Rise (Rock God 1)

Ace’s strong, dark hand reaches for me, and I take it. He opens the door of the black SUV for me and I slide in.

“Where to?”

I reach into my bag for my cigarettes and remember Rhys took them. “Do you have a cigarette?” I sniff, not caring that I’ve completely humiliated myself in front of this man. He opens the glove compartment and hands me a pack of Marlboro Reds. My hands shake as I open it.

“Here, let me, Gia.” He rips open the plastic wrapper and hands it back to me, and my eyes get blurry again.

“Thank you.” I shake my head, trying to stop crying, as I fish around for my lighter. “Can you take me to the airport, please?”

“You sure?” I can’t look at him. I’ll start to doubt myself, or feel worse, because somehow, I’ve started to grow fond of him. Christ, even Rafe looked sad.

“Yes.” Grabbing the lighter, I finally lean my head back and watch the rain on the windows, wondering if that’s an omen. It seems like Rhys and I are always in the rain.

I can’t go back to Los Angeles. It’s a week until Axel’s wedding. He might try to kill Rhys.

I sit up and text.

ME: I’M COMING TO YOU

Three dots appear.

JULIANNA: THANK GOD

I toss my phone back into my bag, light my cigarette, and let the lights of the passing cars lull me into knowing that this is right.

RHYS

Present – Thirty-five years old

London, England

“We love you, London!” I look out into the adoring crowd. Thousands of fans singing your music is something I will never get used to but am always grateful for. I’m sweaty and fucking amped up as I make my way off the stage. I’m taking Gia, and we’re locking ourselves in until we fly to Berlin tomorrow.

Everyone closes in on me. BT takes my earpiece and Dallas hands me a towel as I pull off my T-shirt, looking for her.

“Rock God, I love you. Can you sign my tits?” A woman who is clearly British, along with her leggy friend, have somehow gotten backstage and she tears off her T-shirt.

They both squeal as she hands me a marker. I barely register as I write Rock and God on each tit. It’s been a thing I’ve done for years. I feel Sebastian and Hunter following as they zoom in with the camera.

“Have a good one, darling.” I turn and take the bottle of Jack that Fred, one of our roadies, hands me.

“Where’s Gia?” I look around, then straight at the camera, because out of anyone, Sebastian would know where she is. “Gia. Where is she?” I yell at him.

Hunter walks over to Rafe. He’s deep in conversation with Ace who has a bunch of extra security on hand tonight.

I look over my shoulder at Ammo. He’s giving the leggy one his number on her tits.

The crowd still roars their appreciation as Rafe walks over. “Let’s move,” he says.

“What the fuck, man? Where is Gia?” Cold dread, like someone dumped a bucket of ice water on me, makes me almost grab my chest. He looks me in the eyes. That’s Rafe—he never looks away. I wonder if I look as crazy as I feel, because the look on his face makes me turn.

Ace grabs me, but I have rage on my side as I lunge for Sebastian. “What did you do, you fuck? Where is she?”

He drops the camera just in time to save his eye as I take him to the ground.

“What did you tell her?” I slam my fist in his face, and the satisfying crack of his nose breaking makes me only want to hurt him more.

“Fuck, Granger. Dude.” Hands are pulling me off him. He sits up and smiles. Fucking dick has a broken nose, fat lip, and blood everywhere and still, he fucking smiles at me.

“I’d start talking and stop smiling,” I spit at him.

He doesn’t engage, only puts his head back and pinches his nose.

Hunter, who’s holding the camera and filming, looks around the lens at me, then at Sebastian. “Jesus Christ, Granger, you fucked up his nose.”

Ace and his team are moving me toward the back exit. “Fuck you, Sebastian.”

“I’m suing your ass, Granger. You don’t deserve her.” And I snap. See red. Growling like a caged animal, I try to break free.

“Granger, we need to get you out of here, man.” Ace pushes me back as I hear people scream, or maybe it’s me as I try to fight my way loose.

Sebastian takes a towel wrapped in ice for his nose. “You think I’d let her end up with a prima donna like you? Think again, Rock God.”

“Motherfuck—” I lunge again as Rafe steps in to push me back.

“Get him to the hospital and fix his fucking nose,” he says to one of the medics who’s trying to help Sebastian sit. I have no choice but to move backward.