Wheels of Fire (Hollywood Demons Book 3)

by Autumn Jones Lake

  “Not feeling lucky at the moment, but thank you, sir.”

  “Counselor is part of my job description, you know.”

  My body tenses. After the night I’ve had, I’m really not in the mood for a lecture, no matter how well-intentioned it might be.

  “Fire Peter Carson,” he says. “He’s as disloyal and incompetent as they come.”

  Can’t argue with that. “Done.”

  “Distance yourself from Jacob.” The older man glances over at me. “Everyone says you’re talented. Have a promising career ahead of you. Beware of the ones who will drag you down.”

  I’m too stunned to be annoyed at him for the advice. It’s nothing my subconscious hasn’t been whispering at me for months. Abandoning the band I’ve spent so many years helping build doesn’t seem right. But the lawyer has a point. I’m perfectly capable of getting myself into plenty of trouble. I don’t need my bandmates to keep doing it for me. I’ve tried everything to help Jacob. But you can’t help someone who doesn’t want to help themselves. I’m stuck between loyalty to my friends and self-preservation.

  “The band is…we’ve been friends for a long time.”

  “I understand that. Your loyalty is admirable but is it returned?”

  Good question.

  If I’m honest with myself, I already know the answer.

  The car pulls up in front of the hospital and Paxton curses. “Fucking reporters.”

  “They weren’t here earlier,” Mallory says. “Or if they were, I didn’t see them.”

  “Word probably spread that Andrew’s awake.” Paxton gestures to a road that curves around the side of the building. “There’s a back entrance but you’ll have to use the service elevator.”

  “Do you remember where Andrew’s room is?” I ask Mallory.

  “I think so.”

  So much for the back entrance. The tight line of shrubbery shakes and wiggles as the car comes to stop. As I study the dancing bushes, a reporter jumps out, camera in hand.

  “No comment, Chaser,” Paxton reminds me. “Don’t give them anything.”

  “I won’t.”

  “Call me if you need anything. Even if the tour continues and you’re in another state, call me. If I can’t help, I’ll find someone who can.”

  I lean over to shake his hand. “Thank you. Appreciate everything you’ve done on such short notice.”

  “Take care of yourself.” He tips his head. “Mallory’s quite a woman. Be good to her.”

  One corner of my mouth curls up. Rock star, biker’s son—I can only imagine what the lawyer thinks of how I treat women. “Trust me, I know what a lucky bastard I am.”

  I glance back at Mallory but she’s staring out the window, biting her lip. Doubt she even heard the exchange.

  “Good luck,” Paxton says as we step out of the car.

  I curl one arm around Mallory and use the other to block the man dogging us until we’re inside the building.

  “Don’t they have anything better to do?” I grumble once we shake the reporter.

  “It’s a big story, I guess.” Mallory runs her hands through her hair. “Pamela had already heard of it before I did.”

  “Really?”

  “I was on the phone with her when you called me this morning.”

  “Fuck.” This has been the longest damn day. Almost wish we’d gone back to the hotel instead of coming here. “I’m sorry you had to go through all this.”

  “I’m not the one who spent the night in jail, Chaser.” She takes my hand as the elevator comes to a stop. “You know I’ll do anything for you.”

  The door slides open before I have a chance to respond. This isn’t a busy, bustling hospital. The hallway’s empty and quiet. Mallory scans the corridor, trying to get her bearings. “The waiting room was this way, I think.”

  Sure enough, we find Alvin and Garrett in an otherwise empty room watching television.

  “Oh, thank fuck!” Alvin jumps up as soon as he sees me. “You all right, bro?”

  “I’m fine.” I take his outstretched hand and allow him to pull me in for a hug and slap on the back.

  I scan the room again. “Where’s Jacob?”

  “Cops took him for questioning.” Garrett nods to the hallway. “I don’t think they left the hospital, though.”

  Sure, me they lock up. Jacob will probably get a pat on the head.

  “Vinnie’s down in Andrew’s room, trying to convince him not to leave,” Garrett says.

  “I’ll deal with that in a minute.” I raise my voice to get everyone’s attention. “First, things, first, Peter’s fired. I want him gone.”

  “Already done,” Alvin says. “I called Thom after Mallory left and told him Peter better be on his way back to L.A. by the time you’re out of jail.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Thom says he’ll join us in Louisiana.” Garrett shakes his head. “Not sure how that’ll be helpful or if we’re even going to make those dates.”

  “Vandals’ management canceled tonight’s show,” Alvin says. “No way Andrew can play tonight. No matter what he seems to think. Next couple shows are up in the air.”

  “Fuck.” I run my fingers through my hair. What a mess. All because Jacob skipped away on a heroin scavenger hunt last night.

  Alvin jerks his head toward the hallway, inviting Mallory and me to follow him.

  “Seriously, Chaser. You all right?” he asks.

  “I’m fine. Glad Andrew’s awake. No one would tell me if he was even alive until my lawyer showed up.”

  “He must have nine lives because somehow that skinny motherfucker’s gonna be just fine.”

  I snort-laugh, which feels good after everything that’s gone down.

  Alvin has more info for us. “Heard the doctor say it was a peripheral hit that missed his vitals.”

  Could’ve fooled me. Thought he was going to bleed to death. “Figures.”

  Mallory pinches my side and I grin down at her.

  “He was asking for you. Was really pissed when he found out you were arrested.”

  “I’m touched.”

  Alvin punches my shoulder. “Go see him. I’ll be in the waiting room when you’re done.”

  Mallory and I slowly walk down the sterile hallway, trying not to draw attention to ourselves.

  “Chaser! Get me out of here!” Andrew begs, frantically waving his right arm at us.

  Vinnie’s got one hand on Andrew’s chest, keeping him pinned to the hospital bed. “Can you talk some sense into him?” Vinnie pleads.

  I cock my head. When has Andrew had any sense?

  “Worth a shot.” Vinnie cracks up.

  “Not cool, bro.” Andrew crosses his arms over his chest and winces. “Where are my fuckin’ painkillers?”

  Vinnie shakes his head. “I’ll go ask if you promise to sit still.”

  Andrew raises two fingers and swears.

  As soon as Vinnie’s gone, Andrew tosses back his covers.

  “Oh no you don’t.” Mallory rushes forward and presses her hands against his shoulders, pushing him back into bed.

  Andrew grins at me over her shoulder. “If I’d known a bullet would get Mallory into my bed, I would’ve let you shoot me a long time ago.”

  “We can still make that happen.”

  Mallory lets out a disgusted snort and glares at Andrew. “You really do have a death wish, don’t you?”

  “I’ll chalk it up to blood loss.” I step closer and shove him back into the bed.

  “Ow. Come on, Chaser. Get me out of here.” He casts a suspicious look around the room. “Hospitals are breeding grounds for bacteria. I’m gonna catch something and my arm will rot off. I just know it.”

  “You’re kidding, right? I’ve seen the filth you live in on your bus.”

  “Yeah, but that’s my filth.” He wrinkles his nose and scans the room again. “Who knows what’s lingering in here.”

  “Christ.” I pinch the bridge of my nose.

  “Andre
w.” The extra patience Mallory forces into her voice draws a chuckle out of me. “You have to stay a little longer. Please.”

  “I need my arms, Mallory.” He flails one in the air to demonstrate. “I’ll be better off at the hotel. I can hire a nurse to look after me.” He whistles. “Ooo! Yes! A hot nurse.”

  “Good grief,” Mallory mutters.

  “Mr. Lane.” An elderly doctor bursts into the room and Andrew recoils against the mattress.

  I lean against the wall, crossing my ankles in front of me and Mallory slides up against my side.

  “We cannot discharge you, yet.” The doctor’s stern tone finally seems to break through Andrew’s desire to flee, he stops flailing and crosses his arms over his chest like a pouty kid. “You had surgery. This isn’t a joke, Mr. Lane.”

  “Can I at least get some drugs? I’m in a lot of pain.”

  Andrew needs a chemical knock-out. The doctor flips through his chart and frowns. “I’ll have something else brought up.”

  “What if I go to my hotel and hire a nurse to watch out for me?” Andrew asks. “Can I leave then?”

  The doctor stares at him, obviously not used to dealing with annoying patients of this magnitude.

  “We can discuss that option tomorrow. Right now, I need you to rest.”

  He pats Andrew’s shoulder and whirls around, rolling his eyes at me on the way out.

  “Are you okay?” Andrew asks me. “I’m sorry you got arrested.”

  “Not the first time. Probably not the last, either.”

  Mallory frowns at me.

  “I knew you were a punk!” Andrew thrusts his fists in the air. “Seriously though, as soon as I found out, I told those dick cops to release you.”

  “Appreciate it.”

  “Is Jacob okay?”

  “As far as I know.”

  “That was some fucked up shit, bro.”

  I hold up my hands. “I don’t want to talk about it right now.”

  Andrew’s gaze darts toward the open door. “Good call.”

  Mallory’s busy tucking sheets and blankets around Andrew. I can’t say I’m thrilled about her fussing over the jackass but I am amused that she appears to be trying to turn him into some sort of blanket burrito.

  “You’re going to stay put and let the doctors take care of you, right, Andrew?” she asks.

  “Will you keep me company?”

  “No,” she answers in the same tone I imagine she’d use with a toddler or puppy. “I need to get Chaser back to the hotel and wash his jail stay off him.”

  Andrew scans me from head to toe. “You do look like shit.”

  “Back at ya, bro.”

  The corner of his mouth curls up and his wild eyes refocus on Mallory. “Are you gonna give your man a reunion fuck? Those are the best.”

  “Who says we didn’t already?” Mallory arches a brow and taps her foot.

  “I approve.” His gaze strays to the phone, mouth hanging down like a damn basset hound. “Have you heard from Pammy?”

  “She called this morning,” Mallory says. “We couldn’t talk long.”

  Andrew picks up his phone and slams it back down. “No dial tone.”

  “I’ll ask the nurse if they can get it set up for you,” Mallory promises.

  “I don’t want to be in here by myself.” Andrew pouts.

  “Vinnie’s here.” I’m actually not sure he stuck around but Andrew’s whining is already working my last nerve. “Alvin’s here too.”

  Mallory leans down and kisses Andrew’s forehead. “We’ll be back in the morning.”

  “Maybe,” I add, wrapping my arm around her waist. “Come on, Nurse Nightingale,” I tease in a lighter voice than I’m feeling.

  “Chaser.” Andrew’s serious tone stops me.

  He reaches out, grabbing my arm and pulling me closer. “Thank you, bro. I think you saved my life last night.”

  “Nah, doctors said the bullet barely touched you.”

  He points to his bandages. “This hole in my side says otherwise.”

  I reach out and slap his cheek. “Good thing you’ve been slacking on the workouts and had those love handles to catch the bullet.”

  “Fuck you.” He slaps my hand away. “I could bench press your big ass right this second, motherfucker.”

  Laughing, we bid him good night and head back to the waiting room.

  “That was mean.” Mallory pokes my side. “He’s suffering.”

  “Not your problem.”

  She curls an arm around my waist and leans into me. “True. I have all the man I can handle right here.”

  “That’s right.”

  We stop in the waiting room and thankfully, Vinnie’s still here. “You want to go sit with him so he doesn’t run out?” I ask. “Doc’s supposed to bring him something to shut him up soon.”

  “Yeah, I’m on it.” Vinnie slaps my shoulder. “Thanks for coming down. I wouldn’t have blamed you if you’d hopped a flight home.”

  “I’m here, bro.”

  Jacob shuffles into the room with his head down and hands in his pockets.

  “You all right?” I ask.

  He glances up and quickly averts his eyes, muttering, “Glad you’re out.”

  “Surprised you’re not locked up,” Garrett says.

  Jacob shakes his head. “I’m sure they’ll be back. Told me not to leave town.”

  “Fuck that,” Alvin says. “As soon as Andrew’s cleared, we need to roll out.”

  “I’ll call my lawyer and see what he can do,” I offer.

  Jacob nods but still won’t meet my eyes. I’m too furious to deal with him right now, but Alvin’s right, we can’t leave our singer stranded here if the tour ever gets back on track.

  Finally, Jacob picks up his head. “Are we leaving?”

  “No.” I point to Mallory, then myself. “We’re leaving. You stay and keep Andrew company when Vinnie needs a break.” I nod at Garrett. “You too.”

  “Whatever.” Garrett waves me off. “We got this.”

  Alvin eyes the two of them. “I’m gonna stick around too.”

  “Thanks. We’ll be back in the morning.”

  Chapter Three

  Chaser

  In the taxi on the way to the hotel, I lean my head on Mallory’s shoulder and fiddle with the hem of her T-shirt. “Did you mean what you said about showering with me?”

  “I didn’t say anything about showering with you.”

  “You promised to wash my jail stay off,” I remind her.

  “Well.” The corners of her mouth twitch. “I saw a garden hose behind the hotel, I can turn it on and point it in your direction.”

  “Garden hose, huh?” I snicker.

  At the hotel, I stop at the front desk and ask for messages. The clerk gives me an odd look. “Sir, you were scheduled to check out today. When no one answered the door or the phone, we had to clean the room. Your belongings are in the back.”

  “Motherfucker,” I growl. “I’m not sleeping on that fucking tour bus tonight.” I whip out my wallet. “You got another room?”

  “Well, I…yes.” He makes the arrangements while I impatiently tap my credit card against the counter.

  Once we settle the room situation, I should go have a chat with our bus driver, call Thom or do something business-oriented but I just don’t have a fuck to give about any of it right now.

  “You should call your dad,” Mallory suggests on the way up to our new suite. “I let him know that you were probably getting out but that was hours ago.”

  “Let me take that shower first.”

  “Chaser, he was really worried about you.”

  “Trust me, he’ll understand.” I push into the room and set down our bags.

  She sighs and follows me into the bathroom.

  “What are you doing about work?” I lean into the shower and adjust the water.

  Mallory hops up on the edge of the counter and bites her lip. “My flight to L.A. is tomorrow.”

&n
bsp; “Fuck, I’m sorry this trip got so messed up.”

  “My flight leaves from Dallas.”

  “I’ll see if I can get it moved or I’ll hire a car or something. Don’t worry about it.”

  “I don’t want to leave you after this.”

  I poke my head around the shower curtain. “Babe, there’s nothing you can do by sticking around.”

  “I don’t want you getting shot next.”

  “No one’s shooting me.”

  “I’m sure Andrew thought the same thing.”

  “You’re assuming Andrew thinks at all.”

  She snorts.

  “Get in here.”

  “No pussy until you call your father.”

  “Who said anything about pussy? I need you to soap my back.”

  She slides off the counter. “Sure you do.” But even as she’s arguing with me, she strips her shirt over her head and wiggles out of her jeans.

  “Fuck, you’re hot.” I hold out my hand. “Come here.”

  The second I get her in the shower with me, I back her up against the tile. “I lied.”

  “About?”

  Instead of answering, I duck down and suck one of her tight nipples into my mouth.

  “Oh.” She runs her fingers through my hair. “Chaser.”

  “I’m sorry I made you worry.” I latch on to her other breast and slide my hands over her hips.

  “I was scared you’d be in jail in Texas for…” Her voice catches and I stop to peer up at her. “I felt helpless. Like when my father was arrested…I know it’s not the same but…”

  Shit.

  “And Peter. That weasel.” She squeezes her eyes shut and grits her teeth. “Not being able to trust anyone. I felt so…alone.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Mr. Paxton helped.”

  “Yeah, I was impressed with him too.”

  “I can’t believe your dad found him so fast.”

  “All good criminals have a network of lawyers at their fingertips.”

  “That’s not funny.”

  I slap off the water. “I wasn’t kidding earlier, Mallory. I won’t lie to you. You’re smart enough to understand the club…my father’s business, like your father’s business takes a lot of risks.”

  “And look where my father ended up.”