by Daiko, SC
CM’s chartered Boeing 747-400… a beast of an aircraft, big enough to carry their crew, plus over twenty thousand tons of equipment, had left LAX last week, and I was only just now realizing the size of this operation.
Stadium tours didn’t involve going from place to place with everything and everybody. So much more shit needed setting up for each concert that if the whole production travelled here and there like a circus we’d have ended up with a week or more between venues instead of a few days.
I’d been surprised to learn that three main stages had been shipped to Europe… one to be used for the Milan gigs, one simultaneously being put up in Barcelona, and one waiting to go up in Paris. The stage in Milan would eventually be torn down and transported to our fourth stadium, the MCH Outdoor Arena in Heming, Denmark.
The stages would then rotate between Norway, Sweden, Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Ireland, Wales, Scotland and England, each with its own power generators and full advance crews— including caterers, production and IT experts—transported in fifteen massive articulated trucks. Added to that the band’s travelling kit—the PA, lights, video gear, backline, front of house and everything that would stay with us for each show, meant around fifty trucks in total would be parked outside the venues at any one time—plus eight tour buses for the roadies.
No wonder ChiMera needed a management team.
My chest tingled with anticipation. We were gonna enjoy a couple days staying in a villa on Lake Como north of Milan to acclimatize and recover from jet lag before the concerts. We’d ride by helicopter from there to the San Siro Stadium for our two scheduled shows. I couldn’t wait for us to get started.
Couldn’t wait but freaking terrified at the same time.
I thought about my parents, their sad faces as I’d said goodbye to them this morning. I’d promised to Skype with them at every opportunity… and I would. This would be the first time in our lives we’d be separated for so long. I knew I would miss them, but I’d do everything in my power to make them proud.
Including sticking to my bet with Axel.
Still too buzzed to fall asleep, I decided to leave my seat and go to the galley to ask for a glass of milk. The airplane’s engines rumbled under my feet as I padded past the slumbering passengers. I was almost at the front of the plane when I felt a hand on my shoulder. I breathed in a familiar masculine scent.
“Axel,” I spun around to face him. “You nearly made me jump outta my skin.”
“You okay?” he asked, his eyes roving over my face.
“I can’t sleep.” I shrugged.
“Neither can I.” He caught his lip with his teeth. “Would you like to hang out?”
“Sure,” I said.
He was, for all intents and purposes, my boss. What else could I have said?
There were a couple empty armchairs just before the area where the flight attendants prepared our meals. We sat and he turned to face me. “Can I get you a drink?”
“A glass of milk would be nice,” I said in a tentative tone.
Within minutes he’d returned with two mugs. He handed me one and I took a sip. The milk was warm and laced with something alcoholic.
Totally yummy.
“I asked for some brandy to be added,” he said, unleashing his heart-stopping smile.
“It’s nice. Are you having the same?”
He nodded and we sipped our drinks in silence.
I stared at the inflight monitor, which showed our position mid-Atlantic. Another five hours until we arrived. I released a weary sigh.
Axel cleared his throat. “I wanted to say something.”
I gazed into his smoldering dark brown eyes and my breath caught.
Axel
I’d been a complete wanker; I knew I had. What had gone down the other night had changed the dynamics between us, making her wary of me.
I should have apologized, called off the bet, but my pride and my cock wouldn’t let me. Besides, it would have been dishonest; I had no intention of letting her slip through my fingers. Fingers that couldn’t wait to explore her luscious body. Fingers that ached to be inside her. It wasn’t only about sex, either. Phoenix Johnson was special, I’d come to realize. Unlike any woman I’d ever met.
I took the mug from her hand, placed it next to mine on the table in front of us, and asked, “Can we go back to the way we were before?”
She tilted her head. “You wanna call off the bet?”
“Hell, no,” I smirked. “Just don’t want you avoiding me anymore.”
“I wasn’t avoiding you,” she huffed.
“Could have fooled me…”
“You are so full of yourself.” Her green eyes spat sparks. “I don’t have a team of people doing things for me. I was busy.”
I held up my hands. “Point taken. I was simply worried you didn’t trust me.”
“Can I trust you, Axel?” She shook her head. “I mean, you’re a rock star. Women all over the world would do anything for you.”
“I’m not interested in them.” I paused, gathered my thoughts. “There’s only one girl I’m interested in, and she’s sitting right next to me.”
She let out a small gasp. “You’re only interested in getting into my panties.”
“That too, but it’s not the full story.” I reached for her hand, and her fingers trembled in my hold. “I’d never do anything you didn’t want me to do.”
“Good, because I’m not gonna have sex with you.”
She was lying and I knew it. The way her pupils had dilated when I looked into her eyes had shown how needy she was. And even the fact that she’d been keeping her distance. She didn’t trust herself around me; it was fucking obvious.
But I went along with her game. “Why not?”
She released a shuddering breath. “Apart from the fact it would be unprofessional for you and me to have a relationship, I’ve sworn off men.”
I stared at her.
And I saw past her defenses.
Someone had screwed her over.
It was as plain as the nose on my face.
“Who hurt you?”
She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter.”
“It matters to me. You’re my friend. Anyone hurts you and they’ll have me to answer to.”
“It was last summer.” Her breathing stuttered. “Zander, my high school sweetheart, dumped me.”
“Fucking wanker.” I heard the anger in my tone. “Why the hell did he do that?”
“He didn’t like me spending so much time away from him trying to make it in the industry,” she sighed.
“Music is a jealous mistress,” I quipped.
“And I was working all the hours God sent putting food on the table at home.”
“I hope everything is okay in that department now.” The guys and I had made sure Phoenix had been paid a month in advance when Jake had revealed the contents of his background check.
“Oh, yes. Thanks…”
“No need to keep thanking us, Firebird. We should try and sleep now,” I said.
“Here?” She stared down at our entwined hands but made no move to remove hers.
“Why not? If you won’t have sex, at least sleep with me,” I chuckled.
She gave me a disdainful look, then released a throaty laugh. “You are something else, Alex Wainwright…”
“The one and only,” I quirked a brow.
She closed her eyes, not letting go of my hand. “Goodnight, Axel,” she whispered.
“Goodnight, Firebird, sweet dreams.”
I watched her chest rising and falling, her eyelashes fanning her cheeks. I liked her, I realized. More than any girl I’d met before. So much so I wanted to risk breaking the rules for the first time ever. Might be because I’d lost my sister, I felt an empathy with Phoenix… who could lose her mum to cancer at any time.
But it was more than that.
More than wanting to fuck her senseless, even.
Firebird’s strength intrigued m
e.
I leaned across and kissed her lovely soft, warm cheek.
You’re a bloody berk, Axel. You’ll risk ripping the band apart if you let your fucking cock anywhere near her.
I let go of Phoenix’s hand and sat back in my seat.
8
I was sitting alone having breakfast on the terrace overlooking the lake the morning after we’d arrived, waiting for everyone else to make an appearance. Italy was nine hours ahead of California and they were all sleeping in, I guessed.
The roar of a waterfall echoed nearby. Everything so far had been amazing, and I was in awe of the villa. Built on an inlet in the middle of Lake Como, surrounded by lush vegetation and nestled into the cliff-face, the fully restored mansion dated from the sixteenth century. It was completely private… many famous guests had stayed here over the centuries, including the musician Franz Liszt. He was like the rock god of his time, and it occurred to me that it was fitting for ChiMera to follow in his footsteps.
I’d woken up early in my luxurious bedroom to Skype call my parents, catching them before they went to bed due to the time difference. They’d wanted to know my first impressions, and I’d described the gorgeousness of the villa, the musicality of the Italian language I’d heard being spoken all around me, how I couldn’t wait for our helicopter ride to the stadium for a sound check and rehearsal later today. Mom was looking okay… not great—she hadn’t looked great for a long time—but certainly not any worse, which was a relief. Miracles happened, and I prayed for one where she was concerned.
With a sigh I stirred my coffee, thinking about that conversation with Axel before I’d finally fallen asleep on the plane. I squinted my eyes and gazed out across the lake… so beautiful it stole my breath. I’d never seen mountains like these before, their green woodlands sloping steeply into the deep blue water. But the beauty didn’t distract me from my concerns about Axel. He’d made it crystal-clear after I’d run out on him, a month ago when I’d thought he was fucking Camila, that he’d ruled against having sex with co-workers.
So, why didn’t he wanna call off our bet?
I pressed my lips together.
Whatever.
No way would I let him win.
Something coiled around my chest, squeezing my heart tightly. If I let down my guard, Axel would draw me into his orbit. His aura blazed brightly, and, if I got too close, he would burn me into ashes.
Footsteps sounded on the tiled floor and I glanced up as Hayley approached my table. “Isn’t this place awesome?”
“Sure is,” I smiled.
“Shame it’s so isolated.” Her brow creased. “I was kinda hoping to hit the shops in Milan. Italian designer fashion is the best.”
“You’ll get a chance for some retail therapy in one of the other cities.” I bit into a croissant, chewed and swallowed. “We’re staying closer to the town centers in Barcelona and Paris, I believe.”
“Cool,” she said before launching into a spiel about how she’d gotten herself a new credit card specifically for that purpose.
I’d never had a credit card in my life, and I’d only just opened a bank account with my first month’s paycheck from CM. That money had already been spent on rent and groceries.
We chatted about the concert tomorrow night and how we were looking forward to meeting Vanilla Sky our support act, an up-and-coming British band who would be touring with us. They didn’t merit the superstar treatment, by all accounts, and wouldn’t be staying with us in the hotels CM had booked. I thought it a little mean to make them travel in their tour bus instead, but who was I to question a management decision?
Gradually, the rest of our party started arriving for breakfast. No sign of Axel, though, and I felt a mixture of relief and agitation. He had such a strong effect on me, dammit. How was I gonna get through the next couple months with my integrity intact?
The San Siro Stadium, home to the AC Milan and Inter soccer teams, was freaking enormous and absolutely amazing. I stood on the stage recently erected by the crew, every nerve in my body tingling. So many famous musicians had performed here, including Bruce Springsteen, U2, and the Rolling Stones. I couldn’t get my head around the fact that little ‘ole me was gonna be singing her heart out in the same venue. It was the craziest, hugest, most rock ‘n roll thing ever to happen to me, and I was like a particle of sand caught up in a tsunami, about to be tossed into the maelstrom.
Boots stomped on the wooden planks and the guys took up their positions. I gazed at Axel, my eyes soaking him in, and I caught his smirk as he noticed me staring at him. With a huff, I glanced away.
Focus on the task at hand, Phoenix.
The technicians in their booth relayed their instructions. They would be insulated from the crowd by banks of soundboards, computers and monitors, their ears covered by headphones, but able to communicate with us via our in-ear pieces. ChiMera always refused to participate in what they called ‘cheating’ and declined the use of auto-tune during their concerts to correct any missed notes or even to mix their live singing with pre-recorded vocals. I was glad of that… they were truly authentic. The backline boys stood by with their supply of guitars and extra drumsticks and skins, ready to be switched at the right moments, and we were good to go.
We launched into ‘Ghost in the Heart’. Once the music had taken over, I relaxed into my supporting role, totally pumped to be doing something I loved so freaking much.
Tomorrow night would be different. Tomorrow night Axel would come into his own and feed off the fans’ adoration, but I kinda liked the way he was performing now. More subdued. It reminded me of our practices together, when it was just the two of us and I could almost believe he was singing to me alone.
Stupid girl.
We got to the end of our main set and Jake spoke through our in-ear monitors, telling us we’d done good. The techies had gotten what they needed and the helicopter would arrive shortly to take us back to the villa.
“Oh, by the way, your support act is here for their sound check and rehearsal. They’re waiting to meet you all in the press room once you’ve cooled down.”
We trooped off the stage and I left the guys to go to their dressing room while I went to mine. Hayley and Camila were waiting for me… they’d ridden in with us and had gone shopping at a prestigious outlet during our rehearsal. I went through my humming routine while they showed me a couple new sparkly dresses that they’d bought for me to wear on stage—like I didn’t have enough already—plus a cute Trussardi clutch purse Camila had purchased and a pair of Armani jeans Hayley had gotten for herself.
“Come with me to meet Vanilla Sky,” I said when I’d cooled down my voice enough.
Arms linked, the three of us sauntered down the corridor, reading the signs on various doors until we found the right one. “There you are,” Jake quipped as we stepped into the room. A warm, fuzzy feeling came over me. The guys were already sitting in a circle with the newbies, as charming as they’d been with me the first time we’d met.
Jake introduced Camila, Hayley and me to redheaded Thea, lead singer, dark-haired Liam, drummer, blond-haired Ethan, lead guitarist, and dark-haired Violet, bass player. (People’s hair color was what I always noted about them before anything else.) They told us a little about themselves, said they didn’t have a main songwriter, just jammed together until a song emerged.
Axel suggested they hang out with us after the concert. We were due to make an appearance at a swanky nightclub in the center of the city. He said it would be more fun if they came along, and I guess his flattery persuaded them because they were up for it.
Jake’s cellphone rang, interrupting talk about ChiMera’s inspiration for their music. He informed us that our ‘copter had arrived. We said goodbye to Vanilla Sky and made our way to the middle of the football pitch to climb on board.
Back at the villa, jetlag hit us all like a sledgehammer, and we had dinner almost straight away before going up to our rooms for an early night. I took a shower, dressed in
my pajamas then Skype called my parents. We chatted briefly—I was so tired— I told them about the rehearsal and that I’d call them before the concert tomorrow. I fell asleep almost as soon as my head hit the pillow.
Something woke me.
A loud noise.
I sat up.
Oh. My. God.
There was a thunderstorm going on.
White-knuckled I gripped the sheets.
My entire body trembled.
I swiveled my legs out of the bed and rushed across the floor to the window.
I pulled back the drapes.
Sideways rain sheeted down.
Thunder crashed and I yelped.
A fork of lightning lit up the inky blackness of the sky.
I ran back to my bed and curled myself into a shivering ball of fear.
When I’d told Axel that I was scared of storms, I hadn’t been kidding. I’d been in SoCal once when there were rumbles of thunder and the occasional bolt of lightning. It had freaked me out, but now it seemed wimpy in comparison with what was going down here. It was like World War III had broken out as thunder split my ears and lightning flashes lit up the room.
Another sound.
Persistent knocking at my bedroom door.
“Who is it?” I called out, my teeth chattering.
“It’s me, Axel.”
“What do you want?”
“I remembered you told me you hated storms. Thought you might need some company.”
Despite being so scared, my heart melted.
I went to the door, opened up, and fell straight into his arms.
He held me tight, whispering, “It’s okay, I’ve got you.”
