Phoenix Rockstar (Book One in the Erotic Rockstar Series)

by Botefuhr, Bec

  “It’s hot in there.”

  Chief snorts. “I fucking bet it is. Get out here now, before I cause some damage.”

  “I am going home anyway, I am tired.”

  “No you ain’t, you are staying here tonight.”

  “No daddy.”

  “Yes Mischief.”

  “Stay,” Trav says walking up behind me. “It is safer, and Jaq is angry…”

  “Bring it!” I say.

  Chief laughs and grips my face. “You are a feisty little girl, ain’t ya?”

  “Learnt from the best.”

  “Come on, we got some food going; stay.”

  “Fine father, because you asked so nicely.”

  I turn and walk past him; his boot connects with my ass and I squeal.

  “Call me father again and I am going to kick your ass harder girl!”

  I laugh the entire way down the stairs.

  “What’s for dinner?” I yell when I get to the bottom of the stairs.

  “Nothin if you keep that attitude up!”

  I laugh and plod into the kitchen. I dig through the cupboards, looks like spaghetti is the only thing I could make out of this tragic pantry. I begin preparing the sauce when Trav walks in.

  “Hmmmm, garlic.”

  “Ew Travis, don’t you know that makes your breath stink.”

  “You would kiss me anyway Mischief; you always loved my garlic breath.”

  “Gag.”

  “Hey, remember when you put garlic in my dresser?”

  I snort a laugh. “Do I? I remember thinking it would work too.”

  This ought to show him, no girl is going to want him when he smells like garlic. I shove piece after piece through his clothes. In your face Travis. I rush out of his room, grinning at his father Max who is sitting in the kitchen.

  “Up to no good again Mischief?”

  I giggle. “Maybe sir.”

  “Don’t go calling me sir.”

  I grin. “Sorry Mister Max.”

  He laughs. “Mister Max.”

  I smile at Max; he is a handsome man for his age. Even though he has grey hair, he has the same grey eyes Travis has. He is a devil of a man, but he is sweet to me. I rush out the front door and run into my house. I wait all afternoon, knowing Travis is going on a date tonight. I grin when I hear him bellow and come running next door.

  “Where is she Chief, I am going to spank her sorry ass.”

  Chief laughs and says something I can’t hear, then Travis runs up the stairs and bangs on my door.

  “You better open up Mischief; I am going to kick your ass.”

  I open the door and smile sweetly at him.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “What’s wrong,” He bellows. “What’s wrong is you put garlic all through my damn clothes and now I can’t go out tonight.”

  I giggle.

  “Did you just giggle at me?”

  I giggle again.

  “That’s it.”

  He rams me with his shoulder, and I fall onto the bed, he leaps on and begins tickling me.

  “Say you are sorry.”

  “No!” I squeal.

  He tickles harder. “Say sorry.”

  “No.”

  “Say it!”

  “I’m sorry,” I laugh. “Sorry.”

  He kisses my head. “Mischief, you are going to kill me.”

  Travis laughs. “That was so cruel.”

  I grin, chopping the garlic.

  “I thought it was kind of funny.”

  “I was so mad at you, and yet I couldn’t yell at you.”

  “You can punish me now if you like.”

  “Enough of that.” Chief grumbles walking into the kitchen.

  “Says the king of random fu…”

  “Oi, I will kick your ass if you finish that sentence.”

  I grin, and Travis winks at me.

  “Beer?” He asks.

  “Mmmmm, please.”

  Trav pulls two beers out and opens one for me. I swallow the liquid down and sigh.

  “So tell me girl, how is the case going?” Chief asks, lighting a cigarette.

  “Not sure, I haven’t heard a lot.”

  “I have gotten a lawyer for her.” Trav says, swallowing some beer.

  “Good good. If that mongrel so much as steps foot…”

  “We have more to worry about daddy.” I say, giving him a look.

  “Don’t you go worrying about the rest of it; you just leave that to me.”

  “Yes father.” I grin.

  ~*~*~*~*

  I am chewing on a piece of garlic bread and laughing with the club members; I love hanging out with them. They just feel like home.

  “Stop chewing like an animal Mischief.” Chief snaps, staring at me with a fowl look. Boy is he cranky.

  “Still mad because I scared off your booty call?”

  “Where has this attitude come from?”

  “It came right out of my as…”

  “Enough, don’t you smart mouth me girl.”

  I roll my eyes and continue munching. I pick up a strand of spaghetti and suck it into my mouth. Travis laughs and shoves me.

  “Behave.”

  “Listen to your booty, Mischief.”

  I give Chief a glare. “Touché.”

  When the night has settled, and we have gone to our ‘separate’ rooms. I try hard to fall asleep, but I can’t. I miss my mom; I am worried about Jeremy and I feel guilty for treating Chief so miserably. I get up and plod down the stairs, wondering what Travis is doing. Sleeping I bet. The man can sleep through a bomb. I walk out the front and see Chief sitting on the front porch, smoking. I sit down beside him; I see him glance from the corner of his eye, but he doesn’t turn.

  “You beat me, I was about to come and check you were in your bed.”

  I smile. “I might challenge you daddy, but I always listen.”

  “I know you do.”

  “Why are you out here all by yourself?”

  “Just watching, I can’t sleep.”

  “Because of Momma?”

  “I can’t get her face outta my mind, seeing her bashed and raped. It killed me Mischief, tore my fuckin heart out.”

  “Do you love her daddy?”

  “Loved her from the day she was sixteen and stumbled into my tattoo shop.”

  I smile. “Tell me about that.”

  “I tell you every damned year girl.”

  “Tell me again anyway.”

  “She came in, all beautiful and defiant. She wanted to show her family she could be bad, that she could rebel. She was so sick of being pushed around, told what to do. She came in, and she picked this flower off the wall. Told me she wanted that, and not to dare argue. I put it on her hip, and she blushed the whole time. Strong as nails, she never flinched. Her dad found out and beat the crap outta me for tattooing a young girl, but after that we were inseparable.”

  I smile. “Did you ever wish you had other kid’s daddy?”

  He flinches. That was weird.

  “No, I got my girl. You know you’re my number one girl, don’t ya?”

  “I know daddy, you told me every year.” I grin.

  “You scare the shit outta me Mischief, you are too much like me.”

  “What is Demon after daddy, why does he want me so bad?”

  “Long story, but I will never let him get you. You know that don’t ya?”

  “I know.”

  “You know, the minute you were born you wrapped your finger around mine, and you never let go. I was young and scared as hell when your Momma told me she was knocked up. Then I saw you and my life had a meaning; you are my meaning Mischief and god help anyone who gets in your way.”

  I take his hand. “I love you daddy, and I know you try so hard to take care of me. I have Travis for that now, and he won’t hurt me.”

  “Think I don’t know that? The boy is crazy about you. Always fuckin has been.”

  I flush. “Huh?”

  “
You think your old dad didn’t know you two were mad about each other, even back then? Course I did, I just hoped it was a fling. When that boy left, it was the best thing at the time. I thought it was anyway until I heard you screaming down the street.”

  “You heard that?”

  “I heard you whimpering and cryin, fucking broke my damned heart. I knew how that felt. He came back, and I knew it would happen again, but I hoped to god you two would be honest so I didn’t have to hurt the kid and you weren’t.”

  “I know daddy, and I am sorry.”

  “He’s a good boy, dark but good. I only want you to be careful, that boy has a powerful secret. I can feel it.”

  “He would tell me if he was hiding something daddy.” I whisper, my mind travelling back to the room in his house. The one I can’t see.

  “Well, I hope so. Now go on and get to sleep, you don’t need to be sitting with me all night.”

  “I miss you daddy, I miss when we all lived together, I miss when we used to laugh and play. I really miss it all.”

  He wraps his arm around me. “Me too Mischief, every damned fucking day.”

  CHAPTER 16

  I sneak upstairs and into the room Travis is sleeping in. I crawl into the bed and slide under the sheets, shoving my body against…a hairy fat one. I scream; he screams and suddenly the lights are on, and Chief is running into the room with a gun. Travis isn’t far behind. I look down to see biker Bill butt naked and laughing his sorry ass off.

  “Well, what a good dream that was. Sleeping like a baby and next minute there is a pair of tits crushed against my back.”

  Chief looks at me, and I can feel the blood rising to my cheeks. Then, he bursts out laughing. I haven’t seen Chief laugh like that for years. Travis falls in close behind until we are all laughing and wiping the tears that fall from our eyes. Bill pats my hand and gives me a wink; I give him a glare.

  “I thought you were Trav.”

  “Why thank you.” He grins.

  Travis walks over and wraps his arms around my waist.

  “Come on Mischief, before you give another man a heart attack.”

  “I thought he was you!” I cry.

  Travis leads me to his room and shuts the door behind him. He is still chuckling. I slap his back and he turns, wrapping me in his arms.

  “Would have made his night.”

  “Lucky I didn’t take my clothes off first like I planned.”

  “Oh,” He whispers against my hair. “You planned that did you?”

  “Yes, but now I am embarrassed so nobody will be getting a piece of this booty.”

  “Come on Mischief, climb in with me and let’s get some sleep. I don’t mind missing out on booty for a night.”

  “You’re a charmer Phoenix.”

  “I know baby.”

  “Hey Trav?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Would you tell me if you had a secret?”

  He flinches, and it worries me.

  “Course.”

  “Ok.”

  He rolls me to my side, and we fall into a deep, quiet sleep. I wake during the night because I can hear Travis talking. I sit up and look down at him; he is mumbling something in his sleep.

  “Amber…” He says and my heart thumps.

  “Amber, sorry baby…”

  Who the fuck is Amber? I stand and rush out of the room, my heart slowly breaking.

  ~*~*~*~

  “Violet, phone!” Chief calls the next morning.

  “Go away!” I mumble.

  “Girl, I will come in if you don’t get your ass up. It’s Sally, and she said it’s urgent.”

  I shoot upright. I stand and rush out, gripping the phone from Chief’s hands.

  “Sal?”

  “I don’t have good news. Jeremy came in this morning; he dropped the case which at first was a good thing. He said he couldn’t be bothered, and it was a waste of his time and money…”

  “Well that’s good right?”

  “He then said, it would be easier to sort out himself.”

  My blood runs cold. “What do you mean?”

  “He is dangerous Vi, I have called the police, but they can’t locate him. He had this sick smile on his face; I think you are in serious danger.”

  “Ok,” I whisper, “I will deal with it.”

  “Please get some protection. Don’t worry about work next week, just stay safe.”

  “Thank you Sally.”

  “Take care.”

  I hang up and look over at Chief, who is giving me a ‘come on spill’ look.

  “Jeremy dropped the case.”

  “Well that’s good.”

  “He said he is dropping it because it is a waste of his money, and it will be easier to sort out himself.”

  His face drops.

  “Sally called the police, but she thinks I am in danger.”

  “I am going to call the club, get them around here. Violet you stay here, no arguments. I want you under my watch, and the clubs watch.”

  “Yes daddy.”

  He turns and pulls out his phone, dialling. I turn and see Trav standing at the door.

  “Hey, what’s happening?”

  “Nothing, I am going for a shower.”

  He narrows his eyes at me. “You got out of bed last night.”

  “I was tired.”

  “Mischief what’s wrong?”

  “Nothing Travis.” I snap.

  “What did I do?”

  I turn and walk into the bathroom, slamming the door. Travis is in behind me a few minutes later.

  “What the hell is wrong with you?”

  I spin around. “Who is Amber?”

  He freezes. “What?”

  “Answer me, who the fuck is Amber?”

  Did he just swallow?

  “No idea.”

  “Don’t you fucking lie to me,” I scream. “You said her name twice last night.”

  “I don’t know.”

  “You liar!”

  “Look, I can’t talk about this right now.”

  “Is it your lover?”

  “No, I swear to god she is not another woman. I swear on my life.”

  His eyes are telling the truth. “Then who Travis?”

  “I can’t talk about this now, I will…I swear.”

  “Can you get out?”

  “Mischief.”

  I stare at him as I am shutting the door in his face.

  “Don’t break my heart Trav; we can’t come back from that.”

  I shower and ponder everything he said. He knows who Amber is, but he swears it isn’t another woman. So maybe he is telling the truth. I wonder who she is then? A friend maybe? I dress and walk into his room, to find him strumming away on his guitar. I sit down beside him, going back to when he taught me how to play. I was thirteen.

  “No Mischief, you aren’t listening. You need to put that hand on the other side…” He yells, frustrated.

  “Well, it doesn’t feel right.”

  “It never does at first!”

  “I think you are teaching me wrong.”

  “No I am not, you aren’t listening.”

  “I am so Travis.”

  “No you ain’t!”

  “Whatever.” I cry, throwing it on the ground.

  “Sit down girl.”

  “No!”

  “Sit down.”

  He yanks me by my arm and pulls me between his legs, so he is behind me. He reaches around and takes my fingers, putting them on the strings. His hands cover mine, and I can feel his body pressed against my back. He moves his fingers, forcing mine to go with them.

  “It has to be flowing; just let your fingers go, feel the music. Don’t think about it Mischief, just do it.”

  He moves out fingers over the strings and then after a moment he moves them off, and I am playing on my own.

  “Travis, I am doing it!” I cry.

  “Well done, I am so proud of you.”

  “I remember when you taught m
e to play.” I say.

  Trav spins around and looks over at me.

  “Yeah me too.”

  “I’m sorry Trav; I shouldn’t have reacted that way.”

  “No, I would have done the same.”

  “I just don’t want secrets.”

  “I know, just give me some time ok; I will tell you everything.”

  I take his face in my hands and kiss his lips softly. “Ok.”

  “Come on, we better go and talk with Chief about this case.”

  “Ok.”

  We spend the afternoon going over our plan and how we are going to deal with it. Chief decides it’s best to keep me here and to keep me guarded at all times. They would keep a watch in the area to make sure that if he came looking, they would find him. I feel mildly comforted by this, and pray that they get him before he gets me.

  “Vi, are you hungry?”

  I turn to stare at Trav, who hasn’t left my side.

  “No thanks.”

  “You need to eat baby.”

  “I will soon. Trav, do you think he will get to me?”

  “We ain’t going to let him get anywhere near you.”

  “Trav?”

  “Hmmmm?”

  “I am glad you came back, into my life…”

  “Me too.”

  He sits beside me on the couch and takes my face in his hands.

  “I would never do anything to…”

  His phone rings. He stares down at it and his face screws up.

  “I gotta take this.”

  I nod and watch him walk out. He seemed awfully tense by that phone call. I pull out my own phone and text Reagan.

  I am in lock down x

  Oh no, why?

  Jeremy dropped the case and decided he was going to come after me on his own.

  Violet! Are you in danger?

  I have Chief’s crew looking out for me. What are you doing?

  I am hanging with Harley.

  Oh la la, do spill.

  It’s nothing, we are just friends…

  Meow.

  Violet!

  Come and see me later, I am going to go crazy in this lockdown.

  I can’t, have to work x

  I hate you right now.

  No, you love me. I will come by tomorrow, ok?

  Ok Reag’s. I miss you x

  I miss you too, I miss your mom as well. How is she?

  She is going well, I haven’t told her about Jeremy.

  Oh? Do you think that is wise?

  I will ring her now boss.

  Lol. I love you, behave.