Phoenix Rising: Issue #2 (Pretty Boy Rock)

by S R Watson

  “I don’t understand,” Asher speaks up. At least his mind seems to be off us. “Wouldn’t our fame mess up that plan?”

  “No. First of all. We’re not famous, yet so Sevyn and I could still fly under the radar. We were planning to execute our plan before our father came home—long before the band reached stardom. Someone had already leaked that Claude was sick a couple of days ago, and that was great. It meant that we didn’t have to do it. The focus was supposed to be on the fact that he was sick and was trying to bring someone else into the company.”

  “I agree. It’s all so confusing,” Killian says.

  “It’s public knowledge that Claude has two sons—twin sons. He couldn’t hide that even if he wanted to. The upset to the plan is that nobody knew, not even him, the extent to which we merged our identities. What started off as a ploy to get me unquestioned access to our home to visit with my mother transformed into a plan to have me take my rightful seat next to my brother on the throne, if you will. I never cared for the company like Sevyn. It was never my dream, but it is his. He would have forfeited his inheritance of the company out of guilt if I refused to own it with him.” I sit back down on the sofa.

  “So, I said yes,” I admit. “Partly out of love for my brother and partly as revenge on Claude. I wanted to see his face when he realized the son he didn’t want to own part of the company he willingly gave to the other son. Don’t you get it? This hurts my brother more than me. I just don’t want the media digging up past shit. Sevyn, on the other hand, cares. He didn’t want the betrayal to come from him once he found out that Claude was dying. It was never supposed to come out this way. It was one thing for him to announce to me as the other owner, but for the world to know the deceit and scheming that took place behind the scenes to get me there is another. It will crush our father, and Sevyn, in the process.”

  “Damn,” Ren sighs. “That is cold-blooded. Not that your father didn’t deserve this, but I can see Sevyn’s side of it. Here’s a man at death’s door who gives all of his controlling shares in his company to who he thinks is the good son, and then learns that the good son has been plotting with the other son to unravel his plan for him to be the sole owner. This is some TV type shit for real.”

  “Ren!” They all yell at him.

  “What?” He shakes his head. “I’m just saying I understand now. No shade. I’m here for you, man, and I do get your side too. You were robbed of part of your childhood with him. Your brother felt that honor should not have been placed upon him without you. You both are the victims here. Not your dad. This should have never come to pass.” He surprises me by patting me on the back.

  “Enough of that. I don’t want to keep thinking about it right now. Sevyn is flying in tonight, and we’ll figure out a way to spin this. I just didn’t want you guys to be blindsided by our personal crap. Claude is not the most well-liked. Some of his hostile takeovers have earned him quite a few enemies. The press is going to have a field day with this one. I’ll need to warn Desiree, too.”

  “Yeah. Surprised we haven’t heard from her yet,” Killian agrees. “Whatever. We’re going to rock Houston tomorrow night like none of this shit matters.”

  “Fuck, yes. That’s what I’m saying,” Ren echoes. The girls have been pretty quiet, but Harlow’s expression is telling. She’s worried about me. I give her a small wink when the others are not looking. She smiles, and it’s what I need in this chaos. Everything is going to be okay.

  Sevyn walks through the door after what seems like a freaking eternity. Gus left to pick him up from the airport ages ago. There is no smile greeting me this time. His solemn effect is ominous, and Asher must see it too.

  “Why don’t you two talk in the bedroom?” he suggests. “Decide how you’re going to handle this, and then let us know what we can do to help.”

  “Thanks, man,” I acknowledge, and I’m already heading toward the room.

  “Of course,” he says behind me.

  I close the door behind Sevyn and motion for him to take a seat. “Why the face man. What is it?”

  “Phoenix. I’m so sorry.” Something is wrong—more than what just happened on the news.

  “What the hell is it? Just tell me.”

  “It was Melissa,” he rushes out.

  “What about her?” He isn’t making any sense.

  “She’s behind the leak. She was in the bathroom when we talked, remember?” His eyes cast downward in remorse.

  I see red at his accusation. “You’re wrong. I know it all seems coincidental, but she would never do that. You don’t know her like I do or the things she’s helped me through. She would never betray me like that.” He shakes his head like he is trying to clear it.

  “No, you’re wrong, brother. I do know her like you do. Exactly like you do,” he emphasizes. What the hell is he saying? My heart quickens because I hope he’s not saying what I think he is. “She confessed to me that she did it. First, she leaked that our father was sick. Next, she leaked that his twin sons were plotting to pull his business right from under him. Her last card is her ace. One, neither one of us wants her to play.” My worst fear is being realized. I know what he is going to tell me. My fucking demons already have one foot out the door, tap dancing in the light.

  “Her ace? What is it, Sevyn?”

  “She was my submissive, brother. Same as she was yours. We’re being blackmailed.” And there it is. Our truths. Identical right down to our demons.

  We are the pawns in our own game. The air I breathe is suffocating. The very relationship that gave me strength at a time when I needed it the most was a lie. Melissa betrayed me. Which of us was first? What was the angle? Then another reality comes crashing down on me. Sevyn knew. When he was here a couple of weeks ago, and Melissa was here with me, he knew then, if not before.

  “You knew. Goddammit. Before she leaked any of this, you knew that we were messing with the same woman when you saw her on this bus, and you were willing to let her betray me even further.”

  “Phoenix, I—” I cut him off. If he says another word, I will not be responsible for my actions. How can I fucking trust people when everyone who I ever loved or let close to me fucked me over? My father. Women. And now my own twin brother. I punch the fucking wall to keep from crushing his face. The frame caves, and blood drips down my knuckles.

  The guys try to ask me what is wrong when they see me come out, but Asher motions for them to get the hell out my way. I go up to the front of the bus and tell Stewart to stop this fucking bus. I need off and now! I’m guessing Stewart feels the shitstorm I have brewing, so he doesn’t question my request. He assures me that he’ll take the next exit and find somewhere to stop.

  I return to the living area to throw on some shoes. Nobody dares to try to talk with me, except Harlow, that is.

  “Is everything okay?”

  What kind of fucked-up question is that? Do I look okay to her? “Since you missed the context clues of me being pissed, princess, no. I’m not fucking okay!” Asher is on my ass in a heartbeat.

  “I don’t give a shit what’s going on in your life. You will not take that shit out on my sister.” We are nose to nose.

  “Asher, it’s okay. We’re here for you, Phoenix,” she says, grabbing the hand that is bloody. I pull it away from her.

  “It’s not okay because I just found out that I can’t trust a Single. Fucking. Person.” I yell.

  “You can trust me,” she says softly, not realizing she just said “me” instead of “us.”

  The bus comes to a rolling stop. I look around the bus at all of the stares. Then I look at Harlow, and the tears that threaten to fall from her eyes send me over the edge. She left me once too. She has played a part in hurting me.

  “Really? I can trust you, Harlow?” She nods. “How can I trust you when you can’t even tell your stepbrother that you’re fucking me!” I don’t even see Asher’s fist coming. He gets one jab into my mouth before the guys pull him off me. I wipe the blood away an
d look over at Harlow. She is full-on crying now, and Asher is fighting to get free.

  And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how you make a fucking exit. Fuck this!

  Thank you for reading PHOENIX RISING: ISSUE #2, the continuation of our new rock star series with a twist! We hope you’re loving the push and pull between Phoenix and Harlow. Continue their journey and find out what happens next in PHOENIX RISING: ISSUE #3

  One-Click PHOENIX RISING: ISSUE #3 now >

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  Phoenix Rising: Issue #2 Playlist

  Never Again ~ Nickelback

  Drive, Pt. 1 ~ Ben Khan

  Come Undone ~ Duran Duran

  Earth Not Above ~ HAELOS

  Solid Ground~ Alex Vargas

  Giving Up The Ghost ~ Alex Vargas

  Religion ~ Howard

  Unsteady ~ X Ambassadors

  One Way or Another ~ Until the Ribbon Breaks

  Simple Things ~ Miguel

  1 + 1 ~ Beyonce

  Lifespan ~ Vaults

  Intro ~ The XX

  Fears ~ MTNS

  Shackled Up ~ Alex Vargas

  Scared ~ Mothica

  Blank Space ~ I Prevail

  All Alone ~ David O’Dowda

  Underflow ~ Emma Louise

  Bloodstream ~ Stateless

  Other Books by S.R. Watson & Ryan Stacks

  The Playboy’s Lair Duet

  Silas: A Playboy’s Lair Novel – Part One

  Silas: A Playboy’s Lair Novel – Part Two

  Forbidden Trilogy

  Forbidden Attraction ~ Book #1

  Forbidden Love ~ Book #2

  Unforbidden ~ Book #3

  Stand Alone

  The Object of His Desire

  Mister English

  Peppermint Mocha Love: A Christmas Novella (written as S. Renee’ … co-authored with R.L. Harmon)

  Her Favorite Christmas Gift (written as S. Renee’ … co-authored with R.L. Harmon)

  Legion of Supernatural Academy Series

  Quantum Entanglement: Part One

  Quantum Entanglement: Part Two

  Quantum Entanglement: Part Three

  About S.R. Watson

  USA Today Bestselling Author, S. R. Watson, is a Texas native who currently resides in Washington with her children. She grew up reading the Sweet Valley series (Twins, High, & University) among others. Although she wrote countless stories during high school, she'd never published any of them. She continued her education and became an operating room registered nurse. The pursuit towards earning her degrees, meant less time for leisure reading and writing for a bit. After picking up reading again, starting with the Twilight series and 50 Shades Trilogy, she decided to pursue her passion for writing once again.

  S. R. Watson (also writes as S. Reneé) published her first book in 2014.

  When S. R. Watson is not writing, or working as an OR nurse supervisor, she loves to read and binge watch her favorite shows.

  About Ryan Stacks

  USA Today Bestselling Author, Ryan Stacks, is a Washington native who currently resides in Kennewick with his wife Anna Harmon. Most would consider him a jack of all trades. His first love is wrestling and he's wrestled his entire life. In addition to his talents on the mat, Ryan has many achievements. He's a published international cover model and he released his first book, Peppermint Mocha Love with co-author, S. Reneé in December 2017. For this novella, he debuted as both an author and cover photographer. Ryan Stacks has partnered with S.R. Watson (also writes as as S. Reneé) to create more stories under his current pen name as well as R.L. Harmon.

  When Ryan Stacks is not writing, he spends his time helping to build the wrestling sport within the community as one of the coaches for Richland High School as well as a youth program. In addition to his commitment to the community, Ryan has taken his fitness career to new highs as a men's physique competitor - placing top 3 at the national level.