Like using Liza? Did the show know about her past? Probably not, he decided. They wouldn’t care about her. She was just a college kid competing for an internship. They were focused on the talent—the bands—not publicists and college students.
“Dude, is this going to be a problem?” Simon demanded.
Justice jerked his gaze from her for a second time. “What?”
Simon crossed his arms and glared. “You’re acting like a chick, staring after the girl. Obviously you two have something going.”
“Since when do you care?”
“I don’t.” His eyes froze, hard-ass Simon making an appearance. “Unless it gets in the way of our band. We’re less than two weeks away from the win, a label contract and signing with the best business manager. Nothing gets in our way now.”
Justice snapped upright. “Liza’s not in the way. She’s busting her butt for us.” Simon had just said she was right about the interview, so what had crawled up his ass?
The man shook his head. “You’re getting distracted. That’s the problem.”
His muscles tensed, anxiety roiling in his gut. We’re all uptight, he reminded himself. The thought did little to calm him, and Justice leaned in. “Bullshit. I’ve been working my ass off.”
For one second, the hard shell Simon wore like skin cracked. Raw pain burned in his eyes. “You can’t have it all. I know, I tried. When you have two passions, two things you want and love. One always gets hurt. Or dead.”
Christ. He was talking about his wife. Justice had no idea what to say. “It’s not the same thing.” He and Liza weren’t married.
The cracks closed, and Simon said, “Just keep your head in the game. Without your voice, we don’t win.” He strode out.
“Fuck.” Simon was a control freak, but this was over the top even for him. “This isn’t the same thing,” he said again.
“No?” Lynx asked. “She going to understand that music comes first?”
“She knows the life.” Better than a lot of girls would. Automatically, his gaze traveled to her, sitting… “Oh hell no.” He broke into a jog, easily weaving around customers and bursting out on the patio. Liza sat at a small table in the corner.
Across from her sat Dillion. Smug asshole had sunglasses covering his eyes and entitlement in his slouch. Justice paused a few feet away. Liza could handle the jackass. Yet the urge to be nearby had him hovering, ready to go Rambo on Dillion’s ass if he crossed the line.
“Come on, Liza,” her ex whined. “You don’t have to be like that. I’m only asking for tickets.”
His girl jerked her head up. “No. Why are you still here? Go away.”
“Look, I’ll pay you, ’kay? I’m in a tight spot here. My fiancée is a fan of that band—”
“Are you kidding me?” Liza’s voice pitched up. “I should care what your fiancée likes?”
Dillion tilted his head. “I’ll pay you double their face value. My fiancée is coming down to see the show on Monday night, and they’re sold out.”
“Not my problem.”
He smacked his elbows on the table. “You’re working for the band, right? I mean I thought you were dating Cade but now realize you’re just working for him.” His too-thin mouth turned down. “He’s got tons of girls throwing themselves at him. Why would he go for you?”
That jerk pole-vaulted right over the line, snapping Justice into action. Two steps and he leaned over Liza, slamming his palm down on the table. “Got a hearing problem, douchebag?”
Liza jumped. He settled his other hand on her shoulder, letting her know it was him. She relaxed.
But Dillion shot to his feet, skidding his chair back. The other customers watched.
Justice didn’t care. His attention was on Liza’s ex. “She told you no, now get lost.”
The man looked around, then back at Liza. “Text me. Name your price. Just get me the tickets.” He spun and hurried out of sight.
Justice focused on Liza. “You okay?”
She stared after Dillion, chewing her lip. “Yeah. Aside from you scaring the hell out of me. I didn’t hear you come outside or approach the table.”
“I saw him talking to you, came out and stood back since you had it handled.”
“And then?” Challenge radiated from her fiery green eyes. “Did I suddenly turn fragile or weak?”
“Nope, he mouthed off. It’s a guy thing, baby. Not about you being strong or weak, it’s about you being mine. No one talks to you like that.” The truth rolled right out of his mouth before he weighed the words.
Her soft lips parted as she stared at him. Finally she said, “I should be mad. That’s so archaic. And sexy. You were watching me?”
Relief sucked out the last of his anger at her ex. “Always watching you. It’s an addiction.” While the ire had faded, concern lingered. “How did he know where to find you?”
“Through the Savage Shout-out hashtag. Someone at Screech’s club obviously told him I’m working for your band. He figured I’d be here with you guys and he could get me to score him tickets.”
“What an asshole.” He narrowed his eyes. Taking her chin, he ran his thumb over the lip she was abusing with her teeth. “What’s bugging you? Did he make threats?”
“No. I just…I wish he didn’t know who I really am. It’s hanging over me, I guess. Feels like too many people are learning it.”
That pinged him. “Even me? I’m not going to tell anyone.”
Her mouth relaxed into a sweet smile. “I chose to tell you. I wanted you to know. Not him.”
Damn, that inflated his chest.
Liza added, “I’m surprised he went to the trouble of tracking me down. Would have been easier to text me. It’s not like him to go out of his way.”
Justice knew why. “Jealousy. At the club he could see I was into you. He’s trying to see if I’m still interested.”
She frowned. “But he said—”
“I heard. He still wants you, Beth, and that’s what has him pissed off. He was forced by Daddy to give you up. He can’t stand that someone else has you.”
Her eyes took on a gleam. “Not just someone. A rock star.”
Her skin flushed with a glow of triumph. Not a damn thing wrong with her enjoying the moment after Dillion had dumped and insulted her. If the jerk didn’t have the balls to stand up to his father for Liza, he didn’t deserve her. On the other hand, Justice couldn’t resist teasing her. “Are you gloating, Glasner? I distinctly remember you saying you don’t like rock stars.”
Her grin widened. “Maybe you’re not a big enough rock star for me to dislike.” She patted his arm. “Keep trying though. You might make the cut someday.”
Snatching her hand, he leaned in close. “You like me. And you’ll keep liking me no matter how famous I get.” Simon and Lynx were wrong, there was something real between him and Beth. If they both wanted it, they’d find a way to make it work.
“Think so?”
More with every moment that passed. “Keep using that smart mouth on me, and I’m going to pull you in my lap and prove it. I don’t care who’s watching.”
Each day it got harder to keep things light in public. Beth wanted to keep a low profile, and intellectually he got it. But another part of him clawed with the urge to claim her. Tell the world she was his. He’d never had this insane, animalistic need to mark his territory, not over a girl.
“Keep looking at me like that, and I might let you.”
Lust ripped into his belly, his cock engorging right there on the deck of the coffee shop. But it was more than physical, more than scratching the lust-itch. He looked forward to any time they spent together, even if it was just talking and watching a movie. Beth was fast becoming the first person he thought of in the morning and the last person he talked to before he went to sleep. “You have time for dinner after practice before your group meeting? We could grab something quick.”
A crease appeared in her forehead. “We’re doing pizza and working through di
nner and the night. We only have two more days to put the finishing touches on our project and prep for the oral presentation.”
This was important to her and her grade. Liza’s degree meant a lot to her, a symbol of success where her mom had failed. She needed that and worked hard for it. “You’ll do great,” he told her. “But you’re right, you need to focus.”
She flashed him a smile made up of relief and happiness. “What are you doing tonight?”
“Working out.”
She wrinkled her nose. “Again? Don’t you run most days too?”
“Best way to keep my stamina up onstage.” He leaned in, stealing a kiss. “And drain off some of this constant arousal for my hot little publicist.”
She sucked in a breath, color spreading on her face.
“After I’m finished at the gym, the band is going to work on some original songs. We need one for the finale. We’re debating between a couple songs.”
“Ha, I’ve seen your debates. Might want to skip your workout. You’ll need a lot of energy for all that yelling and throwing things. Oh and River stomping out.”
“He comes back. Usually.” Their creative process was loud, messy and sometimes a tad violent, but it worked for them.
“So what song do you want?”
“One I wrote.” A song that meant so much to him. “‘Expired Hero.’”
Time stretched out, the sound of the waves and distant chatter of other patrons filling the void. Liza squeezed his arm. “For your dad?”
“About him, for him.” He ran a hand through his hair, dogged by the familiar frustration of not being able to find or help his dad.
Her fingers wrapped around his fist on the table, and she leaned closer. “I want to hear more. Will you sing me the song?”
Her touch and voice poured into him, solidifying his need for her. She’d heard all the things he’d told her, and cared enough to remember and understand. It made him want to pull her into his arms, just for the pleasure of holding her close. But they were still in public, so he dialed it back a bit. “Looking for special privileges, sweetheart? You know, from your rock-star boyfriend?”
Her eyes widened. “Boyfriend?”
That made him laugh. “What would you call it?”
She opened her mouth, when her phone beeped. Pulling it out, she released a long sigh. “Crap. I have to leave to get to my class. But I want to hear more about the song and your dad. I could call you tonight if I don’t get home too late?”
“It’s never too late. Call me.” Two more days and he’d get her all to himself. “Give me your phone.”
“Why?” She handed it over.
Justice accessed her calendar and reminders, keyed in his own and handed it back to her.
“What did you do?” She scrolled through, then read it. A tender look filled her face.
“A reminder that Friday night, you’re mine.” That’s exactly what he’d written on Friday night.
Mine.
Chapter 9
Friday afternoon Liza was running late but paused at the backstage door to the auditorium. “Hi, Colin. Everyone behaving today?”
The older security guard held the door for her. “Nah, the shenanigans are starting. Girls trying to sneak in or bribe me, guys telling me they have a date with Wendy or any one of the Fury Run girls.” He shook his head. “Keeps things interesting.”
She looked back over her shoulder at the group of college-aged kids, mostly girls, huddled around their phones. Turning back, she answered, “You love it.”
“Yep. Most of them aren’t hurting anyone. Nothing wrong with wanting to see the band you love, maybe get a picture.”
“They’d all want a picture with you if they knew all the famous people you’ve met.” He’d talked her ear off a couple times about the roadie jobs he’d had.
Giving her a grin, he eyed the coffee clutched in her hand. “Long day?”
A wave of giddiness filled her. “Good one. Turned in a huge project in one of my classes, did an oral presentation and nailed it.”
“Hey, congrats, kiddo.”
“Thanks.” She almost bounced with excitement. “And tonight I’m going out.” On a date with Justice and her friends. She couldn’t wait.
Mine.
For two days, whenever she was exhausted, she’d pull up that note on her calendar for Friday night. Such a simple gesture, and yet it felt big to her. Just like their nightly phone calls and texts.
“With Justice?”
She stared at him. “How’d you—?”
The man laughed. “Not much happens around here I don’t know about. Have fun, you deserve it. Right now, though, you need to get on up there.” He waved to the stairs. “They’re already taping the interview.”
“Thanks, Colin.” She rushed up the steps, her heart rate keeping up with her good mood. Even with all the long nights and stress, she loved it. Loved succeeding in school, competing for the internship and being part of this crazy world. Having new experiences, feeling more confident, more herself.
And Justice?
Anticipation fluttered her belly. They’d go out, then be alone together.
Stop thinking about Justice, and focus on your job.
Right. The Indie Rock Broadcast Interview. She needed to get a few teaser clips from that to post online. She’d done all her prep, including contacting the mother of the girl, Cassie, who’d written the band and singled out River. They were all set up to make the call during the interview, or River could call her after, depending on how things went.
Stepping out of the wings of the stage, she took in the setup. Gray leaned against his piano, almost in the background. She’d have preferred him in the front, but Gray didn’t like attention. But at least standing gave him the appearance of being bigger and more dominant in the band.
Lynx sat on one end of a row of chairs, wearing shorts and flip-flops, one ankle propped on a knee. Justice had spun the next chair around and straddled it, arms stacked on the back. River sprawled beside him, arms crossed, his long hair settling around his shoulders, and finally, Simon had his legs stretched out, rolling a guitar pick between his fingers.
Keith, the interviewer and owner of Indie Rock Broadcast, faced them. With his stiff white-blond hair and arms sleeved in tats, he appeared at ease in the rock world. “Whose idea was it to start a band?”
“Mine,” Lynx said. “I wanted to be a drummer in a band since I saw Dave Grohl on a kit in Nirvana. Then I met Justice in juvie, heard him sing, and it clicked.”
“Once we got out of juvie, we started looking for others,” Justice added. “We found River next.”
The bassist nodded. “We had a good sound, but it wasn’t enough. Justice is solid on guitar, but we needed a lead guitar player to really cement our savage resonance. Went through…” he eyed Justice, “…three lead guitarists?”
“I believe so. Including that chick, Darla, remember? She was the best of the bunch on the guitar, but her voice didn’t work with mine.”
River grinned. “She was hot though.”
“Shot you down the first ten minutes.” Lynx laughed. “Saw right through you.”
River ignored Lynx. “I heard Simon in a club. The guy can rip up the strings, you know? Told him he needed to jam with us.”
Simon glanced over. “I wasn’t interested.”
“Few people can say no to me for long.” River flashed his killer smile. “Sure enough, he gave in, came by a practice to see what we’re about. He picked up his guitar and joined in that day. That’s when we knew we had the kickass sound we wanted.”
“Quit my other band that night,” Simon said.
The host leaned forward. “How’d the other band take it?”
Simon stayed relaxed, his gaze steady. “Why don’t you ask Jagged Sin when you interview them?”
“No shit? They were your band?” Keith whistled.
Liza nearly dropped her coffee. The feud, that’s what it was about? Simon quit Jagged Sin and joine
d Savaged Illusions? Why the hell hadn’t they told her that? Wait, had she asked? Damn it, they should have told her this. A ripple of foreboding went through her.
She remembered Ace aiming that truck at her and Justice. That guy wasn’t right. Who did that? But the man’s anger and bitterness had some real roots, and she should have been informed. Liza was going to have to think about how this might change their strategy. She focused on the interview, not wanting to miss any more bombshells she should be aware of.
“That promo with Ace yelling at you that he’ll tell the world about your wife…” Keith let it hang for a second. “Is that why you talked about your wife after all these years?”
Simon’s jaw clenched. “Yes.”
Liza held her breath, her heart beating in her ears as she waited. Move on, she silently pleaded with the I.R.B. host. Ace had been posting some ugly comments, claiming Simon had used his dead wife for pity votes and had rage issues. They didn’t need to harp on it.
“So, Gray, what about you? How did a classical pianist end up in a rock band?”
Gray shrugged. “I needed a change of scenery.”
Too stiff and vague. She clutched her coffee tightly. Come on, Gray. The interview was fading out.
Justice caught her eye for one second, then twisted around to face Gray.
“What made you choose rock?”
Gray ran his hand along the piano. “My sister loved rock music. She’d climb up on my lap and beg me to play her favorites. When I played for her, I was happy.” Dropping his hand, he looked straight into the camera. “Now it’s all I have left of her.”
The impact almost knocked Liza back a step. Oh man, when Gray decided to share, he went for the jugular. She’d had no idea he had a sister. What happened to her? Realizing Justice was talking, she focused on him.
“Gray was the last to join the band. He found us, heard us at a gig, approached and offered to play with us.”
“These guys.” Simon lifted his hands and shook his head. “They had no idea who he was and tried to blow him off.”
Gray laughed. “Lynx especially, once he realized my training was classical.” Puffing up his chest, he clearly mimicked the drummer, “We’re a rock band, not an elevator.”
Savaged Dreams: Savaged Illusions Trilogy Book 1 Page 13
