Rock 01 - FRET (3 page)

“Yes. The manager said a camera crew was here filming the band. You might be able to get some footage, maybe something will pop up on it.” He shook my hand.

“Good idea. Thank you. Keep in touch?”

“You bet. I’m glad Gareth is okay. My son has a huge crush on him.”

I had to smile. “I’ll make sure he stays okay.”

I stared at the dressing room wall trying to make sense of everything that had taken place at the concert. I was still a little shaken by the whole thing, but my adrenaline rush was finally subsiding.

My guitar was toast. As soon as the first flash went off in front of me, I’d lifted it to shield my eyes. It ended up saving my face. We had one more concert to go before we took a few weeks off and I really needed that break right about now. I wouldn’t admit it aloud, but I was never so happy to have Iron Man watching out for me. I glanced over my shoulder to see the man in question on the phone — shouting.

Day-umm. I’ve never seen a man that fucking big in my life! Not even the bouncers come close to Mr. Blaze’s mass. He has to be at least six-foot-five and he’s a walking wall of muscle. He has some pretty damned interesting tattoos, too. Dark hair cropped close and the coldest gray eyes I’ve ever seen were eyeing me as he spoke on the phone. I felt naked, as if he could see through me to my soul. And fuck if he wasn’t hotter than Hades. I licked my lips looking at his package. He had to be big; his bulge said so. Why was I drooling over my bodyguard? That had to be a no-no. Besides, he probably wasn’t even gay.

Fuck my life.

I tapped my fingers on my thighs as I waited for Mr. Blaze to tell me when we could leave. Mr. Blaze, really? I almost snorted but thought better of it. I really can’t say shit about his name; my real name
is
Gareth, but Ransom and I changed our last names so that any family can’t find us or track us down. Especially our father. I shivered at the thought and closed my eyes.

“Are you cold?”

I opened them and Mr. Blaze was standing right in front of me.

“Um, no. Is everything cool?”

“Yeah. Come with me.”

I was ushered out of the room while my big, huge bodyguard walked in front of me. We made it to the parking garage without any fanfare and then I was slipping into the limo. I looked around for Ransom, but didn’t see him.

“Where are the rest of the guys?”

“Different limos.”

“Limos? Plural?”

“Yes. Best way to cause confusion. Don’t worry; you’ll see your brother at the hotel.”

My head whipped around and I stared open-mouthed. “How do you know he’s my brother? No one but the band knows that!”

“I do.” Mr. Blaze sat forward, clasping his hands. “I have to know everything. Why do you guys keep it a secret?”

“Long story.” I looked out the window.

“Is it because of your father?”

“Jesus!” I threw my hands in the air in frustration. “Do you know my dick size, too?”

“Nope.”

My eyes widened as the huge man smiling wickedly at me gave me a wink. I swallowed hard and curled up in my seat. Not that this guy wasn’t my type. I loved them manly and bigger than me. But fuck, this guy could crush me.

“Do you know how to use a gun?”

I looked up. “What?”

“If not, I’ll have to train you.”

“Why would I need one?”

“I’m your last line of defense, Gareth. If something happens to me, you’ll have to protect yourself.”

“What do you mean if something happens to you? Aren’t you supposed to be bulletproof or something?”

“As nice as that would be, no, I’m not. If anything happens to me, you’ll have to know some basic moves.”

“Okay.” I grinned. I did know some basic moves and I couldn’t wait to see the look on colossal man’s face when I used them.

We pulled up to the hotel and the limo pulled to the service entrance. Mr. Blaze got out first and surveyed the area before coming back for me. I exited the limo and walked beside him as we entered the hotel kitchen. Once we passed the dining area, we boarded the elevator.

We got to the top floor and I again walked behind Mr. Blaze. A bellhop was waiting, and he swiped the keycard. I waited right inside the doorway while my bodyguard did a sweep of the room. When he came back, he tipped the bellhop and allowed me into the suite.

“I’m surprised you didn’t frisk the bellhop.”

“Didn’t have to. I asked Mac to do a background check on everyone who works here.”

The living room was spacious, with two chairs and a large couch. Double doors hid what I was sure was a king-sized bed and bathroom. A kitchen off to the right featured a stainless steel refrigerator and stove. Leave it to Paul to set us up in another ritzier than hell hotel.

“Well, I suppose this will have to do.” Mr. Blaze raised a brow at our accommodations.

“I don’t know why Paul feels the need to put us up in places like this. Ransom and I have been in some pretty raunchy hotels.”

“Maybe he feels you’d like this sort of place.”

“Pfft. I just want to go home, Mr. Blaze.”

“How about you call me Axel?”

“Really? Axel Blaze?”

“It is what it is. My dad had a great sense of humor.”

“Had, huh?”

“Yes, he died.” Axel got comfortable on the couch.

There was a short rap on the door and Axel shot up and crossed the room. He peeked through the peephole, opened the door an inch and then opened it the rest of the way.

“Damn, Gareth!” Ransom rushed in, grabbing me and hugging me tightly.

“Can’t…breathe,” I wheezed.

“Damn! I was scared to death out there!” He turned to Axel and pinned him with a warning look. “Don’t you ever take Gareth again without warning me first!”

“I’ll do what I have to do to keep him alive, Mr. Fox.”

Ransom started to say something but I cut him off.

“Why don’t you get some rest? We can talk on the plane.”

“Yeah, okay.” Ransom ran a hand through his hair.

I shut the door behind my brother and locked it. Axel grinned and went back to the couch, settling on it comfortably.

“So what can you tell me that the files can’t?” he asked.

“Such as?”

“Well, I know there was an accident which is why Paul’s right hand is messed up. He used to be the lead guitarist and now you are. You guys grew up together?”

I sat down on the chair across from Axel.

“Yeah, I was quite a few years behind Ransom but I was always around.”

“The annoying younger sibling?” Axel grinned.

“Something like that. Ransom never treated me that way, though. He always felt like he needed to protect me. Jinx, Harley, Paul and Rebel all went to school with him and they always switched whose garage they’d practice in after school. Ransom would always get me from school and I’d sit in and toy around with Paul’s extra guitar.” I shrugged. “I guess I learned how to use it naturally.”

“So, no lessons?”

“Nope. Just picked it up from watching the guys.”

“That’s pretty damned impressive.”

“I guess. When Paul hurt himself, Ransom turned to me right away. I guess I just fell into it. Our first concert I was nervous as fuck because I was taking over for Paul and I didn’t know how well I would be received.”

“But it went really well, right?”

“Yeah. After that we were always sold out.”

“You weren’t before?”

“No, not really. The band did well, don’t get me wrong, but now we’re packed instantly.”

“Is there anyone on staff who makes you nervous?”

I thought about that one. The only guy who made me uneasy was Paul’s right hand man, Stan. He always looked at me funny, like I was some reject.

“I get weirded out around Stan. I think he’s homophobic.”

“Stan Jackson. Paul’s assistant? What makes you think he’s a homophobe?”

“Just the way he looks at me, like he’s praying for my soul.” I chuckled.

“Has he ever said anything around you?”

“No, but I’ve heard him on the phone talking about the ‘fag.’ I’m going to assume that’s me.”

“What made you decide to come out?”

“Are you kidding me?” I snorted. “After each and every show there’s some strung-out chick that wants to suck my dick or fuck me. I got tired of fucking just to save an image that didn’t even represent me.”

Axel eyed me skeptically.

“What?”

“You’re nothing like I thought you’d be.”

“Is that a good thing?”

“I expected a spoiled rotten, full-of-himself guitarist.”

“Yeah, well, Ransom and I have seen hard times and we’re really grounded, as are the rest of the guys. I love being able to buy a nice car and live in a mansion, but I don’t have either. I bought a Jeep because I always wanted one as a kid. And I own two houses. I sold the first one after the incident and then bought another one. Then I had one built special. Let’s say it’s a bit unconventional.”

“Meaning?”

“It has to be seen to be believed.”

“I’ll take your word for it. In the file it says you all live in Arizona.”

“Yep.”

“Why stay there? You grew up there.”

“Because it’s home, no matter what shit we went through. I love the heat and the rain.” Axel snorted and I lifted a brow. “What?”

“I hate rain.”

“Well this is ‘special rain’.” I lifted my fingers to indicate air quotes.

“Yes, I’ve seen the special rain.”

“Turn around, don’t drown.” I laughed softly.

“Well, we’ll have plenty of time to talk on the plane tomorrow. You should get some rest.”

I glanced at the clock and realized it was after one in the morning. We had another concert the following night in Vegas and then it was on to Glendale, Arizona. I couldn’t wait to get back home. I yawned and stretched out my arms.

“Okay. 6 a.m. wake up call sound good?”

“I’ll be awake at five.”

“Ouch.” I got up from the chair. “Is that a military thing?”

“It’s a survival thing.”

“Goodnight, Mr. Survival.”

I woke up covered in sweat. My hands were tingling and my body was shaking so hard the bed was moving. The door to the room flung open and a huge shadow blocked out the light from the living room.

“Gareth?”

“Yeah.” I rubbed my arms and closed my eyes, wishing my nightmare away.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah, just a nightmare.”

“You have them a lot?”

“I guess. Did I wake you up?”

“The screaming did, yeah.”

“I was screaming?”

Axel sat on the edge of the bed and I pulled the sheet up around me.

“Yes, you were screaming for someone to ‘watch out’.”

I groaned and fell back against the pillows. In one way or another, I was still in that stupid car — could still hear the sound of glass breaking, metal tearing apart and screaming. I could still feel the blood soaking my shirt — the smell of it overpowered everything.

“Gareth?”

“Yeah?”

“Are you okay now?”

“I think so.”

“Have you seen someone for it?”

“For what?”

“Your nightmares. If you don’t get a hold of that shit, it’ll fuck you all up.”

“I take it you have firsthand knowledge?”

“Yeah, I do. I wasn’t too proud to see a shrink. The shit I’ve seen would make you puke.”

“I’ll take your word for it. What time is it?”

“Time for you to get up.”

“Ugh.” I rolled to my side and thrust a pillow over my head.

“Five minutes!”

My door closed and I sat up in bed. I should have taken the sleeping pills Paul had given me. Maybe then, I’d get a good night’s sleep.

~*~

Vegas wore me out. We did a two-hour show and my fingers went numb after the first hour. One of our number one hits had a riff that tore me up every time. Axel stood just off stage and his mere presence relaxed me. I don’t know why; he’s scary as fuck.

I chuckled as I rinsed my hair under the warm water. This hotel suite was also ritzy as fuck. I was tired and sore and just wanted a bed.

I walked out into the kitchen area and found Axel standing over the stove.

“What are you doing?”

“It’s called cooking. I hate eating out at restaurants all the time so I’m making us some chicken.”

“Chicken?”

“Oh God, don’t tell me you’re a vegan or a vegetarian.”

“Fuck, no. I love meat.”

Axel chuckled and I knew my cheeks were instantly red. I was with this man twenty-four hours a day and drooling over him for half of that. Okay, more than half. Who wouldn’t, though? He was sexy.

“Do you need any help?” I asked.

“Nope, just about done. Have a seat.”

I sat down and eyed Axel’s ass in sweatpants. It was perfect, rounded and perky. Totally biteable.

“Here ya go.” Axel set a plate in front of me.