Page 16 of Final Serenade

My heart galloped inside my chest as I watched him giving a short speech.

A sea of hands thrust into the air. Posters flew up. When the music finally poured, a tangle of gasps and screams filled the venue.

I’d been taking notes on my phone, but my fingers suddenly stopped cooperating. Levi’s head nodded along with the drumbeat. The upstairs guests weren’t as starstruck as the general admission crowd, but I could hear the whispers of admiration floating around the balcony area.

We’d been given drink tickets and despite my no-alcohol rule—perhaps thanks to Dante’s margarita that had loosened me up—I decided to take advantage of their hospitality and ordered myself another cocktail. The pleasant buzz in my head was a blend of highs: drinks and music. Pure and overwhelming. The best kind of adrenaline.

For two songs, the world stood still. Nothing but Frankie’s voice mattered. It was an explosive combination of tenor and baritone and as he climbed through the notes with his typical edgy finesse, I felt him inside my chest, crashing, melting, and burning.

Dante played with his eyes closed, as if he’d gone to some parallel universe where he channeled his magic. He’d taken his Rolex off for the set and his hands were flying across the fretboard and the strings like angel wings.

The two were explosive together. Even seven years of silence hadn’t put a dent in their chemistry. If they were planning to tour, they’d be making bank.

There was still an unanswered text message from Jax and an invite to the party in my back pocket, but I didn’t want to think about any of those things or the interview while Frankie sang. I wanted to be a fan for ten minutes. I wanted to simply enjoy the music.

After the show, the backstage hummed with raw energy. The house photographer roamed through the VIP crowd. Some of the guest performers socialized and gladly posed for photos. Frankie wasn’t present.

“I got invited to a party,” I told Levi as we made our way toward the staircase.

He hoisted his camera bag up on his shoulder and gave me a perplexed look.

“Dante’s party,” I said in a low voice.

Levi needed a few moments to take in the info. “Are you going?”

I shrugged.

“You could use some fun.”

“Why is everyone telling me to have fun? Don’t I look fun enough?”

Levi laughed. “You and fun don’t exist in the same universe, Cass.”

“I’m fun,” I insisted. My bag felt heavy and my arm needed a rest.

“Okay. Whatever you say.”

“Do you think I should go?” I wasn’t sure why I needed someone to tell me to go. The line between them and us was thin. They were people with secrets. We were people who wanted those secrets.

“I already told you what I think. I think you need to get drunk and I think you need to get laid.”

Levi never beat around the bush. He had no filter whatsoever and his directness was one of the main reasons why girls didn’t stick around. Plus the magazine. No one stood a chance againstRewired.

My bladder needed relief and when we reached the bottom of the stairs, I handed Levi my bag and asked him to wait for me.

“I’ll be outside.” He waved, heading for the back entrance. “Don’t take too long. Parking’s gonna be a nightmare.”

I walked down the narrow hall, surveying the signs. The two drinks I’d had weren’t doing me any favors. My vision blurred and my legs didn’t feel like my own.

“Ma’am?” a throaty voice called out.

I spun on my heels. A tall bald man in a uniform stood in front of me. I always wondered why security guards had to shave their heads, and the question now threatened to leave my mouth.

“Where are you headed?” he asked, hand on his radio.

“Oh… I’m looking for a restroom,” I explained, half-expecting him to tell me I wasn’t allowed to be here, which happened to me quite often. Not all press passes came with all access ones. Why today had been different was a mystery I didn’t care to solve. I’d seen Frankie Blade sing his heart out after seven years of nothing. That was enough.

The security guard’s eyes lingered on my name tag hanging from the lanyard around my neck, which I’d forgotten about. “End of the hallway and to your right.” He nodded.

---