by K. T Fisher
Ember
Black Inferno book 3
by
K.T Fisher
Ember #3 Black Inferno Series
Copyright @2015 Kellie Fisher
Cover art @2015: Louisa Maggio @ LM Creations
Edited by Karen Louise Rohde Faegemann at Word Wench Editing Services
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to any actual persons living or dead, businesses and events or locales are entirely coincidental.
Also by K.T Fisher
Decoy series
Rockstar Daddy
Rockstar’s Girl
Rockstar’s Angel
Rockstar’s Temptation
Severed MC series (co-authored with Ava Manello)
Severed Angel
Carnal Desire
Severed Justice
Carnal Persuasion
Black Inferno series
Heat
Ignite
Ember
Kings of Rebellion series
Karma coming soon
Contents
Acknowledgements
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Epilogue
Acknowledgements
As always, thank you for purchasing this book. You are literally making my dream come true. Thank you to everyone who shares and tags me everywhere to help get my books out there. I always try to either Like the post or comment, so sorry if I don’t get to you but believe me I really appreciate it. Which brings me to Francessca Webster always does an amazing job with the blogs to help me to get my latest release, and previous books, known for my readers.
When the cover reveal for this books went live, I had some messages from readers comparing Ember’s cover to the previous two in this series. Yes, this book cover is a lot different from Heat and Ignite and that’s down to two reasons. The first is because I have used a different designer, Louisa Maggio @ LM Creations and that’s because she has created other covers for me and I love everything she does so I had to have her work on this release too. Second reason is because Ember is a lot different to Heat and Ignite, one because this is Roxie and Mason’s story and two because I think it’s a little darker than the previous two. So I thought Ember needed a separate identity therefore the result I have with the gorgeous cover by Louisa.
Thank you to Emma Keating, Nadia Debowska-Stephens, and Alison Brown-Oakes Davis for being my amazing Beta Readers! A massive thank you to my editor, Karen Louise Rohde Færgemann from Word Wench Editing Services for being my wonderful editor.
And of course thank you to my very understanding family who put up with me typing away like a mad woman. Seriously, I must look like crazy person quickly typing away at my laptop, not saying a word! But they are amazing and I love you guys.
Ember
Black Inferno book 3
Prologue
With nervous and shaky hands, I pick up the phone and dial my best friend’s number. When she answers, I can tell by the tone of her voice that she’s smiling. God, I want to see that smile of hers so much.
“Roxie!” she screams down the phone.
I close my eyes to hold back the tears. “Lacey! God, I’ve missed you.”
“Me, too.” I hear a slight sniffle and I know she’s as emotional as I am right now.
To try and get rid of the threatening tears, I demand to know what is the latest gossip and news from my friends. I hate being kept out of everything. Just as I knew she would, Lacey leaps into it and tells some much needed information. I haven’t spoken to Lacey since the day my parents showed up and took me away like a naughty child, but instead of being sent to my room, I was taken to rehab.
What Lacey does tell me breaks my heart, though. I find out that Mason has indeed read my letter but Lacey quickly skims over that part, smoothly moving on to tell me that she and Cole are finally together again and about her time on the tour without me. I’m very proud of my timid little friend when she informs me of the fight she had! My little Lacey actually had a fight! She punched another woman and meant every second of it.
“So, how are you?” she finally asks me.
“Amazing, Lace, I really am. I can’t believe what I put you all through.” Thinking back to how I deceived them all, I hate myself.
“Don’t be silly, Rox. We love you.” Her words tug on my heartstrings and a few tears escape.
“Anyway, guess what?” I try to make myself not sound too sad. There is a reason I’m finally allowed to ring her now.
“What?” she laughs.
I take a deep breath. “I’m free to go! I mean, I can leave anytime, but they say I’m good to go! I’m going to stay until next week to be on the safe side, however, and then I can leave!”
I was actually able to leave last week and chose to stay an extra two weeks to be on the safe side. I’m honestly a little scared to get away from this place.
“Oh my god, Rox, that’s great!”
I can hear the slight panic in her voice, even though she tries to cover it with squealing excitement.
“Rox, why don’t you meet me out here? Stay with me at Cole’s place because I’m not joining them on all of their tour.”
Her question shocks me. Quick into our conversation she told me that she’s at Cole’s place, and even though I have plans to return to our shared apartment, I didn’t expect her to leave wherever she is now. I’d be lying if I said I wouldn’t like to be with her, though; the thought about being alone scares me right now, and I want to accept her offer.
“That sounds great, Lace. Perfect, actually. You sure that will be ok?”
“Sure it will. They go on tour next week so you will be safe.” I know she is hinting at Mason and, truthfully, I don’t think I’m ready to see him just yet.
“Lace? I want you to know that I’ve had counselling and I’m working everything out. You don’t need to worry about our friendship...We’re safe.” I want her to know that I have accepted the fact that our time has passed and that, to Lace, it was just a bit of fun. Even though I accidently fell for her, I know she doesn’t feel the same and instead loves Cole. I’m really happy for her, I truly am.
“I already knew that.”
Chapter One
Roxie
One week later...
I step outside and look around the car park and beyond as people go about their business. I feel like I’ve been kept away from everything, and that’s probably true. Now that I am out of rehab, the securities and safety that I had inside have vanished. I’m stripped bare and stepping away from the walls I’ve physically clung to for the past month. I’m left scared by the temptations that I will now have to face on a daily basis. I don’t want to go back to how I was before because that dark place scares me. I’m not so stupid to believe I will have it easy. No, I will have to fight to keep myself sober and I know, without a doubt, it will be a fight worth having.
“Roxie!” I turn and see my mother waving from my parent’s car. She ushers me over and, with a heavy breath, I leave the front step of the rehab clinic that has helped me so much.
It’s a very high class place, you can tell by the building and how they treat you. All thanks to Mason, of course. I have wondered if I would have been so successful in the clinic my parents originally took me to. Which makes me even more grateful to Mason, even though I haven’t heard from him since he told me I was coming here. Obviously, I am hurt by that, but I’ve tried to keep away from them all. I was advised that it was the best, but that doesn’t hide the fact that I am disappointed, even though I am not surprised. After what I did to him, and the embarrassment I put him through, I’m not the slightest bit surprised.
When I reach my parents, they welcome me with huge hugs and literally throw me into the back of the car. I think they just want to get me away from this place as quickly as possible. Even though they haven’t said anything, I know that they are embarrassed and hurt, too. So many people have been let down by me and that’s something I need to put right.
“Are you sure you don’t want to come home with us?” my mother asks.
“No, I’m meeting Lacey in San Diego,” I tell her again.
The journey home is silent and I’m grateful for it. I can’t cope with unnecessary questions and fake smiles. It’s obvious that they don’t agree with what I am doing now that I’m out of rehab. My parents have made that very clear but I must admit, I’m starting to see their point: the band is surrounded by everything that tempts me and I’m walking straight into it even though I won’t be going on tour with them. I am definitely not ready for that, but I am going into Cole’s house which I know nothing about. I have faith in Lacey, though: I know she won’t bring me into anything I can’t handle.
However, the reason this all started was because I couldn’t handle the realization that I had fallen for my best friend and had to watch her in the arms of a man who I knew she loved. It pained me to see them so happy together, which, obviously, made everything worse. I couldn’t break them apart because anyone who saw them knew they were made for each other. Even though I fell for Lacey, I realized I was also falling for Mason at the same time, which only fucked my head up more. Then, with the added pressure of Joe, who makes me tremble in fear just by hearing his name, brought a whole other meaning of fucked up for me. I know that the first time we were together was all on me. I was drunk, jealous, and stupid, and Joe looked hot, but everything after that was all him. The blackmailing, terrorizing, raping and emotional damage to my mental and physical state was also all on Joe.
As long as he’s working for the band, I won’t have to see him anymore, at least. I will never set foot on that tour bus again.
I cross my arms over my stomach as the sickness threatens to spill out into my parent’s car. My dad would not appreciate that.
When we reach my apartment I share with Lacey, they get out and help me with my one bag, and then we climb the staircase to my floor. I would normally take the elevator but I cannot bear another moment of silence with them. It’s awkward and I don’t want it.
I open the door and hate the stillness and quiet I find. I’ve never hated my apartment before, but right now, seeing Lacey’s things gone and it being so tidy and clean, I hate it. I want to hear the radio in the background, with Lacey singing along and her belongings thrown around without a care. I used to hate her mess, but now I crave it.
I have to see Lacey, I don’t think I can do this without her help. I may have realized that my feelings for her are not returned and never will be, and I also know that she loves me as her best friend and nothing more, and I respect that, but I need her right now as I’m going through this hard time in my life.
“Please come home, Roxie,” my mother begs again. “I really think that will be the best.”
I turn around to face her and speak very clearly, “I’ve told you before but I’ll say it again for the last time: I’m leaving tonight where I will be home.”
She turns and leaves, her crying echoing through the halls. My dad actually surprises me when he quickly reaches for me and crushes me in his arms. He holds me tight and kisses the top of my head.
“I love you, Roxie.” I hear the emotion in his voice.
“Love you, too,” I sniffle.
“She only cares, probably too much, but seeing what you have been through, you can’t blame her. Go and do what you need to do, and we will be home waiting for you.”
I look up to him, my face wet with tears, and see my dad looks like he could cry at any second. A very rare sight.
“Thank you,” I whisper and revel in the hug he gives me.
Chapter Two
Roxie
Being home alone feels weird and I feel so out of place here.
I haven’t been here in so long and I can that tell Lacey hasn’t, either. It feels empty. This was once our favorite place to be; we had so many parties and so many memories here. It was filled with our belongings and always scented with her perfume and floral scents that she had to have in each room. But now, they have obviously run out and are empty as I smell nothing. I feel very unwelcome and I can’t wait to go.
Not wanting to sit around on the sofa for a minute longer, I go for a much needed hot bubble bath. Now, this I have missed!
When my skin is wrinkly from the bath, and the water has turned cold, I get ready and start to pack. I try to bring most of my belongings with me.
Lacey told me she had booked me my flight for tonight, so I have enough time to get something to eat, but I feel so nervous I hardly touch a thing.
After I quickly wash my plate and cutlery, I take one last look round the place and eagerly leave for my waiting taxi outside. I might be some hours early, but I can’t wait in that apartment any longer.
“Going to some place nice?” the driver asks.
I give him a tight smile. “Going to see some friends.”
“That will be nice,” he smiles back, and I don’t like the way his eyes linger on me before he starts to drive. I’m glad his eyes are now on the road because I do not like the way his look makes me feel. It’s like I’m with Joe again and I begin to shake. After Joe, I’ve noticed I don’t like any man’s eyes on me.
While at the airport, I make the huge mistake of walking through duty free and I regret this almost immediately. I get to the many bottles of alcohol, all different sizes and different brands, and they scream at me. They beg me to reach out and touch them. Just one little drop.
I race through them, sweating and breathing hard as I push past people. I need to get the fuck out of here!
I’m panicking and I need fresh air!
I find an empty spot at the end of the airport and race to it. I need some space. I lean against the wall and try to even my breathing. Shit, I knew this would be hard.
“Roxie?” I hear her voice. I’m imaging things, surely I am. She can’t be here. “Rox? Are you ok?”
I open my eyes and, sure enough, Lacey stands in front of me, looking concerned.
“Lacey? What are you doing here?”
I rush towar
ds her and hold tight. God, I am so glad to see her.
“As if I would let you travel alone.” She pulls back to get a good look at me. “You ok?”
I nod. “Yeah, just got a little panicked back there.”
“You look good, Rox.” She smiles wide and I feel a little pride run through me.
Lacey leads me to a guarded entrance and takes my passport from me.
“Where are we going?” I ask her.
This makes her grin wider. “The perks of knowing the band: we’re flying on the private plane!”
I smile back and Lacey returns to lead me through check-in. I can’t lie, I’m nervous to get on that plane again. It’s where everything started to go wrong for me and I’m scared to go on board again.
When I see the sofa, memories come flooding back. I remember sitting on that very leather sofa with Mason, hating every second as I watched Lacey and Cole together.
Lacey takes hold of my hand, snapping me from my dark memories. She leads me over to another sofa and we sit together.
“You look tired,” she observes, after the hostess gives us the safety speech and leaves us.
“Haven’t gotten much sleep lately,” I admit.
“Worried about coming out here?” she asks.
“To be honest, a little.”
“Rox, we’re all here to help you. I only want what is best for you. You need to be totally honest with me and tell me everything.”
I nod my head and hate myself. There’s a secret I can’t tell her. She might not understand.
Lacey scoots away a little to the other end of the small sofa and pats her knee.
“I’m here to look after you now. Rest your head and get some sleep. You look like you need it.”
I don’t even argue. I am so tired I can already feel my eyes getting heavy. I lay my head on her knees and get comfortable. Lacey begins to stroke my hair and my eyes close. My body relaxes and my breathing slows.