Page 46 of Reflex
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Ronnie Bush had a gift.That’s the only explanation Alle had for how easily they strolled into the backstage area.Sure, they had VIP passes, but the guy guarding the route barely passed an eye over them before he’d opened the door and waved them through like he’d been anticipating their arrival.She attributed it to Ronnie’s presence.He seemed like he ought to be here.
“End door down there.”
“It always surprises me how much bustle and noise there is backstage,” Ronnie remarked.He was strolling along a step or two in front of her in his long-legged, rolling way that tonight contained just a hint of a swagger.He fit right into this curious, largely unseen, backstage world as if he’d been born to be here, just as he’d been so obviously born to shine on a stage.
They happened upon Ash Gore first, along with a woman Alle took to be his fiancée, Ginny.Spook had told her heaps about them, so it was odd to exchange polite introductory hand-shakes.Ronnie dived into an animated discussion about Ash’s new instrument and the best type of pick-ups, which gave Alle the opportunity to glide away.She couldn’t see Spook at first, despite raking her gaze over every inch of the crowded room.When she finally spotted a blond, she went loping towards the figure, only to realise she was stalking Black Halo’s drummer, fellow Swede, Luthor Albrecht.Where was he?Where was Spook?
Xane wasn’t present either, she realised after another minute or so of frantic searching.Did that mean they were somewhere else together?It probably did.They were off doing whatever it was that rock stars did backstage, post-performance.Honestly, she wasn’t sure what that was.Spook had never said a whole lot about it, other than his life involved a whole lot of sitting around and endless travelling.She also knew that, despite the popular myth, touring wasn’t all drinks, parties, and shagging groupies.It was a damned hard slog, and this was the last show after months on the road.They were probably all exhausted.
“Excuse me, do you know where Spook is?”she eventually asked a petite, dark-haired woman wearing enormous shades.
“About somewhere,” she replied politely, while flashing a nervous grin.“I think he and Xane were having a private word.They’ll be along in a moment, I’m sure.”
Hopefully, he’d arrive before Ronnie noticed she’d wandered off and came to find her.
A ripple went through the room only a minute or two later.It was hard to pinpoint the exact sensation.The buzz of voices never quietened, but there was an extra electrifying zing to the air, which could surely only be sparked by Xane’s arrival.Sure enough, when she turned her head, there he was, striding across the room, black hair fanned around his shoulders, and a pair of shades perched across his nose despite the dim lighting.Spook trailed in his wake, about a foot to Xane’s rear.It certainly didn’t look as if whatever they’d been talking about had been particularly joyous.Xane’s easy mouth was set in a humourless line, and Spook, her beloved Spook… Alle’s heart near stopped as she properly took in his appearance.On stage, the shadows and the lighting had hidden what was impossible not to notice at closer quarters.Someone had done a serious number on him.There was a thick cut in his lip, and dark angry black-and-purple mottling around his eye.The sight of the lid, partially swollen, made her want to weep.Another scrape ran across his eyebrow, and dark blotches ringed his throat too.
Xane Geist was a goddamned liar.Everything was not all right.It was very clearly not all right.Her man looked like he’d gone a dozen rounds with a boxer.She started pushing towards him.
“Spook,” she called out.
If she thought he looked dreadful already, then it was nothing compared to the devastation writ into the lines of his face when his gaze landed on her.He froze like a rabbit in the headlights of a ten ton truck on course to flatten it.
“No,” he mouthed.
With that single syllable, he stabbed her right through the heart.
“No,” he said again, this time turning away.He began walking quickly towards the door through which he’d just arrived.
No?What did that mean?She wasn’t letting him stalk off without an explanation.
“Spook.”She passed through the door, following him into the harsh lighting of yet another corridor.He stopped several yards on.Even though he had his back to her, she knew he had his hand raised to his head, like he had a migraine brewing.
“Spook,” she said again, pausing a few yards away from him.Slowly, he turned around.
His troll’s cross was missing, she noticed immediately, her hand automatically flying to the one he’d given to her, and which she always wore.“My God, what happened?”
He didn’t react, just stood there staring at her, while the colour drained from his skin leaving him deathly white.That in turn, made the bruising seem so much more livid.Yet, despite that, he was still the most beautiful man she’d ever known.So beautiful her body automatically reacted to him.She felt a pulse deep in her pussy, and tensed her muscles.For nine months she’d had to rely on press pictures and memories.Now, he stood before her clearly hurting, and all she wanted to do was swaddle him in an embrace and promise to chase the monsters away.
“What are you doing here?”
Alle closed the gap between them.“I came to see the show—”
“You never said—”
“It was last minute.After last night, I wanted to reassure myself that you really were okay.Xane’s text wasn’t entirely convincing, which I can see is because you’re not.”She raised her hand to his face, but he flinched away from her touch.Pain, raw and desperate, lanced through his eyes.Alle lowered her hand.“Christ!What the hell happened?That mob of fans did this?What were they, deranged?I’m so sorry I put you in that position.”
“You didn’t.”
“I distracted you.Fuck, I never imagined…” She bit her lip.
Spook dragged a hand through the front of his hair.“Alle, it wasn’t the mob.And it wasn’t your fault.So don’t blame yourself.”
“What, then?”If the mob weren’t culpable, then who was?“Did you get into a fight?”she asked sceptically, recalling the news article Ronnie had shown her.Even standing looking at him covered in bruises, she had trouble believing in that reality.“There were rumours about an altercation, and social media’s in overdrive, as usual.”
Spook set his nails to the side of his head and scratched.Slowly, he shook his head.“I’d rather not talk about it.”
