Chapter 11
Justice leaned back on the couch in Christine’s office in the heart of Los Angeles. Gold and platinum albums and pictures of famous musicians lined the walls. A huge sliding glass door led to a pristine deck that contrasted the dirty gray smog marring the view of the L.A. horizon. But Justice’s attention was on the big screen mounted on the wall to his right. They were less than two weeks away from releasing their album and the single “Expired Hero.”
“The afterparty at Club Nosh for your release day concert is all set,” Bianca, their publicist, said. “Reps from all the major streaming services like iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, Pandora, etc. will be there. We also have reps from several radio stations.” She switched screens on her PowerPoint. “Presales for the album are climbing. In closing, we feel your positioning in the market is strong for an indie label.”
“Positioning for what, exactly?” Justice asked. “To have a chart topping album?”
Christine stood up. “Not right out of the gate. We’re in a brutal business climate. Streaming services have killed sales and—”
“Cut to the chase,” Simon snapped from his perch on the arm of the couch. “We’re well aware of the current market.”
Justice didn’t let himself feel the stab of regret. Their loss on Court of Rock meant they didn’t get the big record label backing them, paying for their production and tours…so yeah…they were behind at the starting gate. But they were still going to fight their way to the top.
“All right.” Christine sat on the edge of her desk. “You need to crack the top one-hundred mark in overall sales on the single release. Once you do that, then the song shows up on things like ‘also buys,’ and it will create its own force. We can use that in our marketing and publicity, and you can do what you do—sing and play—and we’ll be able to drive that song into the top fifty, and that’s where you start seeing a chance for real attention. And an opportunity to get tapped by World Rock Stage as the indie breakout band.”
“Holy fuck,” Lynx said. “We’d get a chance to play with the rock gods.”
“Dude,” River jumped in. “We’d be a rock god.”
“Hell yeah,” Lynx responded.
That dream dangled in front of Justice, right there within his reach. Everything in him wanted to get into that club of rock stars and be someone. He’d prove to all who’d ever doubted him that he was a success. Too famous to ever be abandoned in a jail cell again.
“Quiet,” he snapped. “Let’s find out how we get to that goal.”
Christine gestured to the PowerPoint on the screen. “Those presales are pointing in the right direction. Bianca and her team are getting you some good exposure across all media. Right now, it looks like your competition in the indie category is Jagged Sin.”
Justice fisted his hands. “Gene Hayes is backing them. He’s up to something.” That uneasiness trailed him like a black, swollen thundercloud.
“Doesn’t matter that Hayes is listed as a producer, the album is releasing under Jagged Sin’s own indie label, not a big-name label like Tangent.”
“Our sales are ahead of theirs,” Lynx pointed out.
“Just barely,” Christine said. “They’re appealing to the underbelly of rock and to anyone in the world who ever thought the system has done them wrong. Even their title track reflects that, ‘Jagged Revenge’.”
Damn, who hadn’t felt that way at times? It made sense, and now Justice’s worry increased. “We’re better than they are. We’ll prove it.”
“You need an edge.” She lifted a hand. “And I have it. I was able to book you into your real shot. We had to shuffle around your tour dates—”
“Wait.” Justice looked at Simon. “Did you know about this?” Simon was a little better at reading emails in a timely fashion than the rest of them.
“No.” Worry lines dug into Simon’s forehead. “This will affect our road crew, the tour bus schedule—”
“It’s worth the headache, trust me.” Christine’s voice vibrated with excitement. “Two weeks into the tour, you’re going to take the red eye to New York to appear on Chatterbox TV show.”
“No shit?” River said. “Fury Run was just on there last month, and their sales shot through the roof.”
Justice met Lynx’s eyes, and for a second, they were cast back in time to the two teenage boys in juvie who dreamed of a rock band and stardom. And now here they were, so damned close they could taste it.
But they’d been this close before and had it ripped out of their reach at the last second.
“You’re right,” Simon put in. “Chatterbox is worth all the hassle.”
“Indeed,” Christine said. “Bianca will send you the revised schedule, and you can work it out with your road crew and bus driver. She’ll book your flight tickets and add it to your charges.”
They all started talking as Bianca packed up her laptop. “I’ll go back to my office to send you the revised schedule and see about booking your tickets.”
Once the publicist left and closed the door, Justice looked around at the guys. They were so close to their goal now. He didn’t want to rock the boat, but he’d withheld information once before, and that ended in a disaster. Rising from the couch, he strode to the door, overlooking the cityscape.
“I have something to tell you.” He turned to face the room. “Beth and I are getting married this Friday at city hall.”
The high burst like a balloon. Lynx spoke first. “Why so fast? You didn’t say a word.”
Justice didn’t flinch beneath the stares. “She’s pregnant.”
“Fuck.” Simon’s face flooded with color as he sprang off the couch. “You swore you weren’t going to be distracted this time. That you’d put the band first.” He turned, pacing a few steps, and added, “We put everything into this—into the company. We took loans. We trusted you to be there for us, not go out and knock up your girlfriend. If this album and tour fails, we’ll be ruined.”
That was dead true, they were risking everything. “This doesn’t affect my commitment to the band. I’m still in a hundred percent.”
River said, “So what now?”
“Nothing changes. We’re getting married Friday, and Monday I’ll be back in L.A. for rehearsals. The next weekend our record drops, and we’ll do our release night at Club Nosh, then we go on tour. Beth will be there for opening night, then fly to Vegas for our show there and then go home. Nothing changes as far as my commitment to our success. She knows that.” He’d made it as clear as he could to her, and now he was doing the same with his band. He could do this—be a husband and father, and a rock star. “Look, I know you’re shocked, but this is between me and Beth. We’re handling it, but I’m committed to the band. No matter what.”
The quiet was worse than yelling.
“I’d like to speak to Justice,” Christine said. “Alone. We’re done here for the day.”
Simon turned on his heel and stalked to the door. Once there, he looked back, his eyes frigid. “Don’t screw up our shot, Justice. Not this time.” He stormed out.
Lynx walked up to Justice. “This what you want?”
What he wanted was everyone to get off his back. He’d make this work. He wasn’t going to mess anything up for the band or fail Beth. “Yes.”
Lynx nodded. “Let me know if you need a best man.” He headed out, followed by River and Gray.
That left him and Christine. Disapproval coated the air like smog.
She swung her gaze to his. “Have you lost your mind? Your girlfriend gets pregnant right before your album comes out, and you agree to marry her? That’s lunacy, and worse, downright foolish.”
“She didn’t get pregnant on purpose.” There were two of them in this relationship.
“No?”
He stared at her, refusing to be baited. Beth had told him when she forgot the shot, but that wasn’t something he’d discuss with Christine.
“Fine. It was an accident. Now listen up. This is the advice you’re paying me for: Don’t marry her. It’s your kid. You’re on the hook for child support. But you marry her, and half of everything you earn from that day forward is hers. It’s even more complicated when we get into intellectual rights. If you even discuss a song idea with her, then get divorced, and you write and produce the song? She can make a claim for half the profits. There’s a reason big-time athletes and celebrities don’t marry their baby mamas.”
He cringed at that stupid-ass phrase. “This isn’t your business, Christine.”
She pinched the bridge of her nose. “You have a blind spot when it comes to Liza, and that’s part of why you lost Court of Rock. Maybe your band doesn’t have the balls to tell you the truth, but I do.” She dropped her hand and walked up to him. “So here it is straight up: That girl will destroy you, the band and your career if you don’t pull your head out of your ass.”
Fury thundered in his brain. Liza trusted him, believed in him, loved him, even when he lost or screwed up. Her simple touch, her sensual peach scent, and the sound of her laugh fired his passion and something more…a love so fierce it hurt.
“Be very careful how you talk about my wife.” And the mother of his kid.
She dropped her hand to the edge of the desk. “This would be stupid enough with any other girl, but Liza comes with a ticking time bomb.”
“Gene Hayes.” Anxiety rippled in him. That bastard was always there, a shadow stretching over his life with Beth. “But he hasn’t done anything in months.”
“No, you haven’t seen him doing anything, but he won’t go away. Hayes has some powerful connections and financial investments in the music industry, both in and out of the U.S.”
“How do you know that?”
“Everyone knows it. How do you think he not only got out of the country, but moved so many assets out? He’s a quiet partner in multiple ventures.” Christine went on, “Hayes is an arrogant son of a bitch who holds a grudge. In his mind, Liza and other girls like her are his due as a rock star. But this girl took him down, and one way or another he’ll get revenge.”
Deep protectiveness burned until he couldn’t stay still. He paced the room. “He can’t touch her. If he comes back to the U.S., he’ll be arrested.”
“Hayes convinced a stupid kid to try and kill Liza. Think about that for a minute—he’s so manipulative, he convinced Hans through the internet to stab her. No, he’s not giving up, he’s plotting something.”
Justice whipped around. “What?”
“I don’t know. What I do know is we want to stay out of his path. Don’t marry Liza. And if you’re smart, you’ll get her out of your life. Pay the child support, and move on. You’re headed for real stardom, and you can screw all the girls you want. Get rid of this one.”
Get rid of her? Like she was trash? That was what her aunt and uncle did. And her grandmother. Hell, his own mom had done that to him. But Liza was everything to him.
He crossed his arms. “No.” He and the band were locked into a contract with Christine, and that he could live with. But he drew a line when it came to Beth.
Tension filled the office as they glared at one another.
Christine sighed. “Then get a prenuptial agreement. We’ll at least protect you as best we can.” She grabbed her phone. “You’ll have to delay the marriage until we can get it executed.”
Delay and deflect. He knew this tactic, and he didn’t need a prenuptial with Liza. “Again, no. And we’re done.” He headed to the door.
She slammed her phone down. “Do you care about your band at all? Those four guys sacrificing everything, believing that you have their backs and will take them to the top?”
Fury spun him around. He stalked back to her. “Don’t ever question my loyalty.”
“Then protect them.”
“I’m marrying her.” She was pregnant. From the beginning of their relationship, he’d told her he was all in and demanded the same from her. He didn’t get to cut and run now, nor did he want to. He loved her, needed her.
And he loved his band, needed them.
He could be loyal and committed to both.
“Do the prenup.”
“No.” All in.
Her face darkened. “What is it about that girl?” Sighing, she got up and went to the window, staring at the city.
Silence filled the office, and Justice stood there, refusing to fill it.
Christine relented first. “I think you’re making a mistake, one that will come back and bite you in the ass. But if you’re doing it, then let’s minimize the damage. We have three problems to manage: One, your fans are females who think you’re their wet dream. They don’t want you to be married and taken. Two, another part of your fan base hates Liza specifically—she’s the girl that ruined a rock star. And three, Gene Hayes—we don’t want him focusing on Savaged Illusions, and if you’re married to Liza, he’ll use that somehow. So ultimately the goal is to keep all media spotlight off Liza and on you and Savaged Illusions.”
She had his attention now. Christine was damned good as a business manager. She’d gotten them great gigs for their tour and booked them on Chatterbox. What she said made sense. “What’s the strategy?”
She turned. “We keep this marriage and pregnancy quiet until after the tour. Don’t let her become the story. If we can break you out of the pack with this tour and position you for your next album to do even better, then you’ll have enough star power to make any buzz Liza creates work for you, not against you.”
Hide Liza. That twisted like a knife in his guts. Could he really ask her to do that? “She’ll be at some of our shows.”
“No one has to know she’s anything more than she’s your girlfriend. You don’t have to make any big public displays.” She fixed a hard stare on him. “You owe this much to your band.”
What choice did he have? He had to protect both his band as well as Liza and his child.
* * *
Justice took the steps two at a time with Lynx at his side. Traffic had been a bitch getting from Los Angeles to San Diego, and he was running late for his wedding.
“Jagged Sin is still moving up the damned chart,” Lynx muttered, staring at his phone.
Justice’s neck tensed. “Assholes.” The other band’s album had dropped last night and was doing better than Justice had expected. He stormed into the building, following the signs to the office they needed. Beth wouldn’t get pissed because he was late and leave, would she? She knew he was coming. This wasn’t like when he missed the flight home to go with her to the sentencing hearing, he was only a few minutes late.
“There you are.” Emily skidded up to them, her face flushed. “Come on, Liza’s in there fighting to keep your spot.” She turned and jogged, which was impressive in her high heels.
Justice loped up to her side. “We’re the last appointment of the day. What’s the problem?”
“It’s four thirty. You were supposed to be here at four fifteen. The officiant says if you’re a second past the fifteen-minute window, you have to reschedule. They close promptly at five.”
Fuck. Justice followed as Em pivoted and headed into an office. There was a low counter with partitions stretching across the right. Beth stood between two chairs. “I’m so sorry, but this is the only day we can do it. Please, if you can just wait a couple more minutes, he’ll be here.”
“I’m sorry, it’s four thirty. You’ll have to—”
“I’m here,” Justice called out, striding into the room.
Beth turned.
He stopped a few feet from her, his breath locking. She wore an ivory satin dress that stopped above her knees. A pearl-beaded strap ran over one shoulder at an angle. Her hair was up in a sleek twist thing, with several strands falling over her shoulders. In her hands she held the bouquet of creamy peach and white roses with delicate ribbons trailing down that he’d had sent to her this morning after he left. His bride was stunning. This was another side to her, sleek and sophisticated.
Drawn to her, he took her one of her hands. “You’re gorgeous.”
“Thank you, and for the flowers. They’re lovely. You look good too.” Her gaze slid to the gray-haired woman behind the desk frowning at them. “But I don’t know if we can get married today.”
This was his fault for not getting his ass here on time. He shifted to the officiant. “I’m sorry for the inconvenience, it’s entirely my fault. Can you please make an exception and marry us?” He turned to Beth. “I really want this woman to be my wife.”
The woman sighed. “Okay, we’ll do this, but we’ll have to hurry. We really do close at five.” She pushed the opened folder toward him. “Miss Glasner has filled out the documents. Check them over. Sign them, and we’ll get this done.”
“By all means, let’s rush through Liza’s wedding,” Em muttered. “Wouldn’t want this day to be special.”
“Hush,” Beth said. “I was warned when I asked for the last appointment of the day not to be late. This isn’t her fault.”
No, it was his. Justice took the pen and quickly signed. Once the paperwork was done, they went to the podium at the end of the room, where they stood together with Emily and Lynx behind them.
The officiant slid on her glasses and read from a form Beth had filled out. “We meet here today for the joyful purpose of joining in marriage Justice Cade and Liza Glasner. This is a moment of joy and excitement as you face a future together. But marriage is more than a legal contract, it is a solemn vow that requires thoughtful consideration of the deep obligations and responsibilities you will pledge this day.” She looked up and asked, “Justice and Liza, are you ready today to take this vow?”
“Yes,” Justice answered.
“I am,” Beth said.
She nodded. “Let us proceed. Turn and face each other to exchange your vows.”
Beth handed her flowers to Emily and turned to him.
“I’ll go first.” Justice faced Beth with both her hands in his and looked into her eyes. “Liza, my Beth, as your husband, I vow to be your friend, lover and partner for as long as we both live. I will put you first before all else. I want to be the one to laugh with you, to hold you when you’re sad or scared, to support your dreams, celebrate your triumphs and guard your sleep.” After taking the ring from Lynx, he slid it on her finger. “Our hearts are in these rings, and together we are a circle that cannot be broken. I love you, Beth, now and always.”
* * *
All her fears and frustrations calmed as the cool white-gold band settled into place. Even the hurt that Justice hadn’t arrived on time. When Liza had stood there, trying to get the officiant to wait a few more minutes, the pity in the woman’s eyes had made her squirm in shame.
Like the times her dad was supposed to come see Liza as a little girl and never showed up.
But now Justice’s words sank into her heart, and she couldn’t look away from his intensely striking blue eyes. Guard her sleep. Of all the things he could have said, that was the one that told her he knew her, understood her deepest fears.
“Liza, do you have your vows?” the officiant asked.
“Yes.” She took a second to clear the thickness from her throat and focused on the man she loved. “Justice, as your wife I vow to be your friend, lover and partner. I will love you with all that makes me who I am today and all that I will be tomorrow and every day after that. I vow to you that no matter how high you soar or hard you fall, I’ll be there to fly with you or catch you.” Pausing, she took the ring from Emily, a silver band with the infinity symbol etched in black. As she slid it on his finger, she said, “Our hearts are in these rings, and together we are a circle that cannot be broken. I love you, Justice, now and always.”
“By virtue of the authority vested in me as Deputy Commissioner of Civil Marriages, for the County of San Diego, I take pleasure in announcing that from this minute on you are husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
Justice leaned down and settled his mouth over hers. His lips were warm and sweet until he wrapped an arm around her waist and lifted her off her feet. He plunged into her mouth. She gripped his shoulders and kissed him back.
Her husband.
Heat warmed her skin, and ripples of desire danced.
Justice broke the kiss, grinned and puffed out his chest like a pleased rooster. “It’s official, you’re my wife. There’s no escape now.”
She beamed at his smug happiness. “When I met you, I never imagined this… I married a rock star.”
His eyes crinkled at the edges. “Hell yeah, you did. You’re mine. And FYI, husband trumps rock star.”
Emily grabbed the camera. “We need a couple pictures.”
“Here let me.” The officiant took the camera. “We have five minutes before closing.”
While they posed, Liza looked up at Justice. “I reserved the romance suite at the Opulence hotel tonight—and it comes with a candlelight dinner for two. And I packed your bag.” She couldn’t book the honeymoon suite for fear of word getting out that they were married.
His eyes lit up. “Mrs. Cade, are you trying to seduce me?”
“I love the sound of that.”
“Seducing me?”
She rolled her eyes, then remembered the camera and flashed another smile. “I meant Mrs. Cade. I wish I could change my name to that now.” She wanted Justice’s last name so they’d feel like a real family. It was such a little thing, really. But Liza had a different last name than her aunt, uncle and cousins when she lived with them. Just another way she was always on the outside. The whole keeping-their-marriage-secret thing made sense logically, but emotionally…
It stung. Like she was once again being kept on the outside.
“Beth, I’m going to announce to the whole world you’re my wife the second this tour is over. I swear it. But right now, with Jagged Sin breathing down our necks—” His jaw tensed as he scowled. “They’re doing better than expected, and tonight they’re—”
“Hello?” Emily said. “This is your wedding. Think you can focus on that, and not your career?”
Justice flicked his gaze to Em, then back to Liza. “She’s annoying, but right. You’re my bride, Mrs. Cade, and tonight is about us. And after the tour, we can do another, bigger ceremony.”
She lifted an eyebrow. “In April I’ll be nearly six months pregnant.”
“And still my sexy wife.”
“We really have to close now,” the older woman said, handing the camera to Emily.
“Thank you for accommodating us.” Liza started to walk out.
“Hold on, Mrs. Cade.” Justice caught her hand.
Confused, Liza stopped. “What?”
“This.” He swept her up into his arms.
She grabbed on to his neck, slightly dizzy. “What are you doing?”
“You’re my bride. I might have been late to our wedding, but I’m all in. I’m carrying you all the way to our suite, where I’m claiming you now and forever.” He walked out the door, turning down the hallway. The few stragglers left in the building smiled at them.
Emily trotted along, taking pictures. “Perfect!”
Liza laughed. Yeah, he’d been late, and they’d just had the fastest wedding and photos in history.
But the rushed ceremony didn’t make it any less real. Even if he was hiding their marriage and baby for the sake of his career.