Wicked Serenade: a Lost in Oblivion Collection

by Quinn, Cari

  She slapped him on the back. “Go get ‘em, champ.”

  He turned back into the spray and soaped down quickly before stepping out.

  “I’ll be out in a minute.”

  “Okay,” he said with a laugh.

  “Don’t get the floor…all wet,” she said with a sigh. He was already gone and there would be a trail of wet footprints throughout the whole apartment. Good thing she loved him.

  Today, more than anything had shown her that. Even if things weren’t exactly perfect. She was pretty sure she was a shoo-in for the audition today. She’d felt good on that stage. Not as good as when she’d been with Oblivion, but everything she’d learned from them would make this work.

  And maybe she could work with Gray and Deacon on putting together a few songs to put her name out there for more studio work. She couldn’t deny that they worked well as a band. And now that Simon was actually ready to try to work with the band again, there was actually music in their home again.

  A home she’d never thought she’d find with anyone. Let alone a rock star that understood her like no other man had before. She stepped out of the shower and dried off before padding into their bedroom. She went to the far dresser, near the window and pulled out an Oblivion T-shirt from the bottom of the pile then slipped on her lucky red thong.

  She followed the humming into the kitchen and found Simon wearing nothing but her candy cane striped apron.

  “You have one spectacular ass.”

  He turned around, a tater tot—only slightly burned—covered in ketchup. “Why thank you. Hungry?”

  “Yes.”

  His eyes slid over her shirt and heated. “Naked tater tots?”

  “Even better.”

  He picked up the huge bowl he’d dumped them in and dropped the apron. “Excellent.”

  Epilogue

  October 29th

  Simon shook out his numb fingers.

  “C’mon. Don’t be nervous.”

  Simon blew out a breath. “The last practice didn’t go very well.”

  “No, but you were able to sing that whole Bad Company song with Nick the other night. You can do this. You didn’t even swear at Jerry during your last vocal session.”

  He had found the perfect vocal coach through a friend of Margo’s. Siobhan was a singer in Boston and had a legion of friends. Five bad coaches later and he’d pretty much pledged to send all five of Jerry’s kids to college if he could get him on the stage again.

  He looked up at the Fluff and Fold sign. Mrs. Martine had been more than willing to sell him the Laundromat. When he’d told Nick, he’d demanded their first practice as a band to be back in the Fluff.

  It had good vibes. The band had been created here and he’d found the first family in the basement of this place. So this had to be the best place for him to sing again.

  Margo slid her hand in his as he opened the door. The sound of baby laughter and the scent of dryer sheets blasted his senses. Harper was sitting in the corner with Lexi on her lap. A stroller was next to her with a sleeping Dylan in it. Jazz was tucking a neon green blanket around him.

  “There he is.” Nick popped up. “We were afraid you wouldn’t get in from London in time.”

  Simon gave him a rueful smile. “Roman keeps me busy.”

  Roman also had given him the opportunity to pay his band mates back for the suit that they’d had to endure because of his voice. He patted his pocket for the three envelopes. The least he could do was make everyone’s lives a little easier while they waited out his vocal restrictions.

  Nick held up Simon’s Takamine.

  “Jesus, let him get in the door,” Deacon said.

  “Are you kidding?” Nick thrust the guitar at him. “I can’t fucking wait to get all of us playing again. I’m dying.”

  “You’re not dying,” Jazz said. She shoved up the strap of her overalls and crossed the room to Simon. “We’ve missed you.”

  “Yeah well, Jerry’s been keeping me busy.”

  “And we love Jerry,” Jazz said with a little bounce. “I can’t believe your vocal coach swears as much as you do. Your YouTube video for the site was hilarious.”

  “And I wasn’t even drunk,” Simon said and sat down. He put his acoustic on his lap. He swiped his palm down his jeans and wrapped his fingers around the fret board.

  Margo went over to where Harper was and sat down.

  “All right. Let’s see if we can do this, huh? I’m just going to play for a bit first if that’s okay.”

  Deacon sat down in one of the orange chairs with his acoustic in his lap. “Sure. Why don’t we do one of our old standbys.”

  Nick strummed the first chords of Nickelback’s “I Wanna Be a Rockstar”. “Wait, that’s not it.”

  Simon laughed and strummed the next chords back to him.

  Deacon sang the first line of the Nickelback song and Gray mimicked the low, low line from the ZZ Top guest star on the single.

  They all laughed and Jazz pulled her small drum set forward and sat down. She’d had the baby just a few weeks ago, so she wasn’t quite ready for her full kit.

  They transitioned into their own song, “Too Still” and Simon opened his mouth and let the song come out. It was rusty as hell, but it was his voice.

  And it was his goddamn band.

  * * *

  Thanks for reading CONSUMED. Simon’s ready for forever, but is Margo? One-click COMMITTED now.

  She's my everything.

  Simon Kagan's days with his band may be numbered…or not, but the one thing he's sure of is he loves Margo Reece.

  Things may be strained between them, but if it takes escaping to paradise to fix them, he'll do it.

  And if he can start to find his way back to his music…bonus.

  But he's ready to pledge whatever it takes to Margo. Even forever.

  One-click COMMITTED now.

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  Now…turn the page for a special sneak peek of COMMITTED!

  Committed

  Lost in Oblivion Book 7

  “Again.”

  “Fuck you.”

  “Simon, that will not get our session done any quicker. And besides, you’re not my type.”

  “If you think that’s going to make me smile, you’re wrong,” Simon muttered.

  “What’s that stupid smirk I see, then?” Jerry said.

  “Me, coming up with a Joker style death. Possibly out my window.”

  “Nah. You couldn’t find a vocal coach you like more than me. And I give you a two-fer.”

  Simon balanced on the stupid exercise ball that Jerry brought to each and every goddamn session. It forced him to keep his posture completely straight and his shoulders level so he didn’t roll off the stupid thing and land on his ass. He was going for three times down today. Fucking masochist.

  The perfect posture also made him focus and not widen his cords. He was conscious of air flow and not straining as he went through Jerry’s paces.

  Oh, and the stupid ball tightened his core up like a mother fucker. He was rocking a six pack of abs that would make Deacon jealous.

  Okay, not jealous, but at least impressed.

  “Again.”

  Simon blew an even breath out and started over. Why was breathing and singing so goddamn impossible at the same time? He’d been singing since he figured out how to string words together.

  “You know what’s awesome about you, Simon?”

  “My eyes, my hair, my abalicious abs?” He flattened his cross trainers on the hardwood and went rock still on the stupid ball.

  Would you l
ike to read more?

  One-click COMMITTED!

  Oblivion World Character Chart

  Beware...spoilers aplenty in this character chart. Read at your own risk!

  Simon Kagan: Oblivion lead singer

  Brother to Ian Kagan, married to Margo Reece, daughter Raine Lila, co-founder of Oblivion

  Nick Crandall: Oblivion lead guitarist

  Twin brother to Elle/Ricki, married to Lila Shawcross, daughters Charlie and Avery, co-founder of Oblivion

  Deacon McCoy: Oblivion bass guitarist

  Married to Harper Pruitt, daughter Alexa Grace, co-founder of Oblivion

  William ‘Snake’ Scotsman*: Oblivion ex-drummer

  Son Axl with Chloe Adams, co-founder of Oblivion

  Jazz Edwards: Oblivion drummer

  Sister Molly McIntire, married to Gray Duffy, son Dylan and daughter Briana

  Gray Duffy: Oblivion rhythm guitarist

  Married to Jazz Edwards, son Dylan Edward and daughter Briana

  Margo Reece: Oblivion violinist

  Sister Juliet Reece, married to Simon Kagan, daughter Raine Kagan

  Harper Pruitt: Tour chef

  Brother Randy Pruitt*, married to Deacon McCoy, daughter Alexa Grace

  Lila Shawcross: Ripper Records executive and Oblivion’s manager

  Married to Nick Crandall, daughters Charlie and Avery, stepmother to Michael and Malachi Shawcross

  Donovan Lewis: Ripper Records CEO

  Uncle to Denver Casey

  Chloe Adams: Waitress

  Married to Michael Shawcross, son Axl (Bio-father Snake Scotsman) and daughter Hope

  Michael Shawcross: Warning Sign guitarist

  Brother Malachi Shawcross, married to Chloe Adams, daughter Hope

  Juliet Reece: Warning Sign guitarist

  Sister Margo Reece, in a relationship with Randy Pruitt* and Tristan Eves, son Joshua Randall

  Randy Pruitt*: Warning Sign roadie/lighting tech

  Sister Harper Pruitt, in a relationship with Juliet Reece and Tristan Eves, son Joshua Randall

  Tristan Eves: Head chef at The Hollow

  In a relationship with Juliet Reece & Randy Pruitt*, son Joshua Randal, best friends with Hunter Jordan from Hammered

  West Reynolds: Warning Sign keyboardist

  Married to Lauren Bryant, daughter Chloe (isn’t in her life)

  Lauren ‘Lo’ Bryant: Author

  Married to West Reynolds, best friends with Ethan Haywood

  Denver Casey (nee: Casey Lewis): Tour bus driver for Rebel Rage and Warning Sign

  Donovan Lewis’s niece, married to Ryan Waters

  Ryan Waters: Warning Sign jack-of-all-trades

  Married to Denver Casey

  Ethan Haywood: Professor at UCLA

  In a relationship with Molly McIntire & Luc Moreau, best friends with Lauren Bryant

  Luc Moreau: Warning Sign co-lead singer

  In a relationship with Molly McIntire & Ethan Haywood, former lead singer for The Grunge

  Molly McIntire: Warning Sign lead singer

  Sister Jazz Edwards, in a relationship with Ethan Haywood & Luc Moreau

  Malachi Shawcross: Warning Sign drummer, former race car driver

  Brother Michael Shawcross, married to Elle ‘Ricki’ Crandall

  Ricki ‘Elle’ Crandall: Warning Sign guitarist

  Twin sister to Nick Crandall, married to Malachi Shawcross

  Hunter Jordan: Hammered lead singer

  Brother Noah Jordan, married to Kennedy McManus

  Kennedy McManus: Publicist for Hammered

  Married to Hunter Jordan

  Reed ‘Bats’ Mason: Hammered lead guitarist

  Zachary Kane: Hammered rhythm guitarist

  Indiana West: Hammered band manager

  Victoria Sheer: Actress/Model

  Involved with Reed Mason, ex-girlfriend of Hunter Jordan

  Faith ‘Keys’ Keystone: Hammered keyboardist

  Married to Quinn Alexander

  Quinn Alexander: Roth Defense specialist, former Navy Seal

  Married to Faith Keystone, best friends with Noah Jordan

  Callie Templeton: Photographer

  Sister Ava Templeton, married to Owen Blackwell, daughter Lily

  Owen Blackwell: Hammered bass guitarist

  Married to Callie Templeton, daughter Lily

  Hudson Wyatt: Hammered drummer, former Formula 1 race car driver

  In a relationship with Piper Lockwood

  Piper Lockwood: Owns Rosie & Hank’s Pussy Palace Café

  In a relationship with Hudson Wyatt

  Dex Munroe: Ripper Records executive, manager for Hammered and Warning Sign

  Ava Templeton: Blogger, runs Hammered website and blog, writing book on Hammered

  Sister Callie Templeton

  Ian Kagan: Solo artist

  Brother Simon Kagan, involved with Zoe Manning

  Zoe Manning: Artist/photographer

  Brothers, Beckett Manning, Hayes Manning, Justin Manning, cousin Lila Shawcross Crandall, involved with Ian Kagan

  Beckett Manning:

  Sister Zoe Manning, brothers Hayes Manning, Justin Manning

  Hayes Manning:

  Sister Zoe Manning, brothers, Beckett Manning, Justin Manning

  Justin Manning:

  Sister Zoe Manning, brothers Beckett Manning, Hayes Manning

  Bent: security for J Town, JoEllen Foundation

  Rory Ferguson: Producer/Rhythm Guitarist

  Friends with Ian Kagan, friends with Flynn Sheppard, friends with Kellan McGuire

  Lindsey York: Brooklyn Dawn lead singer

  Best friends with Jamison DuCaine, friends with Evie Pierce

  Jamison DuCaine: Brooklyn Dawn lead guitarist

  Best friends with Lindsey York, friends with Evie Pierce

  Teagan Daly: Brooklyn Dawn keyboards/sax

  High school friends with Ricki ‘Elle’ Crandall

  Cooper Dallas: Brooklyn Dawn drummer

  Zane Landry: Brooklyn Dawn rhythm guitarist

  Oz Taylor: Brooklyn Dawn bass guitarist

  Alexander Nash: Record producer

  Friends with Logan King

  Roman: Clothing Designer

  Noah Jordan: Roth Defense specialist

  Brother Hunter Jordan, best friends with Quinn Alexander

  Flynn Sheppard: Solo country rock artist

  Friends with Luc Moreau, friends with Ian Kagan, friends with Rory Ferguson

  Sabrina Price: Ripper Records executive who manages Ian Kagan, Brooklyn Dawn

  Johnny Cage: Rebel Rage lead singer and solo artist

  Involved with Evie Pierce

  Evie Pierce: MMA fighter

  Brother Sutton Pierce, friends with Lindsey York and Jamison DuCaine, involved with Johnny Cage

  Logan King: All the King’s Men lead singer

  Married to Isabella Grace, daughter Nichole, son Jared, friends with Alexander Nash

  Isabella Grace: Bookstore owner in Winchester Falls

  Married to Logan King, daughter Nichole, son Jared

  Aidan Roth: Roth Defense CEO and head security detail for Warning Sign

  Brother Marcus Roth

  Marcus Roth: Roth Defense CEO

  Brother Aidan Roth

  Quinn and Elliott

  Lost in Oblivion Series

  Winchester Falls Trilogy

  Found in Oblivion Series

  Hammered Series

  Rock Revenge Trilogy

  Made in Oblivion Series

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  Tapped Out

  Love Required

  Boys of Fall

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  Taryn Elliott

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  About the Authors

  USA Today bestselling author Cari Quinn likes music and men, so she figured why not write about both? When she’s not writing, she's screaming at men’s college basketball games on TV, playing her music too loud or causing trouble. Sometimes simultaneously.

  USA Today bestselling author Taryn Elliott is obsessed with rock stars, men, and her unending playlists—maximizing these things seemed like a very good idea. When she’s not writing, you can probably find her surrounded by planner supplies trying to organize her life.