by Andi Bremner
“I’m not sure you understood me right,” he explained, “he thinks you are amazing Trinity. He wants to meet you.”
My grin, which was almost as huge as Gwen’s was, froze on my face. “Wha—?”
“Don’t get me wrong,” Tony rushed to reassure us. “He’s interested in all of you. In Moonstone. But he sees Trinity as the leader of the band and so he wants to talk to her.”
“Well he should talk to Gwen,” I said quickly, a panicked feeling in my throat, “If anyone is the leader it’s her. She makes all our decisions.”
Tony shook his head. “He doesn’t see it that way. You are the girl up front. You are the leader.”
I shook my head. “No. He should talk to us all together. We’re a team.”
“Look, he is not the type of guy you negotiate with, Trin,” Tony explained, a tinge of annoyance in his voice, “either you are going to meet with him or I can just tell him no.”
Gwen stepped up toward me and placed her warm hands on my bare shoulders. Over her head I could see Molly chewing her bottom lip and Shawna and Olivia frowning. They didn’t like this any more than I did.
“Look,” Gwen began, “I get why he wants to meet with just you, Trin. No point in talking to five girls all at the same time. You can do this. You just need to meet with him, see what he has to say, and then talk to us. Just don’t make any decisions or agree to anything you aren’t sure of. I trust you. We trust you. We can’t let this opportunity slip on by.”
“I don’t know, Gwen,” Molly began, “seems kind of weird to me.”
“It’s not weird,” Tony told her, “he likes the band, he wants to talk.”
“Can’t he wait until Monday,” Shawna suggested, “we could drive Trin over to his office…”
“Look,” Tony interrupted, his voice stretched thin, “what do you want me to tell him. Yes or no?”
A lump had edged itself into my throat and settled there as five pairs of eyes turned towards me expectantly. Gwen’s pleaded with me to do this and I wanted so bad to make her dreams come true but there was something off, something iffy, about the whole thing. The other girls didn’t say a word but I could tell they agreed with me. It wasn’t right. We were a team.
“So no it is.” Tony turned to leave.
“No! Wait,” I called out after him, “tell him … tell him—yes. That it’d be great to meet with him. At your house.”
Tony smiled, obviously relieved by my answer and left to share the news with his mate.
“Thanks,” Gwen whispered before she swooped me into a hug, “this could be it, Trin. This could be all we’ve ever dreamed of.”
I managed a smile as her arms encircled me. I really hoped she was right.
Chapter Fourteen
Luke
Trinity was on fire tonight. She was sexier than I’d ever seen her and at first I thought it might have had something to do with what’d happened last night. Was I seeing her through new lenses? Had my perception shifted, but after a while I decided it wasn’t me, it was her. She was oozing sex and a grungy, edginess too that had the crowd screaming for her.
I watched, mesmerized, unable to fathom that this little girl strutting her stuff up there was only eighteen. That until last night she’d been a virgin. Once more I was struck dumb by the dichotomy that was Trinity.
When she came back on for the second set she was dressed in this cute little dress that somehow looked naughty as hell on her. As soon as she stepped out on stage in it I decided that I wanted to make love to her in that dress. I wanted to lift it up, slide her panties down her legs, and bury myself deep in her.
I took a swig of my drink. God, if I didn’t stop thinking about her like that I was going to come in my pants.
After the set finished she blew kisses and waved to the crowd. As she walked off stage the guitar chic, the one Toby had been messing around with, Gwen, muttered something in Trinity’s ear that made her pause. A look of unease flashed across her face for the briefest second before the confident, arrogance of her rock chic persona returned. Then she turned around and walked back to the crowd who were still chanting her name. Actually she didn’t walk, she sauntered, swaying her hips seductively as her eyes scanned the front of the audience, searching. I straightened, moving forward to see what she was going to do. She was going to do something, I knew it. My heart beat a steady thump in my chest and I tensed.
It was as if I was a little afraid.
Suddenly Trinity dropped to her knees. My mouth went dry. She was now focused on someone in the audience and didn’t lift her gaze from them. I pushed through the crowd, desperate to see who it might be. I needed to see who it was that had her looking like that. My chest clenched tight as she started to crawl. A low, sexy, prowl that had the audience screaming and stamping their feet. My blood began to boil. I didn’t like this. I didn’t like this at all. It was one thing seeing your girl dance, sing, and flirt with the crowd as part of her performance but this was something else entirely. This was a different type of performance, one that made my insides twist.
Then, when I thought I couldn’t stand it anymore she licked her lips. I was closer now, only a few feet from the stage but the surging crowd stopped me from getting any closer. I could see what she was focused on now, a guy, older than me who was leering at her. The other girls on stage were watching her, although Gwen had her hands above her head cheering her name and clapping. There was no music. This wasn’t part of their performance, this was something else entirely.
Trinity grinned at her prey as she reached him. Then she kissed him. She might as well have punched me in the gut herself since the affect was the same. I thought I might actually be sick. Her mouth moved across his and I saw her tongue slide out and touch his. Apparently the whole audience did too because they screamed louder than they had all night, with the whistles nearly blowing the club’s roof of.
I remained frozen to the spot unable to move as I watched my girl, my girl¸ kiss someone else.
Then the guy reached and grabbed her arm and tried to pull her into the audience. This stopped her and she pulled back waving her finger at him to indicate he’d been naughty. Then she sat back on her ankles.
And that was when she saw me.
Her eyes went round so I knew she saw me and I thought, hoped, that what I saw flash over her face was remorse or guilt. But then it was gone and she looked away from me and back to the audience as she got to her feet and grinned wickedly. Then she turned and bounded off the stage without even a backward glance.
I was now trapped at the front of the stage, so I turned and began pushing and shoving my way out. I had to get to her. I had to see her, remind myself that the sweet, innocent girl I’d been with last night, that I’d gotten to know over the past week wasn’t the same girl who’d just behave like that.
Because that, what I’d seen her do just then, made me feel sick.
“Hey watch it,” people grumbled as I pushed past them, but I paid little attention. My head was in a fog and the anger was beginning to build.
****
I made my way to the back of the club where I knew she would exit from. A bouncer was there, looking bored, but he was alert enough to stop me as soon as I got anywhere near the door.
“My girl is in there,” I told him, my voice as edgy as I felt.
“If your girl is in there then you would have a pass,” he said, his expression flat, “or she would be out here letting you in. You need to wait outside.”
I started to push past him but he stepped in my way eyeing me up and down. He was sizing me up and daring me to keep going. Running a hand through my hair I swore as I turned around and paced. There was no other way out though. I’d just wait here for her. I’d wait all fucking night if I had to.
People were starting to leave the club even though it was still open and a DJ had replaced the girls. They were all giddy and high, talking about after parties and the gig. I searched each of their faces and came up disappointed each time I
realized none of them was Trinity.
“C’mon man,” I said to bouncer again after a few minutes but he just grinned at me.
Suddenly the door opened and two of the band members came out. I recognized them both—Shawna and Olivia from the band. I didn’t know them though and I wasn’t sure if they knew who I was. Had Trinity told her friends about me?
“Hey,” I said, hating how desperate and urgent my voice sound as I stepped up to them, blocking their path, “Trinity?”
“No,” Shawna replied with amusement.
I swore again. I was getting flustered, which was very unlike me. But then, when it came to this girl, I behaved in so many ways that were very unlike me. “No. I know you aren’t her, I’m looking for her.”
They exchanged glances. “She’ll be out soon.”
Good she hadn’t left and she was coming out. I nodded and stepped out of the way letting them pass.
My pacing resumed. My heart was beating a steady, too fast beat in my chest and I was breathing hard. I couldn’t believe how worked up I was over that kiss. She’d kissed someone else, right in front of me.
Finally the door opened and the rest of the band came out followed by Tony Hurst, the guy who owned the place. The other girls—Gwen and Molly—were talking and laughing, obviously still high from the gig but Trinity walked behind them, with Tony, her face drawn up and tense. I could feel the anxiety radiating off her.
“Trinity.” Ignoring the bodyguard I stepped around him and into her path.
She looked up at me. She still had on the cute little sunflower dress and the makeup, although the bandana was gone. I took a moment and let my gaze roam over her. She wasn’t wearing a bra under that dress. It felt like someone had punched me in my lower gut and I had to look away and not think about that.
“You—I,” I stammered, “I wanted to see you.”
The edges of her mouth quirked in a small, half smile. “Okay.”
“Can we,” I glanced at those around us, “go somewhere private?”
“Oh. I can’t. I have a meeting.”
I stared at her. It was after midnight. What sort of meeting did she have after midnight on a Saturday night?
“C’mon, Trin,” Tony tugged on her arm, his hand resting on her bare skin. My blood heated at the sight of it and I wanted to hit him. But I didn’t. I wasn’t one of those guys even though I suspected I was fast becoming one.
“I have to go,” Trinity said to me, and then I watched helplessly like a fool as she followed Tony over to his car, waiting as he opened the door for her and then sliding into his silver Porsche. I glanced back at the two girls who were watching too.
“Good luck!” the one I didn’t know called.
“Knock him dead, Trin,” Gwen said just before the car pulled away.
Knock him dead? I gaped at the two girls a million questions flooding my brain. Where the fuck was Trinity going after midnight on a Saturday night alone with Tony Hurst?
I had a bad feeling. A very bad feeling about this as I watched the Hurst’s car drive away with Trinity inside.
The two girls started walking again, their conversation resumed when I grabbed Gwen’s arm. She stopped and stared at me.
“Where the fuck did she just go?”
“Hey, lover boy,” she said, shrugging her arm out from mine, “hands off.”
The other tilted her head. “Luke right?” She stuck out her hand. “We haven’t met but I know who you are. I’m Molly. Friend of Trinity’s.”
“So where is she going with him?”
“It’s not what you think,” she explained, “but Hurst had a friend swing by the club tonight who has a small record label. He liked us, but he got the impression that Trinity, since she is the lead singer and all, is the leader of the group. He didn’t want to waste time talking to five girls so he just wanted to meet her. Tony has organized the meeting to be at his house.”
“This could be the break we’ve been looking for,” Gwen said a little breathlessly.
I stared at the two girls who looked like they’d been offered candy. The only thing was they’d been offered candy from the wrong sort of person. Didn’t their parents teach them to be wary of guys like Hurst and guys who own record labels and wanted to speak to the hottest girl in the band, alone, after midnight on a Saturday night?
No. Of course not. I knew nothing about these two girls but I knew that Trinity’s mother beat the crap out of her and didn’t give a fuck.
“How could you girls be so stupid,” I said quietly after a moment. I was so angry right now I was having a hard time controlling myself. I’d thought I’d been angry before, seeing Trinity kiss that guy, seeing Hurst put his hand on her, but that was nothing compared to now. Now I was angry because all of them—including Trinity—had been so fucking stupid and naïve.
I was angry because Hurst had swept her up into his stupid fucking Porsche and I hadn’t done a thing to stop it.
“Where are they going?” I ground out.
“Luke it’s fine,” Molly said, trying desperately to assure me, “they’ve gone to Tony’s house. He looks out for us… Luke!”
But I was gone. As soon as she told me where they were headed I’d taken off running. I just hoped I wasn’t too late.
Chapter Fifteen
Luke
The last time I’d been at Hurst’s house it had been pumping with people streaming about the place and the place lit up like a bonfire. Now it was the opposite. Closed up and quiet. A low light burned from somewhere in the house but it otherwise looked completely and utterly unoccupied. The only sign of anyone inside was the big black hummer outside. Hurst’s Porsche was nowhere to be seen.
I parked my car in the drive and got out. I must have broken about ten traffic violation laws on my way here and I was trembling. Worse case scenarios were going through my head and I was having a hard time pushing the images aside and getting a grip on my emotions.
Sucking in a deep breath, I made my way up the garden path. Everything was quiet. Too quiet.
I rang the doorbell and waited. The padding of feet sounded soon after and then the door swung open to reveal Hurst.
He didn’t say anything.
“I’m here to get Trinity,” I told him, surprised by how calm my voice sounded.
A muscle flexed in his cheek which was the only sign that he was annoyed. “She’s busy. Fuck off.”
He made to shut the door but I put my foot in it before I shoved it open and stepped inside. He followed me, yelling and swearing at me to get out but I was louder. I called Trinity’s name.
I stormed through the house, which was massive, wondering how many rooms I would have to search before I found her and what I would find. The more steps I took the angrier and more frantic I was growing.
I didn’t have to search at all though, because a door off the entry way opened and there stood Trinity.
My relief was tangible and I could have fallen on the floor and wept.
“Luke?” she said, “what are you doing here?”
I shook my head. “I came to get you.”
She stared at me a long time, before she spoke. One hand rested on the doorframe and the other held the door pulled close behind her. Her face was pale, but otherwise she looked fine. If a little unsurprised by my sudden intrusion. Then she nodded, speaking in a very soft voice, “Okay.”
Okay? I had expected a scene. If not from her then from Tony or the supposed music label guy. I was a little caught off guard by her calm state and agreeable nature and felt the adrenaline in my blood tingle. I’d been looking for a fight.
Stepping out from the room she pulled the door shut behind her and made her way over to me, offering me a small smile. I slipped an arm around her and pulled her close, pressing my lips to her forehead and inhaling her. Underneath the stench of the club which clung to her hair I could smell her. Trinity. I closed my eyes as I led her out, relieved that she let me, her eyes focused on the ground. She didn’t look at Tony a
s we passed him.
It was only when I’d tucked her safely in the car and we’d pulled away from Hurst’s did she speak.
“Thank you,” she said simply looking over at me.
I glanced at her to find her eyes round and wet looking. She blinked rapidly but that didn’t make the tears go away. Her face was pale and her lips were trembling.
I pulled over, jerking the car to a halt as I turned to her.
“What are you thanking me for? What happened?” My voice was tight. She’d probably only been in the house five minutes, ten max, before I’d gotten there. That wasn’t long enough for him to do anything right? And apart from her pale, tense manner she looked okay.
“For knowing that it wasn’t right,” she whispered, “and for coming to get me.”
I slammed my fists on the steering wheel. “Of course it wasn’t right. People don’t conduct business this time of night, at least not any type of business you want to be involved in. And they certainly don’t conduct business with just you—alone. What were you thinking?”
She gave a small shrug and pulled her bottom lip in between her teeth. “I don’t know. It didn’t feel right. I knew something was off. If he wanted to talk to someone it should’ve been Gwen or Molly. I didn’t want too but the girls were depending on me. “
“They’re just as stupid and naïve,” I spat. “What happened?”
She shook her head. “Nothing. He made me an offer. Then I heard you.”
I swallowed over the hard knot in my throat. “What kind of offer?”
Again she shook her head. “Not any kind of offer that I would even considered taking him up on.”
“Fuck, Trin.”
Reaching out she laid her hand on my arm. “Can you just take me home? Please?”
“Of course,” I told her, pulling her hand into mine and resting it in my lap as I pulled out from the curb. “I’ll take you anywhere you need to go.”
****
Trinity
He didn’t take me home. He took me to his place. I started to protest but he told me he couldn’t take me back to that place just yet. Not with Mark and all his dope head friends hanging around. Toby would be out still, he assured me, so we would be alone. I didn’t argue. I was exhausted and overwhelmed and all I could think about was “the offer.”