Page 31 of Dirty Rock

Chapter Nine

Ididn’t want to be around anyone after that. I’d stripped off, wrapped my hand around my dick, and I’d gotten Julia Speed out of my system.The next morning, after a restless sleep, I showered and stayed under the scorching water for a while, enjoying the feel of it beating down against my sore shoulders—the night before somewhat pushed to the back of my mind. Sleep had made the memory of it hazy, and I was starting to believe it had all been some weird dream the drugs and alcohol had cursed me with.

Julia Speed and Rhett Ryan.

What kind of twisted shit was that?

Fortunately for me, I didn’t have time to dwell on those thoughts. After dressing in black skinny jeans and a grey T-shirt I’d paid extra to have holes in, I stood in front of a full-length mirror and took in my reflection. I looked as smug as I felt.

This was it.

Youth Gone Wild was playing our last stadium gig of the American part of the tour later that night, and I planned on blowing the roof off The Staples Center. It was a dream come true—a moment I’d been wishing for my whole life.

My focus fell to the ink on my right arm—specifically to the gothic castle I’d got as one of my very first tattoos. That castle represented the dream. The dream to be someone no one thought I could be. I’d have my own castle one day, and I’d sit in it with all my memories, and I’d be thankful for every bad thing that I’d ever thought had broken me. Those broken moments are what make us whole in the end. Or so my mother had promised.

“Life doesn’t have to be perfect tobeperfect. Every broken stone you stand on leads to the smooth grass or the soft sand eventually. When you get to where you’re meant to be, you’ll be thankful for the journey, no matter how rough. Remember that, Rhett.”

When I eventually found the rest of the band early that afternoon, they were ready and waiting in the main suite, each one of them sat around the coffee table again. There was a Tessa-shaped woman draped over one of the sofas—her arm around Presley’s shoulder as she ran her fingertips idly through his hair. Every one of them was looking up at Dicky who had a phone pressed to his ear.

It was only when I took a closer look at them that I realised they were all frowning.

Stepping closer made Tessa’s head snap up in my direction, and a soft, almost welcoming smile played on her lips.

“Morning, Rhett,” she said quietly.

“Hey.” I chucked my chin. “What’s up?”

Presley looked at me, offering me a nod in greeting. “Dicky’s pissed.”

“Why?”

Big D turned to me from the other couch, his face sombre. “It’s Julia.”

Julia.

The name made my stomach twist and my jaw tick, but I held myself together as I took a seat in the space next to Pres.

“Oh, yeah?” I cleared my throat. “What about her?”

“She’s not answering her phone.”

I scowled. “Julia always answers her calls.”

“Julia,” Dicky barked as he paced back and forth, a hand on his hip. “The first four voicemails were shitty. I apologise. Now, we’re getting worried about you. If you haven’t contacted any of us in the next hour, I’m sending security out to search for you. We don’t need this today. Wedoneed you.” Dicky sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Call me back.Please”

He ended the call and tucked his phone into the pocket of his jeans.

“None of this makes sense. Did she say anything to you, Tess? About anything?” Dicky asked her.

“No,” Tess answered. “Nothing. She was a little quiet when I spoke to her last night on the phone. Not her usual self. I asked her if she was okay, and she said she was tired.”

If Julia had done a runner because of what happened between us, the band would never forgive me. Hell, I’d never forgive myself, even if I did what I thought had been right.

“What time did you speak to her?” I asked Tess.

She glanced at Presley. “What was it? Just before midnight?”

“Something like that.” A little smirk played on his lips, and the subtle look they exchanged told everyone in the fucking room they’d been in the middle of pin the tail in the pussy.

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