Heart Song (The Erotic Rockstar Series) (2 page)

“Mischief?
” Chief says again, stepping closer.

I can’t deal with this, not right
now; it is harder than I first imagined it would be. I turn and I run, I flee across the road and down onto the beach. I am pumping my legs, making them take me even though they want to remain standing still. I find an old cave Travis and I used to go to. When our parents would fight; we would sit and hide letting the world pass us by. I drop to the floor and wrap my hands around my knees, tears tumble down my cheeks.

“Mischief, I always know where to find you.”

I look over at Trav, and my eyes are welling with tears. I am just a child, and my parents are fighting yet again.

“I hate it Trav, I hate how it sounds.”

He wraps an arm around me; I am only seven years old so I sink right into him.

“It’s ok, I got you,
I have always got you.”

“Why do people that love each other fight Trav?”

He shrugs. “Sometimes people get angry at each other; even we get angry at each other Mischief.”

“I know, but
Daddy can be so mean to Momma.”

“I know, shhh,
it’s ok.”

“Do your
Momma and Daddy fight Trav?”

He smiles. “Max is never home
Mischief, so they don’t get a chance.”

“Does that make your
Mom sad?”

He smiles, but it is pained.

“Yes baby, it does.”

I feel a hard set of arms wrap around me, and I recognize the scent
immediately. I recognize it because it was the scent that put me to sleep every night as a child, it was my comfort, my safe place; it is Chief. He holds me so tightly I struggle to breathe but God, I don’t care, I don’t care because I have missed him. I feel his warm tears blend with my own, as he just sits holding me. He doesn’t say anything, he just holds onto me. When I finally pull back, I look up at him.

“
Oh baby...”

He strokes my cheek with his thumb.

“Daddy,” I whisper. “I’m so sorry.”

He shakes his head.

“No, you did nothin’ wrong. I made the mistake and God I have fucking paid for it.”

“I didn’t stay and listen, I should have listened but I ran.”

“You had every reason to run kid.”

“No, it was me being a coward. I should have faced it, and then, if I couldn’t take it I could have run.”

“Mischief, sometimes we do things that don’t make sense. At the time, that made sense to
you and you needed it to happen. No one is blaming you for that.”

“I missed
you; it was so hard being alone.”

“I know,
God baby, I know.”

“Why is
Jasmine still here?”

He rubs his eyes angrily.

“Her Mom died, she ain’t got no one else Mischief.”

“Are you happy?” I whisper, swallowing.

“Not been happy since you walked out that door.”

“
Momma is gone, I have nowhere else to go, I wanted to put the past to bed and…”

“You came home.”

“I came home.”

“And made me the happiest man on the face of this earth.”

“Is…he still here?” I whisper.

He rubs his head again.

“He lives next door Mischief.”

“What?” I croak.

“He has since you left, he bought his parents old house…”

“I…oh
God; he will hate me when he sees I am back.”

“Travis is fucked up Mischief, he is damaged goods
; he isn’t who you remember.”

I blink away my tears and stare at Chief in shock.

“It’s because of me?”

“You broke him Mischief
, but you aren’t to blame.”

“What have I done?” I croak, looking away.

“Nothing that can’t be undone with time; he made the mistake too, it wasn’t all your fault.”

“I left; I didn’t give him a chance to explain.”

“He lied, it was wrong.”

“I know it was wrong, but I shouldn’t have run. I didn’t give him a chance to explain and that’s on me.”

“He should have told you from the beginning, and it wouldn’t have happened. We both should have told you.”

“Yes
Daddy, he should have but it is done now. I have lost the one thing in this world that made me feel something.”

“It’s not too late.”

“It is too late, I gave away my happily ever after.”

“
Happily ever after is for those who haven’t fought Mischief, if you want that happily ever after, you fucking well fight for it.”

“I don’t know how to fight anymore.”

“I don’t believe that.”

“I have to find a
job and a house…”

“I will help you out, just come on home until you settle down.”

“I’m twenty three; I have to do this on my own.”

“I know.”

I stand and dust off my pants, turning towards him.

“I missed you
Daddy, every damned day.”

He strokes my cheek and grinds his jaw, his grey eyes glass over again and he fists an angry tear away.

“Fucking missed you too, every damned day.”

I take his hand and we walk back to the house, Travis is nowhere to be seen and my heart aches knowing he lives right next door. Chief said fight, but I wonder if
in fact it is just too late to fight for Travis.

CHAPTER THREE

“Why does she get to walk back in and get whatever she wants Chief?” Jasmine snaps, hands firmly on her hips.

I glare at her, knowing this is going to be one hell of a ride. She has had him all to herself for two years, and she seems to think it is going to remain that way. She is attractive, as I remember her to be. She is blonde, with the same grey eyes as me. She towers over me, with beautiful long legs and a killer body.

“
Don’t fucking start your attitude again Jasmine, Mischief is always welcome here and if she wants to stay that room is hers.”

“You love her more than me!” She
cries, crossing her arms.

“Don’t start that
shit; I don’t have to go over it now. You ain’t children anymore, I don’t need any of this ‘you love her more than me crap.’”

“Whatever, I am going out.”

She glares at me, and I return it with full force. She grips her car keys and storms out the front yard, muttering bitch and favorite under her breath. She gets into her car and slams it into gear, and reverses straight into mine. I hear the crashing sound and go bounding outside. I feel my mouth drop open, the little bitch. She is faking shock but I know damn well she didn’t hit that car by accident.

“I didn’t mean to
, I didn’t see it.”

“You cow!” I snarl, inspecting the damage. “What is wrong with you, I never did anything to you!”

“I didn’t ask you to come back and ruin things between me and Daddy.”

I glare at her, then I storm over and stop in front of her. She takes a step back, her eyes widen a little.

“I didn’t ask for you to come and ruin things two years ago either, but I got little say about it. You can’t get rid of me, I am his daughter too and as much as I hate the fact that you and I are related, we are, so you better back off and if you break something else of mine again, I will break that beautiful nose.”

“It is a heap of shit, like it matters.” She snarls.

I lunge forward but Chief catches me around the waist, hurling me back.

“That’s enough, fucking
hell; I am too old for this shit. Jasmine, you are paying for that fucking car and if you do it again, I will return the favor on your car. Mischief, break her pretty nose and I’ll put my boot up your ass.”

I slap his hands away, and yank the keys from my pocket.

“I am going out, house hunting!” I snap.

“Jesus kid, you just got home. Can we not do this over and over again?”

I turn to stare at Chief, he is eyeing me and his face is angry.

“I need time, can you give me that?”

He sighs and rubs his head.

“Alright kid, come over here and hug me first.”

I give a weak smile, then walk over and wrap my arms around him. He holds me for long, long Moments.

“Come back, do you hear me?”

“I will, I just need a breather.”

I walk over to my car and yank the
good door open, and slide in. I stare at the dinted door and growl under my breath. I yank the gear into drive and plant my foot on the accelerator. I go to the one place I know I can find support; Reagan’s. We have kept in contact for the past two years, not once forgetting each other. She doesn’t know I am back in town, so it will be a good surprise. I pull up at her apartment and get out of the car, and then I head inside. I knock only for a second before Reagan opens the door and all I can hear for a moment is her squealing.

“Oh my
God, it isn’t…”

“It is,” I grin.
“Get over here.”

I pull her into my arms and we jump up and down hugging for long
moments. When we pull back, I look over her. She looks amazing, still the same dark haired, dark eyed beauty she always was. She does the same to me, then cups my face in her hands and kisses my cheeks.

“
God Vi, I missed you.”

“Me too, can I come in?”

“Yes, of course!”

We walk inside and flop down onto the couch. The good thing about best friends is that it doesn’t matter how long you are apart, yo
u always start up where you left off like nothing changed.

“You came back.” She smiles, holding my hands.

“I came back. Mom wanted to travel and I needed to put the past to bed.”

“So have you been home?” She
asks, her voice serious now.

I sigh. “Yes, I have seen Chief and his dragon daughter.”

“And…”

“
Yes, I know he lives next door.” I say, knowing she is hinting at Travis.

“How did that feel?”

“I don’t know. You never told me?”

“I d
on’t talk to Trav a lot, I see Harley all the time and the only time I see Trav is at his shows, and he doesn’t speak to me.”

“He doesn’t try and say hello?” I ask, shocked.

“No, he ignores me. He is…different now.”

“So I keep hearing, is he with anyone?” I dare to ask.

“No, I don’t think so. Harley would tell me if he was.”

“I don’t know how I will feel seeing him again. I just don’t know anything anymore.”

“Aw honey, maybe it’s just how it’s meant to be.”

“
Chief said I broke him, that he isn’t the same man anymore.”

“Honey, he broke you too. It wasn’t one sided. You were hurt, not only by him but by your
Father, you needed time.”

“I g
ave up the one thing I needed Reagan, I haven’t moved on, I haven’t stopped loving him. How do you suppose I will ever get past it?”

She grips my hands tightly. “Time honey, it all takes time.”

I let out a whoosh of air. “Well, I need to find a place and get out of Chief’s house. I can’t take much of princess Jasmine.”

“I heard she is a bitch.”

I laugh. “That hardly covers it.”

“So are you going to rent?”

“Buy, I have enough money from the sale of our old house. Mom gave me some and I put it away and saved it.”

“Y
ou know I am selling this place?”

I look over at her. “You are?”

“Didn’t I tell you? Harley and I bought a house together.”

I beam. “Reagan!”

“It’s so exciting.”

“I am so happy for you.”

“So, it is up for sale.”

“How much?”

She gives me a price and I look around the beautiful apartment. It is worth every penny and is perfect for me.

“Sold, I have enough to cover that and get some furniture.”

She grins. “I am leaving some here, Harley has heaps.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“I was going to anyway, now I am happy because I was so sad about selling this place but now I get to come back all the time!”

“It is perfect for me, when can I buy it?”

“I am staying with Harley, so feel free to move in now. The sale will go through in two weeks.”

“
Oh Reagan really? That makes me happy because I can’t stand to stay with Chief if Trav is right next door.”

“Of course, go get your things and come back. We have so much to catch up on.”