Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-One
CALLUM/CASH
Then
Twenty Wishes & Poisonous Concoctions
Every cheer scrapes raw, like the world’s applauding while I’m already choking on the smoke.
“The show tonight is gonna be sick.” Bren bounces up and down as he works himself into his leather pants. “I never thought we’d be doing this well when we signed with Leon two years ago.”
“Yeah, we’re in the big leagues now.” I put out my cigarette and blow the smoke from between my lips.
Bren and I are sharing an upscale two-bedroom suite in Philly. I crack the balcony slider so the sprinkler head doesn’t go off and cost us a $500 fine.
We’re playing our biggest gig to date on my birthday. That just happens to be today.
We decided to splurge and upgrade our hotel to celebrate. Since Livianna can’t be here due to Leon’s restrictions, I have plans to put on a great show and hang out with my bandmates, getting fucking plastered. It’s about all I do these days.
Bren flicks the side of my head with his fingers. “You need to quit smoking. It’s gonna ruin your pipes.”
“Maybe that’s what I want,” I say sarcastically, but deep down, I mean it.
If I could get away from Leon, I would. Only three more years until our contract is fulfilled. It feels like a lifetime away.
I don’t think about how I’m gonna deal with Livianna during that time while we’re out on the road. We’re barely hanging on now.
There’s nothing I can do without exposing all my friends’ and family’s secrets, so I just spin in worry and confusion. Because of that, I’ve gone back to constant drug and alcohol use.
Oh, and I’ve added smoking to the list full-time. Why not? Nothing else is helping.
Smoking used to be a one-off thing when my stress was too much, but now… What can I say? The good news is I haven’t seen Leon since he told me to keep Livianna away.
Bren’s phone rings and he answers it. “Hey. You still planning on coming?”
He glances at me, wanders away, and cups his hand over the speaker.
What the fuck is that about?
I pretend to be checking emails on my laptop. He keeps mumbling about being sure he’s kept something a secret. Bren’s usually laid back and doesn’t care about much of anything unless it’s about…
Fuck!
He’s got Livianna on the phone and they’re planning something. How do I know?
Because she keeps texting me about how she’s gonna make my birthday up to me somehow. She messaged not long ago that I’ll be thanking her when she does. I pick up my phone and send her a text.
Me: What are your plans tonight? Can we FaceTime after the concert is over? I wanna celebrate my birthday with you.
I wait a few moments and nothing comes through. Bren’s still talking to whoever is on the other line. It’s her. I feel it in my bones.
She’s no longer working on her show, so she’s always available. I run through the last day Leon popped up and she was with me.
When she asked him what he meant by saying I was even better than my pops, Leon made some excuse about my music career.
He said I sang better and if I put in the work, I would exceed all expectations. He told her he needed me to do a bunch of extra press so she should go home after she got her tattoos.
The motherfucker knew I had an appointment and was taking her to get one. He told her before I could.
I still don’t know how he knows everything I’m doing, but when I find out, I swear the most brutal revenge will take place.
Bren scratches his head. “I’ll leave an envelope with the key inside at the desk and they’ll give it to you once you get here.”
My adrenaline surges. She’s gonna show up here tonight at the hotel. Not the venue, but here.
It makes sense she wouldn’t go to the show but come here instead because Leon told her I needed to focus on getting to the next level and she was a distraction. He even noted the fight she got into with Zara.
Therefore, Livianna wouldn’t be allowed to visit me anymore at any concerts. Not until we were able to carry a full headlining tour around multiple countries and Zara’s band was off the lineup as the opening act.
A headlining tour for a relatively new band across different continents is basically unheard of, but he assured Livianna with his reach, influence, and power, he could make it happen.
Hell, we were already booking new gigs as the main act in cities all over, but now things are really picking up.
He told her if she trusted him and followed his instructions, Mayhem would be the biggest rock band to hit the ground since Guns N’ Roses. She agreed with his explanation and promised me it wouldn’t affect our relationship.
She left before our gig that night. It was devastating to me and I still haven’t recovered.
I wanna see her, so I try to process how sneaking her into my room tonight can work. Leon won’t know she’s here, so it could happen. I just have to tell Bren not to let anyone know.
Fucking hell, I miss her so damn much. How can I help make this occur? One thing is for sure. Leon can’t find out about it.
Bren hangs up and finds his shirt. “We’re coming back here to party once we’re done, right?”
“Yeah.” I push my laptop away and rest back against the chair. “What time is she getting in?”
“Who?” Bren stops mid-action and stares at me.
“Livianna. She’s coming here tonight.” My phone chimes with an incoming message.
Lily: You can count on celebrating with me soon. I’ll be sure to connect once you’re comfortable in your bed.
Me: Good, I wanna feel like you’re in my arms as I close my eyes.
Lily: Callum, it’ll be better than that. It’ll be like you’re falling asleep inside me.
Me: Don’t tease me, love.
Lily: Never. I promise you the best fantasy of your life. I’ll see you later.
Her mentioning being with me makes my dick grow. I need to be with her and show her how much I love her. This time away from her has proven to me she’s the only woman I’ll ever love and want.
I gaze up at Bren. “Guns, you can lie to me and tell me she’s not gonna be here, but I know she is. What time is she getting in so I know how long I’ve got up on stage before I can bolt out of there and come back here to her?”
“Ah, bro. Don’t tell her you figured it out. She’ll kill me.”
“I’ll act shocked.”
“She’s not coming in tonight.” He pulls his shirt over his head and through his arms. “She thought it would be better to show up in the morning.”
“Why?”
“She doesn’t want people realizing you’re racing away because she’s in town. We’re gonna party after the concert as planned so people see you celebrating, and I’ll leave a key for her at the front desk. Everyone will be sleeping and she’ll get to the room early.”
“Good. Keep it that way. Nobody will see her if she comes then, and I don’t wanna ruin her surprise.”
“Done, but now that you know, I’m gonna stay out of the way. You two can have the entire suite. I’ll get another room on my own.”
“You don’t have to, but do what you want.”
He tucks in his shirt and sweeps the place with his gaze. “Our rooms are far enough away that I wouldn’t hear you two. Yeah, let me think about it.”
“If it helps, I plan on staying in bed locked away with her all day.” I pick up a menu on the table where I’m sitting. “If she gets hungry and wants room service, I’ll make sure your door is closed. You won’t even hear us.”
“Deal. We’ll throw a party tonight. I’ll hook up with some chick after everyone leaves and you can wait for Livianna to get here in the morning.”
My heart rate picks up and I smile for the first time since I saw her last. “Sounds like the perfect birthday present.”
Hawke’s in the middle of a drum solo and every time he kicks the bass drum, the lights flash on and the crowd is visible to me from the stage. I clap my hands overhead to get the audience involved.
As they engage, I run the length of the stage and back, pumping them up. “Come on, let me see ya out there!”
Once they’re all involved, I step to the side to get a drink of water. As I’m placing the bottle down, the room brightens.
I spot Zara and Sebastian near the back, staring straight at me as if they know something I don’t.
Why the fuck is he here? Wait. Livianna’s coming to see me.
This is too much of a coincidence. Does Leon know? My stomach tightens and my throat compresses.
Fucking hell. What if he does? What if he has Sebastian here to…
Oh, hell no!
Bren and Cooper join Hawke, signaling I should be getting ready to sing, but a searing wave of unease snakes up my spine, burning me to my core.
I miss my cue.
I’ve never done that. The guys glance at each other and continue playing.
I jump in with the next verse, picking up as if I meant to do it. I turn my back to the crowd to try to shake away this gut reaction that something terrible is in the works.
Bren’s eyes narrow in on me. He mouths, “You okay?”
I shift toward the crowd, pound my fist on my heart, and focus on finishing the song.
It’s jarring, my life and all at stake.
My love, those lies…
Oh, I’m sorry I always make mistakes.
When it feels dark and hard to go on, you paint my skies so bright.
In my moments of hell, you’re my heartbeat, you are my light.
In the echo of your laughter, in your soft whispers through the night,
Forever, I’ll hold you in my arms where everything is so right.
They can try to hurt us, take their swings.
I’ll do what I need to protect you. I’ll do it with all my might.
As the stars fade and the dawn breaks, I give you angel wings.
Go ahead now and take my escape.
Trust, I love you always, even with every bad choice this stupid boy makes.
Hawke and Cooper cut out and Bren holds the last chords, letting the song melt away.
“Good night, Philly! Until next time.” The lights go down and I race off the stage.
Uncle John hands me a towel to wipe my face. “You missed your line.”
“It wasn’t that noticeable.” I dry off with the cloth. “Why are you looking at me like you have awful news?”
He glances down. “Leon’s here. He wants to see you.”
All my nerves leap. “Fucking hell. I was afraid that’s what you were gonna say. Where is he?”