Seducing Wrath (16 page)

The first Devastating Reality set finished up when there was a knock at the door. Joe checked and it was one of the local news teams. They were here for interviews, we weren’t happy about that, it was our Zen time as we called it. Pre-concert meditation.

It wasn’t bad enough we had to deal with the news crews but they let in the groupies too. I looked at Joe and he shrugged, sometimes we didn’t have as much control as we wanted. Chaos was pissed, I could hear him yelling at people to get out but no one was moving.

Rage and Fury had been sitting on the couch watching TV, now they each had a woman in their lap and the news crew set up in front of them. Oh fuck. I had a bad feeling about this.

I tried to get to Joe but he was breaking up a catfight. Apparently two of the girls were fighting over Flame and he didn’t want them anywhere near him. He’d been pretty quiet about shit since Michelle came into his life.

The crew came over to me, and so did this orange-haired skank. Way too much make-up and not enough clothing—I didn’t want her fucking anywhere near me. Before I could do anything about it, she cuddled up to me. I was about to push her away when the bright light from the news camera covered us. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

“Hi, Wrath. How’re you doing tonight?”

“Great thanks.”

“What prompted you all to do a benefit concert? You’re a relatively new band aren’t you?”

“We’ve been playing since we were in high school but yes, this is our first big tour.”

“Weren’t you worried you wouldn’t be able to sell enough tickets?”

“No not at all. Our fans are very loyal and amazing. We had no doubts.”

“We’ve heard you have a special girl now too. What’s your name? How do you like touring with the band?”

I tried to cut her off, but the orange-haired bitch opened her mouth. I fucking cringed inside. What disastrous shit was going to come out of her mouth?

“I’m Penny, you know like a lucky penny.” She giggled and I wanted to gag. “I just love Wrath. He’s freakin’ amazing.”

I wanted to wring her fucking neck right there. It took everything I had not to fuckin’ kill her and the news bitch. Thank God they were done with me now. Zen time? Oh yeah, right? Not even fucking close.

As soon as the crew moved away I pushed Penny off of me. “Don’t ever fucking do that again.”

“What? Heard you like groupies, and the blue girl isn’t around anymore.”

“Oh yeah? You heard that? Who told you that shit?”

“I dunno, some guy. He paid us a hundred bucks each to come over here tonight and make sure we got on camera.”

“C’mere,” I said as I dragged her across the room to Joe. He needed to hear this shit. “Hey, Joe. Uh, Penny here and all the other girls were paid to show up here tonight and get on camera.”

“What? How did you find that out?”

I pushed her closer to him. “She told just told me. Go on, Penny, tell him what you told me.”

She explained to Joe and he asked her to describe the guy. Sure enough it sounded like Rod Dixon, our fuckin’ dickhead ex-manager. Didn’t he know when to leave shit alone? He had no idea the hurting Joe was going to fucking put on him. At least we had proof now, of this part anyway. Maybe even enough to have him charged with something. Fucking yeah.

We did the same show as usual except for the last song we brought Cyn and Joe out and a shit ton of pink balloons were released over the audience. It was fuckin' intense, the perfect end to our first benefit concert. We’d been talking about it and decided we should do at least one benefit concert each tour, maybe more. We were making plenty of money, especially with Joe managing us now. We could afford to share our wealth with those in need.

*****

Sapphire/Teresa

Today was a little better, but maybe it was because I was writing, the tears still ran down my face but at least focusing on the article was a distraction. I was happy with the way the article was turning out. It still had some holes and I’d decided to visit Jack and Sally to see if they’d be willing to talk to me. I had to do it soon, but I couldn’t quite yet, it was all still too raw. I needed to be able to hold it together in front of them and not turn into this blubbering mess.

I’d just sat down on the couch to watch the eleven o’clock news with Mom when the reporter tossed it to a crew in Chicago. For a second I didn’t know if I could watch it, the teaser had been about the Raining Chaos Benefit Concert. Tension filled my body and my heart ached. Would I see him?

“Are you okay, sweetie? Do you want me to change the channel?”

“No, I don’t think so. I need to watch this.” It felt like a train wreck, I didn’t want to look but I couldn’t turn my eyes away. I knew it’d be bad, but I wasn’t prepared at all for what appeared on screen. A quick interview with Rage and Fury, then Chaos and lastly, just when I thought I’d be okay, they swung to Wrath who had this orange-haired skank all over him. What? Oh my God. How could he? I wasn’t even gone a whole day, okay maybe a whole day. It sure as hell didn’t take him long.

I couldn’t breathe. The pain in my chest was overwhelming, like I was being kicked over and over again. I tried to take small breaths but I couldn’t, my throat was closing and I was on a runaway train I couldn’t stop.

I must have scared Mom. I didn’t even realized she’d moved, until her hands were massaging my neck and shoulders. She was telling me to calm down over and over again, that it would be okay. I wanted to cry but even that didn’t happen. It was like I’d been sucked into some kind of vortex surrounding me with pain.

“I’m going to call an ambulance.”

“No,” I rasped out, the only sound I could manage. Shaking my head, I prayed she wouldn’t.
“Suck it up,”
I thought,
“you’re writing the story, it’ll help fix things.”
It became my mantra, and I would use it a lot over the next few weeks.

After what seemed like hours but was probably closer to thirty minutes, the pain eased and I could breathe again. Mom helped me up to bed and sat with me. Not sleeping the night before had caught up with me and I was exhausted. The last thing I remember was her rubbing my hand and telling me everything would work out.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Sapphire/Teresa

I double and triple checked my research, scoured the internet for any obscure facts and tried to find the social workers who had helped place the band members with Jack and Sally. I’d been hoping since they were over eighteen they’d talk to me, but nope, it was against the law or something, so I gave up on that angle, although maybe if my hair hadn’t still been blue it might have helped me seem like a more serious journalist.

It was pretty much down to interviewing Jack and Sally Sherman. I didn’t know what kind of reception I’d get but I made sure my blue hair was gone and I was as close to my original light brown hair color as possible. It took quite bit of work to strip out the blue and then try to find a match to my own hair color. I needed to remember what a pain in the ass it is the next time I got a crazy idea.

Three days after I’d gotten home the car showed up on the back of a trailer. I can’t believe they trucked it back to us, but since it was our only car I was grateful to Joe for doing what he’d said. I wanted to call and see how they were doing, but he’d been pretty adamant to only call if I’d had any contact from Roy, and I hadn’t.

As for visiting the Sherman’s, I couldn’t decide if calling first would be a good idea, there was the chance they’d say no. I hoped they wouldn’t be able to turn me down if I was right in front of them. Mom agreed but warned me not to expect too much. There was a good chance Wrath had told them what had happened and they may just slam the door in my face.

I remembered what a sweet lady Sally always was and I was counting on it to get me in the door. I wanted to explain my side of the story and how I was determined to make it up to them with this article. I’d been stalling but I needed to go, it was mid-morning and I thought it might be a good time. My palms were sweaty and since I was still crying myself to sleep every night, my eyes were red-rimmed. I looked like a wreck, hell, I was a wreck. Would it help or hurt my case with them?

After my third cup of coffee I decided I’d delayed enough. Yeah I was scared, or at least worried they’d slam the door in my face, but it was time to face the music, I needed their help to finish the story, or I might as well forget the whole thing. I was packing up my tablet and two print copies of the article I’d written when Mom came running out of the kitchen with a little bag.

“What the heck is that?”

“It’s tea for Sally.”

“Tea?”

“Yes.”

“It doesn’t have any weed in it, does it?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. She’s ill and this might help her. It’s all flowers and herbs.”

“She’s sick?”

“Yes, she is.”

“How do you know? Why didn’t you tell me before? Maybe I shouldn’t go over there and bother them.”

“Of course you should. I hear things—you know—around and I think this will help her.”

I realized I was rubbing the necklace again. Nerves, dammit. When had I turned into such a whack job? I knew exactly when. It was the minute I decided to ignore my morals for a job and a chance to get closer to Wrath. No wonder it’s been a clusterfuck.

I knew exactly where the Shermans lived. I’d been there enough times or should I say drove by there often enough when I was in high school hoping for a chance to see Wrath. I am sure Sally caught me a few times too but she never said anything to Mom or me, thank God. I would have been mortified, but even the chance of being caught hadn’t stopped me from driving by almost daily until I went away to college. These days I’d probably be considered a stalker and arrested. Crazy times.

I parked in the driveway and grabbed my bag. Rubbing my damp hands on my slacks, I knocked on the door. Sally opened it a moment later.

“Hello. May I help you?”

“Hi, Mrs. Sherman. I’m Teresa Duncan, I’m not sure if you remember me but I went to school with most of your kids.”

“Oh yes, sweetie, how are you?”

“Fine, thank you.” I could tell from the look on her face she didn’t have any clue who I was or why I was there.

She started to ask me a question but was overtaken by coughing. Damn, Mom was right. She was sick.

“I’m sorry. I’m having a bit of trouble with a cough lately.”

“My mother sent some tea for you. She thought it might help you feel better,” I said as I pulled it out of my bag and handed it to her.

“Thank her for me please. It was very sweet of her to think of me. I’ll definitely give it a try.”

I think she thought that’s why I was there, and for a second I considered leaving and dropping the whole idea. I was about to say goodbye when I heard Mom’s voice echo in my head, reminding me that I needed to see this through to the end. She was right. I’d never have any chance of fixing things with Wrath if I didn’t.

“I’ll definitely pass on your thanks. Before I go though, I was hoping to talk to you and your husband about your foster kids.”

She gave me a hard look and I thought for a moment she would say no, instead she backed up giving me room to enter. I followed her into a small living room. It looked like they spent a lot of time there, very cozy and lived in.

“Jack?” she yelled for her husband, which started her coughing again. He came running in with a glass of water and it seemed to calm her. He helped her settle into a chair and then realized I was there.

“Can I help you, young lady?”

“Yes, I’m sorry. My name is Teresa Duncan. I went to school with your foster kids and I was hoping I could talk to you about them.”

“I’m not sure this is the best time, as you can see my wife isn’t feeling well.”

“Jack, please. I’m fine. Besides, you remember Teresa, she’s Sunshine Duncan’s daughter. She had that crush on Chris in high school.”

Oh my God. I prayed the floor would open up and suck me in. Could I have been any more embarrassed? I doubt it. Jack laughed and gave me a second look.

“Oh…she’s the one, huh?”

I shook my head. I knew my cheeks had to be bright pink because all of a sudden I was over heated. “Umm, I’m sorry. Maybe this is a bad idea.”

“Nonsense. What did you want to talk to us about?”

I sat down and pulled out copies of the article and my tablet. “This might take a little while. I hope you’ll hear me out. First, I want to say you’re right, I’ve had a crush on Wrath err Chris since the first time I saw him. It’s led me down a path of stupid decisions and I’m doing all I can to make up for it now,” I said as I handed them the articles.

Sally looked at hers and then smiled at me. “You’re Sapphire, aren’t you?”

“What?”

“Sally, what are you talking about? Are you feeling okay? She just told us her name was Teresa.”

“Yes, yes I’m fine. Sapphire is the girl Chris called about. The one who got his underwear in a twist.”

Oh my God. He called her about me? Was that good or bad? Was there hope? I’d been so afraid to hope for any happy ending for us. I’d been telling myself getting the story in Rolling Stone would be happy ending enough.

“Ahh, I thought he said he didn’t know who she was.”

“Exactly. Obviously we didn’t raise very observant sons.” They chuckled at what could only be some kind of an inside joke. At least they weren’t tossing me out on my ass, but now what?

They were still chuckling and I figured it was up to me to move this along. “I’m hoping the article I’ve written will get published in Rolling Stone Magazine. It’s initially why I went undercover on the tour.”

“Really? Doesn’t seem to me like a reputable magazine would send a young girl along on tour as a groupie,” Jack exclaimed. Sally nodded in agreement, but I have a feeling she already knew most of this story.

“Well, I thought it was for them. I was stupid and believed the unbelievable. I guess I was so excited at the prospect of writing for them and being close to Wrath err Chris again I jumped at the chance and didn’t investigate the source.”