Chapter 3
Riot
The band finishes up with the meet and greet crowd, and I’m home free. I couldn’t give two fucks about the studio execs and the press that made it back to the rooms tonight. All I have to do is wait for Kelsey, finish up with Neil, and—
“What a show.” The man’s voice from behind me is followed by his hand on my shoulder. “L.A. Riot never fails to impress. Not on the books. Not in person.”
“Carmine.” I plaster a smile on for the head honcho of Savant Records, despite feeling annoyed that I’m being thwarted before I can escape to my dressing room to wait for Kelsey.
The older man is dressed head to toe in tailored Armani. Silver threads through the dark hair at his temples. His fake bronzed skin crinkles around the eyes. “Have you met my daughter, Sonatina?”
The girl he gestures to steps forward holding a bouquet of red and white roses. Her eyes brighten and her lips curve. She hands me the flowers and kisses me on both cheeks. “Great concert.”
“Thanks.” I manhandle the roses, not sure what to do with them. I’m used to being handed a bottle of Jack, not a bouquet.
“She’s going to be the biggest pop star on the planet,” Carmine boasts as I find the nearest empty surface to put the roses down.
“Stop it.” She flutters her lashes as she touches his arm. “You know it embarrasses me when you talk me up.”
“You deserve to be treated like a star,” he says. “Look at my girl. With these looks and that voice, she’s going to be the biggest star on the planet.”
“I’ve heard you on the radio.” She sings a pop number that is getting a lot of love. The complexity of the simple lyrics floored me, to be honest. “It’s a great song. Who was your writer?”
“Me. I write all my own lyrics.” She takes my hand. “It’s such a pleasure to meet you. When Daddy told me you’d agreed to work together—”
“Sorry, what?” I concentrate on Carmine. And did she refer to her father as daddy?
He smiles at her indulgently.
I wasn’t aware Carmine had a weakness until now.
“I’ve booked some studio time,” Carmine announces. “Once the tour is done. You and my Sonatina are going to record a duet. Your fans will love it.”
“Isn’t it awesome?” She hugs my arm, clinging to me like we’re more than two strangers meeting for the first time. “You. Me. A duet about two lovers...”
The way she says it—like a come-on—makes me extricate my arm from her grip. I have to shake her off to get free. “I’m sorry, I was planning on getting L.A. Riot back into the studio. Producing another album.”
Hopefully by then Neil will be out of rehab and his addiction will be in check. I don’t want to think about L.A. Riot without him. He’s been my bassist for so long, my friend for longer. Watching him losing his demons has been hell.
“You’re still going to do that.” With an arm around my shoulders Carmine leads me a few feet away from his daughter.
“But you will also record this song with my Sonatina. She, like the rest of the world, is obsessed with you. It’s what she wants.
What I promised her. And your contract says you’ll work with whoever I tell you to. ”
That might be true. But that doesn’t stop me from dragging my feet. I agreed on paper, planning to put it off indefinitely if it ever came up.
“As long as Savant Records is footing the bill, I own you. Understood?”
“Yes, Sir.” I say as civilly as I can muster.
“I’m sure neither of us is averse to making money.” He grins as he indicates she should join us again. “Or increasing your exposure. This collaboration will make us all a lot of money, you mark my words.”
“I believe you.” And perhaps it won’t be so bad, except… “I write my own songs.”
“And Sonatina writes hers,” he says. “You can work together on it.”
“Yeah, okay.” I meant it when I complimented her writing skills. She has talent. Vocal range too. It’s not the direction I planned on going, but the label always wins. It’s why I want to start my own. And this extra income will help ensure that dream becomes a reality.
Sonatina teeters over in her ridiculously high gold heels.
“He said he can’t wait to work with you, sweetheart,” Carmine announces.
“Yay.” She squeals. Grabbing my shoulders, she jumps. I’m forced to catch her, clutching a handful of bare ass cheek when her tiny, pearlescent dress rides up.
Carmine doesn’t bat an eyelid.
Kelsey steps back into the room, her gaze immediately seeking and locking on mine as this woman I don’t know or care to know wraps her legs around my waist and presses her mouth to mine.
I drop Sonatina like she’s fire, but the clinger takes her time sliding down my body, pressing her curves against my torso. I barely manage to evade her attempt to grab my cock in front of her dad. My boss.
Fuck my life.
“If you’ll excuse me, I need to talk to Kelsey about kicking off the next leg of the tour,” Carmine says and leaves me to deal with Sonatina. Thankfully he doesn’t appear to have noticed his daughter’s antics.
Kelsey, on the other hand, is staring daggers at me. Jealousy is hot on her.
“I hear you’re taking off right after this.” Sonatina digs through her purse. Finding a pouch of gum, she unwraps a stick and makes a show of placing it on her tongue.
I focus on the tension between Kelsey and Carmine. On the subtle glower Kelsey sends my direction as she nods along with whatever orders he’s giving her. She does realize I don’t give a shit about anyone but her by now, doesn’t she?
“For your brother’s wedding, right?”
She catches my attention with the wedding word, since no one is supposed to be aware of Rogue and Ivy’s secret nuptials. “That’s news to me. I’m going to hang out with my family and play a few rounds of football with my brothers.”
“You can trust me to keep a secret.” She touches my shoulder and glances up at me through her thick, glittery eyelashes. “I can’t wait to meet them.”
Never going to happen.