Hard Rock Unrehearsed (2 page)

Diego shook his head.  “Not my woman Trace.  She’s special to me, that is true, but not my woman.  You guys should stay in your rooms it’s safer for you there and keep those curtains drawn.”  Diego threw over his shoulder as he walked down to his father’s rooms.

His dad was on the phone when he walked in and Diego knew he was pissed as he watched him negotiate with someone.  One of the preferred drummers he supposed.  He knew drummers would be coming out of the woodwork trying to take over Richie’s place in the band.  He grimaced as his father threw the phone down on the table with a curse that thundered around the room.

“Problems Papa?”  He asked softly.

“Every two bit drummer and their agents are calling and making a play for a place on the audition list.  I’ve got four assistants fielding calls and still they are getting to me!  Why the hell did I agree to this madness?  I was happy with my semi-retirement, no phones ringing at all times of the day and night, no damned boys killing themselves with drugs, and no damned agents hounding me for their clients.”

Diego watched as his dad grabbed a bottle of water and twisted the cap off with a vicious twist.

“Did you reach the ones the band decided on?”

“Yeah I did, three out of the four are available and will be here for the audition tomorrow afternoon.  I don’t know if they will fit in with the band though.  The one has a reputation for hard living, women, drinking, partying.  The other two I don’t know much about but I will by morning, no way am I going to screw up the team I’m building with these boys by adding a member that would pull them right back to where I found them.”

Diego nodded.  “What about Jade?”

His father grinned.  “She’s interested but wants to sleep on it, as if that will help.  She’ll let me know in the morning.  If she decides to come she’s going to blow them away.  She’s unknown except as a studio musician, but she has grown as a musician over the years and I’m sure she will have no problem handling it.  It’s been seven years since we lost Val, she needs to get out there and live, show the world her talent, live the life she had been born to live.”

“Hell, I hope you’re right Dad.  I don’t want to have to beat up my old man because he pulled her out of her comfort zone only to let her crash and burn.”  Diego growled softly.

“She’s ready Diego, I know it and you know it.  It’s time for our girl to show herself, to live again.”  Diego watched the sadness slide through his dad’s eyes.  “We will always miss Val but he’s gone and she’s still here, it’s time.”

Diego nodded, he knew his dad was right but he still worried about her.  She had been heartbroken when his brother had been killed in a car accident the night after they had been married.  No one had known that they had secretly been married and Diego had only found her about seven hours after the accident had happened.  Seven hours she had been desperately trying to get hold of Val and then of his father while the news of his death was being broadcast all over the world.  Diego and his dad had shielded her from the paparazzi, from the media and the furore Val’s marriage and death had created.  She didn’t even attend the funeral and her father made sure that all traces of her marriage disappeared.  Her face had never been shown in any papers, or on any television show, she was the faceless, nameless woman who had been married for a single day to Val Delgado, guitarist and vocalist for the band Killing Fields.  A band his dad had managed and had walked away from with Val’s death.

Val had met Jade at a benefit concert they had both played at.  She was with a band on the cusp of making it and it had been their first performance at a really big gig.  Val had been blown away by her, he had told Diego that she was going to be one of the best drummers the rock scene had ever seen and that she was going to be his.  Diego had laughed at his brother.  “She’s still a baby Val, leave her alone.”  He had teased.  But Val hadn’t listened he had dropped Gina Vincent, the woman he had been seeing for close on a year and focused on getting Jade Galloway to take him seriously, which she hadn’t.  Jade had been nineteen to Val’s twenty eight and had told him that he was too old for her.  But Val had persevered and Jade had fallen in love with him which led to them getting married in secret to keep away from the media.  Val had been on the way to pick her up so they could tell the family when he’d been killed by a drunk driver jumping a red light.  The family had closed ranks around Jade and shielded her from the world and the worst the tabloids had spewed out.

The media had faded away when nothing new or interesting had surfaced about Jade and eventually she had returned to play with her band with no one the wiser.  The band had a good following but hadn’t broken through when they broke up and Jade turned to studio work.  Her work was acknowledged by the biggest names in rock and metal.  She was a sought after commodity which his dad managed with consummate skill.  Jade was the one who had urged his dad to take on another band and had bugged him until he relented.  And here they were, getting ready for Jade to crash onto the rock scene and burn bright like the potential star she was.

Diego rubbed his chest where it suddenly felt as if it burned.  He had wanted his brother’s woman for a very long time.  A very damned long time!  But she belonged to Val, would always belong to Val however much he wanted her to be his.  With a sigh he swiped the card through the lock to get into his room, he needed to sleep and get this fucking night behind him.  He’d been awake far too long.  Getting rid of his clothes he fell naked onto the bed, rolling to his side he stilled his brain, setting his mental alarm he let sleep take him.

CHAPTER TWO

As she slowly put her phone down on the bedside table Jade sighed heavily.  Diego Delgado had a voice that made his many women sigh and groan.  She bet it became even better when he had those damned women in his bed.  She had heard the rumours, hell, never mind the rumours!  She had overheard some women gossiping about his bedroom skills in the bathroom of a club and it had left her standing with her mouth hanging open.  She wasn’t sure but there might have been drool involved!   According to the women she'd overheard he was a sex god, he made a woman come until she couldn’t walk and then he would just start all over again!  The man looked like sex on a stick to start with and then the voice and the skills!  Holy Hannah!  Diego Delgado was tall, broad in the shoulders and chest with a six pack, a v-line, long legs with big muscled thighs and well formed calves.   And on top of all that he had that dark brooding quality that drove women crazy.  Dark hair always slightly too long fell to his collar and his dark eyes brooded under perfectly curved brows, and then there was his mouth!  Dear sisters of mercy!  That mouth with its full lower lip was made even better by the dimples that appeared when he smiled.  Add to all of that the acres of golden skin marked by black tribal tattoos that covered both arms from shoulder to elbow and a skull with a red rose in the left eye socket on the left shoulder blade and that was all badass Diego Delgado.  And that was just his physical beauty!

“Damn it!”  Jade growled as she fell back against the stacked pillows on her bed.  For the last two years Jade had known that she was more than just attracted to her dead husband’s brother.  A brother who she knew would never look at her with anything other than brotherly love.  And of course he had that hateful slut Marcella Vincent always waiting patiently for him to return to her which he did with sickening regularity!  It sucked to be Jade Galloway Delgado!  If she was anyone else she would have had him by now and would have been able to confirm the rumours!  Jade gave a frustrated scream.

Her door crashed open.

“What's wrong?”  Tag barked at her as his eyes swept her room.  “What the fuck Jay-Jay?”  He snarled as he stalked to the bed then flung his big body down on it.

“Sorry Tag, I’m just frustrated that’s all.”  She grinned as he lay on his side at the bottom of her bed.

Tag had been with her as her bodyguard/personal trainer/assistant ever since Val had been killed.  After seven years of being in close contact with each other they were friends, very tight friends.  He knew everything about her, her deepest secrets, her most embarrassing moments, everything.  Just as she knew everything about him.

“Frustrated with yourself or frustrated with the D-man?”  He asked as he stretched lazily and turned onto his back.

“I’m both and I have to decide about this gig before morning.  Papa Luis will be calling before the damned sun gets over the horizon for my answer and I don’t know if I want to do this.”  Sliding further down on the pillows she pushed her toes into Tag’s side, wiggling them to irritate him.

“Stop that.  I think you know that it’s time, time to step away from the past and let it go.  It’s what Val would have wished for you, we both know that he would never have wanted you to hide your talent in a studio.  He raved about you Jay-Jay, raved about the star you were going to be.  Now it’s time for you to step up and take your shot.  Plus it’s time to show the D-man what he’s been missing.  The bastard needs to fuckin’ step up to the plate.”  Tag growled as he grabbed her feet and pulled them onto his belly.  “If you had been my type I’d have had you tied up in knots and collared long before now.”

Jade laughed as he massaged her feet.  “You ass!  You like those little subs of yours way too much to try it on with a dominant woman, and just for your information, no one will be tying me up and spanking my ass!”

“Baby you don’t know what you’re missing.”  He smiled.  “The women I tie up in knots and spank all come back for more.”

She crinkled her nose up at him as he grinned like a Cheshire cat.

“Let’s not discuss your so-called love life and focus on the decision I have to make.”

Tag shrugged as he put her feet back on the bed and sat up.

“There’s nothing so-called about it baby!   Just as there is no decision to make Jay-Jay, take the job, it’s time girl.  It’s actually way past time.”

With that he got off the bed and left the room giving her a wink as he walked out the door, closing it softly behind him as she groaned with frustration.

Jade was up at five and she called Papa Luis before he had time to call her spending thirty minutes talking to him.  After silently calling herself seven kinds of a fool she went down to the basement gym for her workout routine with Tag.  She had made her decision, she would be flying out to Atlanta where the band was at present to join them.  They had a three day break between performances and the audition was scheduled for that night.  She wasn’t going to take a lot of stuff with her, just in case she didn’t get the gig.  She could always have her and Tag’s stuff packed and sent to them if by some chance she got the gig.

“Mornin’ beautiful, how did you sleep?”  Tag greeted her with his sweet smile already deep into his routine and glistening with sweat.

“Slept good.  We have to be at the airport at eleven, our flight’s at one.”  She grinned at him as he gave a loud war whoop and rushed over to give her a hug.

“Aarrgh!  That’s disgusting!  You’re all wet and sweaty!”  She grimaced as he folded her into his big very sweaty arms.

“No problemo, we’ll have you in the same state pretty soon.”  He grinned as he let her go.

Jade knew he wasn’t joking, her workouts weren’t for pussies.  Tag had worked hard to help her build up her strength and stamina to enable her to play for the hours required during a gruelling studio session or a live show.  He watched her diet, her liquid intake, hell, he watched over everything in her life.

The airport was busy and she hid behind her dark glasses, black hoodie and baseball cap as Tag and the two extra bodyguards led her to the VIP departures lounge.  Tag was behind her, covering her with his huge body while the other two were slightly in front of her, she had no idea why Diego insisted on two extra bodyguards.  She liked the anonymity she usually enjoyed with Tag, no one ever gave them a second look when they travelled.  Not like what was happening now!  People were looking at her, trying to work out who she was and she saw some taking photos with their phones!  Shit!  She really and truly hated this!

She heaved a sigh of relief as she walked into the VIP departures lounge and the two extra bodyguards melted away in the crowds outside.  She knew they wouldn’t be far away, and that they’d be travelling coach as back up to Tag.  She wasn’t travelling under her married name anyway!  She always used her maiden name, Jade Galloway.  No one would ever know that she was Jade Galloway Delgado, the widow of Valentine Delgado.  She damned hoped no one did!

Jade only relaxed once she subsided into her seat and Tag filled the one next to her.  She took her dark glasses off and slid them into her big slouchy bag, she went nowhere without her bag, it contained everything she might need at any given moment.

“Why the extra bodyguards?”  She asked softly.

“We’re just being careful Jay.  Luis wants you to arrive in a good mood.”  He smirked as she lifted an eyebrow at him.

“As if I believe that crap!  He’s up to something.”

“If he is I don’t know anything about it, I got my orders same as everyone else this morning.”  He said as he watched the flight attendant’s swaying backside as she walked towards the front of the plane.

Snorting derisively she pulled her ipod out of her bag, they must all think she came off the back of a turnip truck!  Shoving the ear buds in her ears she cranked the sound to listen to Storm Front’s latest album, the album the tour was in support of.  Richie Vierra’s work on the album was stellar but Jade knew she could handle it.  She could handle it and more.  She had been a follower of the band from before they broke through on the scene, had seen them play and knew all their work.  She admired RJ’s guitar work and Trace’s vocals while Jimmy and Givens were solid on rhythm and bass.  What she didn’t know was if she would fit in with the dynamic of the band.  The guys had to be hurting right now and would resent anyone walking into Richie’s spot.  Luis had given her the names of the three drummers the band had selected to stand-in for Richie and she had to admit they were all damn good at what they did.  But she was better!

When they exited the Airport a silver Hummer limo slid up in front of them and she threw a startled look at Tag.  What’s with the ostentation?  Before she could even articulate the question she was helped into the vehicle by Tag and one of the bodyguards while the other deposited their bags in the baggage area then walked around to slide into the front passenger seat.  No one said a word as they drove away from the curb and headed out.  Luis and Diego had some serious explaining to do!

She gasped as she saw the front of the Hotel.  It was solid with media, the paps and fans of the band.

“Holy shit!”  She gasped.  “I’m not getting out here, no way in hell I’m getting out of this rolling sin bin with all those crazies out there!”

The driver of the limo grinned as he glanced at her over his shoulder.  “No problems Ms Gallado, we’re going to drop you in the parking garage in the secure area far away from the crazies.”

Stunned she stared out at the screaming fans as they tried to see who was in the limo, some of them running after them as they drove past.

“I’m going to circle around and go through the security entrance, when we stop I want you to stay put Ms Gallado.  Wait until Tag comes for you.”  The driver ordered as he guided the limo into the parking garage and drove towards the elevators.  When he stopped Tag and the bodyguard in the front got out and cleared the area before Tag came back to the limo.  He opened the door with a grin.

“Up and at ‘em baby!”  He laughed as she snarled at him as she slid out of the limo while he scanned the area around them.  Jade pulled the hood of the black hoodie over her ball cap with a snap of her wrists.

“I’m going to kill someone for this.  I like to travel with no stupid shit like this.  Where’s my goodie bag?”

“You get this gig you’re going to have to suck it up and deal Jay.”  Tag frowned down at her.

“Mr Delgado is just being careful Ms Gallado.  We’ve had some problems with info being leaked to the media but we will have it sorted very soon.”  The driver, and named bodyguard number one as of this minute, rumbled in his deep voice as he handed the bag filled with her drumming stuff to her.

“Fine.”  Jade huffed as she turned to Tag.  “You know this whole stealth mode made us late, I won’t have time to change before the audition.”

She wanted to break his nose when he laughed.  “You know as well as what I do that you have your practice shit on underneath those huge sacks you’re wearing.  Why you like to travel looking like a kid wearing his brother's clothes I will never know.”

“Loose means comfort you ass!”

“Yeah, but there’s loose and then there’s you!  It looks like you’re wearing my fuckin’ clothes!”  He grinned at her as the other two men sniggered.

“Hah, I am wearing your clothes! This is your shirt you ass, the one that sweet little submissive gave you for your birthday and I’m putting my dominant cooties aaaalll over it!”  She grinned at his outraged face.  “Admit it, you didn’t even notice it was gone or that it was yours.”  Jade crowed.

“One of these days I’m gonna tan your ass Jay-Jay and tan it real good.”  He threatened with a sly grin.

“Uh-huh, as if Mr Dom.  No way is this girl going to bend over for you, not in this lifetime.”

“Baby you have no idea what you’re missing.”  He teased as they rode the elevator to the ballroom floor where the auditions had hastily been set up.  The two bodyguards watched them with interested eyes as they teased each other.

Jade stood at the back of the elevator as it stopped.  Bodyguard one stepped out, cleared the area then two stepped out and motioned them forward.  He only moved out when Tag was again at Jade’s back and only then did they proceed towards the closed doors of the ballroom.  Two big guys stood outside the doors watching them approach.

“Hey Tank, Hanson.  This here is Jay Gallado.”  Bodyguard one said as they stopped outside the doors.

“Hey Mr Gallado, you can go in, they just finished with the last guy.”  The guy called Tank said as he opened the door his face kept carefully blank.  His name fully did him justice, he was built like a tank.  Did he just call her Mr Gallado??

Bodyguard one and two immediately stepped in front of her and walked into the ballroom, stopping just inside the door and scanning for the bad guys who were surely  hidden somewhere in the huge room!  As if!  Two looked back at Tag and nodded and she felt his hand press into her lower back urging her into the room.  With a put upon sigh she walked through the door pulling off her sunglasses as she did so.  Bodyguard one and two still stayed with her and slightly in front of her.  She scanned the huge room and grinned when her eyes met those of Luis Delgado.

The ballroom had gone quiet when the doors opened and two huge guys walked in and scanned the room.  They coldly looked everyone over, nodded at Diego Delgado and then one of them turned and did a chin lift at someone they couldn’t see outside the room.  The guy they ushered in hidden between the three huge bodyguards looked like a child dressed in his brother’s clothes and they could see nothing of him under the black hoodie, ball cap and wraparound black sunglasses.  Then the guy slid the sunglasses off and grinned at Luis Delgado.  Fuck it was a pretty boy!  The drummer Luis Delgado wanted them to try out was a damned pretty boy kid!  Trace, RJ, Givens and Jimmy looked at each other and in one glance immediately made their decision.  Hell no!  Double damn hell no!  They didn’t give a fuck how good this kid was they were not going to have him sit in Richie’s chair!  They had enough shit in the band without facing the media with a boy band pretty boy drummer!  They didn’t give a shit if the kid was some kind of prodigy or whatever!  They just couldn’t afford more controversy to hit the band, not at this time.