Page 5 of Edge of Heaven

Chapter1

Mick

Sweat dripsoff my body as I swing my bass back and forth, my hips swaying in time to the beat. The encore is always the most fun, and tonight’s crowd is into us. Which is cool because the last few nights have been…a grind. We’re the opening act for a speed metal-style band called Karnal Death. And their crowd isn’t always…our crowd.

Tonight, however, they’re digging us.

It’s probably because we’re in Minneapolis, which is our hometown, and even though we played here last summer, we have a lot of fans in this city. Probably more than they do, which is nice for once.

I look down into the crowd and see a pretty lady in the front row, breasts spilling out of her skimpy top as she dances and sings along.

I could take her back to the hotel tonight, show her a good time.

“I love you, Mick!” she yells.

“Love you too, darlin’!” I call back, laughing.

Being a rock star is the greatest job in the world. Even when you’re on tour with a bunch of assholes.

Our first album went gold and we’re hoping to hit platinum soon. Our record label, Hart Records, seems to think it’s going to happen. The first two singles have done well, and we’re releasing the third this week.

I tend to ignore the business side of things because I can’t control it, so what’s the point? We have managers, a record label, and marketing people to do that thinking for us. My job is to write and perform the music.

Everything else is background noise.

I flick a couple of picks toward the girl in the front, and she clutches one to her chest happily, mouthing, “thank you.”

Do I need to get laid bad enough to send someone into the crowd to get her?

I’ve done it before, and I’ll do it again, but sometimes it’s a hassle. Because then I’m stuck with them, and if there’s no chemistry, I’m screwed. I’ll have to talk to her, placate her, whatever the case may be—and that’s not my forte. I’m pretty much a love ’em and leave ’em kind of guy, at least at this stage of my life.

It sounds like a cliché, but I’m twenty-six years old and living the rock and roll dream. Why would I want to tie myself down?

A flash of red catches my eye in the wings, and I glance in that direction.

That’s when I see her.

Taryn Blakely.

The one I never forgot.

Three wonderful days together before we went our separate ways. It’s been almost four years, but I still think about her.

Especially now that she’s on tour with us, dating the lead guitarist for Karnal Death.

And I just don’t get it.

She’s so pretty I sometimes have trouble looking away. She could have anyone. She’s a model and it’s obvious, from her wavy auburn hair to her slender figure and long, toned legs. Every inch of her is perfect as far as I’m concerned.

I don’t understand what she sees in Callum Yates.

He’s an asshole.

Not because he’s dating the woman of my dreams, but because…he just is. He’s rude, inconsiderate, arrogant, and a complete jerk. To everyone. His band, their fans, their crew, and definitely to us.

My band, Crimson Edge, is their opening act, and he behaves like we’re the fucking help. Beneath him somehow.

Karnal Death has been around for a decade, with six albums under their belts, and a few hit singles. They don’t have a lot of commercial success, but they have a cult following that’s made them rich.

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