Page 55 of Ravaged For You

His words make me realize how big of a deal it is for him to have me properly meet his bandmates. He’s revealing a private side to him that I bet not a lot of other girls get to witness.

“What is your biggest goal now that you all are the biggest rockstars on the planet?” I ask them all, leaning in towards the table dividing us.

Bishop smiles at that question. “We still want to smash Tainted Lives with our next album. They’re shit and they deserve it.”

“They can’t be that bad,” I reply.

“They’re awful fucking assholes,” Drake says.

“You guys and your band rivalries. Must be so stressful,” I say. “There must be something else, is there?”

Drake leans forward too. “Madison Square Garden. It’s our dream to perform there ever since we first started out.”

“And you haven’t already? Surely you must have.”

“Not until we’re ready,” Bishop continues. “All our heroes performed there. Bowie. Rolling Stones. Nirvana. We saw a show there together as teenagers and made it our mission to perform on that stage when we’re on top of the world. We’re so close now. It’s only a matter of time. Maybe after this album, we’ll feel like we’ve earned the right to go there.”

Someone enters the private area.

Lucas.

The manager looks rushed. Taking care of Ravaged must be a twenty-four-hour occupation. He seems relieved to find us all here. He gives me a wink when he spots me amongst these giant beautiful men.

The band all wave him over enthusiastically. The love they have for him is pretty damn evident.

“I knew I’d find you here, boys.”

“Is there a problem, Lucas?” Drake asks. “Please don’t be bringing any more paperwork for us to read.”

He smiles. “Nope. Worse than that, there’s a visitor for you all.”

“We’re not having any visitors. That’s why we’ve hired security.”

“Even I can’t say no to her,” Ravaged’s manager says.

“Who?” Drake asks.

We all turn around. Someone is walking in behind Lucas. A woman. This must be the answer everyone’s looking for.

Axel stands up. He’s immediately recognized her.

“Mom?”

25

AXEL

I don’t believe it.

“What are you doing here, Mom? I literally spoke to you this afternoon on the phone, and you were in Crystal River.”

There’s an audible intake of breath from my other band members behind me as they sit, transfixed, by my own mother walking into the most exclusive nightclub in LA.

Mom just smiles. She loves a bit of drama, this woman. “I’ve come from Crystal River to see my boy,” she announces.

Fuck’s sake.

“Mom…”