“It was the longest week of my life,” Riley deadpanned. “I thought I was going to die. It might have been a week for you, but I’d been chasing you for what seemed like an eternity.”
Despite her annoyance, his comments appealed to Christina’s sense of humor and she laughed. Riley leaned in, kissing her gently on the lips, and staring at her intently. She rolled her eyes and pulled a face, making him grin.
“You have no idea what it’s like to love you, Dina, or lose you,” Riley murmured in her ear. “It’s like trying to hold music in your hands. At first, you can’t believe it’s happened to you. It feels like a miracle and the next moment,” he clicked his fingers, “it’s gone. You spend years wanting to get that feeling back, just so you’re sure you didn’t imagine it, and when you realize it isn’t going to happen, you feel cursed for fucking it up. Don’t judge me on how I chose to heal.”
Christina’s eyes began to water as she blinked back tears. He was such a contradiction. He could say the nicest things in the world and the worst.
“I’m sorry,” she said meaningfully. “You’re right. I have no right to judge you. It’s none of my business, but it hurts.”
“I get that,” Riley smiled sadly. “The last thing I want to do is hurt you. I want to make sure that you’re never hurt again.”
Sighing, Christina scrunched her face up. “I don’t have a talent for words like you do. In fact, it’s the opposite. When I open my mouth, I tend to make it worse.”
“Unless you’re singing,” Riley teased. “Then, I always know what you’re trying to say.”
Christina agreed. “Okay, unless, I’m singing… but those words aren’t mine. You know I feel similar to you. I’m scared to fully love anything or be happy because I’m frightened I’m going to ruin it.”
She tried to smile, but failed. She tended to assess her feelings before acting on them, or letting them overpower her and she lost control. Riley was the opposite. He acted on instinct, but that approach overwhelmed her, and made her feel under siege.
Pointing to herself, she confessed, “I’m frightened if I get too happy, it’ll get taken away from me. You’re not going to lose me, Riley. I’m committed. I love you and I want to be with you, but I want to be able to talk this through in a reasonable manner where both of us are happy with the outcome.”
“Dina,” he started, but went silent. She waited for him to elaborate, but he didn’t. He looked like he had a million things on his mind and Christina grimaced. She hated burdening him more with her petty jealousy and insecurities, but she didn’t want to bottle up her problems anymore.
Prince’s “Get Off” started playing and they made eye contact before grinning. “We can’t change what’s been done,” Riley smiled. “We have to live in the now, Dina, and stop focusing on the past. We need to move forward and let this go. I don’t want anyone else, but you. I never have.”
“Sometimes,” Christina nudged his arm with her shoulder, “I don’t think you see me clearly. It’s like you think I’m something I’m not. I think our love makes us special, but I think I’m pretty ordinary and when I see your history paraded before me, how am I supposed to act or feel?”
“I see you,” Riley teased. “I’m looking right at you. You’re the one with distorted vision. I think it’s because of your freaky eyes.”
Christina smiled, pursing her lips. She knew what he was trying to do: ease their tension with banter. A part of her wanted to do it, but nothing would get resolved that way. If they were going to make it, they needed to be able to face their issues and not avoid them.
She was still lost in her own thoughts when she heard a voice behind her that made her hackles rise. “Well, isn’t this fun?” Mason Glenn laughed. Christina stiffened, turning slowly to meet the glittering, colorless eyes of her arch nemesis. “Chrisssstina,” the words oozed from Mason’s mouth, “my invitation must have been lost in the mail.”
**********
“Massssson,” Christina hissed. “What are you doing here? Your invitation wasn’t lost because I didn’t send you one.”
An evil smile stretched across Mason’s face and he looked like a gremlin. What he’d be eating after midnight was attached to his arms in the shape of two beautiful women. One was a stunning, curvy, blonde and the other, a raven-haired Amazonian, whippet-thin, towering over Mason in her heels.
Mason looked from Riley to Christina and the smirk became more pronounced. He was a predatory little troll and could smell the tension in the air like someone on a diet could sniff out cake. He threw his head back laughing, dramatically flicking his black hair out of his eyes.
“It’s a good thing I’m connected, isn’t it?” Mason leered.
“Pity it isn’t to an electric chair,” Christina snapped spitefully, which elicited a warning from Riley.
Ignoring her, Mason focused his attention on Riley. “This,” he pointed to the gorgeous blonde, “is Rosie and this,” he indicated the raven-haired beauty, “is Amy.”
Christina tried not to vomit as he groped and squeezed the women. She looked away as he started nibbling on Rosie’s neck, while he had a hand clamped on Amy’s ass. Mason Glenn had the morals of a masturbating chimpanzee and Christina didn’t want to be anywhere near him.
As Meredith Brooks’ “Bitch” started playing, Mason snorted with laughter. “Listen. They’re playing your song, Darth.”
The utilization of her high school nickname made Christina want to knee Mason in the balls. Instead, she kept the smile on her face, responding in kind. “I suppose it’s only fair,” she shrugged. “They played your anthems before. You know, “Creep” and “Loser”.”
Mason’s eyes narrowed dangerously and Christina smiled coldly at him. She was tempted to give him the L sign over her forehead like a juvenile, but refrained. It was time for her to curb her impulsive behavior and be more dignified.
This was five seconds away from becoming a war zone and Christina decided to make a strategic exit. She’d had enough embarrassment tonight and didn’t welcome anymore. Pointedly ignoring Mason and his companions, she smiled at Riley. “I’m going to find Bonnie and Mandy. I have to get ready for the band soon anyway.”
“I think you should do that,” Riley agreed hurriedly, but as she went to leave, Mason stood in front of her.
“Why have you blocked my calls, Darth?” Mason grinned. “It makes it difficult for a boss to talk to his employee.”
Christina knew he was trying to bait her, but she wasn’t prepared to let him go unchallenged. “You’re not my boss and I blocked you because, amongst other things, you’re a horrible human being. Thanks for the dick pictures, by the way. I presume all the small ones were yours?”
Riley turned his head toward Mason scowling. “You sent her dick pictures?” But Mason and Christina ignored him, locking eyes.
Mason’s were silver in this light and glinting; Christina’s dark and hard. Mason bit his bottom lip and leered, grabbing his crotch. “You mean my Malone? A dick so large, it’s like a prehistoric dinosaur’s?”
Christina snorted in derision. “Is that at Miniature World? Or Never-Never Land?”
Mason’s eyes narrowed, his grin turning rictus. Stepping closer to her, he sleazed, “Any time you want to find out Darth, give me a call.”
“Mason,” Riley snarled, but Mason was undeterred. Waving his hands dismissively, Mason sneered. “Oh, calm down, Riley. Darth and her super pussy are all yours.”
The hideous “Thong Song” started playing, giving Christina a headache. “It’s our song baby,” Rosie lisped in a little girl’s voice, making Christina want to vomit.
“So it is,” Mason leered. “Are you wearing one? Let’s go find out.”
Riley and Christina stood in silence, as Mason sauntered off with his companions. Neither made eye contact until Mason was on the dance floor. “We’re not ever going to the storage room, are we?” Riley asked wistfully.
“No,” Christina shook her head. “We’re not.”
Sighing, Christina whined. “This party really sucks.”
Chapter Twelve: Jamming
Riley
“Hello, Mr. Riley.”
Riley looked down into the mischievous blue eyes of Meg, his second in command, feigning annoyance at her presence. Both knew how important she was to him. She was indispensable, but he liked to keep her on her toes.
Instrumental in the band’s success, Meg had opened doors with her connections that would have otherwise remained closed. She was also one of Bianca’s best friends, but remained with him after the breakup. For that, he was eternally grateful, even if her control-freak tendencies irritated him from time to time.
“Aaah, Meg,” Riley grinned, waving his hands at his clothing. “Thanks for dressing me like a toddler and don’t think I didn’t notice your sarcastic use of ‘Mister’.”
Alternative and free-spirited, Meg was a pocket-rocket ‘fashionista’, with multiple piercings, and then, there was the hair. Currently, it was black at the back and platinum blonde in the front. Her large blue eyes were kohl-ringed and her lips were painted blood red.
To Riley’s amusement, Meg stood out like a beacon in the Shanwick crowd, drawing speculative glances from the locals. “How are you finding Shanwick? I’m surprised you haven’t died of boredom or been lynched by the hillbillies. You know,” he mock-whispered, “they can smell the New York on you.”
Meg’s aversion to traveling to the country was well known and her presence in Shanwick reflected something else. It was yet another reminder of his failings. Her arrival was to ensure that he’d got her message from Johnny and that he would toe the line.
Giving an impish grin, Meg shrugged. “It’s a lot more interesting than I thought it would be. I’ve been thoroughly briefed on recent acts of vandalism and terrorism. There was also talk of potatoes in the tail pipe of a truck and Dave is angry that ‘biker whores’, his words, not mine, are wearing Mandy’s old clothes. Mandy’s fine with it, though.”
Riley made eye contact with Meg and they both grinned. He had noticed a number of women in expensive outfits that seemed at odds with their tough demeanor and biker girl tattoos. Hearing Dave hated it, somehow made it even better.
“I have to ask,” Meg grinned. “Did you have something to do with that?”
His mouth quirked up at the corners and he shook his head. “Not with the acts of vandalism, terrorism, or potatoes, I swear. I may have had a hand in the clothes. It wasn’t my idea though. That belongs to the evil genius that is Gabby Martin.”
Meg arched an eyebrow. “I’ve only met her briefly, but she’s… memorable.” That she is. “I haven’t met Christina yet,” Meg said nonchalantly, making Riley’s eyes narrow.
She might be tiny, but Meg was proficient in bitchy. She was most dangerous when she appeared innocent. “I’m looking forward to it,” Meg smiled. “She wrote me the harshest contract I’ve ever seen for a back-up singer. When I protested, Johnny over-ruled me. I’m wondering if she’s less severe in person than she is in writing.”
Riley kept his face passive, but he needed to address the elephant in the room. “Meg, I know you’re good friends with Bianca, but it wouldn’t be wise to antagonize Christina. It would put you into direct conflict with me, Johnny, and Gabby, not to mention Christina’s best friend, Bonnie Howard, who would eat you alive for fun.”
Meg’s eyes glinted with amusement and Riley knew she viewed his comments as a challenge. She liked to see who was the alpha female in any room, but she was way out of her league here. It would be a mismatch of epic proportions. He had visions of Meg being annihilated by the Witches’ Coven with a surprised look on her face.
“Then, there’s Mandy,” Riley continued, trying to appeal to Meg’s friendship with Mandy. “You think you know her, but you don’t. Not when she’s with Dina and Bonnie. They are… something else. If you’ve got some ulterior motive for getting close to Christina, you need to rethink it. Christina didn’t break up with Bianca. I did. If you have a problem, it’s with me.”
Staring at him intently, Meg pulled a face. “I am Bianca’s best friend and that will never change, but I’m not a devious bitch, Riley. I really would like to get to know Christina. She’s this person that I’ve heard so much about, but she’s always been a mystery: central to everything, but on the periphery. I feel like I know her, and besides, anyone that intimidates Mason Glenn is fine by me.”
Riley marginally relaxed, but where Christina was concerned he was always on high alert. She’d been upset enough already and if she was hurt any more, he wouldn’t be responsible for his actions. He didn’t want to be at odds with Meg either and at the moment, he felt as if he was in conflict with everybody.
His attention was drawn to the camera crew and wanting a change of subject, Riley focused on them. “What are they doing here? I thought this was closed to the public and no media allowed?”
Meg smiled. “It’s Lana Hamilton’s crew from Entertain You. They’re doing a documentary on Johnny. You know, former-drug-addict-bad-boy, turned good. We’re hoping it will help with promotions and keep the band in the public eye until the new work comes out.”
It was actually a good idea, but it made Riley uneasy. Johnny didn’t like this sort of encroachment into his personal life. He’d had enough of that when he dated Georgie Le Fey and found himself on the paparazzi radar for all the wrong reasons.
No one had mentioned a word about the documentary and it made Riley uncomfortable. Granted, under normal circumstances, he wouldn’t be here and Meg would be in charge. The problem was: he was ‘here’, and as such, he expected to be informed. “I think you should have run this by me first,” Riley muttered. “In theory, it’s a good idea, but be careful.”
“Relax,” Meg laughed. “Don’t you have more important things to worry about, like when you’re leaving? I thought we were all clear on that?”
Riley and Meg were both strong personalities. They locked eyes, neither flinching. “I’ll be leaving in a week, but we need to talk about your best friend and my apartment.”
Meg’s eyes glittered dangerously, but she didn’t respond. “I’d hoped,” he added, “the… transition would go more smoothly. Do you know what she hopes to achieve by doing this?”
Staring at him in disbelief, Meg put a finger to her lips, before taking a deep breath and expelling it loudly. “Bianca’s heartbroken, Riley. She had a wedding planned and kids’ names picked out. I expect she wants some kind of explanation about why you broke up. You’ve never given her one, so how is she expected to get closure?”
Closure. He’d heard those words before and he’d been on the receiving end of them. “Closure,” Dina had spat at him in one of the ugliest moments of his life. They’d never gotten it and if he could give it to Bianca, he would.
“I don’t have time,” Riley sighed. “Maybe when I get back? If you want me producing, Bianca is going to have to wait, but please tell her from me, she needs to be out by the end of the year or I’ll instruct lawyers.”
Meg was about to say more, but the lights dimmed in the room and the band made their way to the stage. Riley felt the anticipation and excitement rise in the crowd, as people roared, surging forward. He felt his spirits lift because Dina was singing with the band. In an evening that had been anything but pleasant, this was going to be the highlight.
“Hey, hey, hometown,” Johnny grinned, speaking into the mic. He was dressed in a suit, his hand clutching his guitar. His words elicited a deafening response from the audience and he paused until they fell silent.
Although Riley had seen this too many times to count, he watched in open admiration as Johnny cast a spell on the crowd. Ever the showman, Johnny had the ability to make people feel special. “Thanks for being here and coming to celebrate a Martin family birthday party,” Johnny chuckled. “I’m Johnny Martin and I think you all know we’re Collective Pitch.” Catcalls, cheers, screams, and whistles filled the air.
Turning, Johnny looked behind him on st
age. “This is a really special moment for me because my sisters are singing with us tonight,” he said in a voice filled with emotion. “My Dad’s here too and so is my girl, LiLi.”
Prowling the stage like a panther, Johnny teased the audience, delaying the moment the band started until Riley thought they’d stampede the stage. “So,” Johnny breathed into the mic, “give it up, Shanwick! How happy are you to have us home?”
The response was overwhelming and Riley could hardly hear himself think. He raised himself up to try and see Dina’s reaction to the crowd, but she was blocked from view, standing at the back with Gabby. Over the noise, the band opened with the Thin Lizzy classic “Boys are Back in Town”.
Riley gave a wry smile at the ironic choice of song. Johnny, Riley, and Dave never passed up an opportunity to rub it in. They were the former outcasts and losers of Shanwick, the bad boys made good.
**********
“Some of those new songs need work,” Meg frowned. “Christina and Gabby are good though. I’m impressed. Why haven’t you signed those women up for a recording contract yet, especially Christina? Her voice is amazing and Gabby? She already has the profile and look.”
The band was near the end of their set and if crowd reaction was anything to go by, Collective Pitch had lost none of their appeal. They’d played a couple of covers, their hits, and introduced some new material. To his professional ear, some of the newer songs weren’t as sophisticated as he liked, but he’d focus on that tomorrow.
Tonight, he was listening to Christina or trying to, but people kept interrupting him. “Wow,” Riley deadpanned. “You know, it never occurred to me to sign them up. I’ve only known them their whole lives. Somehow, their musical talent must have escaped me.”
“Pity you didn’t escape the evil clutches of Darth Martin when you had the chance,” Mason Glenn snorted beside him.
Riley tried not to groan out loud, but failed. He owed Mason a great deal and not just financially. Mason had been there for him at a time when he needed him most and he would be forever grateful, but sometimes, Mason made friendship difficult.
Ties That Bind Page 23
