After rehearsal, I joined the guys and others close to the band for an early dinner at Zane’s place. Of course he’d also invited several groupies to join us. I cornered our agent, Miranda Carson, to find out news.

“Anything on the bomb threat?”

She shook her head. “The bomb squad swept the place and didn’t uncover anything. It was obviously a hoax, but we don’t have any idea who perpetrated it.”

My heart thumped. This wasn’t the first bomb hoax we’d dealt with, but this time had affected me differently.

Heather had been there.

I wanted to know who had done this, who had made me think Heather was in danger. I wanted to know so I could make him pay and pay dearly. I’d start by kicking the shit out of him.

Janet must have been busy because Lindy was getting busy with a redhead on Zane’s leather couch.

Redhead.

This woman’s hair was clearly out of a bottle, and her tits looked like two cereal bowls sticking straight out. Yup, fake.

The only redhead I wanted was Heather’s natural auburn. Her tits sure weren’t fake. They were fucking perfect.

I looked over at Zane. Man, the dude was never going to grow up. Hard to believe that this was actually Zeb Frankfurter, classical pianist and notorious nerdy introvert who five years ago had been afraid of women. Alicia had remade him. Turned out that with a gym regimen, Lasik surgery, and a blond dye job, Z was a pretty boy chick magnet. He no longer had to fear women. Hell, they flocked to him in gaggles.

All she’d done for me was add some hair extensions. They’d grown out long ago. I’d always had a muscular physique, and now, with three workouts a week and the physical activity of rehearsal and performing, I maintained it easily. There was a lot more of Jeremy in me than Zeb in Zane. Whether that was good or bad? I didn’t know.

But Alicia had done a lot more than change our appearances. She’d initiated our spiral to the top.

It had come at a cost.

Much more for me than for Zane.

My phone vibrated against my hip. I grabbed it and looked at the screen.

Speak of the devil. A text from Alicia, accompanied by a photo.

Alicia…with Heather. And I recognized the restaurant.

Damn her!

If she’d told Heather…

I stood and walked out of Zane’s rec room. No one noticed me leave. They were too busy watching Lindy’s show with the redhead.

Then another phone buzz.

Damn her to hell!

I looked around Zane’s mansion, which was even bigger and more ridiculous than my own. Z would never go back to being a classical pianist. He was all in and too far gone. This was his life now.

But me?

During the last year, I’d begun to wonder if it had all been worth it. I’d sold my soul for fame and fortune. And now?

I was stuck between a rock and a hard place. I’d fallen in love with a woman I could never have. She could never know I loved her, and my chance at true happiness would fade away like the sunset at dusk. All because I’d signed a deal with the devil.

I didn’t want to go to Alicia’s, but I knew what would happen if I didn’t.

One thing was for sure. She was going to tell me exactly what she’d been doing with Heather Myles at that restaurant. In fact, I’d go to that restaurant and see for myself. And that would also be the last time she’d ever see Heather.

Unfortunately, it was probably the last time I’d see Heather as well.