Heart Song (The Erotic Rockstar Series)

by Botefuhr, Bec

“I’m hungry.” He groans, pulling back and laughing.

  “Typical male; ruin a romantic moment.”

  “You want a romantic moment baby? Want the rockstar to rock your world?”

  I snort a laugh. “You didn’t just say that.”

  He grins. “I said that.”

  “Shame on you.”

  “So, what’s it going to be, pizza?”

  My stomach grumbles and he laughs.

  “I think that’s a yes from bean.”

  “I think you might be right.”

  “I’ll go dial.”

  He stands and I stare at his beautifully sculpted body, my God, he is perfect. He leans down and drags a pair of jeans up and over his hips. I watch as he walks out, I lay back and sigh, wondering how the hell I got so damned lucky?

  CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

  “Ohhhh.” I groan, staring at the food Trav is cooking.

  He laughs. “Poor baby, it sucks being pregnant huh?”

  “Something like that.”

  “So you don’t want any of these pancakes?”

  I give him a horrible look and he winks at me.

  “You are still beautiful.”

  We hear commotion outside then, Chief arguing and yelling at someone. We both stand and walk out. What I see gives me the shivers. I can see Chief first, standing in front of a couple. That couple is Lillian and Jeremy’s parents. I stiffen and flinch when they meet my gaze.

  “Please, we want to speak with her.”

  “Your son fucked up her life, don’t you dare go in there and ruin it more.”

  “We aren’t here to ruin it, please Caden.” Janette, their Mother, pleads.

  “That’s my daughter Janette, she doesn’t need this.”

  “It’s ok.” I say, stepping down the stairs.

  Chief turns around and stares at me, his eyes are pained.

  “Mischief, you don’t have to do this.”

  “I do.”

  Travis walks down the stairs and glares at the couple.

  “Travis…” Peter mutters.

  “Why are you here?”

  “We wanted to talk with her, it won’t take a moment.”

  Travis storms down the stairs.

  “She has nothing to say to you, she also doesn’t need the guilt to be further pressed into her heart.”

  “We aren’t here to do that.”

  “It’s ok.” I say again, putting my hand on Trav’s arm.

  “Mischief…”

  “It’s ok, let them talk.”

  Travis and Chief walk away, but they aren’t happy about it. With wobbly legs, I walk forward and stop in front of Janette and Peter.

  “Why are you here?” I ask, my voice hoarse.

  Janette fiddles with her hanky and Peter sighs.

  “We wanted to talk to you…can we please sit?”

  I nod to the porch and the both walk up and take a seat. I sit across from them, and look over, trying hard to contain my emotions.

  “What did you want to say?”

  Janette sighs.

  “We know what Jeremy did to you, and for the first year we hated you for it. Then, we started seeking help and realized something’s. I had to come and speak to you Violet, because I know what you have been living with and I fear we are the only people that can ease that for you.”

  “I don’t expect your pity, what I did to Lillian was my fault.”

  “No, it wasn’t.”

  “Don’t try and turn it around now, you told me to my face that it was my fault your daughter died.”

  “That was a hurt, irrational parent speaking. I was raw, I had just lost my daughter and I wanted someone to blame. Violet, what happened with Lillian wasn’t your fault. Yes, you shouldn’t have teased her, but friends tease each other. She didn’t have to do it, and she did. It was a couple of kids playing around, it was a tragic accident.”

  I swallow, feeling tears well in my eyes.

  “And we want you to know, we don’t blame you for that. How can we? It isn’t right and it isn’t fair. Jeremy was screwed up long before Lillian died, again, we didn’t want to believe it. We wanted to find someone or something to blame for our son doing what he did, but there is no one to blame. Jeremy always had problems; before Lillian died we had him see more mental health workers than we can count. You were just an excuse, a way to end his pain.”

  I shudder and cup my face in my hands.

  “He shouldn’t have laid a hand on you, and he shouldn’t have taken his own life. I know we can say a million things, and it probably won’t make a difference but to move on we have to forgive. So that is what we came to say, we forgive you Violet and we don’t blame you.”

  I am sobbing heavily now, my body shudders and convulses.

  “Oh…”

  Janette puts an arm around my shoulder and I break down, I just crumble. I haven’t really crumbled since Jeremy, or even Lillian. Yes, I have cried, screamed but I have never just crumbled. I crumble now. I become so hysterical, I can’t breathe. Janette holds onto me, which she doesn’t have to do and soothes me.

  “I am so sorry, I know what you have lived with. It isn’t your fault Violet, sweetheart, we knew you and you would never have hurt Lillian.”

  My lungs seize and I gasp for air, Janette rubs my back but I can’t catch my breath. I am hyperventilating. Chief is in front of me in a second gripping my face. Travis is by my side, rubbing my back.

  “What did you fucking say to her?” Chief roars.

  “I said it wasn’t her fault, that we didn’t blame her…”

  “She is finally just letting it go.” Peter says, finally speaking.

  “Aw, baby girl…”

  “Hey, Mischief, come on baby, you are ok.” Travis soothes.

  They sit with me while I tremble and sob, it seems like hours. Finally, when I can manage a few words I croak out that I am ok. I want to tell them I am not crying because Janette and Peter upset me, but because they freed me.

  CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR

  Meet me out back, T x

  I stare at the message from Trav. I am just finishing up my work for the day, and wondering why he wants me to meet him out back. With a shrug, I put my phone down on the bench and walk towards the elevator. I press the G floor button and wait while the elevator goes down. I walk past the empty reception desk and out the back.

  When I step out, I look around. I can’t see Trav, squinting my eyes I peer off into the distance. What is he playing at? Then, I feel a hand go over my mouth. It is covered in a cloth, and I breathe in a harsh scent, then everything slowly goes black. I don’t recall anything that happened after that only that I wake in a small, crummy room. I open my eyes and groan.

  “You are finally awake.”

  Janice? I blink a few times, and when my eyes focus I see Janice sitting at a desk, staring over at me. My heart skips a beat or two, and I wonder what the fuck she is up to.

  “What…where are we?”

  “That doesn’t matter, all that matters is that you are here and no one knows that.”

  I feel my blood run cold. Janice took me? She fucking took me.

  “What do you want, why have you got me here?” I croak.

  “You know exactly why, didn’t my warnings get through that thick skull of yours?”

  I knew it! I knew she was the stalker, all along, I fucking knew it. I should have called her out back then, maybe I wouldn’t be in this mess now if I just listened to my gut. I close my eyes a moment, keep cool, and don’t piss her off. She is clearly not all there and could easily go crazy on me.

  “What do you want from me Janice?”

  “You read the notes, you know what I wanted and you didn’t give it to me.”

  “Travis doesn’t want you, even if I left, he still wouldn’t want you.”

  “We were getting close!” She snarls. “We were getting close until you came back.”

  “No, Janice, you weren’t.”

  She stands and that is when I s
ee the huge knife in her hands. Oh shit.

  “You are wrong. I gave you a chance and you didn’t follow my rules. I wanted you out, I gave you a chance to get out and you didn’t take it, so now I have no choice but to finish you myself.”

  “You don’t want to do that.” I say softly.

  “Don’t I?” She laughs.

  “No, because they will find out and you know what will happen then? If my Father doesn’t kill you, Travis will and if you manage to get away from that, you will go to prison. How do you suppose you get a happily ever after, if you are behind bars?”

  She flinches.

  “Shut up, just shut your mouth!”

  “Think about what you are doing.”

  “Maybe I will just cut your baby out, at least then he has no tie to you.”

  I feel sick, my stomach turns and I swallow rapidly to try and avoid vomiting all over the floor.

  “You will be found out for that too.”

  She walks over, twirling the knife in her palm.

  “Here’s the thing Violet, we are a long way out and I could just drop you in the ocean. With a brick tied to your legs, you will never surface. No one will ever know it was me and Travis will be devastated…I wonder who will be there to help him through?”

  “You are sick!” I snarl.

  “No, I am in love. I had everything I ever wanted, but there was always a catch…you were the catch. You were always there, always in my way.”

  “Travis loves me.”

  “No, he loved me. We were happy.”

  “Then why did he leave?”

  “Because of a stupid childhood fantasy, that I am going to get rid of.”

  “You are making a mistake.” I hiss.

  She walks over and hits me with the end of the knife; thank God it isn’t the sharp end. The blow causes my head to swing sideways and I groan as I feel blood trickle down my cheek.

  “The only mistake is that I didn’t do it sooner.”

  TRAVIS

  “Haylee, where is Violet?” I ask, walking back into my office.

  “I am not sure Mr. Phoenix; I thought she was in her office?”

  “She isn’t. I tried her cell. I’ll check again.”

  I walk into her office, and I spot her cell on the table. Shaking my head, I walk over and pick it up. I flick through the messages, to see one received from me. I didn’t send her a message…I read it and something shudders through me. Something feels wrong, so wrong. I pick up the phone and dial reception, Janice doesn’t answer. I walk back out to find Haylee again.

  “Is Janice up here?”

  “No, I haven’t seen her.”

  Something is up, something is not right. I walk into my office and search for my phone. It is sitting on the desk, I pick it up and sure enough the message was sent from me. I don’t understand? Only one person has a key to my office and that is Janice…I close my eyes. Fuck, this can’t be happening. I am over reacting. I pick up the phone and dial.

  “Yeah?”

  “Chief, it’s Trav…I think we have a problem.”

  “Why, what is happening?”

  “I can’t find your daughter.”

  “What do you mean you can’t fucking find her?”

  “Look, I could be wrong but I think my receptionist has done something crazy…”

  “Travis Phoenix if something has happened to Mischief, I will fucking gut you.”

  “Chief, can we save it please? I am coming over.”

  I hang up the phone and grip my keys. I walk down to the reception desk and I rummage through it. I find a drawer that is locked, with a few good kicks it springs open. That is when I see all the pictures of Violet and I. Janice has been following us? I pick up the papers and peer down at them. Violet’s address, her email address, her phone number…fuck.

  I rush out of the office and get into my car. I give them Chief’s address and when I arrive, I get out finding him and Bill already waiting on the grass. He storms over and stands in front of me with his arms crossed across his chest.

  “Where the fuck is she?”

  “I know who has her.”

  “Well fuck it Travis, where the fuck is my daughter?”

  “Give me a minute Chief, for fucks sake.”

  I grip my head and think. Where would Janice take her? It wouldn’t be her house that is too obvious. She doesn’t have any family. It would have to be…my head snaps up. It would have to be somewhere secluded, and away from prying eyes. I knew exactly where they were because I had been there with Janice once before. I turn to Chief who is thumbing the gun on his belt.

  “I know where she is.”

  VIOLET

  She has finally left the room. I have been here for nearly a day, and she has beaten me over and over until my face no doubt looks awful. My body aches, my face throbs and my hands are tied. I wiggle, finally getting a chance to feel the binds in my hands. I can’t seem to free them; she has done them up so tightly. I have to get out of these damned binds, if I don’t I am dead.

  I peer around the room, looking for something sharp. I shuffle forward, my legs are tied and so are my arms but thank heavens my body is free. I shuffle and shuffle until I am near her desk. I peer around, looking for something. I can’t see anything off the mark, so I grip one of her drawers with my teeth and pull it open. I peer in, spotting a letter opener. I force myself to my feet, losing my balance numerous times and I use my tied hands to pick up the opener.

  I shuffle back to my part of the room, and lean back against the wall. I try and try to undo my hands but I have no hope, the letter opener isn’t sharp enough. I stuff it under my bottom and wait, the best I can hope for is that I might be able to use it if she decides to try and kill me. She returns two hours later and glares over at me. She walks over to her desk and slides back onto it, staring at me.

  “There was never any boyfriend, was there?” I snap.

  “No, but it worked didn’t it?”

  “You beat yourself for someone’s attention?” I gasp.

  “I paid someone to do it.”

  “What is wrong with you?”

  “Nothing!” She snarls.

  “He won’t want you, he will find out and he will hate you. I promise you that.”

  “He won’t find out!” She roars, storming over and gripping me by the hair.

  “He will.” I grate out, shuffling enough to make her think I am backing up. My hands close over the letter opener.

  She holds the other knife to my throat, and that is when I plunge. I pull the letter opener out and shove it forward. She screams and falls backwards, gripping her stomach. I lunge forward, my hands and feet are tied, but I still have my body weight. I grip the knife with both of my hands while she is rolling around screaming. I use it to cut the ropes on my feet, then my hands. When I am free, I stand and turn but I feel a burning pain in my back.

  “You fucking bitch, I will kill you.”

  She pulls the letter opener out and plunges it in again; I scream and drop to my knees. The knife tumbles from my hands. She dives for it, and then turns, lunging back towards me. I manage to roll out of the way, and grip her hair at the same time. I yank it hard, pulling a chunk out. She screams again and drives the knife into my thigh. She is aiming for my stomach.

  I roll onto it, kicking out as I go and connecting with her jaw. She falls backwards, but manages to get back on her hands and knees and starts crawling towards me. I am bleeding and my vision is blurring. I have to stay awake, I have to. She gets hold of my foot and I use the other to kick her in the face. She lifts the knife and brings it down again, just missing my other thigh.

  I scramble away and fall backwards, my body is weak. I clench my eyes shut a moment, trying to get some strength back but I have nothing. She crawls towards me, the knife firmly in her grip. She stands and leans over me, I want to move but I am losing too much blood. I close my eyes, praying for a miracle, and that is when one comes. I hear a gun shot, and then Janice’s body slumps dow
n next to mine.

  I open my eyes and see Chief, Travis and Bill standing in the room. I feel my head loll to the side, as Travis rushes over and drops to his knees in front of me.

  “Mischief, wake up, baby…don’t close your eyes.”

  I open them, but he is blurring. “We need a hospital!”

  “Fuck…get her to a hospital Travis. We will sort this out.”

  Travis lifts me in his arms, and I hear Janice moan and then scream.

  “Travis no!”

  He turns to her, and I feel my body jerk in his arms.

  “I trusted you. You are lucky you aren’t dead right now Janice because that is what I would like to do to you. Did you think I wouldn’t have a clue? Did you think I wouldn’t find you? We came here once, remember? Next time you decide to go psycho on someone, do it properly. Chief, do whatever you have to.”

  “TRAVIS!” She screams, but he is gone.

  CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE

  “Hey there beautiful.”

  I open my eyes and look up to see Travis standing over me.

  “Trav?”

  “I’m here. How are you feeling?”

  I move a little, and my body is sore. I wince and touch my battered face.

  “Janice?”

  “Sitting in a jail cell, even if she got out, she wouldn’t dare come back after speaking with Chief.”

  “The baby?”

  He grins and hands me a little slip of paper. I turn it over and look down at the black and white picture on the screen. Trav points to a little bean in the middle and I beam.

  “Our bean?”

  “Our bean, heart beat and all.”

  “Oh thank God.”

  “He or she is a fighter.”

  “I think it must be a he.”

  “I don’t know, girls can fight just as hard. Look at you Mischief.”

  I sigh. “If I get beaten one more time, I may just start learning how to box or something.”

  He snorts. “If you get beaten one more time, I am learning how to box.”

  “You won’t want to look at me soon, with all my scars.”

  “Scars and all, you are gorgeous.”

  I smile. “Thank you, for finding me.”

  “It didn’t take long for me to click who had you. I saw the message on your phone and when I checked mine, I saw it had been sent while I was in a meeting. Only one person aside from you has access to my office. Then, when I went to look for Janice she was gone and I knew you were right. God Mischief, I am so sorry I didn’t listen.”