ROCK F*CK CLUB (Girls Ranking the Rock Stars Book 6)

by Michelle Mankin

  His eyes shining, he shook his head. “Wow.”

  “Yeah, wow.” I blew out a breath. “That’s exactly the way I feel being loved by you. I was pieces of the woman I wanted to be before I met you, but now I’m completely whole.”

  Reluctantly removing my hand, I turned and walked away. But only temporarily. Wherever I went, even if we weren’t physically together, his spirit would go with me. Two halves, one whole, he’d had it right before I went with him into the desert the first time.

  “Way to go, man,” Ivan said, and I heard several more male voices behind me agreeing with him.

  Her expression stern, Mary nodded to me when I stepped up onto the porch with her.

  I knew she’d heard what I said. Everyone inside the garage and gathered nearby surely heard. They’d all stayed silent when I spoke, and no one had talked again until I left to join Mary.

  But I wasn’t embarrassed. I meant what I said. I wanted everyone to know I loved Gale, like he wanted everyone to know he loved me.

  “Marsha’s given us leave to use the master bedroom to talk.” Mary entered the house, leaving the door open, and I followed.

  Through the kitchen she went, her heels clacking on the hardwoods as I clomped inelegantly behind her in my boots. She turned down the same hallway I’d taken earlier with my crew. There was no line for the bathroom anymore, and I noticed that the inside of the house was a lot less crowded than it had been when Gale and I first arrived.

  “In here.” Mary touched the ajar door to widen the gap.

  I slipped through and stopped in the center of the room. The door clicked shut as I turned to face the owner of Black Cat Records. “You wanted to speak to me?” My voice cracked, reflecting my nerves.

  “Yes.” She nodded, her short brown hair that flipped flatteringly at the ends brushed her diamond-studded ears. “You did well in the interview.”

  “Thank you.”

  “I’m quite pleased with how you conducted yourself, in fact.” She marched to within inches of me and stopped.

  Orange blossom and lavender scents swirled around her. If I had to guess, I would say her perfume was Yves Saint Laurent, ditto on her ensemble. Not that I would know, but Dolly was obsessed with all the French designers.

  “I had a feeling about you,” she said, “and in my experience, when I have a feeling this strong about one of my artists, I am rarely wrong.”

  Astonished, I raised my brows.

  “However, I have several concerns to address. The most pressing is WMO.”

  “My season of the Rock Fuck Club is complete,” I said.

  “I was told it was when I spoke with Ms. Smith. Her response at the time to my concern was unsatisfactory, so I went over her head. “

  My brows rose higher. I didn’t know there was anyone higher at WMO than Suzanne Smith.

  “Unfortunately, in the interim, you emailed a video to WMO and did an interview, both of which undermined my efforts.”

  “I don’t understand,” I said slowly, frowning. “You said I did well on the interview.”

  “You were admirably poised. You and Mr. Lafleur together are causing quite the stir on social media. Cinderella and everyone’s favorite rock ’n’ roll prince, albeit a maturely rated version of that tale.” Her silver gaze was active and assessing. “You didn’t know?”

  “Know what?”

  “You are currently the trending entertainment story. Your interview is part of it. Your relationship with Mr. Lafleur. Your infamous father. The Rock Fuck Club. Your neglectful, self-serving mother. Your dysfunctional childhood. The sexual assaults in prison. Your obvious devotion to your brother. You are viewed as a strong woman who has overcome a tragic past.”

  “Really?” I shook my head. Apparently, I should have taken time during one of our stops en route to Dallas to check social media as Dolly had suggested.

  “Yes. Actually, this is one instance where public perception matches reality.” She gave me another firm nod. “Ms. Tate and I could not have planned better marketing leading into bringing you into the studio to record a debut album.”

  “But—”

  “I shall endeavor to explain if you would be so kind as not to interrupt,” she said curtly, and I nodded, appropriately chastened.

  “After your mother’s version of events, WMO viewed you as a liability, and they were eager to get rid of you. They were considering dumping your season. I had convinced them to void your contract. After your interview, though, public opinion shifted, and that is no longer the case.”

  “So the public likes me, and now WMO wants to keep me.”

  “Yes. Exactly.” She nodded.

  “And the video I sent them?” I asked.

  “Icing on the cake, and now I’m back to step one, negotiating to shorten your obligations to them.”

  “What obligations remain?”

  “Photos, interviews, whatever PR they want you to do related to your season.”

  “Oh. Well.” I thought quickly. “If the show does well, won’t the publicity be good for my band and the label representing them?”

  “Yes, it would.” Her expression brightened. “But that would require you to walk a tightrope between two very different masters.”

  “I can do that.” I lifted my chin.

  “But which is your priority?” Her eyes narrowed.

  “Between WMO and Black Cat?” I asked, just to be certain.

  She nodded.

  “The band. My music. I don’t give a fuck about being a reality television sensation. Being on the show was just a means to an end for me. However, I do embrace the underlying premise. A woman should be free to express her sexuality without fear of judgment.”

  “Hmm.” Mary put her hands together just below her chin and tapped it. “The show seems to have veered away from that principal for the purposes of entertainment.”

  “The ten-rocker requirement doesn’t fit with freedom of choice,” I said.

  “Marsha West and Raven Winters concur with your opinion. Many of the other record label execs aren’t pleased with the show. We would have been happy to see interest in it fizzle out. What happens backstage should stay backstage. Nothing should supersede the music.”

  “I agree wholeheartedly.” And was glad, once again, that I’d chosen Black Cat Records to represent Joey’s Band.

  She lowered her hands and grasped the hem of her business jacket, tugging it down. “I’ll call WMO. Give them six months to wrap up any PR related to you. In the meantime, you’ll need to give Black Cat Records your undivided attention.”

  “I can do that.”

  Her silver eyes narrowed to slits. “I want an album’s worth of material.”

  “You’ll have it.”

  “Good.” She nodded approvingly. “Plane tickets to Vancouver, free accommodations with full transportation services while in residence, carte blanche studio time—you’ll have all the resources of Black Cat at your disposal.”

  “Thank you.” Translation, I was jumping up and down on the inside but wanted to jump up and down and celebrate with my crew.

  “You’re welcome.” She lifted a finger. “I have only one more thing I require of you.”

  “What is that?” I asked.

  “A suggestion for you and Mr. Lafleur.” Her eyes darkening, she clenched her hands into tight fists at her sides. “Guard what you have found. It’s more precious than anything. Make your relationship a priority.”

  “I plan to.” It occurred to me that maybe she’d done the opposite of what she suggested and that it had cost her dearly.

  “It’s good that you’re on the same page with him. I wouldn’t be opposed, though it is only another suggestion, if you would put in a good word with Mr. Lafleur and company about Black Cat representation.”

  I smiled but didn’t offer her any assurances. I needed to hold some things in reserve to use for negotiation. I’d only signed an intent with Black Cat. We hadn’t yet agreed on formal terms and exact dollar amounts.
And I was no longer selling myself short.

  I had learned because of Gale not just to dream, but to dream big.

  Josephine

  WHEN I RETURNED TO the backyard, the Tempest guys and my half sister were gone. Before I could register disappointment, Dolly and Lark linked their arms with mine.

  “Hey, we have you.” Dolly squeezed close on one side, and Lark on the other. “Mel said good-bye and wanted me to tell you that she’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “For the remembrance ceremony?” I asked.

  “Yeah, about that.” Dolly and Lark exchanged a glance. “There’s been a new development.”

  “What?” I narrowed my eyes at them. “C’mon. Spill.”

  “We’ll tell you what we know,” Dolly said pointedly, “after you tell us what Mary wanted.”

  “We’re going to Vancouver and recording an album,” I said. “Mary’s rolling out the red carpet and giving us the VIP treatment all the way. She’s also taking care of all the bullshit with Suzanne Smith and WMO for me.”

  “That’s awesome!” Dolly exclaimed.

  “I can’t wait to tell Lin.” Lark held up her fist, and I bumped hers with mine. I wasn’t going to leave her hanging.

  “Where’s Lin?” I asked.

  Lark pointed to where her twin stood with Jag near a picnic table just a couple of yards away. They were holding hands. The bassist’s jade eyes were shadowed, but Lin leaned close and said something in his ear that seemed to make the darkness lift.

  “Hey, everybody,” Jag suddenly said loudly, his voice projecting as he glanced around the backyard.

  Marsha, Ivan, and Ty moved toward him, and so did the three of us.

  “Yeah, so I’m not big on public speaking.” Jag reached up and rubbed the back of his neck. “Arrow kept me straight on that. Without him, it’s too hard to focus, too difficult to do a lot of things. But I just wanted to let you know that I appreciate you being here, and that we got the go-ahead from the powers that be, all the labels. Texts and emails are going out to band leaders to confirm their time slots.”

  My cell dinged, but I ignored it as Jag continued.

  “Bands in town. Live Nation. All the major ticket distributers will make the announcement to our fans. Kudos to Mary Timmons for organizing everything and for securing Morris’s approval for the Dragons to perform before leaving on their European tour.”

  “The queen rules.” Ivan lifted a beer bottle in the air.

  Unfortunately, Mary wasn’t around to see his toast. The Anthem guys had passed me in the hallway, summoned to a meeting in her de facto office after me.

  “What’s going on, exactly?” I wagged my finger between Dolly and Lark while lifting my chin to acknowledge a wave from Marsha as she and Ivan stepped closer to Jag and Lin.

  “The remembrance ceremony is going to be a rock concert,” Lark said. “Jag was getting too stressed about what to say at a formal function, so Lin suggested the best way to remember Nicholas was by having a big party with his fellow musicians and fans.”

  “Mary had to get approval from the other labels first,” Dolly said, filling in where Lark left off. “Then she had to find us a venue. It’s going to be at Fair Park. She even reserved the Cotton Bowl for potential overflow.”

  “That’s a really good idea. An amazing one, actually.” I caught Lin’s eye and gave her a thumbs-up. Smiling, she leaned into Jag.

  “What we didn’t tell you . . .” Dolly waggled her brows. “Is that Joey’s Band is opening the show.”

  “That’s a lot of pressure.” My stomach clenched. “But anything for the Enthusiasts.”

  Lark shook her head. “Not too much pressure. No press is allowed, just fans and other bands attending. Lin’s gonna read something Jag wrote about Arrow at the beginning before we play.”

  “Headliner hour will be the Dragons, Tempest, Anthem, and then the Enthusiasts.” Dolly ticked off the names on her fingers.

  “Wow! I want to be in the audience to see that lineup.” I wondered if asking Anthem to perform was why Mary had wanted to speak with them privately. “But who’s playing guitar for the Enthusiasts?”

  “Lark,” Dolly said. “She’s been working her fingers to the bone to learn Arrow’s parts since we got here.”

  Dolly snagged Lark’s hands by the wrists and flipped them over to show me her palms. Tears filled my eyes at the sight of the numerous scabs and broken calluses on her skin.

  “Group hug.” I threw my arms wide and pulled my band sisters into them, thanking whatever lucky star I didn’t remember wishing on that had granted the perfect wish by bringing them into my life.

  When we lifted our heads, I noted we all had wet faces. I also noticed Gale had returned. He stood on the porch with Art and Noah flanking him.

  Our eyes met across the length of the yard, and his brows slanted together. I shook my head, waving a hand and mouthing that I was okay, but it was too late. He was already in motion, heading for me, determined to be the man at my side—defender, protector, conqueror of my heart, nearly from the moment we had met. It had gone one way for me, falling for him. The rhythm of his heart was the one mine beat to.

  “Why’s everyone crying?” Reaching us, Gale cast the question wide, but his gaze narrowed on me.

  “It’s okay. We’re just feeling emotional.” Curling my fingers around his arm, I tried to pull him aside. Tried, because my fingers wouldn’t go all the way around. His bicep might not be as large as King Acenado’s, but it was significant. “Lark is doing Arrow’s part for the concert. Her way to show how much she cared for him.”

  “That’s amazing. Way to go, Lark,” Gale said.

  Tears stung my eyes again at how intuitive he was, knowing just the right thing to say and not hesitating to say it. He was such a good guy.

  “Oh, Jo, don’t cry.” Taking one look at me, he gathered me close, wrapping his strong arms around me and giving me just what I needed. Him.

  “I’m trying not to.” Threading my arms around his waist, I laid my cheek against his hard chest. Surprisingly, the block lettering on his T-shirt was soft against my skin. Unsurprisingly, his muscular back was as solid as sculpted steel.

  “It’s hitting us all hard.” His deep voice rumbled from his chest into my ear. “Being here, looking for Nicholas, and realizing he’s not going to appear. That he’ll never appear again.”

  “Hey, how are you holding up?” I tightened my embrace. With everything going on, I’d not thought about Gale’s longstanding friendship with the Enthusiasts, and the fact that he’d likely visited the guys at the house many times.

  “I’m doing better than the Enthusiasts are.” He pressed a kiss to the top of my head. “Thanks for asking, though.”

  It was just a sweet, nice-guy kiss, but my heart quickened, and deeper, my soul registered the impact of being his.

  “What were you talking about with Mary?” I asked, thinking a change in subject was called for. Curious, I lifted my head to look at him.

  “Heard from her that you’re headed to Vancouver.” His finger sliding under my chin, he peered down at me.

  “Yeah.” My eyes started to sting again. Did we have to talk about a separation? Here? Now?

  “I’m coming with you.” His lips curved. “On the same flight. Seat next to yours.”

  “What?” My brows rose, and my faltering heart resumed beating.

  “Anthem needs a place to record, and Black Cat has the space. Mary’s offered it to us practically free.”

  “She wants to sign you.” I shook my head in his hold. “Badly.”

  “She mentioned wanting to do so, and we’re considering our options, but we decided to put any representation decision on hold. We jumped in with Lesowski Entertainment too quickly. We don’t want to repeat a mistake.”

  “You think Black Cat would be a mistake?” I asked.

  “No, I don’t,” he said. “Not at all. Mary has a lot of interesting ideas. But I just got my creativity turned back on. The guys and I a
re ready to focus on that and just get in the studio to let it flow. I imagine you and your crew have similar feelings.”

  “Definitely.” I nodded, and his hands glided into place, framing my jawline, his fingertips skimming my skin and then my hair.

  “For the time being, I plan to focus on one thing, and one thing only.” He swept the pad of his thumb over my cheek. “You.”

  “Oh, Gale.” I sighed.

  “And there she is, my girl.”

  “You had me to yourself for almost a week.” My eyes searched his. “Aren’t you tired of me and my trouble yet?”

  “Can the day be tired of the sun? The tide tired of the pull of the moon? The night sky of the stars to brighten it?”

  “I guess not.” My lips curled.

  “My life was dull, dark, and boring before you. I—”

  “Hey, guys.”

  Lin appeared, interrupting more lyrical yumminess from Gale. Jag accompanied her, his hand linked with hers. Ty, Ivan, and Marsha approached, trailing a short distance behind them. Lark inched closer to her twin, and Dolly stepped over to me, so close her hip bumped mine.

  “Did you hear the good news?” Lin’s coppery eyes shone as she glanced back and forth between Gale and me.

  “No, what is it?” I asked. “I’m sure we could all use good news.”

  “The Enthusiasts are going to record Arrow’s tribute album in Vancouver.” She brought Jag’s hand to her chest. “They’ll be there when we are.”

  “No way!” My eyes widened. That meant Jag and Lin got more time together, Ty and Dolly too. They were, in fact, exchanging a long, meaningful look. Maybe things hadn’t deteriorated too badly between them.

  “I wanted to ask your permission to have Lark play guitar for us.” Jag lifted his chin to me, his inky hair sliding away from his cool jade eyes.

  “You have it,” I said.

  “It might delay you finishing your own album.”

  “We’ll work it out.” My features set, and my words were firm.

  “Great.” Jag nodded, and his focus shifted as Anthem’s guitarist and drummer joined us. “Hey, Art. I’d like you to consider contributing some guitar work too.”