Tommy finally bought her the engagement ring that she secretly yearned for. It was extravagant and grossly overstated. He couldn’t afford one when they first got married. She always said it didn’t matter, until Tommy gave her that ring. She touched the bottom of the band with her thumb and looked down at it. Even in the dimly lit bus, its brilliance sparkled up at her. She never took it off. It meant the world to her, not only because it was exquisite, everyone complimented her on it, but because after so many years together it bothered Tommy that he never gave her a ring. She loved him so much. And she loved Angel. They were happy. The three of them. She laughed at how nervous and apprehensive she was about bringing Angel into their relationship. Now, she couldn’t imagine life without him. She was secure in their relationship. Everything was crystal clear. The three of them were meant to be together.
Chapter Fifty-Three
Boston was the last stop on the tour. It was bittersweet. The experience was everything Angel ever dreamed of. The reception of the fans and the rising popularity of the band surpassed his imagination, but he was looking forward to spending some time at home and seeing his family. They would only have a short break before they needed to start on the next album and, hopefully, there would be a world tour in the not too distant future.
The crowd was amped and supercharged. They knew tonight’s performance was the finale of the tour and it would out do every other show they performed. Angel wasn’t nervous, but he was anxious as he watched by the curtain for their cue to take the stage.
Tommy squeezed his shoulder. “Listen to them. Feels good doesn’t it?”
“It feels divine, my prince. I could stand here all night and listen to their calls.”
The chant that rose from the audience was a deafening roar. It was a warrior’s call, demanding Immortal Angel to do battle with their instruments on stage.
Jessi fixed the collar on Angel’s leather jacket. “Does it fit better now? Is it pulling across the back?”
“It fits like a glove, sweetheart. Your workmanship is impeccable.”
“Thank you.” She smiled at him. “You may be my only client, but you’re my favorite client.”
“Please make sure you pick up the jacket once I take it off. It’s very heavy and I don’t know how long I’ll be able wear it. I don’t want anyone to accidentally step on it and ruin it.”
“With all that metal? Someone’ll break an ankle before they hurt this jacket. But, don’t worry. I’ll keep an eye on you. As soon as you take it off, I’ll grab it.”
The house lights dimmed, causing screams and whistles to echo throughout the venue.
“Ready, A?”
He slowly turned toward Tommy. “Answer their call.”
Tommy curled his fingers around the neck of his Les Paul and picked off their signature intro.
Screams blocked out the rest of the world as Angel walked to the center of the stage. The lights were still down. Only a small spot illuminated him from behind. He stood perfectly still, with his arms at his side, as he looked into the crowd.
Horned fists pumped wildly in the air.
The light behind him projected an exaggerated shadow into the crowd. It made him appear 20 feet tall, mirroring the feeling in his heart. The lighting technician waited for his cue, but he paused to absorb the energy of the crowd. Finally, he cued the lights by raising his arms in the air and the stage was brought to life. The thin silver chains that adorned his sleeves from armpit to wrist hung to the floor in a dramatic curtain of metal. The jacket was a show stopper and the epitome of modern punk rock. The audience gasped at its reveal. The lights reflected off the elaborate rhinestone covered microphone stand and cast a kaleidoscope of blue, pink and yellow lights onto the audience.
Thunderous applause and foot stomping shook the stage.
Jimmy crossed his sticks four times, and Immortal Angel’s music rumbled through the sound system. Angel took his rhinestone embellished microphone from its matching stand and strutted across the stage. The silver metal chains rang and reflected the light as they trailed behind him. He jumped between the two raised platforms on either end of the stage and belted out the lyrics to their latest hit, Cardiac Explosion.
The fashion forward jacket was his favorite piece in his wardrobe. He swung his arms to accelerate the movement of the heavy chains and they jingled around him. After he gyrated through the first two songs, he strutted back to the center of the stage and put the mic back on its stand. He spread his arms like an iron clad eagle and let the metal chains drop around him. He lowered his arms, and his shoulders, and the heavy jacket fell to the floor. No shirt, no jewelry, just bare chest, leather jeans and an invitation to anyone who wanted to spend the next 90 minutes caught up in the heyday of sex infused punk rock.
Bras littered the stage. A furry leopard jock strap practically hit Angel in the chest. Satin panties sailed through the air and landed on the drum platform. The owner was hoisted onto someone’s shoulders. She screamed Jimmy’s name and flashed two surgically-enhanced breasts. The crowd was insane.
Without You, was their next song. It was the song Tommy wrote and the song that made them famous. Right before Tommy’s solo, he chased Jessi on stage with his Les Paul. Every girl in the audience wanted to be the recipient of a Tommy Blade guitar solo, but he only offered them to Jessi. She was flustered and covered her mouth with her hands while the twang of the guitar strings filling the air. When he was done, he kissed her and resumed his jack rabbit bounce around the stage.
Damien was having a problem with his Ibanez again. He was tightening the tuning key and slapping the strings, harder than usual. Angel could read the curses on his lips. All of a sudden, the D string snapped. The fan blew it up to Damien’s face. It hovered in the air like a deadly cobra waiting to strike. He tried to dodge out its way, but its attack was relentless. It annoyed him and shook the neck of his bass, but the movement infuriated the wild D string and it retaliated by striking his mohawk. It would have been comical if there wasn’t an angry fire in Damien’s eyes.
He pulled his bass over his head, lifted it by the neck with both hands and smashed it on the floor. An explosion of feedback screamed through the amp as the bass guitar exploded into a heap of splintered black metallic-coated wood.
Angel was stunned into silence and retreated to Tommy’s side. The crowd cheered as Damien continued to swing his Ibanez to the floor until there was nothing left except the neck of his bass in his hands like a headless body.
It was punk rock at its finest.
A stage hand quickly passed Damien his Rickenbacker and he picked up with the bass line like he never missed a note. Angel jumped to the bridge to catch up with the lyrics and they finished the song like it was a well choreographed stunt.
The lights were hot and Angel’s skin glistened. His chest was covered with a light dew and he stood in front of the fan as he sang. He chugged some water and placed the bottle down on the drum platform. Jimmy was dripping under the hot lights and heavy beats he brought to life on his drums. His T-shirt clung to his chest.
When the song was over, a pair of drumsticks flew past Angel and into the audience. Jimmy stood up, pulled at the collar of his T-shirt and ripped it down the center. Girls screamed at the sight of Jimmy’s washboard abs and brightly colored tattoos that covered his chest. He rubbed the sweat-soaked shirt on his crotch and whipped it into the audience. It was torn in half by two over excited fan girls, fighting for a piece of Jimmy’s DNA.
Sixty minutes later, the lights came down over a sea of screaming fans, signaling the end one of the best shows Immortal Angel ever performed, and the close of the band’s first national tour.
Chapter Fifty-Four
The tour bus rolled into New York at the end of September. Six months away from home felt like an eternity, yet it felt like just yesterday that they set out on tour. Tommy slid open the window in their bedroom in the back of the bus. He loved this time of year when the heat from the hot, humid summer subsided and
a crisp cool autumn breeze made its first appearance. He strained to look out into the harbor. She was still far away, but even at a distance, Lady Liberty was impressive and inspiring. He stood at the window while the bus swayed and bounced through the pot holes of lower Manhattan, until she was close enough to see clearly. He called to Jessi and Angel who were still packing. They bought so much stuff while on tour that they had to buy another suitcase last night before they left Boston. “Hurry up. You’re gonna miss it.”
Jessi groaned as she got to her feet. “What are we looking at?”
“The most beautiful lady in the world.” He held his hand out to her. “Make that the second most beautiful lady in the world.”
She slid her arm around his waist and stared out at the harbor. A second later, Angel’s arm was on Tommy’s shoulder and Angel’s lips were on his cheek. They stood with their arms around one another, watching the beacon of hope grow larger in the skyline, standing proudly with her arm defiantly in the air.
Tommy smiled at Angel. Their lives had been a roller coaster. Love blossomed. Success and fame came practically overnight. It was almost taken away just as fast because the world wasn’t ready for their love, but in the end, love triumphed over all.
Jessi placed the palm of her hand against the window and the sun reflected off the brilliant diamond on her finger. Her platinum wedding band shined along side it. Tommy placed his left hand over hers so their rings lined up. Angel smiled at them and added his ringed finger to the top of the pile.
Tommy brushed a kiss on each of their lips. This was just the beginning. He had no idea what lay ahead, but whatever life threw at them, they could handle it, as long as they were together.
Angel’s phone rang and he put it to his ear. He listed for a few second then leaned his head back and smiled as wide as his luscious lips would allow. “I can’t believe it. Thank you. Thank you, Marissa. I’ll call Mr. Ableman after we get settled at home. Bye.”
“Well, my prince, our first album just went platinum. It’s confirmed. We’re headlining a world tour in less than a year.”
End of Book One
Between a Rock and a Hard Place
Radical Rock Stars, Book Two
Coming Late Summer 2014
When Jessi Blade is forced to miss the first leg of Immortal Angel’s world tour, Tommy Blade and Angel Garcia are alone together for the first time. Their romance flourishes and brings them closer together, but time apart puts a strain on Tommy and Jessi’s marriage. The demanding schedule of a world tour, pressure from the record label and a wife who feels neglected, leaves Tommy under a blanket of anxiety. He’s helpless as his perfect life slowly falls to pieces.
When Jessi Blade finally catches up to Tommy and Angel four weeks into their world tour, she begins to feel like an outsider. She’s not about to take a back seat to Angel and she competes for Tommy’s attention. Tired of the rivalry, she begins to wonder if they’d be happier without her.
Angel Garcia is trying to hold their relationship together, but Jessi’s animosity and Tommy’s nervous tension, are a heavy load to carry. Before long, it becomes clear that their life, and the band, are doomed unless they work out their differences.
About the Author
Jenna Galicki
Author of Adult Contemporary Romance
Jenna Galicki is a strong advocate for LGBT rights and marriage equality. She volunteers with God's Love We Deliver, delivering meals to people with HIV and AIDS and other life threatening illnesses. She actively raises money and participates in AIDS Walk New York and is a proud sponsor of Children International.
She lives in Long Island, NY with her husband and three dogs. She's a Rottweiler enthusiast and an avid music buff. Elaborate stories and fictional characters are her constant companions. When she's not hunched over a computer breathing life to these strong souls through the written word, you can find her front row at a rock concert.
Follow Jenna Galicki; she would love to hear from you:
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