AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Personally, I think Ronin looks way better with a face full of Halloween makeup; what do you think?” I chuckled as he gave me the middle finger.
“I love you, Ronin!” someone in the audience screamed.
“I love you too!” he yelled back.
I looked around and saw that everyone was ready to go.
“All right then, folks, are you ready?” I asked.
The replying screams bounced off the walls and reverberated through my bones.
“I didn’t hear you!” I yelled into the mic. “I said, are you fucking ready?”
The next wave of cheers and screams erupted like a soundwave tsunami, and I swore the entire stage moved.
“That’s more like it! Let’s start with ‘Ragged Edge.’”
Holls strummed the opening guitar chord, Ronin joined in on his bass, and Faise rounded it out with a slamming drumbeat.
Then, there was no more time for nerves.
I belted out the opening chorus, embracing the energy of the crowd, feeding off it, feeling the ebb and flow that surged in my veins.
I glanced to my left and spotted Van in the wings, holding my baby, barely visible in the shadows. But I felt him like he was right there beside me.
It hit me just then that I took for granted he’d always be there. My rock, my inspiration. Seeing and feeling his presence always gave me that extra oomph on stage, but tonight?
I made love to that mic.
And someday soon, I’d be doing the same to Van.
* * *
After we’d performed the songs from our first two albums, including “Filthy Pain” and “Nine Gone Wrong,” we took a short break.
When we returned, I grabbed my acoustic guitar and sat on one of the stools Ace had set up for us.
I ran a hand through my sweat-drenched curls and took a deep, cleansing breath before I spoke into the mic.
“We’ve got a new song for you tonight. And when I mean new, I mean no one, except for you, has heard this before. It’s a heartfelt piece I hope you love as much as we do.”
Whoops and hollers rang out.
“But first, I want to introduce you to the person who wrote this song. He’s the man who made tonight’s event possible. This is someone very special—” my throat nearly closed over, but I swallowed past the lump. “He’s very special to me and the guys. For me personally, he’s my muse and the most incredible man I’ve ever met. Please give a warm welcome to Ivan Cross.”
The rumble of applause rolled through the venue as Van walked onstage with my guitar in hand.
In his usual denim outfit and cowboy boots, no Halloween costume in sight, he was the best damn thing I’d ever seen. He smiled at me and then waved to the audience.
I was so excited to perform with him I nearly slipped off the damn stool and fell on my ass.
Van took the seat beside me, and our knees brushed against each other.
One touch, and I was vibrating. It was all I could do not to reach over.
The lights dimmed, the orange glow setting off the dark stage.
“Someone better be recording this,” I commented into the mic.
