“Get your fuckin’ hand off my woman or lose it at the elbow.” He hissed viciously.
The fucker backed off immediately and Diego slid an arm around Jade pulling her into his side. She didn’t resist and came into him, softening into his side. Bending his head he looked down at her, his woman looked up at him with a tiny smile curving one side of her mouth.
“Took you long enough to come and rescue me babe.” Jade teased.
“First had to get rid of fuckloads of fuckin’ skanks promising to suck off anyone who would get them into the party. Then I had to reorganise to get my own crew on the doors. It kept me from being with my baby when that was all I wanted.” Diego looked up and his eyes swept the room. He saw Michael and Astrid talking to his parents and he immediately drew Jade away from Trace and his group to make their way over to them. He wasn’t waiting another fuckin’ minute. They had only told Tag, Mel and Sally their news as they would have noticed the ring that Jade had refused to take off until he had slid it onto the chain around her neck.
“We have news.” Diego growled as he stopped next to Michael.
The air around the group went electric as they all glanced down at Jade’s belly.
“Not that people, jeez!” Jade whispered while glancing furtively around.
Dropping his hand into the high collar of her shirt Diego drew the chain slowly from its hiding place, exposing his ring to the four people watching before settling it back down into his woman’s shirt. Diego had to grin at the way Michael snatched his baby girl out of his arms. He enfolded her in his arms whispering in her ear as he hugged her. He had scarcely let her go when Luis was there and did the same followed by hugs from Astrid and Carina. He saw that the hugging and kisses were drawing the attention of some of the invited journalists and he warned them off with a heavy frown. No one would be allowed near his family right now, it was their moment to have.
“Have you set a date princess?” Michael asked softly.
“No, we’ll do that tomorrow when we can sit down and compare schedules. Diego leaves for Europe with Storm Front in three weeks time and I have about a week before I start recording again. So all we know at this time is that it will most probably happen when Diego gets back from Europe.”
Suddenly Carina got all excited babbling to Luis and Diego in Italian. Diego was shaking his head but his mother rattled on. Then shushing both of them she turned to Jade with a big smile. “You marry in Italy, at my family home. It will be beautiful. I know that the tour finishes in London so when everyone flies home to America Luis and Diego fly to Italy and we have a wedding. A beautiful wedding in my family’s chapel. Diego is the only grandson and it will make my father very happy to have him marry at his home.”
“Wow! I’m not sure what else to say. Can we talk about this tomorrow?” His woman asked softly. “Dad can you delay your flight until tomorrow evening? I’d like you to be there.”
Michael Galloway smiled down at his princess and nodded. “We’ll be there princess. You’re going to need Astrid to help you plan this shindig anyway.”
“Great! So let’s say lunch tomorrow.”
With that Diego had had enough. Drawing Jade tighter into him he dipped his head at his father who grinned at his impatience. “We’re leaving. We’ll say our goodbyes to the others on our way out.”
“What about the security Diego?” Luis asked with a teasing glint in his eyes.
“Steele’s in charge. Anything you need talk to him or Pete.”
With that he drew his woman away and led her towards the exit. He had already organised a car and security to wait for them at the back of the hotel. He wasn’t taking any chances.
He only relaxed once he had his woman in the back of the Hummer behind darkened windows safe from the paparazzi’s lenses. He knew that this would be his life from now on but he didn’t care. He was proud of her, she had an enormous talent and he wanted her to explore that talent fully. What he hated about it was the fact that they would always have to be vigilant, on their guard against those who would want to exploit their relationship for their own five minutes of fame.
The one thing that set him at ease was that he was in the business of keeping celebrities safe and this one celebrity had now become his company’s top priority. She would be safe. He knew she was going to get pissed off about the extra security but he didn’t care. Tag would not be her sole protector while he was away travelling with the guys in Europe. He’d already tagged two of his crew to report to Tag in the morning.
Drawing his woman against his chest he felt her go boneless as she fell asleep in his arms. It had been a very long and very physical night for her. All he had wanted at the end of the night was to get her home, showered and into bed, which he had managed without one complaint from his woman. His impatient cock could wait until morning when he could look down into his baby's eyes and see no tiredness marring the brightness of those beautiful eyes. God he loved her, more than he had ever realised and he knew that love would grow to rule the way he lived his life, and he didn't care.
The most important part of him was right here in his arms and he finally felt complete. Grimacing at that fucked up sissy thought he closed his eyes and clasped his woman to his chest where she belonged.
Where she had always belonged and where she would be for the rest of their lives.
Right there against his heart.
*****
Thank you for reading the first novel in the Hard Rock series. If you'd like to post a review I would appreciate it. Your reviews help other readers know if they might enjoy the story. The second book in the series will be available soon. Thanks again.
René Van Dalen
JADE'S PLAYLIST
When the idea of a female rock drummer squirreled around my brain I knew that I wanted her to be both a rock hard ass and a marshmallow softie. Listening to various artists both old and new while writing, I discovered her voice.
Led Zeppelin - Babe I'm Gonna Leave You
Arno Carstens - Highway to Hell (AC/DC cover)
Halestorm - A Familiar Taste of Poison
Halestorm - Mz Hyde
Halestorm - I Get Off
Halestorm - Amen
Halestorm - Love Bites
Halestorm - 1996 (Marilyn Manson cover)
Heart & Nancy Wilson - Stairway to Heaven (Led Zeppelin cover)
Marilyn Manson - Better of Two Evils
Skylar Grey ft Marilyn Manson - Can't Haunt Me
Sevendust - Licking Cream
Pantera - Suicide Note ft Johnny Cash
Bjork - Army of Me
The Power Station - Notoriety
Deftones - Heaven
Hozier - Arsonist
Juliette Lewis - I Can Hardly Wait (P J Harvey cover)
Adam Levine - Lost Stars
Rolling Stones - Wild Horses
Slipknot - Psychosocial
Slipknot - Dead Memories
Jeff Beck ft Joss Stone - I Put A Spell On You
Arctic Monkeys - Are You Mine
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY THREE
CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR
JADE'S PLAYLIST
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ABOUT THE RENÉ VAN DALEN
OTHER BOOKS BY RENÉ VAN DALEN
CONNECT WITH RENÉ VAN DALEN
&nbs
p; ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Firstly to my aunt, South African author Marie Van Der Merwe, who passed away while I was finalising this book. You have been in my corner from the first day that I mentioned I wanted to write. Your support, encouragement and belief in my work spurred me on to keep writing when doubt and yucky reviews got me down. You have my promise that I will keep on writing. I am so sorry you didn't get to read this one Tannie Marie but in my heart of hearts I know you are cheering me on and holding my hand. Much love always.
I have to thank my kids for their patience when I disappear off the radar, which admittedly is often. And yes, technically you haven't been kids for a while but, you will just have to suck it up, you will always be that to me. You are the inspiration that my imagination thrives on.
The covers of my books are so freaking amazing and it's all thanks to my gorgeous daughter, Danielle. Your photographs and art work seriously rock babes. You capture the essence of the characters in your photos and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
To my Mum who has the patience of an angel and gets even more excited than I do as I reach the end of a project. Thanks for encouraging me on the road to becoming a writer.
My amazing sibs. You are all crazy! But I love you guys anyway.
I can't write without music and therefore always have something playing while I'm bashing the keys. During the writing of this book I was especially drawn to Halestorm and the seriously awesome Ms Hale. Thank you for making music that keeps the juices flowing.
ABOUT RENÉ VAN DALEN
I grew up in a small town in the Transkeian region of South Africa. After completing high school I moved to Gauteng to study Entertainment Technology. The move from a small town to the big city was a huge eye opener.
I have my parents to thank for my love of books and music. Bookcases abounded in our home and my Dad added to the growing collection constantly. The local library was one of our favourite places to hang out and satisfied my craving to read. Being a bit of a rebel I did not fit in to the "Top of the Pops" generation. I like my music loud and heavy. (Halestorm's - 'I like it Heavy' says it all.)
When I'm not writing I'm reading and listening to music. And yes the music is always loud!
CONNECT WITH RENÉ VAN DALEN
E-mail: http://[email protected]
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/author.renevandalen
OTHER BOOKS BY RENÉ VAN DALEN
OBSIDIAN SINS
SHADOW RUNNER - serialised free on Wattpad.com
UPCOMING RELEASES
Keep an eye on my facebook page for information on release dates of upcoming novels.
Hard Rock Unrehearsed Page 28
