by Kylie Walker
“Yes,” Roman responded levelly. “Trevor? You up for this?”
“I am.”
Hans glanced at his partner who gave a nod and shifted his weight, staying near the door.
“Tell us what happened, then.” He clicked on the recorder and placed it in the center of the gray table.
Roman leaned back in the uncomfortably hard chair. He gave his friend one more, fleeting, glance, before clearing his throat.
“Well,” he began. “We’re in a band, Infinity Prism. We are doing press here before our tour begins in Amsterdam in a few weeks.”
“What were you doing in a dark alley at night?” Hans quizzed.
Roman swallowed hard and continued. “We’d just finished up an interview at a local entertainment station. I received a private phone call that my sister had passed away earlier today.”
“How did she die?” Hans showed no emotions as he robotically asked the questions.
“That’s none of your damn business,” Roman hissed, stewing with a fresh batch of intense anger.
“She died in a car accident,” Trevor answered for him. “That’s irrelevant to the story.”
“It’s important if it leads to why you were down a dark alleyway in a city foreign to you.”
Roman bounced his right leg under the table. It was a nervous habit when he was under serious amounts of pressure.
“Our flight was still several hours away, so we decided to find a pub and have a drink, maybe get a burger or something. We were talking about Stephanie, my sister and I guess we walked farther than we thought.”
“Okay...” Hans nodded so that Roman would continue.
“We started down an alley,” Roman shrugged. “And we just kept going, looking for a pub.”
“Nothing was catching our eye,” Trevor interjected. “One turn led to another.”
“Continue,” Hans stated as he glanced at the recorder. Roman had the feeling the cop was waiting for something, anything, to come spilling out that he could use against them.
“Look, I was numb from hearing about my sister. I just wanted a drink.”
“I can imagine,” Hans yawned.
Roman was angry. His blood was boiling, and this guy was making things worse. How could he really have such a total disregard for anybody else’s feelings? It’s not like he knew Roman or his sister, but he could show even a tiny speck of sympathy.
“Anyway,” he continued through clenched teeth. “I thought I heard a noise behind us, looked around. No one was there. Then I heard it again. That’s when thugs in masks rushed up behind us, held us at knifepoint and demanded that we walk with them.”
“Do you have enemies or owe anybody any money?” Hans raised a cynical eyebrow.
“No!’ Roman and Trevor exclaimed at the same time.
“There is no reason for anyone to harm you?” Hans quizzed.
“Absolutely not.” Roman shook his head defiantly.
“We have to keep you overnight,” Hans verbalized, not even remotely apologetic about the situation.
“What?” Roman and Trevor shouted in unison. “Why?”
“We need to receive the surveillance footage from the security cameras. We have cause to detain you on assault and battery charges.”
Roman shook his head and held up a hand. “This is bullshit! Those guys were trying to rob us.”
“That may be so,” Hans shrugged. “But there’s nothing I can do about it. The law is the law.”
“We need to call our manager. Get our legal team on this. You have no right to hold us here.”
Hans rose to his full height. “We can make it two nights if you keep it up.”
Roman bit his tongue. He didn’t want to get himself in any worse trouble than he already was. These were severe charges, and if they stuck somehow, he might be facing prison time in an Amsterdam lock up.
“Come with me,” Hans waved, motioning for Roman and Trevor to get up.
They shuffled down a stark, sterile hallway lit with gray, flickering fluorescent light streaming above their heads. The lights bore into Roman’s head, pulling at his grief, punching him with a threatened migraine.
“In here,” a warden took over, shoving the pair into a tiny cell and closing it and locking it behind them.
Roman leaned his hands over the bars. “Don’t we get a phone call?”
The security guard gave him a pessimistic stare and swiftly turned around without responding.
Trevor groaned, leaning back up against the iron bars. “This place is a shit hole.”
“We’ve got to get out of here,” Roman agreed. “I don’t even have any way to call my parents and explain to them what happened.”
Trevor expelled a giant puff of air, glancing up at the ceiling. “I’m sure that the media will take care of that for us.”
Roman walked over to sit on the cold metal bed in the corner of the room that had a dirty stained mattress on the top and a rough looking blue blanket.
“I don’t even want to sit down on this thing,” he admitted and scratched the top of his blond head. “I’m sure there are all kinds of STD’s to catch in this room.”
“We probably won’t get much sleep tonight, that’s for sure,” Trevor chuckled at the irony.
“At least we are in a room by ourselves,” Roman mentioned, trying above all else to keep his head above water in the dire situation.
He sat on the edge of the cot and angled his body so his back rest against the frame, with one foot on the floor. He started at the dank overhead lights until his mind began a crisp replay of his sister’s smile. Of her laugh. Of her running after him when he’d stolen her cellphone and raced down the block with it. He drifted in and out of memories of her when another face wiggled its way into his mind’s eye.
Soft eyes. Flawless skin. A kind smile.
Chloe.
The lights seared in Roman’s eyes. He blinked against the shock of it, figuring he must have dozed off. With a start, he realized he was lying on the dirty, cold jail floor. With a groan, he pushed to his feet. His body stiff and sore as if he’d run a marathon the day before.
“Get up,” a male voice announced in a demanding tone.
Roman rubbed the sandpaper from his eyes and looked for Trevor, who was sitting up groggily from the edge of the cot across the room.
“What’s going on?” He croaked.
“You’re being released.” The guard didn’t look at them as he unlocked the door.
“Released?” Roman exchanged a confused glance with Trevor. Nothing was that easy. “Why released?”
“Do you want me to write a novel on it or are you going to follow me?” The guard snapped.
Roman raised his eyebrows and grinned at Trevor. “You don’t have to tell us twice.”
They followed the guard down a hallway with water dripping from the ceiling and plopping into a puddle in the corners. They ventured into a room where a woman behind a plexiglass desk gave them release papers.
“Cleared on all counts,” she stated. “Surveillance footage has determined your innocence.”
Roman gave Trevor a bear hug and a brotherly slap on the back.
“Let’s get you home,” Trevor smiled.
Roman couldn’t believe that they were free to go. The universe had cut him some slack after all. Now it was time to go home to be with his family. He knew he would probably sleep the entire plane ride home.
Trevor was listening to his cell phone messages once they retrieved their belongings. Roman couldn’t wait to get a shower, but for now, he needed to rest his weary mind.
“Just got a call from Burt,” Trevor relayed. “He said that we would have to release a press statement on the incident before we can leave.”
“Fine,” Roman said. “Whatever we need to do to clear our reputation and get me to my parent’s. It’s where I need to be.”
Chapter Six
“You look beautiful.”
Ashley smiled as she approached Chloe before a ful
l-length mirror, grinning at her with a sisterly fondness.
“Thanks,” Chloe smiled back, glancing at both her own reflection and her sister through the mirror. “To be honest, I’m kind of nervous.”
Should she be looking pretty at a funeral, or was understated the way to go?
Ashley frowned. “Nervous? Why?”
Chloe inhaled a deep breath and turned away from the mirror, afraid of what might be revealed in her heart through her piercing blue eyes.
“I don’t know...” she trailed off, glancing at the floor while she pushed a strand of her shoulder length blonde hair off her cheek. Her hair had never been this long before; she preferred it short. Ever since her father’s diagnosis, she hadn’t taken the time to get her hair cut. She had a favorite salon and was sure that Sandy, her hairdresser was missing the tips.
“Are you anxious about seeing Roman again?” Ashley met Chloe’s gaze when she didn’t answer. Chloe marveled at her sister’s keen ability to read into her thoughts without any kind of provocation.
“Yeah,” she whispered with a slight grin. “I think that must be it.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Ashley cupped her hand over her sister’s shoulder. “You’ll be fine. I bet he’ll be glad to see you, too.” Her eyes twinkled with sincere kindness.
Would he? They hadn’t spoken since leaving Hawaii. Not even a text message, though she’d certainly thought about it often—sending him one text just to see if he’d respond. But she never had.
“Do you think so? I mean, with everything going on...”
“Right, but sometimes a familiar face goes a long way in a time like this. You spent months on the road together. It might be a comfort to see you again, you know? Just like old times.”
Chloe reeled Ashley in for a hug. “Thank you,” she mumbled into her shirt. “I can always count on you for the best pep talks.”
“What are sisters for?” Ashley shrugged humbly.
The funeral was in two hours. She was preparing to head over to Trevor and Emelia’s house to travel to the service together. The rest of the band members would be joining them at the church.
“Okay, I’m going,” Chloe said and gave Ashley another hug before walking through the front door.
She didn’t understand where these nervous jitters were coming from, but she hated the idea of seeing Roman in pain. Hopefully being with Emelia would calm her down. She hadn’t had much time to reflect or share with her friend, and she missed her company. Em needed to fill her in on all the Amsterdam drama, too. Hopefully, soon, they could catch a drink and shoot the breeze.
A half hour later, Chloe pulled into the long windy driveway up to Trevor’s mansion. It was a French Tudor style, with whitewashed brick and elegant ashen colored shutters. Green ivy crawled up the sides of the garage, giving the house a cozy and quaint feel.
“Here goes nothing,” Chloe mumbled under her breath as she climbed out of the car.
She rang the doorbell, waiting for someone to answer. She wondered how Emelia liked living in a place like this? She was happy for her friend. There wasn’t any jealousy there. Before Trevor, Emelia had been in a destructive and unhealthy relationship with a guy named Grant whose idea of being a good partner included domestic abuse and cheating. They’d had future plans, but the more their relationship progressed, the worse Grant’s behavior became.
Emelia had been through hell, but she found her one true soul mate in Trevor and Chloe was proud to see her so happy these days.
A few seconds later, the door swung open and a somber Emelia greeted her with a hug. She was wearing a flowing black dress and black gloves. Her hair was in a simple ponytail, little diamonds in her ears. Chloe was glad she’d chosen a modest black dress with a square neckline and long sleeves.
“Hi,” Emelia whispered. “I’m so happy to see you.”
“I’m happy to see you!” Chloe responded. “I can’t believe this has happened.”
“Yeah.” Emelia sighed, her thin shoulder sloping down. She had lines around her eyes, fatigue clear in her gaze. It’s no wonder, considering her fiancé had been detained in an overseas jail, and a family friend had been killed.
“A stupid asshole cut her off in traffic; then she swerved into the other lane where a car hit her head on.”
Chloe inhaled a deep breath. “I can’t imagine the pain her family is feeling right now.”
Emelia ushered her inside and took her coat, then lead her to the main living room. A quick hush settled over the room as Trevor came in. He had grown up with Roman and been cared for by the family when he was in the foster system. He wore the same look of fatigue and strain as Chloe. Slipping an arm around his fiancée, he pulled her close and kissed the top of her head. They leaned on each other.
Chloe’s heart swelled with happiness for her friend to have something this special.
Touching Trevor’s arm, she hoped to lighten the mood, if even for a moment.
“So, jailbird. Tell me how that little snafu happened.”
Trevor grinned lightly and rubbed his forehead. “It was all a misunderstanding. We were detained until the surveillance tapes could reveal the truth and prove our innocence. Some jerks tried to rob us in the alley.” He rolled his eyes at the memory. “Thank God we got out of it.”
“Roman laid one hell of a beating on one of the guys,” Emelia mentioned. “No charges will be filed because they found knives at the scene and they were attacked first.”
“It was self-defense.” Trevor’s voice was grave.
“It’s been a hell of a few days huh?” Chloe said.
“Nothing we can do but move on,” Trevor said as he solemnly shook his head and glanced at the floor.
“We should get going,” Emelia mentioned, pointing to the door. “We definitely don’t want to be late.
“No, we don’t.” Trevor sighed as he led the way, out to the car.
It took them about half an hour to arrive at the burial site, but when Chloe glanced out the back seat passenger window, she noticed how packed the area was. Hundreds of people had come to pay their respects. It was a tragic end for a young woman with so much promise. Chloe couldn’t help but feel grateful and lucky that she was still alive, even if the circumstances of her own life weren’t always perfect.
“There’s Roman,” Trevor mentioned, wandering off to join his best friend and the rest of their band members on the front row around the grave.
Chloe had a knot in her throat. She wanted to approach Roman and tell him how sorry she was. She knew words would never be enough to wash his pain away, but it was a start. He kept his head down, and she noticed how his eyes were red around the rims.
He was trying so hard to keep it together, but as he ran a hand through his hair, she could tell that he was only a second or two from cracking.
“Come on,” Emelia whispered. “Let’s go sit down.”
Chloe nodded and followed behind her best friend. She wanted to talk to Roman, to comfort him. Her eyes lingered on him, wandering over his black suit and gray tie. Then her breath froze in her throat.
A slender woman with exotic dark hair that fell in sheets of pure silk down her back sat down next to Roman. She placed her hand on his thigh and began stroking it with affection. She used her other hand to tenderly rub his cheek with her thumb. She delicately planted a kiss on his forehead, and he responded by hugging her, embracing her in a way that let Chloe know they were more than just friends.
She didn’t know why, but a pang of remorse and regret jabbed her in the heart. Her stomach rolled. She had no grounds to feel jealous, but envy started rotting her from the inside out.
Chloe wanted to look away, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. She watched with a squared jaw as the woman continued to console Roman by stroking his back. She didn’t realize until it was too late that she had been clenching her jaw so tightly that it began to throb and ache.
Sitting down next to Emelia, she crossed her legs and inhaled a deep breath. She
could get through this. After all, she was the one who put the brakes on things with Roman before they could get started.
Choe remembered back to their time together. They’d all spend a weekend in Hawaii to celebrate the end of their first tour. It had certainly been intense, full of heat and passion, but it had been completely derived from lust, not love. Chloe wasn’t stupid enough to realize that maybe over time Roman could court her properly, but she was doing some soul searching back then.
She wanted to discover who she really was before she gave herself away to someone else, especially a man — especially a damn celebrity that every woman wanted. Roman was a decent guy, but she wasn’t sure she could handle being in a relationship with someone who would be gone as much as he would and have as many temptations. Rockers weren’t always bad boys—just look at Trevor—but she hadn’t been ready to take that chance back then.
Roman stood up, and Chloe watched him as he went to a podium, his shoulders sagging with grief. His blond hair was highlighted even more in the sun and gave him a stunning, sexy look. He cleared his throat, apparently trying to compose himself as he leaned into the microphone and addressed his friends and family, paying tribute to the only biological sister he had. The speech was so compelling and moving that when it was over, Chloe didn’t even realize that salty tears were dripping down her cheeks, leaving dried streaks of sorrow behind.
As soon as he sat back down in his seat, her heart crushed again as the beautiful woman with the amber eyes grabbed his hand and held it between both of hers.
Roman stared ahead blankly as if he didn’t realize the woman was touching him. She whispered in his ear, probably something delicate and soothing. Chloe had a pang of envy, wishing that she was the one sitting there beside him, stroking his back and cooing into his ear.
She had her chance, and she had blown it. Royally. It was silly to even fathom that Roman wouldn’t move on to someone else after Chloe had denied him. In retrospect, she might have made a poor decision, but there was nothing she could do about it now. Tonight, Roman would share his bed with someone else who would nurture him.
She’d told him in Hawaii that she’d loved spending the time with him and that he made her feel special. She’d held his hand on the beach and regretfully told him that the timing just wasn’t right.