“I’m sorry, I didn’t realize you didn’t have anyone. But you were in high school when your parents died, right? The state didn’t put you in the system?”
“No. I was a junior and I was home schooled. I’d already been performing professionally for six years. My parents left my trust fund and my money earned from performing to me. They didn’t set up a contingency plan if something happened to them. Jimmy and Miles’ mom, Morrighan, stepped up and said she’d be my temporary guardian if the judge felt I needed one. I’d been living on my own—well, in hotels while traveling with my music teachers. I still had a year of contracted performances, but they found a substitute and graciously allowed me out of my obligations.”
“I just want to hold you and keep you forever.” Neveah frowned.
“Thanks. The judge was cool. I was basically emancipated already working full time for so long. Her stipulation in allowing me to be in charge of me was to get counseling and finish my senior year in a public or private high school so I wasn’t alone. I graduated and took up performing again, without a lengthy contract this time and moved to New York. The change was good for me.” Sameera bit her lip and let out a calming breath. “I think I’m done sharing for now.”
“Some heavy shit, chicka. Man. Well look, now you have two families. Crimson Rage and Final Regret, trust me when I say we take care of our own. So, now that I know your tragic story what do you do for fun?”
Sameera stared at the calm waters and sighed, inhaling the fresh saltwater air. “I don’t have time for fun.”
“You must be very driven. Make time for fun. There has to be something you do to relax or unwind. I swim and read.”
“Hmmm. Well I do love to cook a lot of Mediterranean and East Indian food when I have time and I belly dance.”
“Mmm. I love Indian foods. There’s a store that makes fresh hummus daily and has a buffet, I can’t get enough of right now. I don’t know the name of a lot of it but it’s tasty. I especially love the yogurt drinks. Karma Sutra. No, that’s the sex book title. Anyway, the restaurant serves a mango one and the owner comes around each table with bits of pistachio ice cream to clean the pallet. We should do lunch there when we get settled back in the Midwest.”
“We have an apartment here. Should we keep it or will we be in Kansas City for a long time?” Sameera bit her lip, thinking it’d be too early to try to sublet or find someone to take over their place.
“I’m not sure, but I do know rent out here is crazy. Why waste the money if you’re not here? You can talk with Garrick and your guys. Now I’m starving and want to belly dance. Imagine me with this belly attempting that.” Neveah snorted.
“It’s great exercise for the body in and out of pregnancy. There are DVDs and classes for pregnancy. I can point them out to you or teach you myself.”
“Do you do that? Teach?”
“Yeah. My two friends Dominique and Catalina both dance with me. All three of us wanted to learn something together that was fun aside from practicing our instruments eight hours a day or more. Belly dancing became our thing, a way to unwind from a stressful week. We also do yoga, but belly dancing is a great low impact workout.”
“How are you going to practice now that you’ll be gone for extended periods of time?”
“Catalina and Dominique can teach without me and will probably replace me. But I’ll still come back to do shows with them. Before and during the show I wear a veil so no one will ever know it’s me unless someone snitches. All I ask is—don’t tell the guys, yours or mine. I do this for me not to be objectified. If by some reason I end up dancing they’ll be surprised for sure. Not even my boys know.”
“Mum’s the word. Just let me know when we can set up our super sekrit meetings so you can teach me. I bet Carrie and Carlie would love to learn too. We girls are great at super sekrit keeping.”
Sameera laughed. “I will remember. Thank you for sitting out here with me. I’m glad we did this. Even if you are a bit intrusive.” Catalina and Dominique didn’t pry information from her, just waited until she wanted to talk. Not Neveah, who ran a tight ship on the back side of being in the public eye.
“Neveah.”
The girls turned to see Garrick striding toward them. Nev pushed off of the seat and put her hand over her eyes as a visor. “Yeah?”
“I thought I tucked you in for a nap and here you are monopolizing Sam.”
“Well, I couldn’t sleep. They’re overactive and keeping me awake, so I decided to come outside. We were having girl time. You know. Shoo.” Neveah pushed him away.
Garrick ran a hand through his shaggy hair. “You need to rest. It’s been a busy day, even more so since we’re having twins.”
“I promise I’m fine.”
“Hmm.” Garrick crossed his arms. “Everyone is wondering what you’re plotting.”
“You mean you wonder what I’m plotting and the answer is nothing besides getting to know my new friend.”
“I’m sure J.J. wants me back inside. I want to keep the peace and you need your sleep.” Sameera grinned. “Let’s go. I mean there is only so much ocean you can stare at and clean air you can breathe, right?”
“Thank you for being the voice of reason, Sam.” Garrick hooked his arm around Neveah and the other around Sam. “Two gorgeous ladies, one on each side of me.”
“Stop it, you big flirt,” Neveah laughed. “I’m not gorgeous right now. I’m blowing up.”
“Hold up.” He dropped his arm from Sam and spun Neveah in his arms. “You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. I love your curves, woman, and that you are protecting my sons in your belly.” He placed a hand on her bump. “Fucking sexy.” He kissed her lips.
Sameera’s face flushed as awkwardness rushed over her from their intimate interlude. She edged toward the house on her own, leaving the love bugs to themselves.
Damn, I want what they have. Fresh new love, uncomplicated by mess.
Leaving the crisp clean air, she opened the door and slipped inside. Laughter rang in the background. She was surprised to see the members of her band lounging, eating leftovers and chatting so easily with those of Crimson Rage.
Major crossed over and pulled her into a suffocating bear hug. “I can’t breathe, you big lug.” She planted her hands on his chest and pushed him away, but not before he dropped a kiss on the top of her head. “Behave.” Her words came out in a quiet hiss.
What did her band mate do? He gifted her with a wink and a smile showcasing his disarming dimples. Midian chuckled into the phone and disconnected his call. “Everything is all set.”
“What are you three planning?” Sameera pointed a finger at her trio. They feigned innocence, but she knew better. With a sigh, she turned and ran smack into Jimmy. His arms caught her before she bounced away to fall on her ass. A flash of heat blazed through her when he locked his gorgeous moss green orbs on her.
“In a hurry?” Jimmy planted his hands around her hips.
“What is it with you two?” she asked Midian, slapping Jimmy’s hands away. “Enough to drive a woman mad.”
“Tell me about it.” Carrie came in with Shea behind her. Sameera turned to see Garrick and Nev approach.
“I’m going to get Nev settled back in bed. Jackson, you sure you don’t want us to go back to the hotel?”
“Nah. She’ll be more comfortable here. Having everyone around gives me incentive to finish the rest of the guest rooms now.”
“We have to clean up, Garrick, you can’t just tuck me in when the place is a mess.” Nev slid her arms around him, hugging him from the back.
“I’ll help him clean up after I have you tucked in. Rosa will be here in the morning. Leave the mess. We covered the cake earlier, ” Garrick said to reassure her.
“Night,” Shea said, standing with Carrie by the door. “Carrie and I are going to get into something in the city. Jimmy, you and Sam and her guys coming with or stayin’ here?”
“Sam wants to go to that arcade in Time
s Square, the one that serves liquor. She thinks she’ll beat me at Dance Central.”
Sam rolled her eyes. “What he means is with our reestablished friendship, he wants to break the ice with one of our childhood pastimes.”
“I don’t know, she looks like she can take you.” Carrie rallied for her.
“Princess, do you want to go hang out with everyone?” Jackson asked Carlie.
“Nah. I’m good hanging in with just you for the night.” To Sameera’s eyes, Jackson seemed to heave a sigh at not having to be out with everyone.
“Okay, well then ya’ll have fun and we’ll see you later.” Jackson slapped Shea on the back.
With half the team chilling at home, Sameera followed Shea and Carrie out the door with Jimmy, and her band members following behind. Once they reached the driveway, she rounded on them. “Now what are you four planning?”
“You’ll see when you get there.” Major employed his famous evasive maneuver, skirting her question. With a sigh, she let the males tuck her into the town car taking them to the city.
The guys’ cryptic response meant the arcade was officially a no go. “I really wanted to go to the arcade and dance. You three never let me have any fun.” Sam pouted. Jimmy poked her in the ribs, earning an evil glare aimed in his direction.
“I promise you will have plenty of time on the bus with us to dance and try to win the championship back from me like old times.”
“What’s the story? Seems like something big is going on here we don’t know about,” Vin volleyed to the back, pointing at Midian and Major.
“It begins with a pretty girl,” Jimmy stated.
“Don’t they always?” Midian piped up from the front seat.
“Whatever. I was not pretty back then. Anyway the only dancing I knew how to do was traditional dancing from my culture. I’d never heard rock or pop music before meeting J.J.”
“Yeah, Sam was very sheltered. To this day I’m surprised her parents let her hang around us so much.”
“My mom loved your mom, and well, I guess they figured if I was going to be around Americans, you were the family to foster me, and bridge the cultural gap. The only music I learned and played was classical pieces and arrangements. One day, I heard this gawd awful racket coming from the house next door. I looked out my bedroom window into the neighbor’s to see J.J. attempting to play an electric guitar and screaming like a banshee. I really thought he was possessed.”
“I wasn’t that bad.”
“Yes…you were. We were only what seven?”
“I was eight and determined to break into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.”
Sameera pinched him. “No, you were dying to piss your dad off every chance you got.”
“Yeah, and what did I get? My ass kicked so much I got a sound proof garage to myself.”
“Which brings us to dancing. I happened to peek into this all boys sanctum to see J.J. spinning around on the floor. Thought he was having some kind of seizure. I mean who does that? And then he did some really cool gymnastics type flips all to some music on the radio.”
“She wanted me.” He gave her his signature cocky smirk, the panty melting one.
Sameera rolled her eyes. “He’s so full of shit. I wanted to learn how to dance. When I asked my parents, they sent me to jazz, tap and ballet, figuring since I was musically gifted they may as well see if dancing was in my future too. I think they pretty much bailed on our traditions when they realized how much money I would pull in playing cello.”
“Nah darlin’, I think they wanted to live the American dream and you were their meal ticket.”
“Shh. They could’ve sent me to India to live with family after they died.”
“No way that would’ve happened. Bodies would’ve hit the floor.”
“Anyways, I watched movies on dancing and Jimmy when he wasn’t watching. I made a solemn vow I’d one day beat him.”
“Sadly, that day has never come. I always win. Once she realizes she will never—ever—beat me, life will be so much sweeter for her.”
“Dude, you couldn’t, you know, let a girl win once?” Major asked, shaking his head while Vin and Midian laughed.
“Hey. There is no cheating. He tried once, letting me win, and I beat him up. Miles had to drag me off him.” Sameera punched him in the arm. He shot her a dark look of retribution.
“When roused this little dragon is fierce. I seem to remember getting the blame from both set of parents and being forced to follow you around. You made me treat you like a queen for an entire week after that b.s.”
“Yep.”
“Made school a living nightmare. I got picked on and teased. Ended up in detention for slugging classmates. Sam did too because one guy tripped me and she kicked him in the knee, making him cry.”
“I should’ve let you get picked on for being my personal assistant as my mother said.”
Jimmy snorted.
“Can’t take the truth?”
“I can’t begin to recall all the punishments I took on your behalf. Like when you took the teacher’s grade book to change my grade.”
“Hey, I didn’t want your dad to beat you. Friends help friends.” She didn’t add his father got off on causing him pain and grief.
“Except you got caught and what did I do?”
“You held up your hand and told the teacher you’d taken it and double dared me to put it back for you.” He smirked at her. “Then Miles heard about it and beat my ass. Ma had to pull us apart at home. I had a black eye and he had a bloody nose.”
“He apologized when I told the truth though.”
“Not really, he blamed my influence on you and still blamed me.” Jimmy shrugged with indifference.
“Damn, bro. Ya’ll have some huge history.”
Sameera noticed Jimmy ignored Vin’s comment. “Things changed after I went to the symphony. I didn’t have much time to play, all I did was practice. When I found time for myself, J.J. taught me guitar since by then he’d mastered playing. Later, when I was home on off-days from touring, we’d go to the arcade and play the dance games.”
“Which is why she is determined to go to an arcade while we’re here in the Big Apple.” Jimmy yawned and ran a hand through his hair. “She’s obsessed with winning.”
“Nothing wrong with that, is there? You have some sneaky underhanded ways at winning if I remember correctly.”
“Damn, you two are hilarious. The tour bus is going to be entertaining for sure. I hate to break it to ya, kids, but we are in fact not going to the arcade, we’re doing way better.”
“Vin?” Sameera glanced at the lack of traffic and block of warehouses they’d pulled into.
Midian parked. Jimmy exited the SUV and helped her out. “I don’t like surprises,” she muttered.
“Since when?” Jimmy dropped an arm around her shoulders. She shrugged the unwanted appendage off and he tugged her back to him. “What part of I always win didn’t you get?”
“So where are we? This reminds me of a murder scene. You know, in a horror film where all the teens go into a deserted place like this and end up getting chopped up into bits by one of their disgruntled peers. At least I’m not blonde, those girls always seem to die first.”
Jimmy busted out laughing. “I’d protect you. We all would.”
Sameera frowned as they led her to her probable untimely doom. Midian rapped on the door and whispered a code word. The door opened and he led them inside a dark hall. “Not feeling this house of horrors.”
Midian laughed. “Welcome to Club Pulse. The location changes weekly. We thought what better way to blow off steam than to come to a pitch black club where no one can see your face.”
“What kind of club?” Shea asked. “Tell me they have booze. I need a drink.”
“Check out the décor. Bro, a black lit club. Once we get into the locker room you can paint up and hit the dance floor, and yeah, you can order what you want.”
Sameera grinned. “Squeee. Black l
it? How did you score an in, you know I’ve wanted to come to one of these.” She turned to Carrie. “They’re exclusive. Really exclusive. Only about a hundred people are allowed entry into each party.”
“I know a person.” Mid grinned. “Let’s go, fellas. We can see the girls later. “Oh, Sam, Dominique and Cat are waiting for you and Carrie in the women’s room. Go get dolled up, see you later.”
Sameera watched the guys fade into black following the black light reactive rope and the glowing signs to the men’s room. She turned and linked arms with Carrie. “Shall we?”
“We sure as hell shall. This is amazeballs. Jackson, Carlie and Garrick are going to fucking hate missing out on this, for sure.”
“Yeah? They seemed to want some private time.” Sameera winked at Carrie.
“I thought your twin was more reserved.”
“Uh, yeah, but she’s coming out of her shell.”
“Hey girl, bout time you showed up. We’ve been waiting forever to see you.”
Sameera hugged her best friend Catalina and smiled when Dominique jumped in for hers. “I’ve missed you both so much. Hey, meet Carrie.”
“Nice to meet you,” Dominique and Catalina replied in unison. Sameera grinned as her friends dragged her and Carrie out of the entryway toward wardrobe.
“Wow.”
“Okay, so this is how things works. They have a huge closet of new clothing to wear, but we brought you two possibles. I say wear the black bikini top and the black booty shorts with heels. I swear you will look hotter than a hot tamale.” Dominique pushed the articles of clothing on her.
“Carrie. I have an extra bikini top or a really cute white top and mini skirt.”
“Oh, thanks but I think I’m okay with what I have on.”
Sameera laughed. “Carrie, just say yes. She totally has to have everyone sort of matching.”
Carrie accepted the outfit and went into a stall to change.
“Hurry up, you two, so we can get you painted up and head out to the dance floor.”
Kiss Me Deadly Page 5
