Viper (NSB Book 3)
Page 25
I don’t know if it’s a good speech. But it’s my career, my heart, my life I’m handing to her in this moment. Her eyes skim over my face, slowly, carefully. This is it, the crossroads to our future. This decision is everything—my bloody heart in her hands—and I hold my breath as I wait.
After way too many seconds for my starved lungs to handle, she squeezes my fingers and smiles. “Why yes, Wesley Alton. I’d be honored to call myself Mrs. Viper Rising.”
30: SHOWCASE
Josh fires an absent rhythm on his thigh with his sticks. Pablo bobs his head to a private song in his head. And Hannah... Hannah looks about to vomit.
“There are so many people,” she groans, peeking at the audience from backstage.
I lean out and shrug. “Only about ten thousand.” For once I wasn’t trying to be sarcastic, but she glares at me anyway.
“Only ten thousand, he says.”
“What? That’s a minor-league baseball game. Elementary school bands play those.” Maybe not my best encouragement when she shoots me my favorite vexed-look. I don’t bother trying to stop the grin.
“Han, seriously, you just have to turn your brain off. For twenty-six years you’ve locked yourself down. It’s time to let go.” I hold out my fist. “Be my viper, Hannah Drake?”
Her tension melts into a giggle as she taps it with hers. “I’d be honored, Wesley Alton.”
“Good.” I step back to address everyone. “You all ready to kick some ass? Hannah’s wondering what the hold up is.”
She’s still grinning as we step out into an eruption of cheers. God, I missed this. The energy, the excitement. The anticipation of connecting with your soul on a different level. I check on Hannah and her smile fills the entire stage. She looks like Hannah. She looks like a rock star.
“Good evening, Nashville!” I shout into the mic over Josh’s steady beat on the bass drum. I add a heavy rhythm on the electric guitar while the bass comes in with a sick line you can feel in your blood. “Viper Rising, here,” I continue. “Yeah, we’re new. Know what that means?” The musical frenzy builds into a frantic plunge toward the intro. “We’re about to work extra hard to say hello!”
The crowd roars as I spin back and let the music fly. My body takes over, mind off in that place where freedom meets passion. And there she is. Sharing the front of the stage is a deity from another realm. Long dark hair swaying in time to the jerky movements of a woman caught up in a moment, and I know—I just know—this audience is about to receive a gift they will never forget.
Through the lights, the haze, the cacophonous furor of the crowd and the speakers, our smiles connect and fuse a union that began years ago. A purpose neither of us would have dreamed up is now apparent, and ten thousand strangers are enjoying its birth with us.
We are Viper Rising.
“Coil of strength wound tight to hide. To lie. To wither and writhe. In its prison it cries, ‘Coil of rage!’”
Hannah’s voice slithers over the crowd in a ribbon of sound, teasing, manipulating, controlling every ear it touches. The roar magnifies with each line, each build into the next surprise on this musical journey through her mind. By the time I come in with a harmony on the chorus, I’m having flashbacks to my years on the road. I’m back on the bus, on stage, living, because this is life to me. The music. This is the only safe place to let go completely, and it’s then that I realize Hannah isn’t the only one who needed that lesson. For too long, I’ve held on to the demons intent on poisoning my world. It’s time to cage them in the music. To free my life for people like Hannah. Holland. Sophia, Spence, and a host of others I could love if I can take away the demons’ power.
That’s it. My “Viper” story. Hannah’s is different, but we all have a cage. We all have to fight the demons and find that place where we can fly, driven and untamed. The piece of us that holds the magic.
Yeah, it’s on, babe. The world better watch out because the vipers are breaking free.
Fangs bared, spring out, out
Of hell, don’t tell
Me what I am
I’m not, not your pet
I’m your hidden regret
So hear me, you should fucking fear me
As I rise
The end.
EPILOGUE: EFFICIENCY
Giant grins. Open body language. An enthusiastic effort to greet us. Now, I’m smiling too.
I pull Hannah in for a quick kiss on the temple before we greet Pam, Raymond, and Maurice.
“Great show,” Raymond says, offering his hand. We shake it, and the radiance on Hannah’s face should leave no doubt that they’ve found a star.
“We were really impressed,” Pam says.
“They were amazing,” Holland adds because of course she wasn’t going to let us go through this meeting alone. She gives her sister a squeeze, and the three of us sit across from them.
“We’d like to get you into the studio and lay down some more demos,” Maurice says, expression severe with urgency.
“Absolutely.” I reach for Hannah’s hand. Her grip tightens on my fingers, and I’d do anything to permanently preserve the smile on her face.
Pam leans forward. “Once we finalize the paperwork, we’d like to look at getting you some shows as soon as possible as well. It would be great for you and Tracing Holland to feed off the relationship while the hype is fresh.”
“Why not have them open for us on the fall tour?” Holland suggests.
I’ve never felt a silence saturated with such a confusion of emotion at once. Shock, awe, excitement, concern, it’s all there along with love from the two of us on this side of the table. It’s an amazing gesture from Holland, but not nearly as beautiful as watching the sisters share a private moment of mutual adoration.
“That’s an interesting idea,” Maurice says finally. “We’ll definitely discuss the possibility. There are a lot of details to work out before we can commit to something like that, but that would be quite the story to promote.”
Holland nods and gives them a stern look. “Well, do your best because I think it would be perfect.” She flashes a quick smile at me. “And don’t worry about a bus. We have plenty of space on ours.”
∞∞∞
“So, how does it feel to be a rock star?” I ask Hannah as we curl up on the couch in my condo.
“Exhilarating. Terrifying.”
I chuckle. “Sounds about right.” I pull her against me until every line of our bodies connect. It’s addictive how well we fit. “I was thinking. We’re going to have a lot of work to do. Writing, rehearsing, planning, all of that. It would be a lot more efficient if you moved in.”
She stiffens and twists back to face me. “Are you serious?”
“Yeah, I mean, it’s getting old trying to think of excuses to keep you here.”
Her face scrunches into that expression I just have to kiss off. She softens under me as I shift and move in for the kill. This woman. I’ll never get enough. My need intensifies with each reaction of her body to mine.
“So this invitation is purely out of convenience,” she breathes against my mouth.
“Purely.” I assert my attention on her neck. She arches as I tickle the sensitive skin with kisses down to her collarbone. Her hands fight with my shirt until I straighten and rip it over my head.
“My god,” she whispers, gaze running over me in wonder—then humor. “You are such an alpha.”
I smirk. “And?”
LIMELIGHT (NSB #4) Coming soon.
I’m unpredictable.
A genius, an underachiever.
I’m the song, the voice, the passion, the pain.
I am failure.
I do music because it’s what I am, but sometimes that’s not enough.
A slave to my nature, I wait for it to show mercy and drop a gift in my lap.
Because the music chose me.
I’m its victim not its gift.
She’s ruthless.
An overachiever.
&nbs
p; The giver and slayer of dreams.
A queen beneath a veil, she makes hard men beg and vie for her favor.
It’s her kingdom
Her prey.
Her mission to destroy.
She’s a fire I despise.
The spark that awakens my soul.
NOTE FROM ALYSON
Depression is a serious illness that can go unrecognized by the victim and surrounding loved ones.
If you, or anyone you know, have plans to harm yourself, or you just need someone to talk, help is available. Please know you are not alone, and help is just a phone call away.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK is the United States-based suicide prevention network of 161 crisis centers. It provides a 24-hour, toll-free hotline available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress.
Seek help, and know that you are important and you are loved.
Sincerely,
Alyson Santos
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
From the start of my journey, I’ve been blown away by the amount of support from new friends, readers, bloggers, and fellow authors. I can’t possibly see this as my accomplishment, but as an incredible blessing thanks, in large part, to all of you. There are so many people in my heart, and I wish I could list every one of you, even though I know it’s impossible. Please know that I treasure you all and take nothing for granted.
To my amazing husband who is always there to support me. Without you I would not be writing these words. Thanks also for being Canadian which made this story so super-fun to write. Eh?
To Sunniva Dee: my amazing AB and CP. It’s your friendship and support that has helped me grow as a person and writer. Love you, my friend.
To Nicola Tremere: Thank you for being my UK Consultant. Even more importantly, thank you for being such a good friend.
To Lynn Vroman, Evie Woods, Darlene Avery, Brenda Travers, and Kali McQuillen: Your friendship and feedback mean so much to me. You always help me bring the best out of my writing.
To Jon Meckes and Michael Dalke: Thank you for lending your music industry expertise.
To Era Media Co.: Thank you for yet another beautiful cover.
To my Canadian family: Thank you for your support and making Toronto my second home.
To the “epic” members of ABC (Aly’s Breakfast Club): I can never thank you enough for your encouragement and support. You always bring a smile to my face and remind me why I do this. I love you hard!
To all my readers, I wish I could thank every one of you. Thank you for taking this journey with me and I would love to hear from you!
Alyson Santos
PO Box 577
Trexlertown, PA 18087-0577
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Table of Contents
Viper Contents
1: Cliché
2: Miranda
3: Privileged
4: Name Drop
5: Tenant
6: Quitting
7: Brothers
8: Christmas
9: Writing
10: Prove It
11: Selfish
12: Rent
13: Consequences
14: Home
15: Gaming
16: Fired
17: Viper Rising
18: Hades
19: Sisters
20: Denial
21: Whisky Theater
22: Phantoms
23: Hot Date
24: Solutions
25: Interview
26: Bloody Hearts
27: Rehearsal
28: Wedding
29: Audition
30: Showcase
Epilogue: Efficiency
Note from Alyson
Acknowledgements