Scorpio Sons 1: Colton (11 page)

CHAPTER TEN

The next day was one of frantic activity. They had rehearsals and sound checks to be done at the studio in Fairfax. The cameras were on during the entire event, capturing their nerves and the tension, building the buzz for the night ahead. There were just a handful of contestants left. Out of those, three would be chosen for the final the following week. The hype was huge, and despite herself, Alyssa felt drawn into it.

Through it all, Colt stood like a living statue on the side-lines, for all the world like the stranger he was supposed to be. Gone was the camaraderie they'd shared yesterday. Gone was the intimacy of last night. In its place was a silent, distant professional.

Of course, Connor was still Connor: Easy-going, charmingly playful, bordering on informal, for all his Men in Black appearance.

Then there were the hours in make-up. Even though the show's PR people had recommended she stay fresh-faced and 'cute', getting the make-up right for a natural look was probably more gruelling than if she'd been wearing a monster's mask.

That thought amused her. She didn't need to wear a monster's mask, she
was
a monster. Well, at least she wasn't human. Which led to another unwelcome thought: What would happen if she got too stressed and her cat came out in front of millions of people? Her nerves jittered like a nervy feline on catnip.

"What?" Colt demanded, ever-attentive to her reactions. It was more than just the super-sensitivity of the cat, it was something else again; almost as if they shared some internal connection that neither of them wanted, or knew how to turn off.

"What if I go cat?" she answered reluctantly. If anyone would know the dangers of such a thing, Colt would.

"You seem to go cat in response to me. As long as my cat doesn't come out to play, I doubt yours will either."

"So will yours play nice when Akabar arrives to take me out to celebrate? That would be as disastrous as millions of Americans seeing me turn on stage"

"I didn't turn when he was with you the other night. I think I can handle it."

"That was before…" She left that sentence hanging, unwilling to put into words what they'd experienced last night.

Even though she'd been furious with Colt for his regrets; even though she wanted to revel in memories of her first sexual encounter; what actually happened after he left was that she had a quick shower and fell into bed, asleep before her head hit the pillow. And after a deep, dreamless sleep she was pleased to see the blood from her lost virginity had soaked into the dark patterned bedspread so she wouldn't have to be mortified imagining what housekeeping would think when they came in to make her bed and straighten the room.

Sure, her super-senses could pick up the fragrance of their lovemaking the next morning, but she doubted a normal human could. So, except for soreness between her legs and the small fast-fading puncture wounds on her thigh, it was like last night had never happened.

"I'll handle it. Just try to stay calm. And I'll do the same."

"And we'll all ignore the elephant in the room will we?" Connor joked.

"Elephant?" Alyssa had a horrible feeling Connor was referring to the sex. Surely he hadn't heard it through the wall. Or had Colt told him?

"Song-bird, you sound just as sweet in the throes of ecstasy as I thought you would. Pity it was Colt's name you were crying out, not mine."

She felt the moment Colt's cat emerged because hers was fast on its heels. Luckily, they were standing in a secluded part of back stage, not a camera in sight. Hopefully, Connor had chosen that moment to stir the pot for that very reason.

Connor took a step back and raised his hands in apology. "Sorry, sorry. No time for playing. But really, you two have to sort this out before it causes major problems for the mission. Alyssa, Colt didn't mean to hurt your feelings last night. He's just freaked out by everything. He's never had anyone in his life before. Been on his own since he was seven. Give him a break. This is all new ground you two are breaking."

Connor then turned to Colt. "And you, boyo, quit with the unfeeling crap. You know neither of us believe it, so give over. You love her, she loves you, and you'll both find a way through this, war or no war."

With that pronouncement, Connor crossed his arms over his impressive chest and stared a challenge at Colt. His eyes were still human, so he wasn't aroused in any way. It was only Colt who had turned, and she'd turned with him, like a reluctant shadow. She watched as Colt clawed back from the edge and his eyes turned human again. Hers followed suit.

"Has anyone ever told you to butt-out of their business? Because if they haven't, then let me do the honours: Butt-out, bro. This has nothing to do with you."

Connor shrugged. "Whatever boyo, whatever. But you must admit it feels better getting it out in the open, instead of letting it fester beneath the surface until neither of you can look the other in the eyes."

"I say again… stay out of it," Colt growled, taking a step forward in an unspoken threat, even though his cat was still quiet.

"Sure enough, whatever you say, boyo. I'm just saying…"

"Connor," Alyssa said in warning. Even she was fed up with his digs, well-meaning as they might be.

He looked at her and grinned cheekily. Then he looked over her shoulder and scowled. "Shit, look what the rat brought in."

At that moment, Alzhir strode across the stage in her direction, surrounded by his henchmen. What would he think of them closeted back here? It wouldn't look good.

With desperation, she reached for the first viable excuse she could come up with. Actually, it wasn't far from the truth. She brushed imaginary tears from her eyes and launched herself at Alzhir, only too aware of how his men reached for their guns as she did so. But as she wrapped her arms around the monster, she noted his men relax.

"Oh, Alzhir, I don't think I can do it. The cameras are everywhere. I can't take a breath without them sticking one of them in my face. I just want to go home. I don't want to do this anymore," she wailed.

His arms came around her to comfort her, but she could feel the suspicious tension still in his body. "What were you doing back here, Alyssa?"

"I…I had to get away by myself for a few moments, but then
they
turned up. I know they're supposed to be keeping me safe, but can't they leave me alone for a moment? What harm can come to me hiding away here in the corner of the stage?" The perfect ploy: complaining about her bodyguards doing their job. That should deflect some of the suspicion.

Sure enough, Alzhir's body relaxed a little more. "These men are only doing their job. If they let you wander around alone I'd fire them on the spot. You can't just run away when things get tough. If you want a career in this industry you have to get used to eyes always being on you. This is your time in the spotlight, Alyssa my love, and you have to realise that the light shines on you 24/7, whether you want it to or not."

"I'm not sure I want it to. I'm going to lose tonight, Alzhir, I know I am. And then you won't want me anymore." She tried for a pretty little sob, ever-mindful of her carefully crafted make-up.

"Of course you won't lose. Now pull yourself together and be the trooper you know you are. What will your parents think if you don't shine tonight? It will only prove to them you made a mistake dropping out of college. You don't want that do you?"

She shook her head and wiped at her eyes again as she drew away from him. "You're right, of course you're right. I just panicked for a moment. I haven't quite got over the attack. I keep waiting for the bad guys to come for me again. I know Colt and Connor are only doing their job. They aren't trying to be intrusive, but … Oh, I don't know. I'll be all right. I just need to have a few moments alone. Can I have that, Alzhir? Can they just protect me from a distance for a few minutes?"

"Is the situation secure?" Alzhir asked Colt.

"Yes, sir. We just got a little over-vigilant when she took off on us. We were trying to get across to her what you just did, but she wasn't listening." He sounded pissed off in a professional way.

"Then fall back, gentlemen, and let's give her a little space so she can get herself together." Alzhir, nodded at Alyssa. "We'll all be just over there, still in sight, but far enough for you to … feel alone."

And with that the men, hers and Alzhir's, marched off to the edge of the back-stage section of the studio and left her to sit on a metal container. She needed this. It wasn’t an act. Being around Colt, while he kept her at arms' length, seething, had taken its toll. It wasn't the cameras that were getting to her, it was Colt.

Was Connor right? Was Colt sorry for hurting her? Did he love her? She knew that he'd wanted her for four years. She believed that. But love was a different story. Love may not be hearts and flowers like he said last night, but it was different. And she knew without a doubt that she loved him, no matter how much of a bastard he was.

By the time the crews came back from their meal break and the first of the audience was being allowed to take their seats, Alyssa was back in control. She walked over to Alzhir and gave him a brave smile.

"Okay, I'm ready. I can do this. Will you be nearby?" she asked the alien monster.

"Front row. Now if you're ready, I'll leave you to get your guitar tuned and make-up patched up. You're not the first performer to get stage-fright and you won't be the last. Break a leg, as they say. I'll see you for our celebration afterwards."

Alyssa smiled bravely up at him. Had he always seemed so smarmy, or was it just that she now looked at him differently? Her skin crawled as he gave her a peck on the lips and turned to go.

"Good save, song-bird. You turned his suspicions around on him like a master. That complaint about us was pure genius," Connor congratulated her.

"Yeah, well it wasn't all an act. I am tired of always being under the microscope. I can't wait to go home tomorrow for a few days, even if the cameras have to come with me. Of course, that's only if I get through to the semis. If I don't, I won't have to worry about cameras ever again."

"You'll still have your record contract. This is not a do-or-die situation," Colt consoled her, surprisingly. She smiled up at him in gratitude. It was his words of comfort she needed to hear, not Connors, and most definitely not Alzhir's.

As the night began, she waited nervously in the green room with the other contestants. They were all talented people, and just as desperate to succeed as she was. None of them had formed any meaningful bonds through the weeks of the contest, though, even if the show's producers had made it look like they had. Maybe it would have been different if they'd shared a mansion somewhere in Beverly Hills like the contestants on one of the other reality shows did. But their only contact was during Cattle Call and then the week away in Mexico they spent together with their coaches. That had been like a pressure cooker, what with the weather and the tension of not knowing if they'd get into the final fifteen. It had been all she could do not to throw a tantrum. And wouldn't that have gone down well with her adoring fans?

So, instead of chatting like nervous friends, they all sat watching the TV screen as the judges did their bit and as each of them in turn went out to do their song. She was second last. In a way, she wished she'd been first up, or at least second. Then she could have relaxed. Instead, she had to watch her competition singing their hearts out, while she wondered if she had any chance of beating them.

She wished Colt could have been in the room with her, holding her hand. But her bodyguards had to wait outside. So it was only her, just as it had been for the whole competition. Up until two days ago, she hadn't wanted anyone at her side, cheering her on. Being alone had been enough. But now… now being out of Colt's sight felt wrong somehow.

When they called her to get ready, she jumped skittishly to her feet and grabbed up her guitar. They'd created a beautiful, moody, moonlit scene to showcase her and a full orchestra to play the wistful backing melody. But all of that was just showmanship. It really came down to how well she sang, how well she conveyed the sadness she felt at the loss of Colt. That the song now had even more meaning to Alyssa than it had when she first wrote it, wasn't lost on her. And in a way, she wanted him to hear it… to truly know her heart. Only her song could do that for her.

The stage was quickly cleared from the previous performer, and she was directed to her place on a slight rise, as if she sat on a hill with the huge moon behind her. Below her, thousands of firefly lights had been set up to look like a cityscape in the distance. It was magical, and her flowing white gypsy dress and loose hair swept over one bare shoulder just added to the fairy-tale image they were conjuring.

As the curtain drew back and the orchestra played the intro, which she then took up, she heard a gasp of pleasured awe from the watching crowd. So the mood had been set perfectly and the audience recognised the melody as her song. Good. Half her job was done.

She let her fingers stroke the strings of the expensive instrument in her arms. The sound it made was warm and resonant, matching perfectly the timber of her voice. When she began to sing, it was as if the bright light that illuminated her disappeared; like the audience of hundreds disappeared. In her mind's eye, there was just a winter's night and Colt. And she sang to him with all her heart, feeling the tears pricking at her eyelids. It was a feat to keep those tears from affecting her voice, but she managed it.