Copyright © 2018 by Kelli McCracken
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Cover art by Susan Garwood with Wicked Women Designs
Created with Vellum
To the rockers at heart . . .
and the bands we love
Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Afterword
Acknowledgments
Contact Information
About the Author
Also by Kelli McCracken
Prologue
~Mia~
Curiosity and Desire.
I’ve always heard they go hand in hand, both courting chaos as much as peace. The latter would not exist without the former, but the former could extinguish the latter in a heartbeat. Perhaps it was true.
No. It was true, and it was the reason I came to Tucson.
I told myself I’d made this journey for the concert, but it was just an added bonus. I knew the real reason I had come. My curiosity brought me here. My desire kept me from leaving.
Concerts. Crowds. Rock stars. They are my specialty because music is in my blood. Anyone who is part of the entertainment industry knows this. My paternal grandparents created a legacy, one I was born to own, one I was raised to lead.
Yet here I was, chasing old ghosts.
The car door closed, sending my thoughts scattering. Andi eased against the seat and crossed her legs. As she checked her phone for messages, I admired her. Andi was more than my assistant and more than my right hand. She was my dearest friend, and if the stars had aligned right, she would have been my sister.
I still claimed her as one. It was more than the fact that she’d lived with my family since we were twelve. Of all the people I’d met in my life, I knew Andi had my back. She would fight to the death for me, and I for her.
Sitting on the edge of the seat, she regarded the glass partition separating the chauffeur from the dimly lit passenger compartment. Then, she focused on the only other occupant in the vehicle. Me.
After an extended period of silence, she feigned a smile and cleared her throat. “It was a great concert.”
“Yes, it definitely was.”
Silence fell again. I was too lost for words to hold a conversation. Instead, I listened as the tires passed over sand and dirt. The road leading away from the outdoor arena south of Tucson reminded me of our long journey home. I had plenty to occupy my mind for every mile ahead of us.
“D hasn’t changed much since the last time we saw him. How long has it been now?”
Andi’s question left me struggling for an answer. I did my best mental math to count up the time. It was when I realized the significance of what she had asked.
“It’s been four years to the day.”
“Four years, huh?” Andi mumbled while digging through the oversized purse beside her. “So did you get everything settled?”
“Yes, we’re good now. I told him I know the whole story and everyone’s part in it.”
“I commend you for coming here, Mia. I know it wasn’t easy. Maybe you can put closure to this whole mess. Isn’t it the main reason we came?”
“Yes, it is.”
“But D really wanted you to see this new band too, didn’t he?”
I turned my eyes to the window, unsure how to answer. Andi was right. I came here to do more than see an old . . . acquaintance. Part of my trip was to scout this new rock group, Breaking Silence.
“That’s what his original letter said. Tonight, he confirmed it was part of the reason he wanted to see me.”
“So he wants you to help Breaking Silence?” Andi asked while uncrossing her legs.
“It’s what he was hoping.”
“And what do you think?”
Silence fell again for a moment. I focused on the silver blur of the guardrail as we proceeded down the interstate. A few years had passed since I managed a band. Even though the last band turned into a great success, my heart splintered in the process. And once again, I had come full circle, because that same splintered heart is what brought me to Tucson.
“Breaking Silence is what Grandfather would have called a diamond in the rough. It’s why he created Music Haven.” I glanced at Andi, noting the dip in her brow. Was she worried? Probably, but she was more likely calling my bluff. She just hadn’t spoken the words I knew she was waiting to say.
So what if I took on a new band? It wouldn’t be a big deal. I’d make sure of it. I was groomed for this. Success ran in the family. By now, I’d learned from my previous mistakes. There could be no repeat performance.
“I think they have what it takes, and I would definitely like for them to come to Music Haven.”
“But there’s more to it than that, Mia. If your voice wasn’t such a dead giveaway, the look on your face backstage would have been clue enough.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Oh, yes you do,” Andi chuckled. Then she gave me a knowing look. “Ayden McAllister.”
And there they were—the words I was waiting to hear. They made me squirm in my seat because she was right. It didn’t mean I had to confess, or would I. Admitting as much meant I hadn’t learned anything from the past. Was history about to repeat itself?
My heart couldn’t take it.
Still, I’d made a promise. I couldn’t go back on my word. What happened next would have to be on a professional level.
“All I’m saying is I want Ayden and his band at Music Haven. The sooner they are, the quicker I can get to work.”
“I understand. Just don’t deny what you are feeling. It’s time to put the past behind you, Mia. Isn’t that what you came here to do?”
“Yes.”
Andi’s lips lifted in a smile. “Good. Now it’s time for a new chapter in your life. I have a good feeling about this one.”
I didn’t take her words lightly. She’d never said them about anyone I found desirable. Knowing she was now had me questioning my decision.
There was no doubt that I could make Breaking Silence successful. It was the six-foot, dark-haired, toned and tatted lead singer that had me second-guessing myself. Ayden McAllister. One difference existed between him and the man I’d come to see tonight.
D was a part of my past, but Ayden . . . I wanted him more than I’d ever wanted anything. Resisting him would not be easy. It would be impossible.
&n
bsp; Ayden had awakened the desire in my soul.
Chapter 1
~Ayden~
To the members of Breaking Silence,
Greetings, gentlemen. My name is Andrea Williams, and I’m writing on behalf of the Brooks family. Miss Amelia Brooks, owner and CEO of Music Haven recently had the opportunity to see your performance in Tucson. She would like to formally invite your group to stay with us at one of our many guest suites at the retreat. If you are unfamiliar with whom we are, Music Haven is the renown—
Paper rattled as I clutched the letter in my hand. I couldn’t read anymore. Instead, I glanced out the window of the limousine. The terrain near I-15 changed from coarse desert sand to mountains.
Arizona was nothing like Tennessee. The grass was scarce, trees were sparse, and the air was dry. One thing made up for the lack of greenery. It was the fact that there wasn’t any snow. We’d left a day shy of a major winter storm, our second one in January. I wouldn’t miss the snow, but I wasn’t sure I’d enjoy the sand either.
Scanning the letter again, I wasn’t reading it as much as I was admiring the fact that I had it. Two days prior, it showed up at the apartment I shared with Bentley, my oldest friend and the drummer for our band. The letter arrived in a moment when I needed something positive to happen.
The instant I noticed the sender’s name and address, it was like winning the lottery. I was holding the winning ticket, one I hoped would turn into the success I wanted to achieve.
It hadn’t taken long to tear the envelope open or to read every word. Part of me swore it was a joke because my luck was some of the shittiest. Bentley was known to pull off a good prank or two. He assured me he had nothing to do with the letter, but it sent me further into denial.
And to think this person who’d written the letter doubted I would recognize the family name. The Brooks were legends in the music industry. Everyone knew them.
Brandon Brooks built the resort from the ground up. It’s where some of the best bands in the business got their lucky break, and if a person wanted to be successful, they would want the attention of the family. Getting into the legendary location was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity because it was by invitation only.
Now the guys and I had earned one of those coveted spots.
All thoughts vanished from my mind as the grip I had on the paper loosened. It was yanked from my hand just as I looked at Bentley. He shook his head at me then pointed to the letter. “You still staring at this thing?”
“Obviously. So what?”
“Still in denial, aren’t you?”
I smirked at him. “And you aren’t?”
He lowered his gaze to the letter as if he were reading it. “Shocked, yes. Denial, no. We’re good, Ayden. All we need is a shot.” He flicked the letter with his fingers. “This is it, man. This is our lucky break.”
“Nothing is written in stone. We got invited to stay, but we’ve received no guarantee of getting a contract.”
“It’s coming. We just need to prove to this Brooks chick that we have what it takes.”
Shaking my head, I looked at the seat and slumped my shoulders. “Believe me when I say, I hope you’re right.”
Bentley was a dreamer. I wasn’t knocking him for that trait, but dreams didn’t pay bills. The apartment we shared wasn’t the greatest, but it was better than living at home, or worse, out on the streets.
Someday, I would want more. I would need more. Bachelorhood had its perks, but I didn’t plan on being single forever. Still, I wasn’t in any hurry to settle down or have a family.
If this invitation didn’t lead to a contract, I would have to face facts. Being a rock star wasn’t in the cards for me.
I glanced around the limo at my other bandmates. Our bass guitarist, Jason, was focused on the terrain outside the window as he spoke on the phone with his mom. Ryan had his earphones in, pretending to play the lead guitar to whichever song he was listening to on his phone. He did it out of habit.
Both were oblivious to the discussion Bentley and I were having. Yet they played their part in my guilt. I was the one that convinced them to take a chance on the band. If we failed to get a contract, I wouldn’t be the only one who was disappointed.
Financially, I’d be in a better place had I not met my ex-girlfriend. She had no problem spending my money when the guys and I first got gigs. What an idiot I’d been in that relationship. I was blinded by her faults every time she slid onto my cock.
Six months. That’s how long our relationship lasted. I’d wasted half a year on her only to get burned in the end. When it came to women, I no longer had any hopes of a meaningful relationship. Maybe I was still too young, or perhaps it was the fact that my ex-girlfriend found another man more desirable. I was out there busting my ass, taking every gig the guys and I could get, while she was searching for her next meal ticket. It infuriated me.
“I think we’re getting closer.”
Bentley pointed out the window, but all I could see was the sun setting and the warm hues it emitted across the sky. The sight was extraordinary as it slowly began its descent behind one of the mountains.
Once the limo slowed enough to gain my attention, I noticed a dirt road in the distance. It seemed to wind its way between a few foothills. The woman who’d written the letter explained that we wouldn’t be able to find the location on our own. It’s why she arranged for the limo to pick us up.
As soon as the chauffeur turned onto the road, I glanced at Bentley. “It feels like we’re being taken to the middle of nowhere. You sure this isn’t some type of joke?”
“Dude, I had nothing to do with this. You think I could afford the plane tickets, much less a limousine?”
“True.”
My suspicion was getting worse. All of this had me on edge, not that it mattered now. The further we rode, the closer we came to the hills. They appeared small in the distance. Now they were towering above the vehicle.
“Instead of blaming me for pulling a prank, I’d worry about someone leading us out here to take us out. Maybe a certain someone is getting revenge. I could see—”
“Don’t you dare say her name,” I grumbled. “Besides, she has no reason to get revenge. She’s the one who stepped out on me. Twice.”
“Yeah, but you heard some of the shit she did to her former boyfriends. That girl is vindictive as fuck.”
Bentley had a point, which made my anxiety increase. Screw it. If this was the way I was going out so be it, but I’d do it fighting.
My nerves settled once we drove between the twin boulders. In its place, I was filled with wonder. Past the bend in the road, a gigantic building sat on the edge of the property. A shale wall surrounded it, but the entrance provided enough of a view to see what was on the other side.
The building regained my interest a second later. From what I could tell, there was a door twenty feet from the top that led to a set of steps. Beyond the building was what appeared to be some type of housing. Other various buildings stood sporadically.
Just above the massive structure, lights flashed from a beam. Some were bright, and some were an array of colors, but all seemed to follow a pattern. It reminded me of the lights at the last concert where we performed a few weeks ago.
We were a few hundred feet away when I rolled down the window. Music filtered inside, and from what I could tell, it was coming from the large building. The song being performed sounded familiar, but I was too stunned by what I saw to figure out which one it was.
I studied everything in my sight. This place had a reputation for being pristine, but it exceeded my expectations. Music Haven was a small community within itself, and every inch of it was hidden behind a section of hills and large boulders.
Thoughts raced through my mind as the limo stopped. It was really happening. We’d arrived at one of the most legendary spots in music history.
As I stepped out of the limo, I studied the largest building, taking in the concrete walls towering above us. It reminded m
e of the football stadiums in Nashville, except it was bigger. Music and people flowed from the opening in the center.
I surveyed the area, taking a closer look at all the buildings. It was too much. People were moving about, and not one of them was paying attention to us. Several had on shirts with the same logo I’d noticed on the letterhead, and just above it were letters that read STAFF.
Bentley entered my peripheral as he stood beside me. Jason and Ryan joined us a second later. They appeared to be as shocked by what they saw as I was. I wanted to ask them what they thought, but the chauffeur approached us.
“Gentlemen, my instructions were to show you to the main arena and take your luggage to where you’ll be staying. Someone will be with you shortly.” He made a few steps toward the large building and motioned us to follow.
We walked through the entrance, across the tiled floor of a room. There were doors on the opposite walls that looked like a fire escape. Beside them were elevator doors. I didn’t notice an upper level, which confused me. Why would there be elevators or sets of steps if another floor didn’t exist?
Proceeding through the room, I caught a glimpse of the restrooms before we came to a hallway. Every step we made, the music grew louder. I recognized the song and the band performing it just seconds before we reached the end. Cold Fire. They were a kick-ass group who’d been hot on the market for the last few years.
Curbing my envy, I stared around the building, disbelief flooding me everywhere I turned. Red carpet covered the floor of what appeared to be a bar. Counters lined the walkway for at least a hundred feet before bending in opposite directions. They stretched another hundred feet, curved once again, and stopped fifty feet later.