by Cari Quinn
And they were going to buy a house.
Them.
Yep, the anticipatory butterflies were back, with no accompanying baby punches. If that was what they’d been. It was Simon’s kid though, so anything was possible.
She grabbed her bag, made sure she had her phone for pictures, and headed out to the parking garage. Felt like a good day to take Simon’s Audi. He had a sunroof, and it was absolutely beautiful out. Sunny, warm, not a cloud in the sky. Soon enough, the dog days of summer would be upon them and she’d be as big as a house.
She kinda couldn’t wait.
Inside the car, she plugged the address of the house in Santa Monica into her GPS. It shouldn’t take her too long to get there. Middle of the morning traffic was a lot better than rush hour. Still, she wanted to be back before Simon was done in the studio. Maybe she’d get dressed up and they could go out to dinner. Do something fun like a date night since they’d become sparser as time went on. Once their baby arrived, there wouldn’t be as many opportunities to sneak away for a night on the town.
For now, she wanted to enjoy their time together as a couple. Maybe they should do one of those babymoon things she’d heard about. Go away somewhere exotic while she could still semi rock a bikini.
She drove out of the garage and in no time, she was on the freeway. She hummed along with the satellite radio, the wind blowing in her hair from the cracked sunroof, and couldn’t help grinning when an Oblivion song soared out of the speakers. It still blew her mind to hear herself—to hear them—on the airwaves. By now it should be old hat, but it so wasn’t. She hoped the magic never faded.
And she definitely hoped she never lost that little shiver that came from hearing Simon’s deliciously husky voice.
A husky voice that was yet again about to be on her phone, because the music stopped in favor of a beep and an alert on the car screen—your honeybunch is calling.
She laughed aloud and hit the touch screen to answer the call. “How the hell did you rig it to say that? This isn’t even my car.”
“I knew you’d drive it. You like the power. The control. The sunroof.”
“Option number three. Why are you back again? What happened to work? I thought you had to sing. You know, your job.”
“Ian’s still gone. Oddest fucking thing. He booked out of here, and then Li came in for a second and wanted to know if I’d talked to you. She’s acting weird. I said yes, and then she was gone again before I could ask her what the hell was going on.”
Margo frowned and signaled for the exit. She coasted off the ramp and took a turn, then another, and another after that. The house was conveniently located near the freeway, but not too close, which was another selling point. But right here, the area was nearly deserted.
“That’s strange. Maybe I should call her. I know she’s freaked about Ian dating her cousin, but why would she run in to ask about me? She hasn’t tried to call, unless she texted and for some reason it didn’t show on your fancy in-car system. Oh. Look at that. Good timing.”
She blinked as a call from Lila flashed across the screen.
“I suppose I should take it. I’ll talk to you—”
The car jerked forward, and the shriek of metal on metal screamed through her head.
Her body jostled hard against the steering wheel, her seat belt snapping tight to anchor her in place. She didn’t even scream. Had no breath for it. Shock dulled her senses as the car ricocheted back and forth, aiming for the trees that lined the road. Woods.
She tried to steer. Couldn’t gain control. But even as the car rocked, she somehow managed to glimpse at the rearview, and the boxy black truck behind her.
Still coming. Too close. Far too close.
Sunny day. Didn’t they see her?
Another jolt came again, harder now. This time, there was no way to keep the scream from leaving her throat.
Her baby. God, her baby!
Simon’s voice filled the car, somehow competing with the crunch of metal on metal and screeching tires. And the pain.
So much pain.
“Margo? What the fuck is happening? Goddammit, Violin Girl, what is it?”
Then silence.
Just silence.
Thanks for reading ROCK RECLAIMED. Ian has finally come clean, but is it too late for him and Zoe…and Simon and Margo? One-click the final book in the trilogy, ROCK REDEMPTION.
I lost everything.
Stripped of all I’d found, now even my name is a scar.
A reminder of how far I’ve fallen and what was ripped away.
By my own devices, if not my own hand.
My music is all I have left, and the memories of the only woman I ever truly loved.
Zoe, who owns my heart.
I’ll do anything to earn her forgiveness. Even lay myself bare.
And I want my brother back.
Finally, I have a family, if they’ll have me. A real life beyond the trappings of fame.
I’ll do whatever it takes. Even start all over again.
But not all the demons of the past have been laid to rest. Now my final reckoning is at hand.
And those I love most may get caught in the crossfire.
Author’s Note: Find redemption with Ian Kagan, our new rockstar anti-hero in the conclusion of our super hot, romantic suspense trilogy, Rock Revenge. The trilogy occurs in the Oblivion world though it can be read on its own. Rock Redemption is a full-length novel with a HEA.
One-click ROCK REDEMPTION now.
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Rock Redemption
She woke in darkness.
It surrounded her, so complete that it felt as if she was being crushed by its weight. As if she’d been dropped at the bottom of a well and left to wither away.
Margo Kagan’s mouth opened to scream yet she tamped down on it at the last moment, somehow knowing she should not make a sound.
The only safety she had left was silence.
A nightmare. Just a bad dream. If she kept her eyes closed, the frightening sensation of drowning in the oxygen-less space would abate. She just had to breathe through it. Shallow breaths. Quick breaths. Not unlike the ones she would have to learn when she had her baby—
She shot up straight and couldn’t stop a whimper from escaping at the pinch in her wrist. Not just one, but both. She was restrained. Shackled like a wild animal. Arms. Ankles. The chains rattled as she tugged and shifted, futile tears springing to her eyes.
Just stay calm. This is just a nightmare. You’re fine.
If she didn’t panic, she’d wake soon. She had to. This couldn’t be real.
Please, God, don’t let this be real.
Would you like to read more?
One-click ROCK REDEMPTION!
Oblivion World Character Chart
Beware...spoilers aplenty in this character chart. Read at your own risk!
Aidan Roth: Roth Defense CEO and head security detail for Warning Sign
Brother to Marcus
Alexander Nash: Record producer
Best friend Kyle Brady, friends with Logan King, involved with Lindsey York
Angel Martin: Singer
Ava Templeton: Blogger, runs Hammered website and blog, writing book on Hammered
Sister to Callie
Beckett Manning: Owns Happy Acres Orchard
Brother to Zoe, Hayes, and Justin
Bent: security for J Town, JoEllen Foundation
Callie Templeton: Photographer
Sister Ava, married to Owen Black
well, daughter Lily
Chloe Adams: Waitress
Married to Michael Shawcross, son Axl (bio-father Snake Scotsman), daughter Hope
Cooper Dallas: Brooklyn Dawn drummer
Daisy Flannigan: Stylist
Darcy: Brooklyn Dawn stage manager
Deacon McCoy: Oblivion bass guitarist
Married to Harper Pruitt, daughter Alexa Grace, co-founder of Oblivion
Denver Casey (nee: Casey Lewis): Tour bus driver for Rebel Rage and Warning Sign
Donovan Lewis’s niece, married to Ryan Waters
Dex Munroe: Ripper Records executive, manager for Hammered and Warning Sign
Donovan Lewis: Ripper Records CEO
Uncle to Denver Casey
Ethan Haywood: Professor at UCLA
In a relationship with Molly McIntire and Luc Moreau, best friend Lauren Bryant
Evie Pierce: MMA fighter
Sister to Sutton, friends with Lindsey York and Jamison DuCaine, involved with Johnny Cage
Faith ‘Keys’ Keystone: Hammered keyboardist
Married to Quinn Alexander
Felicity Hudson: Waitress
Sister to Robin, in a relationship with Myles Vaughn
Flynn Sheppard: Solo country rock artist
Friends with Luc Moreau, Ian Kagan, and Rory Ferguson
Fred Ronson: Owns Happy Acres
Married to Laverne, daughter Lila, stepgrandsons Michael and Malachi Shawcross
Gray Duffy: Oblivion rhythm guitarist
Married to Jazz Edwards, son Dylan Edward, daughter Briana
Harper Pruitt: Tour chef
Brother Randy*, married to Deacon McCoy, daughter Alexa Grace, best friend Jazz Edwards
Hayes Manning: Owns Happy Acres Orchard
Brother to Zoe, Beckett, and Justin
Hudson Wyatt: Hammered drummer, former Formula 1 racecar driver
In a relationship with Piper Lockwood, best friend Hunter Jordan
Hunter Jordan: Hammered lead singer
Brother to Noah, married to Kennedy McManus, best friends Hudson Wyatt and Reed ‘Bats’ Mason
Ian Kagan: Solo artist
Brother to Simon, engaged to Zoe Manning, son Elvis, best friend Rory Ferguson, friends with Flynn Sheppard and Kellan McGuire
Indiana West: Hammered band manager
Isabella Grace: Bookstore owner in Winchester Falls
Married to Logan King, daughter Nichole, son Jared
Ivy Beck: Waitress at the Rusty Spoon and owns Rolling Cones ice cream truck
Sister to Caleb and August, engaged to Rory Ferguson, best friend Kinleigh Scott, friends with Maggie Kelly and Zoe Manning
Jamison DuCaine: Brooklyn Dawn lead guitarist
Best friend Lindsey York, friends with Evie Pierce
Jazz Edwards: Oblivion drummer
Sister Molly McIntire, married to Gray Duffy, son Dylan, daughter Briana, best friend Harper Pruitt
Johnny Cage: Rebel Rage lead singer and solo artist
Involved with Evie Pierce
Juliet Reece: Warning Sign guitarist
Sister to Margo, married to Tristan Eves, in a relationship with Randy Pruitt*, son Joshua Randall
Justin Manning: Owns Happy Acres Orchard
Brother to Zoe, Beckett, and Hayes
Kellan McGuire: Lead singer of Wilder Mind, solo artist
Brother to Bethany, married to Maggie Kelly, son Wolf, friends with Rory Ferguson, Ian Kagan, and Myles Vaughn
Kennedy McManus: Publicist for Hammered
Married to Hunter Jordan
Kyle Brady*: Former drummer and current studio technician
Best friend Alexander Nash
Lauren ‘Lo’ Bryant: Author and occasional Warning Sign pianist
Married to West Reynolds, best friend Ethan Haywood
Laverne Ronson: Owns Happy Acres Orchard
Married to Fred, daughter Lila, stepgrandsons Michael and Malachi Shawcross
Lila Ronson Shawcross: Ripper Records executive and Oblivion’s manager
Married to Nick Crandall, daughters Charlie and Avery, stepmother to Michael and Malachi Shawcross, cousin to Zoe, Beckett, Hayes, and Justin Manning, best friend Margo Reece
Lindsey York: Brooklyn Dawn lead singer
Best friend Jamison DuCaine, friends with Evie Pierce, involved with Alexander Nash
Logan King: All the King’s Men lead singer
Married to Isabella Grace, daughter Nichole, son Jared, friends with Alexander Nash
Luc Moreau: Warning Sign co-lead singer
Brother to Katie, in a relationship with Molly McIntire and Ethan Haywood, former lead singer for The Grunge, friends with Flynn Sheppard
Maggie Kelly:
Married to Kellan McGuire, son Wolf, best friend Kendra Russo, friends with Ivy Beck and Zoe Manning
Malachi Shawcross: Warning Sign drummer, former racecar driver
Brother to Michael, married to Elle ‘Ricki’ Crandall
Marcus Roth: Roth Defense CEO
Brother to Aidan
Margo Reece: Oblivion violinist
Sister to Juliet, married to Simon Kagan, daughter Raine Lila Kagan, best friend Lila Ronson Shawcross
Michael Shawcross: Warning Sign guitarist
Brother to Malachi, married to Chloe Adams, daughter Hope, best friends West Reynolds and Ryan Waters
Molly McIntire: Warning Sign co-lead singer
Sister to Jazz Edwards, in a relationship with Ethan Haywood and Luc Moreau
Myles Vaughn: Former Wilder Mind pianist and solo artist
In a relationship with Felicity Hudson, friends with Kellan McGuire
Nick Crandall: Oblivion lead guitarist
Twin brother to Ricki ‘Elle’, married to Lila Ronson Shawcross, daughters Charlie and Avery, best friend Simon Kagan, co-founder of Oblivion
Noah Jordan: Roth Defense specialist
Brother to Hunter, best friend Quinn Alexander
Owen Blackwell: Hammered bass guitarist
Married to Callie Templeton, daughter Lily
Oz Taylor: Brooklyn Dawn bass guitarist
Piper Lockwood: Owns Rosie & Hank’s Pussy Palace Café
In a relationship with Hudson Wyatt
Quinn Alexander: Roth Defense specialist, former Navy Seal
Married to Faith Keystone, best friend Noah Jordan
Randy Pruitt*: Warning Sign roadie/lead lighting technician
Brother to Harper, in a relationship with Juliet Reece and Tristan Eves, son Joshua Randall
Reed ‘Bats’ Mason: Hammered lead guitarist
Best friends Hunter Jordan and Zachary Kane
Ricki ‘Elle’ Crandall: Warning Sign guitarist
Twin sister to Nick Crandall, married to Malachi Shawcross
Roman: clothing designer
Rory Ferguson: Record producer/rhythm guitarist
Brother to Thomas and Maureen, engaged to Ivy Beck, best friend Ian Kagan, friends with Flynn Sheppard and Kellan McGuire
Ryan Waters: Warning Sign jack-of-all-trades
Married to Denver Casey, best friends Michael Shawcross and West Reynolds
Sabrina Price: Ripper Records executive who manages Ian Kagan and Brooklyn Dawn
Simon Kagan: Oblivion lead singer
Brother to Ian Kagan, married to Margo Reece, daughter Raine Lila, best friend Nick Crandall, co-founder of Oblivion
Teagan Daly: Brooklyn Dawn keyboardist
High school friend of Ricki ‘Elle’ Crandall
Tristan Eves: Head chef at The Hollow
Married to Juliet Reece, in a relationship with Randy Pruitt*, son Joshua Randall, best friend Hunter Jordan from Hammered
Victoria Sheer: Actress/Model
Involved with Reed Mason, ex-girlfriend of Hunter Jordan
West Reynolds: Warning Sign keyboardist
Brother to Raven, married to Lauren Bryant, daughter Chloe (isn’t in her life), best friends Michael Shawcross and Ryan Waters
William ‘
Snake’ Scotsman*: Oblivion ex-drummer
Father to Axl with Chloe Adams, co-founder of Oblivion
Zachary Kane: Hammered rhythm guitarist
Best friend Reed ‘Bats’ Mason
Zane Landry: Brooklyn Dawn rhythm guitarist
Zoe Manning: Artist/photographer
Sister to Beckett, Hayes, and Justin, engaged to Ian Kagan, son Elvis, cousin Lila Ronson Shawcross Crandall, friends with Ivy Beck and Maggie Kelly
*denotes deceased
as of 09/05/19
Crescent Cove Character Chart
Beware...spoilers aplenty in this character chart. Read at your own risk!
