Page 108 of Vicious Intentions

I punched my father several times. Then we pitched and rolled, both fighting for control. I bashed the weapon against his face, but he held on, our bodies twisting and turning.

Then…

Pop!

* * *

Five months later

Sage

“How exciting. It looks like Rose Sandler is exiting the limousine. Let me make certain. Yes, it’s Rose from Halo!”

I heard the reporter’s voice as Hunter wrapped his fingers around mine, pulling me onto the red carpet leading to the auditorium. The number of photographers snapping pictures was overwhelming. In all the years of attending awards ceremonies, the reception this year was even more glamorous. I’d been coined the ‘It’ girl of the Grammys, Halo the band to beat for the major awards. We were up for seven of them, which continued to shock me.

I waved at the crowd, taking it all in as both Cristiano and Cain took their positions beside me. They’d become celebrities as well, People Magazine calling our unusual relationship ‘Caustic Evocative Evolution’.

My hunks had rolled their eyes reading the article while I’d sipped champagne, dancing around our house in Key West in a bikini. They’d stayed true to their word, allowing me to pick out the various houses we owned.

As the crowd swarmed around us, Cain took my other arm. Always the most protective, his dark eyes sweeping the crowd as if anticipating his father would come back to life.

We’d been lucky, his shoulder injury healing within a few weeks.

But the house had never felt the same, getting sold weeks later.

They’d saved my life as they’d promised to do, but I think I managed to save their souls. They were entirely different than they’d been before, the huge weight of the past finally releasing its claws.

While Cain had yet to find out the identity of his real father, it didn’t seem to bother him. He was content in the fact that if we were lucky enough to have children, then his blood wouldn’t taint the child.

“Rose. Can I ask you a few questions?” The reporter was one I knew, adamant that he speak with me.

When Cristiano started to step in, I pressed my hand against his chest, rising onto my tiptoes and kissing him on the lips. The gesture was caught by at least fifteen photographers. Not to be outdone, Hunter grabbed me for a passionate embrace, driving his tongue inside my mouth while every woman swooned.

They looked delicious in their tuxes, good enough to eat. Which I planned on doing later.

Or perhaps they’d devour me.

The thought sent a thrill all the way to my overheated core.

Cain pulled me away, doing nothing more than drinking in my perfume, rolling his knuckles down my cheek in a sign of possession. As always, I trembled from his touch. His dark eyes bore into mine, but there was a look of mischief that I wasn’t used to seeing.

“This is your night until we’re on the jet.” His words were whispered.

Heat crested across my jaw, and I was happy that the lights likely hadn’t caught my flustered look.

“Hi, Steve. I’d be happy to answer a few questions.” I waved to the crowd again, smiling from the cheers.

“How does it feel to be expected to win every major award tonight?”

“It feels fantastic, but I couldn’t have done it without my band. They are the best in the world. Aren’t they?” I jazzed the crowd until the cheers drowned out every other noise.

Steve shook his head, waiting as the virulent applause and loud catcalls died down. “There’s a sense that your music has taken a new path. Even Rolling Stone mentioned there’s a significant increase in passion to your words and to the sound itself. What would you attribute that to?”

I took a deep breath. “To the three men I’ve fallen madly in love with.”

The crowd went wild.

* * *

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