Under the Lights (A Brothers of Rock - GONE BY AUTUMN - Novel) (24 page)

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Authors: Karolyn James

BOOK: Under the Lights (A Brothers of Rock - GONE BY AUTUMN - Novel)

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However, when Jules turned onto the
highway that they had taken to the storage unit, Jules couldn't breathe. She
started to panic. What was she doing? What would running away get her? She had
no one to go home to.

Slowly, Jules pulled to the side of
the road.

Tanner
’
s car came flying up next to her and he cut the
wheel, turned the car, and came to a stop, blocking her. Jules got out of her and
went right to the hood and sat there, shaking her head in defeat.

“
Jules,
what are you doing?
”
Tanner
asked.

“
I
’
m leaving. Well, trying to
leave.
”

“
Why,
Jules? Why?
”

Jules shook her head. She looked
down. The tears were trying to come.

“
Hey,
you have to talk to me. Look at me.
”

“
No,
”
Jules said.
“
This was why I left. Because I
didn
’
t want to ruin it for
you guys.
”

“
You
didn
’
t ruin anything,
”
Tanner said.

He touched Jules
’
arms and it made her shiver.
She loved him. She wanted him. Hell, she needed him.

“
Look
at me, Jules.
”

Jules lifted her head.
“
I get the chance to sing for
Gone by Autumn and this is what happens.
”

“
Running
away back to the life you escaped is not going to make anything better."

“
But
I won't be in the way of you guys breaking big."

“
No.
You don't understand. That Richie guy was trying to hurt the band. I messed up,
but the band is fine. Gone by Autumn is good. We
’
re
good, Jules. You can
’
t go.
Not without me.
”

“
Without
you? You want to come with me?
”

“
Name
the place,
”
Tanner said.
“
I
’
ll
be there.
”

“
This
is so overwhelming.
”

“
Love
is overwhelming,
”
Tanner
said.
“
It's scary. But it's
fun. It makes it all worth it.
”

“
Where
am I going?
”

“
You
don
’
t have to go anywhere,
”
Tanner said. He climbed up on
the hood of the car and sat next to Jules. He took her hand.
“
I
’
m
in love with you, Jules. You
’
re
not going to get away from me. From us.
”

Jules looked at Tanner.
“
I really love you, Tanner. I
really do.
”

“
Good.
Then there
’
s no reason to
run hide.
”

“
Is
the band really okay?
”

“
We
’
re great,
”
Tanner said.
“
I
owe Ryan a punch to the mouth for what he said to you. And Asher is going to
take out the guy that caused all this.
”

“
Kill
him? For real?
”

Tanner smiled.

God, what a sexy smile.

“
No,
”
Tanner said.
“
I
’
m
messing around, darling. Jules, it
’
s
okay. You can be afraid, but you can
’
t
run. This is happening. Now. And I want this to be forever.
”

“
I
’
m sorry I took off,
”
Jules said.
“
I panicked. I didn't want to
hurt you after you opened up to me the way you did. You've already been through
a mess."

“
And
from that mess came us,
”
Tanner said.
“
I
’
m not sure how romantic that is,
Jules, but it
’
s the truth.
”

“
I
just
…
I feel like
…
I have an one bedroom apartment
that I share with someone. That
’
s
not a home, Tanner. And to go back to where I came from is not a home either. I
feel homeless. Lost out here.
”

“
I
’
m right there with you,
”
Tanner said.
“
But, you
’
re wrong.
”

“
I
’
m wrong?
”

“
You
have a home
…”
Tanner took
Jules' hand and placed it to his chest. He nodded.
“
Right here, darling. Right here.
”

Jules felt her lips quivering,
aching for Tanner. He kissed her a moment later and they sat there, on the hood
of car, kissing. The rockstar and the backup singer. Sharing a moment of love
right there, under the lights of the stars.

Right here, darling. Right here.

~*~

Gabe buried his face in a towel and
let out a long groan. Behind him, the crowd was still cheering. The night was just
getting started, but the show was finally over. If it were up to him and the
band, they would have kept playing. This was by far one of the best audiences
they ever had the honor to play for. After going over set by thirty minutes,
Sam had to pull Tanner off the stage and warn him that the band was getting
dangerously close to being fined for a noise ordinance violation. Of course
this was an opportunity for the band to be bad asses, so Ryan asked the crowd
if they all wanted to be break the law.

The crowed cheered.

Gone by Autumn played another three
songs, which would end up costing them a few thousand dollars. But it was all
worth it.

Gabe put the towel around the back
of his neck and walked along the corridor. The rest of the band was taking off
their instruments, drinking water, and talking to techs and fans who were
daring enough to try and break through security.

One woman screamed Gabe
’
s name and he went over to her.
He hugged her, signed her shirt, and took a picture. She squealed with
excitement as she ran away.

Backstage, Gabe grabbed yet another
bottle of water and slipped outside to head back to the tour bus. His mind had
been heavy lately and he couldn
’
t
figure out why. Maybe it was the mess with Ryan and Jackson Razor. Maybe it was
the fiasco with Tanner and Richie. The problems in the band caused some rifts,
but they were still selling out shows like crazy.

The press had come down hard on the
band for the way Tanner and Ryan punched Richie. There was a legal battle going
on, everyone suing each other, but the winners were the press. They were able
to twist the story any way they wanted and made money at it.

All of that Gabe could easily
absorb.

What was going through his mind was
much greater.

He sat down on the bus and put his
head back, still trying to catch his breath.

There was one more show after this
and then a small break.

When Gabe heard his cell phone
ringing, he smiled. He figured it was one of the guys calling, wondering where
the hell he went. Soon enough, there would be a party on the bus. The band, the
techs, and some lucky fans would all gather on the bus and drink the night
away.

Then Sam would make the call and
the party would end.

The band would crash and the bus
would hit the road. Another day. Another city. Another show.

Gabe walked to his bunk and found
his phone on top of his bag. The number on the screen looked familiar but wasn
’
t programmed into the phone. He
was going to let it go to voicemail.

What could be so important right
now?

At the last second, Gabe ran his
finger across the screen and lifted the phone.

What the hell are you doing,
man?

“
Hello?
”
Gabe asked.

“
Gabe?
Is that you?
”

“
This
is Gabe
…”

That voice. I know that voice.

“
Oh,
Gabe. I wasn
’
t sure if you
had a new number or not.
”

“
Okay
…”

Who is that? It
’
s coming, man. Hold on. I
’
ll
…
oh
…
shit
…

Gabe shut his eyes. He shook his
head. He wasn
’
t ready for
this. Not this call. Not this time.

“
Gabe?
Are you there?
”

“
I
’
m here, sweetie. Yes. Right
here.
”

“
I
…
I
’
ve
been thinking
…”

“
Thinking
about what?
”

“
I
’
m not calling to say I miss you.
Even though I do. I just
…
I
can
’
t stop thinking about
it all
…”

“
Thinking
about what, sweetie?
”

Gabe knew it was coming. And his
stomach was already sick.

“
Thinking
about losing the baby, Gabe. Losing our baby
…”

The

Brothers

of
Rock

novels
featuring rock band,

Gone by Autumn

–

Gone by Autumn comes storming back with a wild, lust
filled weekend for Gabe. He
’
s
supposed to cut away from the band to clear his mind and relax. He heads up to
a private lodge in the mountains and the last thing he expects is his neighbor
to be a brokenhearted woman looking for a change. Any kind of change. What
starts as a weekend keeps going
…
and Gabe is faced with the past, the present, and a change that could decide
the fate of the rest of his life.

Gone by Autumn:

Ryan (singer)

Tanner (guitar)

Asher (guitar)

Gabe (bass)

Blake (drums)

Don
’
t
miss the new release from Karolyn
’
s
bestselling pen name,

London Casey
.

BACK DOWN DEVIL MC

is
here
…

are
you ready for bikers and romance?

-

OUTLAW REVENGE

-

CRASH & BURN

-

DARK FALL

- SECRET
MAYHEM

- TWISTED
PIECES

*AND MORE*

OUTLAW REVENGE
A Back Down Devil MC Novel
Emily didn't want to go watch a bunch of bikers fight each other, and by the
time the fight is over, her best friend is shot dead and Emily finds herself
clutching the leather cut of a sexy guy named Gaige as she's on the back of his
motorcycle, escaping gunfire.
As Vice President of Back Down Devil MC, Gaige Gaen's world is consumed by the
club, the life, and finding a way to make it all work. The last thing he needs
on his plate - or in his bed - is a woman like Emily. He can't stop looking at
her, and he definitely can't stop touching her. He promises to avenge the death
of Emily's best friend, Rachel, but then the situation takes a turn for the
worse when Rachel's father - a rich man hell bent on revenge - shows up and
wants answers that the MC doesn't have.
Emily is in fear of returning to a past she had escaped. She and Gaige can't
seem to stop their feelings for each other, and as her dangerous past digs its
way into the present, Gaige and Back Down Devil are now in the line of fire.
The war in Emily and Gaige's hearts rage on, but the war outside needs to be
fought... the question is, who is going to make it out alive?