Dionysus Rising- A Rockstar romance series

Dion

A roar went up from outside the darkly tinted windows of the limo we had crammed into. The crowd chanted our name as if they knew we were inside the car crawling to a halt at the curb. They couldn’t know for sure. But they were screaming for us anyway and for a second, I let their adoration wash over me.

For over ten years, we’d been waiting for this. Ten years of hard work, of being told we weren’t good enough, and we had finally arrived. At the Summit Awards. It was the pinnacle of our career, and I couldn’t even try to pretend to be humble about it. We deserved it. Every single member of the band had worked so hard. Even Louis, who had only joined us a few months ago as a step in for Isla, our former drummer, who quit without warning and left us all reeling.

Louis was one of us. And as much as I hated to admit it, he was a shit ton easier to work with than Isla. Especially after our relationship fizzled out. I loved Isla; I always had and always would in a way, but there was only so much a man could take before having to walk away, and I had reached that point months earlier when she had…

“Can you hear them screaming our name?”

The melancholy thoughts that my mind threatened to wander to vanished at the sound of the excitement that tinged our guitarist, Jax’s, voice. Smiling indulgently, I nodded my head. Yeah, I could hear it and, damn, it felt good.

There’s nothing better in the world than hearing the fans chanting for us like we are gods.

“You guys deserve it.” From my side, Isla lifted her champagne glass full of what I assumed was apple juice in a toast, and the others clinked their glasses against hers. Well, everyone but me and Louis’ pretty guest who sat beside him.

I found myself staring at her from beneath my dark curling lashes, and the tip of my tongue snaked out to play with my lip ring. I’d been sneaking looks at her all night, trying to work out what her deal was.

She was too quiet. She’d barely said three words in the time since we had picked her up from her hotel room. Instead, she had sat there with her hands demurely pressed in her lap, her wide, doe-like eyes taking it all in. There was something in her manner that suggested she was so out of her depth that it was almost painful.

But she hadn't been earlier.

Lola’s whole demeanour had changed the moment Isla had swept into the room, looking every bit a sex kitten with enough personality to snuff out any light. Not that I could blame Louis' kid sister for that. Isla had that effect on everyone. She was intimidating when you didn't know her. Hell, she was pretty intimidating full stop.

“Thanks for inviting me.”

It took a good few seconds before I realised Isla was talking to me. I turned to her with a shrug. “You’re one of us, aren’t you?” I tried to keep my voice even, to keep the tinge of anger out of it.

“Am I?” Her eyes searched my face and her voice dipped to a whisper. Not that she needed to; the others were all talking loudly amongst themselves and bouncing on their seats like excited children. They weren’t paying any attention to us. And for good reason. The drama between me and Isla had been affecting them for a while now. And the bad press? The bad press aimed solely at me had worn thin.

“Dion, I…”

I held up a hand, silencing her. “Don’t, Isla.” My voice came out little more than a low hiss. Across the car, Louis’ kid sister’s eyes widened further, but she averted them quickly when I glanced at her. She did that a lot, or maybe it was more the fact that I had been looking at her a lot.

“This isn’t the time or place to air our dirty laundry for the world. Can we just, for one night, pretend that the last few months haven’t happened and enjoy this?” I hadn’t even thought twice about inviting her. She was an original member of Dionysus Rising after all, but sitting next to her and knowing that the press was going to have a field day the moment they saw us together, I was wishing I hadn’t.

Still, it was too late for second thoughts.

“Anyway, thank you.” She settled herself back against the buttery leather seat. Her head fell to my shoulder, and I felt nothing. Instead, my eyes lingered again on Louis’ guest. I knew my staring was making her uncomfortable in her reactions. I just couldn’t help myself. There was a raw sexuality about her I was certain she didn’t even realise she exuded. But I recognised it instantly.

She was passionate. I could see that the moment she had blinked those pretty eyes up at me the night before, when I had woken her up. I had assumed, wrongly, that she was our new drummer’s squeeze. And I had felt sorry for her because Louis had fucked his way across Europe in his short time with us, and no girl who looked like her deserved that. Then, when he told us she was his little sister, I instantly felt sorry for myself.

Family was out of bounds, and even I wouldn’t cross that line. But that didn’t mean I couldn’t look. Looking was good, more than good, especially when her cheeks tinged pink and she averted her eyes.

“You look a little star-struck, lovey?” Isla’s voice was soft, but I threw a warning glance at her. There was a hint of condescension in her voice. It almost sounded like Isla was jealous. Which was pretty rich considering the situation we were in. She had no right to be.

“I was just thinking how beautiful you two look together. The king and queen of rock ‘n’ roll.”

“Lola.” By her side, Louis uttered a muttered warning. There was a lighter in his hand and a joint between his lips. He wasn’t angry. He was far too wasted to be angry at anyone by the looks of him. Already half slouched to the side, his muscled bulk leaned heavily on Lola. She wasn’t complaining, but I could tell she felt embarrassed. Maybe it was more her brother’s crushing weight against her and less me staring at her that was making her face so red?

Jutting my chin towards Tate, who was on Louis’ other side, I motioned for him to sort our drummer out.

“Cut him off,” I snarled as the limo slid to a halt. “The last thing we need is him falling on his face. Or any of you getting out of hand.” Letting my eyes find each one of them in turn, I let my gaze linger on Lola a little longer than I should have.

“We’ll behave. Don’t worry,” Tate chuckled. “No getting out of hand. That can come after, hey, Lola?” He winked at her cheekily.

I could tell he was joking, but Louis rounded on our bassist with a growl. “I told you, she’s…” His words faltered, but at his sides, his hands curled into fists.

Laughing, Tate held up his hands. “I’m joking, brother.”

“It's time,” Isla said at the same moment.

Nerves. They washed over me in a wave. I had played in front of thousands. And yet I couldn’t seem to avoid the growing nervousness at that moment. The Summit Awards were important. The others looked suddenly just as shell-shocked as I felt. It was as if we all realised in that moment the gravity of the situation. Everyone but Isla. As usual, she looked perfectly at ease, her beautiful face serene.

“Fuck, yeah,” Jax hooted.

The excitement finally took over the nerves as we all started to bounce in our seats again. It hadn’t been a long journey, but we were all eager to get out of the confines of the car and in front of our adoring fans.

“You ready to do this?” As the one nearest the door, I would be getting out first. Then I’d reach in for Isla just the way we had rehearsed it. I had agreed to that plan, but that had been before I saw her again. Before I saw the slight curve of her stomach under her sequined gown and my stomach had plummeted with the reality of our situation.

Nothing you can do about it, I reminded myself. The press were likely to realise at some point, but that was inevitable at this stage and not for me to worry about. The only thing that mattered was that we showed a united front tonight.

“Ready?” Again, I let my gaze find each of my bandmates and my own excitement was mirrored in their eyes. I could feel it speeding up my heart.

This was the Summit Awards.

We’d finally made it.

Stepping out from the back of the limo, I let the screaming of the fans wash over me for a second. Glancing back over my shoulder, I saw the masses gathered around the entrance as I reached into the car for Isla’s hand. She stepped up and out to my side instantly. Her megawatt smile was even brighter than the dozens of flashes that went off to capture her.

“I thought there would be more paps.”

Louis was right behind me, his hand clutching that of his little sister, who was looking around her like she had never seen such a spectacle. And maybe she hadn’t. I knew Louis came from a small village. So, it stood to reason that his kid sister would’ve had even more of a sheltered life than he had.

“Official press are inside.” Jax stepped out, hand in hand with Tate, as if they were a couple. I knew it was a pretence. Neither guy had ever been with the other, as far as I knew. But the press loved to speculate about their sexuality and they used it to their advantage.

Slowly, we walked the red carpet, pausing every few feet to pose for fan photos and to sign autographs. It's what we’d always done, engage with the fans, and it’s one reason we had gotten so big so quickly. We interacted with our fans properly. And we were almost as at home amongst them as we were on stage.

Still, it only took a few minutes before we were off the main street and walking inside the ornate courtyard of the Seven Mirrors Casino and Hotel. It had taken some getting used to, but I had become familiar with lavish hotels and they rarely impressed me any longer, yet even I felt awed by how grand it all was, how spectacular. It seemed more like a venue for a high-profile wedding than a group of out-of-control rockers.

Time seemed to speed up. Dimly, I was aware of Tate and Jax acting like their usual childish-selves and splashing water from the fountain in the centre of the courtyard. The press loved their foolish antics and were eating it up as always, so I didn’t say anything.

The more the press concentrated on them, the less they would concentrate on the shit storm that was my life. I wanted to enjoy the night, but I knew I wouldn’t be able to until they had asked their questions. Questions I wouldn’t be able to answer honestly because we were protecting Isla’s reputation.

Mine didn’t seem to be a priority to anyone but me.

“Smile, Dion.” Isla’s slim arm wrapped around my waist as we posed in front of the backdrop for more photos. “You look like you're sucking lemons.” Throwing her dark head back, she laughed.

The cameras pointing in our direction clicked and flashed repeatedly. The noise almost drowned out the sound of chatter and rock music all around us, and I put every effort into concentrating on that rather than the image I knew they had captured.

Isla looking like a carefree goddess and me scowling down at her.

I had just given them exactly what they wanted. Proof that everything between us wasn’t all sunshine and roses.

Fuck.

But I didn’t have time to worry about it, though. Erik, our manager, with his blonde hair shining under the lights, was suddenly at my shoulder, whispering for us to hurry the fuck up in my ear. And I had never been so happy to see anyone as I was at that moment. Sweeping his arm out, he ushered us into the lobby with its marble floors and towering ceiling.

There was no bar that I could see, and I was in desperate need of a drink to take the edge off everything that was happening. Just one or two, so I didn’t accidentally say something I shouldn’t and throw Isla under the bus.

“Drink,” I croaked out, and Erik lifted one blonde eyebrow in a silent question. I knew he wanted to ask me what my problem was, but as usual, he maintained his professionalism. Sometimes I hated that about him, but not right then.

“Soon, I have a few interviews lined up for you first.” He glanced to the left, motioning with his hand for someone to move forward. I stared blankly as Kenneth Smith walked in our direction. The journalist, if you could call him that, was pretty much salivating at the prospect of talking to us.

I hated him.

I hated the shit he printed about us, but mostly I just hated his smug, greedy face.

“That gossip? Really, Erik? You do realise that he’s been crucifying Dion in that shitty tabloid of his, don’t you?” Tate spat, bristling. No doubt he was as uncomfortable as I was at the prospect of having to talk to a so-called journalist in charge of a gossip rag.

“Then this is your chance to set the record straight.” Erik stepped back, smoothing his hand down over his designer suit. Out of all of us, he looked the most at home in his tuxedo. I fidgeted with my collar, tugging it away from my throat.

“They are all yours for a few minutes, Kenneth. Come on, Lola, let's get these superstars something to drink.” Smoothly, like they had known each other a long time instead of just a few hours, Erik slipped Lola’s hand into the crook of his arm, leading her away.

And for a second, I couldn’t help but watch them and the way Louis' kid sister was looking up at Erik like she was in awe of him. It made me wonder if something was going on between them. What would Louis say about that? He’d forbidden any of the band from pursuing her, but had he done the same with our manager?

“So, the rumours are true then?” Kenneth’s voice cut through my daydream. “Everything isn’t ok in your relationship?”

I followed his gaze to Lola’s slim back as she disappeared with Erik through the doors and into the gardens.

“You tell us, Ken,” Isla laughed, her hand on my arm. There was a smile on her face that didn't quite reach her eyes. “We find out all about our relationship from you, after all.”

He turned to her in shock, his thin lips almost disappearing. “Well, rumour is that you two have hit rock bottom.” His eyes flickered towards me, and I knew what he was about to say before the words even left his mouth. “Cheating and…well, Dion here can’t seem to take his eyes off the new girl. Who is she?”

“No one important,” Isla answered for me, and I’ve never heard her sound so catty. “Dion and I are solid. Aren’t we, babe?”

“Yeah.” I straightened my shoulders, forcing myself to tell the lie that we had agreed to stick to until our breakup became official. “I love Isla,” I added truthfully. And I did love her. I always would. But like a sister. Us being together romantically had been a nightmare from beginning to end.

“Is that right?” Kenneth, who was looking increasingly like a cockroach the more I looked at him, rubbed his stubby fingers over his chin. “So, everything is good?”

“Everything is more than good,” Jax said, drawing attention away from us. His fingers played over the pant leg of his tuxedo, like he was strumming a guitar. “We are at the Summit Awards, we’re half way through a nine-week, sell out world tour and we’re up for rock song of the year. Why don’t you try asking us about the important stuff?”