Rampage (A Night Fire Novel Book 4) (2 page)

Chapter One

Friday...

The attendant opened the doors to the sky villa, the view beyond the doors was incredible. I was in awe of the view, the glittering lights of Las Vegas were yet to be on show but even during the day it was amazing. This was item one of my list, checking into an expensive hotel room. Not sure why drunk me thought that I needed something so extravagant but it was there at the very top.

According to Seph, this was the Sky Villa at the Palms Resort. She booked it and paid for it as a birthday present to me, so I had no clue if it was too expensive or not. By the looks of the place, I would say it must be pretty up there. This place is gorgeous.

“My god.” Seph squealed.

She peeled all of her clothes off and was out the glass doors, seconds later I heard water splashing. As I made my way around the glass elevator I saw her in all her glory, swimming in the pool. Jeez Seph.

“You alright there?”

“Yep, come in.”

“In a minute.”

I pulled out the list and scratched off item number one. Then Seph squealed again.

“Look, it goes out from the building. Oh my god.” she gasped. “I can see through it.”

“Lucky you're not naked or anything.” I muttered under my breath.

I could hear someone clear their throat, turning to see the fellow with our bags behind me. A soft rosiness crossed his cheeks, no doubt caused by my naked sister. The poor thing was young too, he probably wished he wasn't working so he could get in the pool with her. God love the little tart, she'd probably enjoy his attention too.

“Uh, can you put each of them in the rooms, thanks.”

He politely nodded and took mine and Seph's bags to their respective rooms. Seph waited by the edge of the pool for the man to leave. She was eying off the glass elevator.

“Harmie, we need to find some lucky boys tonight. I want to fuck in that elevator.”

“Jeez Seph.” I groaned as I rolled my eyes.

Seph and I were similar in so many ways but so far apart in just as many. I didn't have the same grace as her when it came to the opposite sex, I had struggled to maintain a relationship even before becoming famous. Now that I was I held little chance of something that would last into old age. I was destined to be one of those people that might marry but would do so for a few years and when it became too difficult for my partner, he'd be out the door.

Maybe I might be one of those women who have a different toy boy on my arm for every event, refusing to settle down. Did I need something permanent? Not really, I could have my toy boys for my pleasure and not theirs. I could be that selfish.

The thought of children crossed my mind, my mother hinted about them at my birthday dinner. I was thirty and the clock was ticking. I should think about children as a serious goal in my life. Take a few years from the movie making scene and have a couple of kids.

I'd seen actresses do that before and they have never recovered. It was a risk to take a few years off. But my mother's words lingered, now it was causing turmoil in my mind and my heart. Now I wanted to have a child. Maybe I could get my motherly instincts out by adopting a child. I doubted it would work.

“Well, why not? You said that this was supposed to be about letting your hair down, forgetting the girl next door stereotype that you've been labeled with. Let out that bad girl I know you have in you. What's number two on the list?”

“A new hairdo.”

“Excellent. I am going to shower and then we will find somewhere to do something about that.”

She gestured to my hair as she wandered past me, water dripping all over the highly glossed tiles. My sister had no qualms about walking around naked, well maybe just around me. Although, she didn't seem too fazed about the floor to ceiling glass windows with the view that stretched across Vegas.

“Hey, the dude put your bag in the room with the round bed, you okay with that?”

“Yeah I don't care. Bed's a bed.”

“Cool.”

I walked up to this round bed bedroom, sitting on the mattress with a few prods as I assessed it. A beaded wall surrounded the bathroom that allowed for privacy yet still offered a view of the skyline. I was quietly impressed.

An hour later and we were back on the ground, searching for a hair dresser. It didn't take Seph long to find somewhere suitable to do my hair. All I wanted was something different. I should have been more specific.

By the time the woman was done with me, I had black hair with streaks of blue through the top, underneath was pink, hot pink. It had been straightened and sat long and neat down my back.

Seph on the other hand was a little more outrageous. It had been cut short, I believe the hairdresser called it a pixie cut and then she colored it. Sections of colors, yellow, orange over the top layer toward the front, green, blue, pink and purple around the back and sides. Her hair looked like a rainbow threw up all over her. But still, she was as cute as a button.

My siblings and I were all the same, pretty much. All had jade green eyes, perfect in color, it made many jealous. Our skin was fair and I was grateful to escape my teen years with little to none in the way of blemishes. We were all tall, naturally sandy blonde hair color and well figured. Of course, that came through strict control over our dietary habits on my mother's part. She was determined that her children were raised junk food free.

My sister took lots of photos, god knows what for. Why would I want to see pictures of myself getting my hair done? I could feel my stomach gnawing away, in desperate need of food. It growled rather loudly, to which Seph laughed, snorting a little too.

“Sounds like someone wants dinner. What do you want to eat?”

“Something.” I groaned as I rubbed my stomach.

“What's number three on the list?”

I pulled it out as we approached the counter, Seph had her card out before I could even search for my wallet. Saying nothing I searched out number three on the list. I must have really been hammered, I don't know why I thought I wanted this. This was going to be painful, I could imagine me crying out with blubbering eyes.

“Get a tattoo.”

“Hmm. Maybe dinner first, yeah?”

“Sounds like a plan.”

With our fresh new hairdos we were on our way, trying to navigate the streets with a tourist map. I had said that we should get a cab but Seph said that the exercise would do us good. 

We found a restaurant, as recommended by the hairdresser. It was a little out of the way but she said it was worth it. The walls were a rich gold and black damask wall paper, black leather booths lined the walls, dozens of tables and leather chairs scattered throughout the floor in front. The cutlery was a heavy silver, the plates white with gold trim. At least there wasn't any crystal glasses. Just glass. Music played softly as a background noise, not as entertainment. I was surprised that the restaurant would serve us, it did seem a bit posh in here and Seph and I looked like we had been playing with food coloring.

The meal was amazing and the three margaritas were as well. That was the beginning of item number four. Get hammered. As we finished off the last of our drink, I crossed out number two.

Seph took the list and scrutinized it, passing it back with a grin.

“Did you want to go and get number three out of the way tonight or maybe tomorrow? We could find a bar and do number four if you like.”

“Yeah, number four.” I grinned like a child let loose in a candy store.

Seph decided that she wanted to hit the sidewalk rather than getting a cab yet again. My feet were killing me already but I said nothing. She was right, it was a great night to be outside. The evening was refreshing and the sun had only just started to set. Seph wrapped her arm around my neck and dragged me in for a hug, taking a photo of us.

The three margaritas were making me feel very happy, I felt like I had loosened up a little and was ready to take on Las Vegas.

On our path towards god only knows where we happened upon a tattoo parlor. The big blaring neon on the darkened path attracted me like a moth to a light. I'm pretty sure I heard the light hum to me,
get inked in here Harmony
.

I stopped and stared at the store front. This I could do. It wasn't difficult. Everyone was getting tattoos these days, it wasn't something that had a stigma attached to it any more.

No, I couldn't do it. It hurt. Thousands of needles that would dig into my skin and mark me permanently. I peered at Seph with her raised eyebrow as she folded her arms and impatiently tapped her foot.

Would she relent on the list? Unlikely. She said that I had to complete everything on the list and there would be cruel and unusual punishments if I failed.

My heart thudded hard, her patience was slowly fading as her eyes narrowed at me.

I could do this, I could get something small and it would be over and done with. It would leave us to carry on with the rest of the night without an issue.

Taking in a deep breath I grabbed Seph by the wrist.

“Aw, hell. Come on.”

Then I dragged her into the shop with the hope that I didn't pass out from the pain.

Chapter Two

Seph had already picked out a tramp stamp and had managed to get herself onto a chair straight away. I however was still undecided. Wandering around the little waiting area, I gazed at the pictures on the wall trying to find something I would like. It didn't have to be much in fact, I would prefer something small so that I could continue the night elsewhere. I didn't want to hang around a tattoo parlor all night getting some fancy intricate bit of nonsense. I wanted to continue with the list. Especially item number six. That one I
was
looking forward to.

The walls were covered in sheets of A4 paper, dozens of little pictures on each of them. The room was bright, it appeared really sterile which I was grateful for. The lights above hummed, occasionally one flickered. Beside me was a large glass window, in it that flashing neon light
tattoos open 24 hours.
People wandered past, laughing and chatting. Everyone seemed happy in Vegas.

Eventually I decided on a silhouette love heart that was dripping two little drops from the tip of the heart, on my left wrist. Seph had finished by the time I was ready, the man putting a bandage over her new ink. The fellow that would be doing mine ushered me over to the other chair, setting everything up. 

The doorbell dinged as two guys walked in, the man that had done Seph's tattoo greeted them in a friendly manor, almost as if he knew them. One of them sat in the seat next to mine, the other held back in the waiting area.

“Hey.” he said as nodded at me.

“Uh hey.”

Damn, this guy is hot. Super freaky hot. His black T-shirt was tight across his firm body, a Ramones shirt. Everyone wears Ramones shirts, it should be a religion. Jeez. The jeans he was wearing were worn, a few rips, fraying at the bottom. And docs, the man wore docs. I loved the shoes and wanted to get a pair for myself but the whole 'good girl' thing that had been thrust upon me didn't allow for army boots.

“What are you getting done?”

Those sparkling green eyes stared at me, waiting for me to respond, a cheeky smirk crossed his face.

“Love heart.”

“Cute.” he chuckled.

Then he took his shirt off and fuck me, it hit me like I had fallen off the chair. It wasn't just the fact that he was beyond ripped, it was the tattoos, so many of them. His back was covered the most, slowly making his way to the front that was like a blank canvas. Gorgeous wasn't enough to describe him.

He took the shirt off in a very sexy way. I didn't think that it was possible, but he did. I thought that I might have needed to wipe the drool from the corner of my mouth, the show was that good. His hair was all over the place from the shirt being dragged over it, scruffy worked well on him. He leaned back into the seat and ran his hand through his hair, flicking it back off his face. It was black, jet black and it looked like there was a little bit of blue hidden among it too. 

I tried to be a big brave girl when the man started to do the tattoo. After all, Seph had already done hers, and this guy beside me had a shit load on him. It wouldn't be that bad, would it?

“Have you been inked before?”

I shook my head, obviously the panic was showing in my face.

“Relax, it's all good.” he grinned that cute cheeky smirk.

Damn. It was enough of a distraction that at first I didn't notice the man had started. Of course, that bliss didn't last too long and seconds later, I knew the tattoo artist was there. I bit my bottom lip, trying not to curse at him or his evil gun of pain.

Mister green eyes next to me chuckled as he sat there, almost ignoring the man that was finishing off some tribal thing on his shoulder. It felt like an eternity had passed, although it was probably half an hour at the most. Somehow, mister green eyes had managed to finish before me. When I was released from the chair of torture I found Seph talking to the two guys in the waiting area.

“Hey, these guys are going to show us a great bar.”

“Okay, great.”

We walked out onto the street, the cool of the evening was refreshing against my flamed cheeks. Seph and the blonde guy were a few steps ahead of us. Every now and then Seph would laugh and I'd catch him smiling. Jeez Louise, I could see where that was going to end.

My attention turned to the man walking beside me, he matched me for height even with my boots.

“Evan.” He grinned at me.

God damn, will that ever get old? Unlikely.

“That's Jaxon.”

The blonde friend turned back and nodded his head with a soft smile.

“Harmony.”

“That's an interesting name.” he murmured as he glanced down at the sidewalk.

“Yeah. No key tags for me.”

He chuckled. “Yeah, Evan's a bit of a hard one too. Parents eh.. what can ya do?”

As we approached the bar, I could hear the music, there were a large line of motorcycles sitting outside the front door. Jaxon pushed the blue wood door open and we all followed him in. The bar was poorly lit but strangely I felt comfortable. There were a few people in here, all of them drinking and chatting among themselves. I didn't feel out of sorts in my jeans and sleeveless shirt, my bizarre hair. In fact, I looked like I was meant to be in here. It was a huge difference from what I was used to. Hollywood parties, the upper crust of society, money unlimited.

But here, I was with the common man and I felt at peace for once. These people were relaxed and happy and in turn it made me relax. It made me realize how shallow my life had been. How out of touch I was. But what was I going to do about it?

We sat at a round booth table, of course Seph sidled up to Jaxon. She had staked her claim and as I watched her giggling I knew that I was right when I thought about how this would end. Jaxon was checking out her hair, he probably thought it was strange too. The waitress brought over four beers and left without even getting payment. Huh. Maybe they have a tab here or something.

“So you from around here?”

“LA.”

“Ah.” Evan said taking a sip of beer. “Phoney town.”

“Where are you from?”

“Here.”

“Ah.” I cheekily returned. “Sin city.”

He smirked as he took another sip. It got a little hot in here. Or maybe it's just me. Maybe it's mister freaking hot that's making me fluster. I glanced across the table, Jaxon already whispering in Seph's ear. Man, he works fast. Then again, I'm pretty sure Seph has a big blinking light somewhere on her body that says open for business. Jaxon had his arm around the back of Seph's neck, his other hand was somewhere out of view. One could only imagine its location. Gross. She giggled as he said something in her ear again and I wondered if I needed to put the big blinking light out to get that kind of attention.

Time passed with a drunken blur, the beer bottles starting to pile up. The waitress seemed rather disinterested with clearing the table, instead she would swing past on occasions and leave four more beers and then continue on her way again. I mindlessly wondered if she had a phobia about clearing the tables.

Jaxon and Seph had left the table to make a selection at the jukebox, picking a song that I had never heard before. Curiously I turned to Evan who grinned with a slight chuckle, watching them as they returned.

Seph had a mighty big grin on her face, one which I could not figure out. It was like she had some kind of personal joke going, one that Evan and Jaxon understood. Maybe I was too drunk to figure it out. It was possible.

The table was crammed with beer bottles, all of them empty. It would have had to have been somewhere around nine, ten pm. I had no clue, tapping my wrist at my drunk sister, she pulled her phone out of her bag and said it was ten thirty. Then she proceeded to take a photo with a wry smile on her face.

“Let's go and scratch off number five.” she said with too much delight.

“What do you mean number five?” Jaxon frowned.

“Harmie has a list, kind of like a, 'my life's shit and these are the things I want to do' list.”

Evan gazed at me, pursing his lips together with a smile.

“So far we have scratched off three, in the process of number four and can continue it while we do number five.”

“Number five?” Evan asked curiously.

“Dancing.”