Always Rocking: A Heavy Metal Romance (Slava Pasha series Book 4)

by A. D. Herrick

  “Okay, but here’s the deal. I want you all to go into the conference room and I want you to read over the paperwork. Then I want you to go out and have a good time, sleep on the contract tonight, and then in the morning, I want you to give me your answer.

  I was immediately surrounded by a chorus of boos. I had to laugh despite their confusion.

  “Why can’t we sign now?” Cassie demanded her lower lip protruding in an over exaggerated pout. It reminded me of the look Karina and Dominik got if you took their bottle away before they were finished.

  “Because I want you to celebrate this moment now and then we discuss business after you have all calmed down,” I explained to them much like a parent would a child. I quickly ushered the girls into the conference room and left them to look over the contract.

  My phone began to buzz in my pocket signaling a text. I smiled when I saw who the message was from.

  Nina: Are you gay yet?

  Kiev: Not on your life, babe.

  Nina: I’m not your babe, mu’dak asshole.

  Kiev: You wound me, babe.

  Nina replied with a sad face emoji along with a few expletives that only made me laugh.

  Kiev: So what are you doing?

  Nina: About to go to dinner. What are you doing?

  I snapped a picture of the studio and sent it to her.

  Kiev: I’m making magic happen, babe.

  I had no clue what had prompted me to call her babe, but once I knew how much it annoyed her I couldn’t stop. It was as though my life’s mission was to annoy her and get a reaction out of her. Part of me hoped that if I annoyed her enough she would find a way to end this arrangement on her own, hopefully by telling everyone she had someone.

  In response, she sent me back a picture of herself. This time she was in a well-lit room. Her middle finger was up, giving me the bird. Her finger obscured her face giving me only a glimpse of her long golden blonde hair that fell in waves down her shoulders. The picture clearly showcased the large rock that sat on her ring finger. The bright lighting of the camera reflected off the diamond creating a prism of colors.

  I couldn’t help the words that I typed next. It was as though my fingers moved of their own volition.

  Kiev: Is that an offer?

  Her response was swift causing me to chuckle.

  Nina: Rotate Kiev, Rotate

  Kiev: Nice ring BTW. How does the lucky sap feel knowing that if you don’t speak now you will soon have to forever hold your piece, or in this case, my piece?

  Nina: Fuck you, Kiev

  I tucked my phone back into my pocket. Smiling I made my way down to the conference room to check on the girls. I had left them in there long enough for them to have read the contract and to have been able to discuss it.

  As I suspected they were all gathered around pouring over the documents I had left on the table after I got off the phone with Foxy.

  Cassie was the first to spot me. “Kiev, what does all of this mean?” She asked motioning toward the document, Heather, the youngest group member held in her hands.

  I picked up my own copy of the document and began to go over the agreement line by line with them. It was a simple agreement. No tricks or bells and whistles. It was just the legal document needed to allow me to send in demos of their music on their behalf in order to help them get an agent or contract.

  After we went through the document I answered all of their questions and briefly explained to them the importance of knowing what they are signing and encouraging them to always have a cooling off period before they ever signed anything. The girls protested and promised that they trusted me but that wasn’t the point I was trying to make. I wanted them to understand that no matter how much they trusted someone, they should always read over anything they were asked to sign and always sleep on it. I hoped if I said it enough it would eventually stick.

  The girls gave me a brief hug before heading out to celebrate. I was invited along but tactfully declined. I knew the girls were innocent in their intentions but I also knew how quickly and easily the media could twist a simple outing. Instead, I wished the girls a good time and promised to see them the next day.

  I spent the rest of the day making calls and lining up possible agents. I knew the girls would need them once Foxy got her hands on the demo. These girls were not just good but damn good. I knew I would be hearing them on the radio in the next month or so, if not sooner.

  Ivan walked into the studio, a gym bag slung over his shoulder. “What are you doing here?” He asked.

  “Just wrapping up with In Your Dreams. What about you?”

  “The kids that walked out of here just a bit ago?” He asked cocking a brow curiously.

  “Yeah, I’m sending their demo to Foxy in the morning. They are about to hit hard.” I smiled proudly.

  “So you’re just helping them with music?” Ivan asked suspiciously, I could see the doubt written all over his face.

  My own face drew up in horror at his implication. “Dude, they’re fucking kids, man.”

  Ivan thrust his hands out in front of him in surrender. “I know man, that’s why I was asking.”

  “Thirty-two years, bro. Thirty-two years you’ve known me. You should fucking know better than that.” I was fucking disgusted by his accusation.

  I rushed past him, knocking my shoulder into his as I went. I had never wanted to punch him so badly before in my life. My own fucking brother none the less.

  I had gone from having one of the happiest days I could remember having to being livid in less than sixty seconds.

  I wasn’t ready to go home just yet so I decided to take my anger and frustration out on a cold beer and a game of pool at the bar.

  I wasn’t a fan of overcrowded joints so I went to my home away from home. Nick’s was a quiet dive of a bar. It was owned by one of our buddies, Jeremy. The bar used to belong to his old man, but once Jeremy returned from the Army his old man sold him the place. It was the perfect cure for the day I’ve had.

  “Bad day?” Jeremy asked as he slid a cold beer across the bar into my hands.

  “You could say that.”

  “I’m all ears if you wanna talk about it. Not much going on here so I’m all ears,” nodding his head toward the nearly empty bar, emphasizing his point.

  “My parents are forcing me to marry.” I groaned, I figured it was a safer complaint than the one that had set me off to start with. I was in no mood to discuss Ivan’s accusations.

  “Who’s the unlucky girl?” Jeremy asked with a smirk.

  “Tosh’s cousin,” I said dryly not missing his slight dig. I didn’t take it personally we were friends and I knew he didn’t mean anything by it.

  “Is she hot?” Jeremy asked not missing a beat.

  I gave him a skeptical look raising one eyebrow.

  “That bad huh?” Jeremy whistled between his teeth.

  “In that case, you’re going to need more than a beer.” He turned to the liquor lining the wall and pulled down a bottle of Jameson. I held out two fingers indicating a double. With a nod of his head, Jeremy began to pour.

  The drinks kept coming as we reminisced about our days back in school and played catch up on the lives of our old friends. It felt good to spend time catching up. I could feel the effects of the liquor taking hold and let Jeremy know I would need a cab home by the end of the night. With a thumbs up Jeremy brought me another beer and another double shot of Jameson.

  Chapter 8

  I woke up to a pounding fucking headache and my phone buzzing like crazy. I reached over to the nightstand to silence my phone only to end up rolling onto the floor. I lay there for a moment momentarily stunned. I took in the brown carpet below me not recognizing it. I tried to rack my brain to recall the night before. I was coming up blank. Slowly I looked up, taking in my surroundings. This was not my bedroom and I did not just fall out of my bed.

  I had fallen off of a couch in someone else’s place. My legs were tangled up in some sort of blanket
. I kicked frantically to get it off my legs as I struggled to stand up. My phone began to buzz again demanding my attention. Snatching up my phone off of an antique wood coffee table I looked down at the caller ID. Katinka was calling. I silenced my phone and stuffed in into my pocket. My head was pounding too much to have to talk to her and answer questions I didn’t have the answers to.

  Looking around I took in my surroundings. I was in a small yet cozy living room. The beige and cream furnishings were simple yet modest, matching the generic brown carpet and beige walls that made me think apartment. I was in someone’s apartment.

  I had no idea how I had got here, wherever here was, or whose place I had crashed at. I picked up the small pink and black zebra striped blanket that was laying on the floor and began to fold it up, neatly laying it on the back of the couch. A zebra anything meant I was in a girl’s apartment. I quickly looked down to inspect myself. I was still wearing the same clothes I had been in yesterday. With a quick double check of my zipper, I relaxed a little knowing little Kiev hadn’t come out to play.

  I checked my pocket for my keys hoping they were there. To my relief, I felt them jingle. I only hoped that by some sort of miracle my truck was sitting outside. With a pat to my back pocket I found my wallet was also still on my person. I did a quick scan of the room again, looking for any clues as to where I might be or with whom, coming up with the same results, a mystery.

  I tiptoed across the small living room and walked out the front door making as little noise as I could. The morning light was blinding, causing me to stumble back a few steps. My headache began to pound, reminding me of how much I had to drink. I raised my hand to my forehead creating a makeshift visor as I again attempted to leave the apartment.

  I took in my surroundings through my shielded sight. The complex seemed to be in good condition. It looked to be a bit on the older side but still in good shape. The apartments were all single story making neat rows on either side of the parking lot.

  I stumbled around the nearly empty parking lot looking for my truck but not seeing it anywhere in the vicinity. I was slightly relieved knowing I hadn’t driven in my condition, though irritated that I would have to call a cab to get a ride home. I didn’t have a clue as to where to tell the cab driver to pick me up from.

  My phone began to buzz again in my pocket. Knowing I had no other choice but to answer I brought it to my ear.

  “Hello?” My voice sounded gruff even to my own ears.

  “Where the hell are you?” Katinka’s shrill voice screamed causing my head to throb even more.

  I held the phone away from my ear uttering a slew of cuss words. I gently raised the phone back up to my ear, holding it out at a safe distance to avoid a ruptured ear drum. “I have been worried sick about you. Where are you? Why didn’t you answer your phone?” Katinka continued her barrage of questions.

  “Tink, I have no fucking clue where I am,” I answered honestly sighing into the receiver.

  “What the hell does that even mean?” She shrieked.

  “It means exactly what the hell I said,” I bellowed into the phone.

  I hadn’t meant to yell at her but I was tired, my head hurt, and I was in no mood to listen to her hound me with questions that I didn’t have the answers to.

  “Look, I have to let you go. I’ll talk to you later,” I said into the silent line.

  I wasn’t sure if she had hung up already or not and I honestly didn’t care. I needed to figure out where I was and get to my truck. I planned to meet the girls at the studio and then head home and crawl into bed to sleep the rest of this hangover away.

  “Need a ride stranger?” I turned to face the familiar voice coming from behind me.

  “Oh thank fuck Cassie, where the hell am I and how did I get here.”

  Cassie chuckled and motioned with her head for me to follow her. “Come on Gramps, I’ll give you a ride to your truck.”

  Relief washed over me. Thank fuck someone knew where my truck was. I felt the tension in my shoulders easing.

  “How did I get here?” I asked her again hoping she could answer.

  “Well, long story short. I was headed to Nick’s to meet someone and when I got there you were damn near passed out at the bar. I assured Jeremy that I knew you and that I would take care of you. He helped me get you into my car. I had no clue where you lived and you were in no condition to talk. Well, at least make any sense. So, I dragged your heavy ass into my apartment and put you to bed on the couch.”

  I tried to think back on the night now that my head was clear from sleep. I remembered Ivan pissing me off and heading to Nick’s to drink. Jeremy and I shot the shit until the place started to fill up. I continued to drink anyways, Jeremy said he would call me a cab and that was the last thing I remembered.

  “Sorry for ruining your night, Cass. Thanks for taking care of me.” I shot her a reassuring smile which felt more like a grimace.

  “You didn’t ruin my night. You’re like a brother to me. I’d do anything for you.” Her sweet smile lit up the car forcing a smile from my lips.

  It didn’t take long for Cassie to drive me to my truck. It sat where I parked it last, in the parking lot of Nick’s.

  “Thanks again, Cass. I appreciate it.”

  “No worries, old man. Someone has to take care of your ornery ass.”

  I chuckled despite the pain in my head. “I’ll see you at the studio.” I gave her a quick wave thanking her for the lift and climbed out of her car, shutting the door behind me.

  Cassie was sweet and waited for me to get in my truck and start it. I chuckled to myself, I felt like a woman doing the walk of shame, wearing last night’s clothes, and being dropped off by someone that picked me up while I was drunk at a bar. She was going to make someone one hell of a wife someday.

  Still avoiding the house, I drove to the studio. I grabbed my emergency bag from the back seat of the truck and took it in with me, opting to use the shower in my office.

  I thought it was the stupidest thing in the world to have a full bathroom in an office. That was until we started putting in long hours and overnights in the recording studio. I can’t count the number of times that shower has been used or how many times I have crashed on the oversized couch that was sitting in my office.

  When the guys and I get in the zone we live in the studio, sometimes not leaving for days. I contemplated spending a few days at the studio, avoiding the house. But realized I couldn’t do that. For one it was my night to watch the babies and for another, I was just too damn old to be sleeping on a couch, even my own.

  Once I was showered and dressed I felt almost human. I downed a few aspirin with a bottle of water and made my way out of my office and past the darkened studio room doors toward the conference room.

  The girls were all huddled together talking animatedly with excitement. I felt the corner of my lips pull up, their excitement was contagious.

  “Okay ladies,” I said speaking loud enough to get their attention. “Now that you have all had time to sleep on the agreement and get the majority of the excitement out of your system, let’s talk business. Does anyone have any questions?” I asked the girls as I walked over to the head of the table to sit.

  The girls looked at one another nervously. Finally Heather spoke up. “What’s in it for you?”

  I smirked. I was glad they had actually let everything sink in and didn’t come in half-cocked, ready to sign their life away, just for the chance to be on the radio.

  “Nothing,” I said flatly, folding my hands in front of me and resting them on the table.

  “So why would you do this?” Heather challenged her stare was unwavering, making me feel even prouder than I was before.

  The other girls began to look nervous, their eyes cast down, unwilling to look in my direction. Even Cassie held her head down, unable to glance my way. I couldn’t tell if it was shame, embarrassment, or nervousness.

  “Why not?” I asked Heather back, eager to hear her response
.

  “I mean, you do want something from us, right? No one does anything for nothing.” Heather said, clearly determined to find a reason behind me helping.

  I couldn’t express how happy I was to see that at least one of them had the balls to stand up to me. I was disappointed that Cassie wasn’t with Heather, demanding answers. I had pegged Cassie as the firm leader, not the youngest kid in the group.

  “You’re right.” I let the words sink in. The girls all began to lift their heads and look at me in surprise. I was glad I had finally gotten their attention.

  “What I want from you isn’t money though. What I want from you can’t be bought.” I watched as confusion crossed their faces.

  “I want you to use your heads when it comes to your music, what you sign, and who you sign with. What you sing.” I met each of their eyes, giving each of them the full weight of my stare.

  “You are going to run across people that will promise you the world. They will promise you anything your heart desires just to get you to sign on the dotted line. What I can promise you is that there is no such thing as a free lunch. Ever.” I let my words sink in.

  Alicia raised her hands to speak. “What does that mean?” I gave Alicia a small smile. She was the sweetest and most innocent of the group. I was glad to see her openly asking a question and participating.

  “What it means is that once you sign this paper I will be sending your demos to people that are going to love you. They’re going to love your music. But, they are also going to want a part of you. You need to decide how much of yourself you are willing to give away. How much of your life, your money, and your friendship you are willing to give away.”

  “But you have been with your band mates since you started,” Cassie said confused.

  “You’re right. That’s because we decided in the beginning how much we were willing to give away.”

  “How much was that?” Cassie asked.