“New York,” Jace said into the mic, the low husky thrum of his voice sending the fans to heaven. And he hadn’t even sung a song yet. “We’re so fucking happy to be here tonight. I know it’s been a long time since you saw us all live, and so much shit has gone down, but we are back, better than fucking ever. This is as authentic as you’ll ever get our music. Strap the fuck in.”
He strummed the first chord of their opening song, “Lead from the Heart.”This was not one of their newer numbers, but it was the first single they’d released after leaving Big Noise, so it was well known.
They’d dropped half a dozen tracks in the lead-up to their new album, which had kept everyone desperate for the final release.
They played by no one’s rules but their own, and it was working exactly as we’d hoped. Jace’s voice cut through the noise as he began to sing, the music fading for real impact at the beginning of this song.
Through the sorrow and pain, across the lies and the shame, we broke through the chains.
The oceans may fade, and we bleed through the rain, but our heart will never change. Not through this or the fame.
Heeeere we stand. Together and stronger than ever before.
Heeere we stand. Saying no fucking more.
We lead from the heart, and we won’t be torn apart.
We broke through the chains, we annihilated the pain, and we lead from the heart. No fucking chance for regret, no more loss or demands, we are stronger than ever before.
There was still no backing music, outside of a few chords from Rhett, and the crowd sang along so loudly that chills chased up and down my spine through the entire opening verse and chorus of the song.
Halfway through, the rest of the band joined in, adding their instruments to the magic of Jace’s voice, and I realized that tears were tracking down my cheeks. Everything about this moment was filled with pure emotion and happiness, filling every part of me, and I wondered if this would ever be topped.
Standing here, together, and finally free.
The rest of the concert was the most incredible experience of my life. I’d heard them all play and sing a million times now, but tonight they were next level, every single one of them a once-in-a-lifetime talent.
The new songs were met with the same frenzy as old favorites, and I had the sense that this new album would break records. Maybe all the records. As far as I was concerned, biased as I was, there was no limit to what Bellerose could achieve.
Not now that they were no longer restricted by stupid bigwigs who had no idea what true music lovers wanted.
“You have been fucking amazing tonight,” Jace said, moving forward on the stage as he engaged twenty-plus thousand people with his fucking presence. Charismatic bastard. Fuck, I loved him. “And we can’t say how grateful we all are for the support you’ve shown us. We only have two songs left for you tonight, but just know this is only the beginning for Bellerose. We’ll never stop giving back to you all, and this one is for you.”
This was one of their new songs, and it was a love ballad to their fans. Once again, it was Jace’s beautiful voice accompanied by only a few chords on his guitar, and then the chorus was all four members of Bellerose joining together to express their fucking love and gratitude to the people out there in the stands—the reason they got to make music and live this amazing life.
“They’re amazing, right?”
I’d been mesmerized, standing on the edge of the stage, hand pressed to my heart as I sang along. I’d help write many of these songs, but it was their music and voices and presence that truly brought them to life.
The person who’d spoken was one of their new roadies, someone who probably had no idea who I was because the boys were overly protective of me still, to the point that when we walked, they stayed around me like a circle of bodyguards.
“They’re beyond words,” I breathed with a happy sigh. My bodyguard for tonight shuffled forward then, but I waved him off. “All good, Sam,” I said shortly, before I went back to watching the band. The roadie shot me a curious look, then seemed to realize that they had a job to do and scurried off.
When Jace finished that number, the crowd screamed, and I was fairly sure there was a lot of crying too, since there was only one song left.
“Before we finish up tonight,” Jace said as the crowd grew quiet once more, wanting to hear his words, “there’s someone that we need to thank. Someone that you all know pretty well by now, thanks to the media’s obsession with our lives. Someone who co-wrote every single one of these songs. I know you’re all aware that Billie Bellerose is a fucking smokeshow. Girl absolutely slays me every single time she looks my way. But what you may not know is that she’s the most talented songwriter in the world. I’ll fucking take on anyone who wants to argue that fact. Can’t sing for shit, but she will destroy you with her words. And there’s no way we can finish up this concert without expressing our thanks to the person who saved our lives.”
As I stood there in shock, blinking and wondering if my damn ears were malfunctioning, all four of my boys turned and held their hands out to me.
On the motherfucking stage.
I shook my head, desperately freaking out that I would throw up or do something embarrassing like fart the moment I went on stage. My stomach wasn’t feeling the most stable, in all truth, so this wasn’t even a weird intrusive thought.
“Baby, can you come out here,” Jace said with a laugh. “Come on, Rose. We’re all friends here.”
The crowd was screaming and stomping their feet, and I heard my name chanted over and over.Billie Bellerose. Billie Bellerose. Billie Bellerose.
Yeah, apparently, I was always going to be a full-name kind of chick from here on out.
