The Rocker That Needs Me(74)

I saw Linc and Dallas regularly too. Linc was always up for a workout partner and Dallas was over at Drake’s, often with Axton. The video for OtherWorld was coming up, and I was sure that Drake was going to throw a fit when he found out what Axton and his creative director for the video had planned. My tattoo was going to be a big part of it.

The day that Drake had seen my tattoo for the first time had been emotional for both of us. The first day I was home from the hospital he helped me shower. As I took off my shirt and he had seen my back he had lost it…

“Angel!” he exclaimed.

I glanced at him over my shoulder as I felt the temperature of the water. “Do you like it?” I had only really seen the end results the day before while I was still in the hospital. It was healing nicely, and I was really happy with the job the artist had done.

I had known what I wanted on my back for a while but hadn’t decided on the design until I had found Drake’s sketch pad. It was one he had drawn in while he was in rehab. All the pictures were of me, some had angel wings sticking from my back or wrapping around my body. Closer to the back there was a page of nothing but different wings, and I had torn it out and taken it with me.

My entire back was covered in a set of angel wings, each feather detailed and shadowed to look as if they were actually coming out from my back. Between the two wings, across my shoulders in curvy lettering were the words: THE DEMON’S ANGEL.

Trembling fingers traced over the words then lower over the defined detailing of each feathery angel wing. “It’s beautiful,” he whispered, lowering his head to kiss the ink.

I turned in his arms. “I love you, Drake. Never forget that.”

“Ah, Angel. I love you.” His lips brushed tenderly over my brow. “You make me complete.”





Chapter 24


Drake

I was a mess.

I didn’t know what the outcome of tonight would be, and I was terrified of the possible negative results. My entire future hung on the hinges of this one night, and I couldn’t fail.

America’s Rocker was doing better than the producers had ever hoped. Halfway through the season, Axton and I both had been asked to sign another contract for the next year. There was only one way I was doing it, and I was hoping to have my answer for the bigwigs before the end of the night.

Demon’s Wings was preforming tonight as part of my contract for this season, and I was using it to my advantage. Emmie had helped me make the biggest of the arrangements, and I had spent days going over exactly how it was all going to pan out. Every last detail had been taken care of, and now all I had to do was wait.

Waiting fucking sucks!

Shane slapped me on the back as he came up behind me. We were back stage getting ready for the show, and the makeup artist was shooting me irritated glares because I kept sweating off the shit she put on me. “Bro! I can’t believe you are doing this. I’m happy for you, man.”

“Be happy for me later, after this night is over,” I told him, waving the girl away when she tried to go for round three with some kind of brush to my face.

“I know how this night is going to end. So I’ll be happy for you now and later.” My brother grinned as he picked up a hair brush and smoothed out his hair. “I’m going out to sit with the girls. See you in a few.”

I watched in the mirror as he walked toward the door that led out to the audience. When he reached it, he paused and turned around. “I really am happy for you, Dray. I love you, brother.”

My throat felt tight and I had to clear it before I could speak. “I love you too.”

I was on pins and needles over the next forty-five minutes. Never before had I been nervous to perform live, not to this extent. As the show went on and the last of the dwindling hopefuls took the stage, I thought I was actually going to throw up. When I should have been paying attention to the girl on stage singing her heart out for me and millions of viewers at home, my gaze kept drifting to the front row of the audience.

Layla and Lucy sat on either side of Lana, having flown out with Jesse to watch the show tonight. While Lucy had no clue what was about to happen, Layla did, and she shot me a wink when she saw me looking their way. Lana raised a brow when she saw that my attention was on her and not work, but she blew me a kiss.

Mia sat on Layla’s lap and was entranced by the goings on around her. I was sure that one year old babies would normally be going crazy, wanting down to explore everything, but Mia was content to just sit on “Tee-tee Lay’s” lap and watch while her mother took care of business backstage. Shane sat behind Lana with Harper, Dallas, and Linc. Lana’s old roommates were still a big part of her life, and I was glad to have them here tonight for this. Harper waved and I nodded my head in her direction, wondering for the hundredth time if that girl was ever going to put my brother out of his misery. Shane had it bad. He didn’t screw around these days, and it was all because of Harper…