Chapter 24
Phoenyxx
I’m walking hand-in-hand with Synn on one side and Hunter on the other.
Before we reach my room, a voice calls out from the media room.
“Well, well—look at this...” Frost.
“Bro... no way,” Trikk says with a high-pitched whine.
Laughing to myself, I decide to go and tell them my revelation.
Luckily, they’re all in there, including Sam.
“Guys, I want to announce something,” I say.
“I can only guess what that might be,” Razor bitches.
“You didn’t take them both at the same time, did you, Malishka?” Ghost asks in a hurt tone.
“Fuck’s sake. First off, that's my business. Second, Ghost—you and Trikk can’t say anything, considering I was with you both at the same time.”
Synn whirls on me. “What?”
I just roll my eyes. “Anyway, I want to say I’ve decided to take back control in my life.
Every person, place, and situation I’ve been traumatized by, I want to re-experience it all, with each of you.
I’m not that damaged girl anymore. Every single one of you has helped me to grow. So, thank you, honestly.”
Ghost rushes to my side, tears in his eyes. “Malishka, I’ll do anything for you.”
The rest all come to me, and we share a group hug. I’m happy to see Sam is part of it. I look at my Golden-Eyed Boy.
“How are you, Sam? Everyone getting along?”
“Yes. They are not so bad,” he answers, his words coming faster. He's clearly been working on it.
“Good. I’m elated that you all are getting closer.” I grin so wide it hurts my cheeks. “Now, I’ve got to go get ready for this concert Valley, me, and Cynthia are going to tonight.”
Frost opens his mouth. “Um, Killer, that’s not a good idea.”
“I’ll be with her. Jax is sending security too. She'll be fine,” Synn answers.
Frost just nods, staring into my eyes, his crystal-blues flashing. “Love you, Killer.”
“Love you too. All of you.” I leave the room, going to shower and get ready.
An actual concert—I’m so excited!
Once I’m clean, I stare into the mirror, making a face.
I want to look badass for this show. Since it’s an 80s band, I want to go old school with my look. But I have no clue how. Sighing, I go to the closet to see if there’s something sexy I can wear.
I rifle though my clothes, frowning. Nothing in here is quite right.
A knock on my door makes me jump a bit.
“Yeah?” I call.
“It’s me, bestie. I come bearing gifts,” Valley answers.
I wrap the towel around me tightly, then open the door. She's got an armful of clothes, and a small bag with stuff inside. She's also got a couple pairs of shoes.
She dumps it all on my bed. Picking up the bag, she carries that into the bathroom then returns to lay out the clothes neatly so we can see the selections.
“Since we’re going super-retro, I thought we could be 80s hair metal girls tonight. I'm going to do your hair and makeup,” Valley explains.
I hug her. “I totally wanted to do that—I just had no idea how. You rock!”
“Let’s pick your outfit first. You want to do a rock, goth, or a sexy look?” Valley asks, finger on her lips as she contemplates.
“Sexy rock girl!” I exclaim happily.
“Oh I was hoping you’d pick that choice. Girl, your guys are going to be so jelly.”
Valley giggles, grabbing a pair of jeans covered in holes. “These are skinny jeans, super tight. Pair these with a crop tee, maybe.”
I lean forward, swiping a ripped-up tee that says ‘Poison’ on the front. It's short and black.
“Yep. That's oversized, so you wear it off the shoulder. Do you have a strapless bra?” Valley asks.
I frown, unsure. “Let me check.”
I rifle through my underwear drawer, finding a bra that looks like a tube top. “Is this it?” I hold it up for her to see.
“Bingo. You totally need to wear these boots with it. So 80s.” Valley shows me a pair of black ankle boots with fringe hanging off the sides. “Suede, baby.”
I grin. “Love them.”
I snag everything, including the pair of panties I grabbed when I found the bra.
Heading into the bathroom, I close the door and drop my towel.
I have to wiggle to get into the jeans, hopping up and down to shimmy them over my hips.
They fit like a second skin. I turn, checking out my ass. It looks perfect.
Next, I put on the bra and shrug the shirt on over it. My jaw drops. It's low cut—my cleavage is all out there. It's so short, it cuts off right below my breasts. I pull one side down off my shoulder.
I open the door, walking out. Valley looks up, and her face says it all.
“Holy Taco, Nyx. You look like a vintage sex goddess!”
Laughing, I twirl in a circle. “I feel pretty good.”
Valley grabs my hand, tugging me back into my bathroom. “Time to do my magic. Face first, then hair. No peeking until I’m done, okay?”
I nod, having complete faith in my girl. She did such an amazing job on my hair before, I have no doubt she’ll make me look perfect.
“No way, Val... how did you this?” I gape into the mirror, amazed at the job my bestie did.
I now have heavy black eyeliner tipped up on the ends and a dark mauve lipstick that makes my green eyes pop.
And my hair—it’s so big! Somehow, she got my curls to behave. The top of my hair is teased up, and the sides are secured with hair spray, winged up and out. It looks authentic.
Valley says with a laugh, “I know what I’m doing, girl! Do you love it?”
“Hell yeah I do,” I chuckle, thinking of the look on my guy’s faces when they see me.
“My turn now.” My best friend whips around the room like a storm, grabbing clothes, and disappearing into the bathroom. It's only been about ten minutes when the door opens, Valley coming out with a proud “Ta-da!”
My jaw drops. “Damn, girl. You look like sex on a stick.”
She looks incredible. Her black hair is teased sans glasses. Her eyes are made up like mine with a dark red on her lips. She’s dressed in all black. Ripped jeans, a form-fitting tank top, and a black blazer with shoulder pads. Knee-high black boots complete her look.
Smiling at each other, we leave my room. Men literally scatter like rats when the door opens unexpectedly.
Rolling my eyes, I say, “Really, guys?”
All eight of my men are standing there, looking guilty. Bryan too, his jaw on the floor—eyes only for Valley.
“Where is Cynthia?” I ask, when Synn says, “Nope,” and scoops me up.
“Nope right back to you, caveman. I will wear what I want,” I proclaim.
“You look way too sexy to be around other men. They will be panting over you,” Razor says with a clenched jaw.
“Agreed,” Frost says, surprising me.
“Anyway... Cynthia should be coming,” Hunter interrupts their possessive bullshit.
I roll my eyes at the guys again, shaking my head.
Sam walks up, grabbing my chin. Looking into my eyes, he says, “No.”
I throw up my hands in exasperation. “None of you get a say, dammit.” But then I startle, realizing Synn's hair is blue again. “Synn, your hair!”
“Like it, Pazessca?”
“Oh yeah…” I drool inwardly.
He’s wearing tight as hell jeans and a tight t-shirt, showing of all his yummy tattoos.
The bitching from the guys disguises the sound of someone walking up to us.
I turn then and see Cynthia, my eyes about to burst from my skull. Thor is with her, holding her hand.
She looks sexier than me and Valley both. A super-short mini skirt, a ripped cropped tank, and combat boots. She is heavily made-up, too.
Hunter goes ballistic. “What the actual fuck? Let go of her hand, Thor! And you are not leaving looking like that, Cynthia.”
“With all due respect, Harris, your sister is a grown woman. We really like each other. She can wear anything she likes,” Thor says, shocking me with his boldness. Good for him.
“Yeah,” Cynthia agrees.
“We need to get going,” Valley informs us. “We need to get there early enough to be right in the front.”
“Did you get pit tickets?” Ghost blurts. “That’s not safe.”
“Damn straight I did. We’ll be fine, alpha assholes. There will be plenty of security.” Valley sticks her tongue out at my guys, making me crack up.
Synn marches over, snatching up my hand. “Let’s roll.”
We all head to the garage, the others following close on our heels. We pile into an insane–looking sports car.
“Hold up. Is this a 1985 Iroc-Z?” I ask, dancing in place. I'd know that car anywhere. I fell in love after seeing my first one in an 80’s DVD at the Solomons.
“I’m impressed,” Purge answers. “My girl knows her vintage cars.”
“It’s my dream car,” I admit with a dreamy grin.
“The security detail will be right behind you in an SUV,” Hunter tells us.
We all nod, and slide into the beautiful machine. It's shiny and sleek, a sparkly black paint job with a red stripe down the side. The seats are black leather. The radio and actual tape deck looks to be the original.
“Everything is original,” Synn answers my unspoken question.
I squeal in excitement. “This is so badass.”
We pull out of the garage, and I wave at everyone as we go. We peel out onto the street, and Synn floors it. Cynthia yells, and Valley shouts right behind her. We’re all laughing, the adrenaline making us giddy.
“Like going fast, Pazessca?” Synn asks me, sliding his hand onto my thigh.
“Yep!” I pop the “p”, grabbing his hand off me. “Do not start,” I grumble. The last thing I need is to get wet panties right before the show.
Synn complies, and we zip to the concert venue.
I'm so excited. I can’t believe I'm going to my first concert ever.
Synn
My Pazessca looks delicious enough to eat. I will be watching, making sure no fuckers even look at her sideways.
I pull into the parking area, impressed Valley managed VIP at the last minute. I'm able to pull up close to the entrance.
We all get out, and head inside.
Pazessca has her head on a swivel, taking in everything.
Cynthia keeps making squealing sounds too.
“I’ll hold us spots by the stage,” Valley offers. “Go get merch.”
“Merch?” Pazessca asks, a cute little furrow etched into her brow.
“Band gear, t-shirts and stuff,” I explain.
“Oh yay!” Pazessca claps her hands together.
I lead the way to the back, standing in line for our turn at the table.
Weirdly, people peel away in the middle, ushering us forward.
“Go on, we’ll wait, Mr. Franco,” someone says.
Fucking shit. I've already been recognized.
I force myself to not worry about it right now. My attention is on the three girls in my care that I must keep safe.
“I want that one,” Pazessca tells the attendant, pointing to a red t-shirt with the Poison name on the front and the tour dates on the back. “And that one, please,” she adds, gesturing to a Joan Jett crop with her face on it, “I Love Rock N Roll” on the front.
I step forward to pay, letting the guy at the table know I’m covering all their purchases. Cynthia makes her choices, and we grab a couple of things for Valley. It all gets tossed to me, and I grumble. Of course, I'm the damn carry-all.
We make our way to the pit, striding all the way to the front. People cuss us out, but a guy turns white when he sees me.
“Oh, shit. Go right ahead, Mr. Franco.”
We get to Valley with no problem. She’s standing dead center, hands on the stage, grinning in triumph. “Best spot,” she brags.
I lurch closer to the corner, needing to be able to watch and get to them if they need me. Glancing around, I notice the ZYGOS guys surrounding the perimeter, and I nod at a couple of them. It looks like every exit is covered.
Good, the girls should be perfectly safe.
Phoenyxx
The music blaring through the speakers is so loud, I wince at first. The stage floor vibrates with the beat.
I’m avidly watching the stage, freaking out about seeing Joan Jett in the flesh.
The girls and I chatter, then I notice people getting on the stage.
I gasp, spotting a familiar black-haired rock star sashaying to the microphone in the front.
The crowd goes crazy. I start screaming myself hoarse, the excitement in the air infectious.
Joan stands directly in front of us and I look up at her in awe.
“New Jersey! You ready to rock?” she rasps into the microphone.
The crowd yells, and the music starts. The licks of “Bad Reputation” begin to play, and the three of us girls jump up and down.
We sing at the top of our lungs to every song she plays.
After about an hour, Joan finishes, and there’s an intermission for Poison to get ready next.
“I’m so thirsty,” Valley announces, grasping my hand and Cynthia's.
“Go ahead over there.” Synn points to the VIP snack area, to the left of the stage. “I’m watching you, and I’ll hold your spot. Just hurry.”
We quickly grab our drinks and some snacks and walk back to Synn. I hand him the stuff I got for him.
“Thanks, Pazessca.” He gives me a toe-curling kiss I feel down to my core.
I pull away, shaking my head to clear the lust away.
We munch and chat, and before we know it, a curtain goes down from the top of the stage. We hear commotion behind it, then, it lifts, revealing Bret fucking Michaels in all his glory.
“Holy shit!” I blurt, turning red when C.C. DeVille glances to me, grinning.
“Oh my God, Nyx,” Valley yells to be overheard over the crowd.
Within moments, “Talk Dirty to Me” starts playing.
I sing every single word, shouting the chorus while staring at the sexy-as-fuck Bret Michaels.
At the end of the song, Bret grabs the mic, kneeling to look at us. Oh my God.
“I love seeing younger fans here singing along. What’s your names?” He holds the mic toward us.
“Phoenyxx!”
“Valley!”
“Cynthia!”
I hear Synn chuckle softly, and the grin on his face makes me smile even harder.
“Welcome, ladies. Enjoy the show.” Bret stands back up, launching into the next song.
Two rock-fueled hours later, we haul our exhausted bodies back to the car. I still haven’t come down yet from all the fun we had.
I slump with exhaustion, curling into Synn’s side. He makes a pleased sound, kissing my hair and running his hand through it.
Valley and Cynthia are chattering away, excitedly discussing the show.
I'm so tired, I almost feel boneless.
What an experience!
I’m proud of myself. I didn’t let the crowd bother me, and wasn’t worried at all for our safety. It was beyond fun. I can’t believe Val pulled this together for us, but I’m so pleased she did.
I try to stay awake, but my lids slide closed anyway.