Rocked in Paradise

By Clara Bayard

One little accident can change everything.

Just when it seems there’s nothing that can bring the members of Dream Defiled together, the unthinkable happens. A car accident leaves everyone shaken, one member of the band injured, and all of them wondering about the future for their professional and private lives.

The potential solution could be as simple as a few weeks in a secluded island paradise. Time to work out their issues and heal – physically and emotionally – before setting back out on the road to complete the biggest tour of their careers.

Invisible wounds can’t be healed by sunny skies and clear blue water alone, and it seems the band members are more distant from each other than ever. But a shocking tragedy unites them all in sorrow and reminds them of what really matters.

The struggles and triumphs of real life are inescapable. Even in paradise.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rising Books
• Release date: Jul 11, 2014
• ISBN: 9781501470110

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Rocked in Paradise

Rocked, #9.5

By Clara Bayard

Copyright © 2014 by Clara Bayard

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About this book

One little accident can change everything. 

Just when it seems there’s nothing that can bring the members of Dream Defiled together, the unthinkable happens. A car accident leaves everyone shaken, one member of the band injured, and all of them wondering about the future for their professional and private lives. 

 The potential solution could be as simple as a few weeks in a secluded island paradise. Time to work out their issues and heal – physically and emotionally – before setting back out on the road to complete the biggest tour of their careers.

 Invisible wounds can’t be healed by sunny skies and clear blue water alone, and it seems the band members are more distant from each other than ever. But a shocking tragedy unites them all in sorrow and reminds them of what really matters. 

 The struggles and triumphs of real life are inescapable. Even in paradise.

One

Joe

I had just closed my eyes when someone started pounding on the door. I muttered unkind things about their mother, slapped a pillow over my face and pretended I wasn’t getting up.

Then, my phone rang.

After sending the pillow flying, I lurched out of bed and walked in a circle for a moment, unable to decide which annoyance to deal with first. The about to be in deep shit person at the door hammered it again, hard enough to make the damn thing shake. I growled, and approached it.

What? I asked, swinging the door open, blinking at the brightness of the hallway.

Don’t yell at me asshole, I’m the unlucky fuck who got sent to find you.

I glared at the tall man standing in front of me. Go away, Rick.

Fuck you.

As much as I still wanted to murder him in the face for getting me up, I had to struggle to smother a grin. There was no one in the world who could out-surly Rick. What do you want, shit-for-brains?

Me? I want to go back to my room, strip off and have my girl ride me like a pony.

Thanks for that mental image. Like I want to imagine your ugly ass naked.

He grunted. Yeah, well, I guess it’s a fucking terrible day all around then. Put a shirt on, heartthrob, we gotta meet downstairs in five.

I scraped my fingers through my hair, trying to shed the bleariness. Why?

Matty’s in the hospital. Liss called a car for us.

My heart seized up in my chest. Matthew? Is he okay?

He’s alive, that’s all I know.

Five seconds.

I spun around, leaving the door open. The last remnants of my buzz drained away and the hangover surged to the surface, but I didn’t give a shit. While things were a mess with my band, and I’d been doing everything I could to avoid them lately, the idea that Matthew might be seriously hurt was too horrible to imagine.

After grabbing the first shoes and shirt I found in the nearest pile of clothes, I snatched my phone from the table and was back at the door in seconds. Let’s hit it.

While we waited for the elevator I got myself dressed. What happened?

I have no idea, Rick said. He’d said four words without cursing, a sure sign he was truly distressed. Ryan was with him, they’re both at the hospital. That’s all the info I got.

I nodded and said, Finally, when the elevator arrived. We climbed in and began the descent to the first floor. Another hotel, another city. I wasn’t even sure where we were. Phoenix, maybe? Or did we cross into New Mexico already? Who can remember anymore.

Once we go to the lobby, we headed straight to the back entrance. Photographers had staked out the front door since we arrived, and it was much easier to get out clean by avoiding them.

A couple of girls were sitting in the business center down the back hallway, and one of them squealed and pointed at us. Rick rolled his eyed and kept striding along.

I tossed them a quick wave and kept moving, too, praying they wouldn’t try to stop us. Who the fuck is up at this hour anyway?

Normal people, man. It’s after eight.

In the morning? Shit.

Before he could answer, we hit the back door. There was a guy in all black stationed there. He nodded at us and opened the door.

Right outside there was a stretch black limousine. Standing next to it was Becca. She looked, as usual, cool and professional, as if she hadn’t been up all night like the rest of us. Her hair was pulled back in a neat ponytail and she was managing to talk on two cell phones at the same time.

Guys, hey, she said, the slightly breathless tone in her voice the only clue she was as worried as I felt.

A limo, Becca? What the fuck?

She shrugged and hung up one phone. I know. Rick already told me it’s bullshit, and I agree.

I smiled a little. It was nice to see them getting along, at least.

It was the only thing I could get short notice. We’ll have something better for later… if we need it.

Is everyone here? I asked, peeking inside the back of the car. I’d gotten used to traveling with a crowd of millions, even if I didn’t like it. Or them.

We’re just waiting on Dex, she said. Ryan’s already at the hospital. I don’t think anyone else knows yet.

Good. We don’t need a huge scene.

Yeah, that’s more your department, isn’t it? Dex’s accented voice came from behind me.

I whirled around, frowning. I’m pretty sure getting drunk and fucking everything up in public is your department, asshole.

He stalked over, long limbs stiff. Don’t you fucking start with me, mate.

Rick slid between us, his bulk almost blocking my view completely. Both of you shut the fuck up or I swear to god I’ll knock you out. Leave your bitch problems here. We need to see how our boy is doing.

Whatever. I moved back and then turned to climb in the car. He was right, of course. But I couldn’t seem to help myself around Dex lately. He’d been my best friend for years and now the mere sight of him filled me with rage.

Inside the dark of the car, I slid over next to the bar and grabbed a bottle of whatever they had as the others got in. I splashed a large measure into a glass and sucked it down. The scotch was terrible, but it did the job.

By the time we got to the hospital my head had stopped aching