The bassist, Ryker, just took a step back and bowed his head. Chicken ass. Looking across the stage I saw Kamp, one of the guitarist trying –and failing- to hide his laughter as he kept up a steady rhythm on his guitar. Shifting my eyes to the back of the stage where Reid was stationed behind his drums, he was looking straight ahead, shaking his head. Jase was my last resort, but of course that guitar playing twat box was looking at his cousin and smiling.  I was on my own with this one.

Taking a few steps in Tristan’s direction, I put my hands on my hips and squared up to him, smiling a little too sweetly. When he was within reach I placed a finger on his chest, he tensed, and tapped my finger as I spoke, “Well, playboy, you got me up here…now what are you going to do with me? Last time you got me this close you ran like a little girl. Think you can handle me this time?”

Told you I don’t play fair. I fight dirty.

The room was silent except for the strumming coming from Jase and Kamp’s guitars. Tristan’s eyes grew dark, making the green flecks in them stand out. His mouth twitched. “Why, Ms. Caine aren’t you just a sweet little lollipop all wrapped up in bitch?”

Narrowing my eyes I said, “And, you Mr. Cole, are a dick.”

His hazel eyes sparkled. “Yep.” Tristan took his eyes off me and shifted them back to the crowd while taking a few steps away from me. He drew his lip ring into his mouth. He knew exactly what that did to me. “Y’all ready for our new number one hit, Rockstar Call Girl?” The crowd went crazy, clapping and hollering. Tristan glanced at me, a smile playing at his lips. Pointing at me he said, “You can thank this hot little lady for that. If it wasn’t for her this song wouldn’t exist.”

The bands new song didn’t exactly put me in the best light. To be honest it made me sound like some sort of whore, which I wasn’t. There was a tap on my shoulder before a microphone was being shoved in my face. Looking over my shoulder I saw Ryker retreating back to his spot on stage. He actually had a little sympathy on his face. At least somebody cared…maybe. A little?

I heard Reid’s sticks hit the drums and both guitars came to life. Tristan looked at me, that stupid ass, shit eatin’ grin on his face as he started to sing.

She’s always looking for a little danger,

Just a little fun.

The dark bars, the street cars.

And everything in between.

The bad boys who want one thing,

She’s exactly what they need.

She’s a rockstar call girl,

An angel with demon wings.

Remember, bitch who you belong to,

Your body is my private domain.

Fuck you like the whore you are,

Drink away your memories at night.

Because you’re a rocsktar call girl,

And that’s all you’ll ever be.

Tristan took a breath then looked at me, motioning me to sing the next verse. The verse he knew that would hurt me the most. I held the microphone close to my mouth, almost letting in rest on my lips.

I should have took one look,

And knew the real you.

You told me things to make me believe,

That I was more than just money.

There was fire in my veins,

You turned it into ice and never thought twice.

I’ll never make the same mistake,

And trust someone like you.

Because…

Tristan started signing with me. Getting closer and closer to me. He held his hand out to me. He turned from the crowd to my face, meeting me eye for eye.

She’s a rockstar call girl,

An angel with demon wings.

Remember, bitch who you belong to,

Your body is my private domain.

Fuck you like the whore you are,

Drink away your memories at night.

Because you’re a rockstar call girl,

And that’s all you’ll ever be.

I stopped singing. I let the microphone drop to my feet. Tristan took another step closer, towering over me. His body just inches from me. His breath in my face. He finished the song.

That’s all you’re ever going to be,

To everyone.

Now you’re nothing,

Nothing else to me.

Tristan was breathing hard and incredibly close. My eyes were shut. I could smell his cologne mixed with sweat. I slowly peeled my eyes open to find him staring at me.

He wasn’t singing to the crowd now, he was talking to me. He flicked his lip ring and licked his lips. “You’re nothing but a memory”

I don’t know where my tears came from. One minute I was standing there looking at Tristan, the next I was running off the stage. The bands bodyguards didn’t try to stop me from going backstage. Both men stepped to the side as I ran passed them. When I was far enough away so that the band or the crowd couldn’t see me I collapsed onto the floor.

“There you have it ladies and gentlemen. You just witnessed what that girl does best. She runs.” Tristan spoke to the crowd. He sounded proud of himself. The crowd actually cheered. Unbelievable.

I wanted to get out of this place before the guys came off stage. Standing, I ran my fingers under my eyes, hoping I didn’t look like a drunk raccoon. When I rounded the corner where the exit sign was hanging from ceiling I saw a very pregnant and a very pissed off Lydia Cole coming in my direction.

She was yelling at her bodyguard, “What the fuck is his problem! I swear, I am so sick of his selfish bullshit. If he wasn’t Jase’s cousin I would beat the shit outta him. What he did was fuckin’ ridiculous. I can’t believe he made Em do that. If I was her before I ran off stage I would have kicked him square in his dick.”

Lydia finally looked up and saw me standing against the wall. Her face instantly softened as did her voice. “Oh my God, Em! I am so sorry. I had no idea that asshole would do that to you. I never thought he would see you in the crowd. I feel so bad for inviting you then you having to go through that.”

Sniffing, I attempted a smile. “This wasn’t your fault, it was mine. I should have walked away the minute he saw me in the crowd. Hell, I should have walked away eighteen months ago.” I dropped my head and pushed my tears back. “I just want to get outta here before the guys are finished.”

I no more than got the words out of mouth before I heard the rowdy band coming down the hall. There were now two more body guards behind Lydia, making it near impossible to make an escape without the guys noticing.

“Well, well, well. Isn’t this convenient?” Tristan snickered.

Lydia stepped in front of me, attempting to shield me from Tristan. “Don’t start, T. What you did was uncalled for and you know it. She never did anything wrong to you. It’s time you grow up and act like the twenty six year old that you are, not the six year old little boy pulling the cute girls piggy tails at recess. You are an arrogant ass and if it wasn’t for Jase I would love to knock you out myself for that shit you pulled. You owe her an apology.”

Tristan just laughed in Lydia’s face. “Jase, can you control you wife?”

Jase held his hand up in front of him as if surrendering and shook his head. “Hell no. She scares me and I am not stupid enough to piss of the pregnant lady.”

Tristan scoffed, “Fuckin’ great.” He leaned down so he was face to face with Lydia. She never budged. Tristan stuck his hand out and pointed at me, accusingly. “She deserved every bit of humiliation she got tonight. Emersyn Caine is a fuckin’ whore. She doesn’t deserve my respect or my apology. I want her away from my band before we catch some disease from her.”

Before he saw it coming Lydia connected her fist with Tristan’s jaw. She hit him hard enough he stumbled backwards, losing his balance long enough for Lydia to throw another punch. This time she connected with the apple of his cheek. Tristan fell into the wall, grabbing his face. The bodyguards started to step in and reached for Lydia. Jase held his arm up in front of them. “No. It’s fine. Let her go.” The oversized men dropped their hands and took a few steps back.

Leaning down so she was in Tristan’s face, Lydia bit out, “Call her a whore again and I swear I will make sure your dick is made into a smoothie and fed to you, you idiotic prick. You don’t deserve to be around a girl like Em.” Lydia turned on her heel, grabbed my hand, and drug me out of the building into the warm Los Angeles night.