite.
“Hey guys, great night, hey?” Effa asks.
“You okay, Effa?” I ask.
Effa laughs and turns thrusting her lips and tongue down the guy’s throat, and I turn to Danger and smirk as Effa continues to pash on with the young guy at our table. I begin to chuckle as Danger and I both grab our drinks and take a sip.
They finally pull apart and Effa looks at us leaning forward placing her hands on the table and staring at us enthusiastically. “The world is made up of atoms and every molecule in those atoms are buzzing right now with the electricity of Mother Nature. Can you feel it?” she asks, her eyes gazing up to the ceiling as her boy toy smiles at me seductively. My eyes open wide and I look around to see if he’s actually looking at me. He is. Shit! I look away from him shaking my head.
“Umm… Effa, I think you better lay off the drugs. They make you weird.” Danger doesn’t hold back as I chuckle.
“Who says I’m on drugs? I’m high on life, Danger.”
Danger and I both laugh shaking our heads.
“Effa, look… I know drugs when I see them. Just cut back, okay?”
“You’re no fun. C’mon Sven.” Effa pulls her boy toy up from the booth and goes to walk off.
“My name’s Toby,” he replies, making me smirk.
“I know, but Sven is so much sexier,” she answers.
Glancing at Danger I shake my head with a laugh. “I don’t want drugs on this tour.”
“Then get Luke to talk to Luminous. By the look of it,
Casey, Andrea, and Alana, are all wasted too. God even knows where Kristy is.”
Danger nods. “Yeah, this is only the start of the tour. We have to be on our game more than this. Ella’s dad was into cocaine, so I know firsthand what that can lead to.”
Tensing at the mention of his ex-fiancée’s name, like I always do whenever I hear the name Ella, I swallow hard. I hate she was such a big part of his life and that she broke him so badly. If I ever get to meet her, people will have to hold me back ‘cause that will be one epic bitch fight.
Chapter Twenty
DANGER
The after party was fun, and Lunar and I spent most of it in a booth just spending time with each other while the others drank and partied the night away. Even though that would have appealed to me a while ago, that’s not the man I am now. I’d rather spend time with my girl than with a bunch of them. I had my man-whoring ways. I’m not proud of those days, and if Ella fucking Slade taught me anything, it’s that being monogamous in a relationship is important, and I don’t plan on making the same mistakes I did in that relationship. I was awful to Ella, I fucked around on her because we were long distance and I thought she wouldn’t know. But that only ate me up inside, and when she found out, I think she could never look at me the same again. I fucked things up by not keeping my cock in my pants, and even though there were a barrage of women parading themselves around at the party, there was only one I was interested in. So I stayed with her all night and showed Lunar I wanted her attention, not theirs. Because I’m doing it right this time.
We left the party and came back to the hotel spending the night together in our room with only a slight buzz from the minimal alcohol we consumed compared to everyone else. It seems we’re the adult couple on this tour, and want to be less hungover and have my senses about me.
I spent the night with Lunar in my arms, and as I lay here in the light of the morning I realize Lunar might just be one of the rarest and most special gifts I’ve been given in my life. She really is something exceptional even though I don’t know how this is going to end for us. Although I’m pretty sure it will end because the long distance thing won’t happen for me again.
I have strong feelings for her. Really strong, and it could be my undoing. But the band comes first this time. Band before bitches as Nate would say. I can’t fail Recoil again, and if I have to choose between staying in Australia with Lunar and moving the band back to the USA to make it worldwide, I have to choose the band as much as it will tear me apart. Even though I’ve succumbed to my feelings for Lunar, it doesn’t mean I’m not still scared about what it all means when I have to leave for America.
I want to be with Lunar while I’m here and I don’t want to see her with anyone else. Hell, I might even be falling for her, but I’m not so stupid as to know that things aren’t long term for us. They can’t be. There’s no possible way. And every day I get closer to Lunar that thought eats at me a little more. I can’t open my heart fully to her, not only because I know I’m leaving, but because I was so badly hurt before. I can’t be open to that kind of pain again.
I just can’t… can I?
My cell rings breaking me from my thoughts as Lunar stirs from beside me. I rush to the bedside table and pick it up swiping the screen to answer a call from Luke.
“Hey, what’s up?”
“Is Lunar with you?”
I turn to look at her to see her watching me with sleepy eyes. “Yeah, she is… why?”
“Put the phone on speaker, now.”
Furrowing my brows, I put the cell on speaker and shake my head. “What the fuck, Luke. What’s the problem?”
Lunar sits up in the bed looking at me, her brows creased.
“Lunar did you talk to a reporter?”
She shrugs and shakes her head. “Some woman asked me some questions, but it wasn’t anything dramatic.”
Luke scoffs. “Nothing dramatic, hey? Did you tell them you were a club girl?”
“What? No!”
“Well, they know, and so does the whole of Australia. It’s headline news!”
Turning to Lunar, I can’t help the scowl that forms on my face and she swallows hard. “What do you mean, Luke?”
“I mean the fact that Lunar was club property, a stripper and a club whore is plastered all over the papers and morning news. They’re saying you’re dating a whore, Danger. One of Australia’s most classless ladies. How’s that for gossip, huh?”
Glancing back to Lunar she’s tense as she bites her bottom lip. I turn and stand up from the bed to pace the floor. “What damage does this do, Luke?”
Lunar folds her arms over her chest.
“Who knows? They’re saying shit like her foundation is backed by the Satan’s Savages, and that all the proceeds are going directly to the biker club. That she’s supplying you and Luminous with drugs, and that this tour is a shambles and people should boycott your shows in an anti-biker protest.”
“What!” I call out, my anger boiling to the surface as my chest starts to heave.
Lunar stands from the bed now too, starting to pace the floor herself. “Luke, if I was to leave now, would it help?”
My eyes widen as I shake my head. “No!” I demand.
“Yes! Lunar if you want to help the band you should distance yourself from them completely,” Luke confirms.
“Shut up, Luke. Lunar, no! Don’t let them win. You belong here with me.”
She walks over to me as my heart pounds ferociously in my chest making it harder and harder to breathe. Lunar shakes her head with tears in her eyes but her face is stern. “Danger, thank you for freeing me from the club. But it seems I can never truly be free of them. I can’t let them bring you down… I have to go.”
“No!” It comes out as barely a breathless whisper as my chest is too tight to talk.
“It’s for the best,” Luke says.
She turns to start packing her things as I watch her while internally panicking. She’s my light through all of this. I know I didn’t see a future for us but I thought we at least had some time. I was positive we had more time than this. I’m not ready to lose her, yet.
“This is stupid. Can’t we go on record telling the press she’s out of that life?”
“Yes, I think we need to. Lunar if you can see me before you go so we can organize a press conference. I think that would be a good idea if you’re up for it.”
She swallows hard. “Yes, okay,” she murmurs while continuing to pack.
“Surely once she clears her name she can stay though, right?” I beg running my fingers through my hair in frustration.
“I think distance is best right now, Danger,” Luke replies.
Lunar nods wiping tears from her face, which ultimately forces my chest to heave. I walk over to her and pull her to my chest as she clings to me for both our comfort.
“I’m gonna go. Give you guys time to say your goodbyes. I’m sorry, Lunar,” Luke says then hangs up.
Lunar’s hot tears flow down my bare chest, and I clench my eyes tight stopping the salt water from escaping mine as well. She’s my muse. My light. My world. I don’t know how I’m going to cope without her here.
“It’s okay. Once it settles down you can come back, I’m sure of it. It won’t be long… a week… possibly two at most.”
She nods looking up at me with her lashes wet and her eyes misty. It breaks my heart. “I’ll miss you.”
“I’ll miss you too, baby.”
She looks away from me. “I’m so sorry I spoke to that girl, I shouldn’t have said anything!”
“It’s not your fault. I should have warned you about people asking questions.”
“Still, if I didn’t give her my full name then she wouldn’t have been able to find out anything about me. Why did I do that? I’m normally so smart.”
I force her to look up at me. “Hey, you are smart. You just got caught in a moment. We can fix this.”
She sighs and breaks free of my hold and gets dressed,
then continues to pack as I stand back and watch helplessly. I feel like my world is shifting and I fucking hate it. Who knows what the press are going to do to her when she’s out there on her own.
I fucking hate this.
I’ll say it again, I fucking hate this!
She finishes with the last of her stuff and uprights her luggage ready to leave. My stomach twists and I feel like I want to be sick as she looks at me with those big doe eyes that are watering. She knows as well as I do that this might not be fixed in a week or two. This might be it for us. But I know we both hope like fucking hell it isn’t.
“I guess I’ll see you round,” she whispers, barely audible.
My chest tightens and I exhale shaking my head. “You can’t leave on that.”
She swallows hard and walks back to me, I reach out to her, grabbing for her hand and pulling her to me. “You mean so much to me. You know that, right?” I admit and she half smiles.
“I know. You do to me, too.”
Leaning forward, I press my lips to hers forcefully. My tongue slides into her mouth taking full advantage of what little time I have left with her. Who knows when or if I’ll see her again? She’s been such a great part of my life so far, and I want Lunar to know that I cherish her in every way. So I show her, forcing my body against hers and pressing my hard cock into her thigh. She moans into my mouth, and I wish I could get her out of her clothes and back into bed. But I know she has to go to Luke and that thought is killing the mood.
She pulls back and wipes fresh tears from her face. “Thank you, for everything.”
“This isn’t goodbye.”
She nods and half smiles again bringing her hand up to caress my cheek. I lean into her palm needing to feel her touch as she leans in pecking my lips once more. “Keep rocking it hard like the rock god you are. Okay? Don’t spiral. You can do this.”
Looking in her eyes they’re strong and fierce like she truly believes in me, so I nod. “Just don’t stop talking to me, okay?”
She nods and lets me go. “I better…” she trails off and looks toward the door.
