Liquid Redemption: Liquid Regret, #4

By MJ Carnal

Lennon “Chance” Chancellor is the bass guitarist for the hottest band in the country, Liquid Regret.  He’s a playboy and his charm and wit have gotten him to the top.  He has a secret he’s only told one person.  When she died, the secret died with her.  But, secrets don’t always stay buried and he’s about to find out his past is back to haunt him.

Katrina King has something to prove.  She’s hungry for the story of the century and getting an exclusive for her newspaper is her top priority.  When she’s hired by the record label to cover Liquid Regret’s US tour, she’ll stop at nothing to uncover the truth behind each of the band members.  She’s about to find out the past doesn’t always stay in the past.

One tour bus, one reporter, one life-changing discovery, one last chance for redemption.

• Language: English
• Publisher: MJ Carnal
• Release date: Jun 24, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386975298

Book preview

Prologue

Scoot over,  I whisper through the darkness.  This is the third group home I’ve been in this year and this one scares me.  I’m freezing.  Let me in.

I’m tired.  She groans but moves over to make room for me. 

I can’t sleep.  I pull her close to me.  Her body heat helps me stop shivering. 

We’re going to get in trouble if they catch us.  Kat opens her eyes and looks at me.  Those beautiful blue eyes get me every time.  She’s twelve, exactly one year older than I am to the day.  She’s the first girl I’ve ever found pretty.  She makes me want to do things I’m not sure I even understand.

I’m freezing.  The heat is broken again.  I pull her as close as I can.

Ok, Lenny.  You can stay.  But as soon as the sun comes up, you need to go.  She nuzzles her head under my chin.  Her tiny body wraps around me.  She is my salvation.  She’s the first person I’ve ever had a connection with.

Kat has been here for about a month.  The day she showed up, my world changed.  The first night she was here, I could hear her crying and I snuck into her room to see if she was ok.  She was so small and I wanted to protect her.  She told me her dad had killed her mom and took off. She didn’t have any other family so social services placed her here.  I wanted to cry for her.  She was so sad.  I can’t remember my parents so this is normal life to me.  I can’t imagine having a home and then ending up somewhere like this.  This house is cold and dark and they hardly feed us.  There are so many of us here and no one ever comes to check on us. 

Until Kat showed up, I misbehaved to see if I could get reassigned.  Once she showed up, I decided I needed to be here.  I’ve been watching everything I say or do in order to stay.  I’m not sure I’d survive without her.

I rub her back and she pushes her body into mine.  I’m full of hormones.  I want to touch her.  I want to kiss her.  I want her to know I think she’s pretty.

Kitty Kat.  She looks up at me.  You make my stomach feel nervous.

She blushes.  You make mine feel funny too.

I want to kiss you.  I tremble as I wait for her answer.  She nods her head and I have the go ahead.

She scoots up so our faces are close.  I close my eyes and my lips meet hers.  Neither of us knows what we’re doing.  It doesn’t matter.  There are fireworks.  Our teeth clank together; my tongue is awkward but her mouth is heaven.  She moans and my body becomes hard.  I’m afraid to touch her anywhere.  I don’t want the kiss to end.  Her dark hair falls around me and it feels like silk.  She smells like honey.  She’s perfect.

The door slams open and the lights flip on.  Kat and I fly apart.  It’s too late.  He’s caught us.

Lenny, go into your room and pack your stuff.  You’re out of here.  Kat, get down to the kitchen and start cleaning.  There’s no more sleeping tonight, his voice booms and I’m sure he’s woken up everyone in the house.

I run past him in the doorway.  I grab my duffle bag and throw my few possessions inside.  I’m terrified he’ll try to hurt her.  I wanted to protect her and all I did was screw it up.  I’ll never get close to another woman again.  If I can’t protect them, then I’m not a man. 

Let’s go!  He yells from the door, keys in his hands.  I’m dropping you off with the case worker.  She’ll find you another home.  I’m disappointed in you, Lenny.  I can’t have that happening under my roof.

What about Kat?  I’m only asking because I want to make sure she’ll be safe.

She’s gone as soon as they find her another place.  Trust me, it will be nowhere near where you’re going.

Chapter 1

Oh God, Chance.  Don’t stop!

I look down at Molly.  Millie?  Shit.  I’m so bad with names.  Her eyes are closed and her head is thrown back.  I can feel her body start to tense and I know she’s close. I should feel like a king but this whole new woman every night thing is getting a little mundane.  I don’t know what the hell is wrong with me.  Why can’t I connect to anyone?

Pounding on the wall brings my head up and I smirk.  Max is yelling from the next room to give it a rest.  Now it’s game on.  I push into her even harder, making her scream.  Max pounds again and I laugh to myself.

I purposely ask to have the room next to Max while we’re on the road.  This cat and mouse game he’s got going on with Rachel is old news and it’s time he takes some action.  Making him sexually frustrated every night is my special way of nudging him in the right direction.  I have a reputation to keep up and pissing Max off is just the icing on the cake.

Chance!  Her scream pierces my ears and I want to pound my chest. 

I reach under her ass and pull her closer so I can drive deeper.  She pants for breath.  Her pussy squeezes my cock, begging for release but I’m not ready yet. 

I can’t.  She thrashes her head back and forth and claws at my arms.

You will.  It’s not a request.  It’s a command.  You will until I say you’re done.

She tries to protest but I put my hand over her mouth.  Her eyes widen and I lean forward and bite her nipple.  She shatters around my cock again. 

That’s a good girl.

I pull out and she’s shocked when I roll off of her.  I push off the bed and stretch my back, her juices dripping from my fully erect cock. 

Where are you going?  You didn’t finish.  She sits up and looks genuinely concerned.  How sweet. 

Poor girl has no idea.  It’s not about finishing.  It’s about knowing I can if I want to.  It’s the only human connection I have, aside from the guys in the band, and even that is guarded.  My life is an empty shell.  It always has been.  Well, maybe not always.  There was a time when I felt connected to someone but that was a lifetime ago and I won’t ever let it happen again.  She was ripped away in an instant.  I couldn’t handle losing someone again.

Babe, It’s all about you.  If you felt good, my job here is done.  I pat her head like she’s nothing but a play thing.  And that’s exactly what she is. 

They never catch on to that.  They come to me with stars in their eyes.  They all think they’re the one, the one who can turn Lennon Chancellor into a one-woman man.  That shit is never going to happen. There’s not a pussy in this world that would make me want to come back for seconds.  Not a single one.

Come back to bed and let me hold you.  Her voice is seriously working my last nerve.  But I’m a gentleman and I will let her stay.  Even if I know I’m an asshole, the women don’t.

I will, gorgeous.  I just need to get a drink of water.  You want anything, baby?  I hold my key card up so she can see it.  She shakes her head no and I’m out the door.

I feel less claustrophobic in the hall.  It’s quiet and no one is out here to bother me.  I have a routine after every show.  I pick a groupie, head back to the hotel, bury myself in her for a few hours and then pace the hall until I’m ready to sleep.  They’ve always fallen asleep when I get back and it lets me avoid the dreaded cuddle they’re all so desperate for.  I like my personal space when I’m done.  The sex is just a way to decompress but the pacing, that’s because I can’t connect to anyone else.

Chance?  I jump.

You scared the shit out of me, Seymour.  Why aren’t you asleep?

Joshua shrugs his shoulders.  Not sure.  I have that feeling I get sometimes.  Something big is coming.  Sure as shit wish I knew if it was good or bad.

Got a hot piece of ass in my bed if you need a turn.  I’m kidding but it doesn’t come out that.  I shake my head.  That was fucked up.  Sorry.

He smirks.  You know the rule.  No women for me.  I have to keep my head clear.  I can’t have some woman pulling my focus.  You boys are enough to worry about.

I hold up my water and tip it in his direction.  I know we’re a fucked up bunch and he deals with all our shit like a champ.  We’d be in jail, or worse, if Joshua hadn’t guided us in the right direction.  When he came on as our manager, we knew we had to get our lives in order and he made sure we did.  We’ve stumbled a few times but for the most part, he’s made sure that we’ve kept our noses clean and our private lives as private as possible.  If the press would fuck off, life would be perfect.

The damn paparazzi is all over us.  I can’t leave my house without flash bulbs going off.  What I wouldn’t give for a day to go out and do whatever I wanted without constantly looking over my shoulder.  When we set out to conquer the music scene, none of us had any clue we were giving up every second of privacy. 

When Della died, we were swarming with bodyguards.  I’m six feet of solid muscle and I spend half my life in the gym.  My exercise of choice is krav maga.  I know I could hold my own.  But, her death rocked us to the core and we were paranoid and scared.  Add to that, the press came at us like hoards of zombies, exploiting our sadness and fear and stalking Harley to the breaking point.  I didn’t even feel like I could take a shit without a man standing guard and a camera shoved in my face.

My fingers twitch.  It’s a nervous habit I developed the day I was forced out of a foster home and thrown out on the streets to fend for myself.  It’s the reason I picked up a guitar.  My fingers would twitch and people would look at me like I was crazy.  I needed an excuse and the bass guitar was the perfect one.  Deep down, I knew I was a little crazy. 

You need to get some sleep, Chance.  It’s been a long trip.  Try to get a few hours and we’ll meet back on the bus after breakfast.  With everything going on with Max and his father, we need everyone alert and rested.  I have no idea what kind of shit storm is coming.  Joshua lets himself into his room and looks over his shoulder at me before disappearing inside.  He nods his head and gives me a ghost of a smile.

I roll my neck.  Fuck this.  I’m going back to my room.  I pray she’s asleep.  I can’t handle anything else tonight.

Chapter 2

I’ve been on reporter cloud nine since Senator Maxwell called his press conference announcing Max Callum was his son.  What a jackpot.  There has to be so much more to the story and I’m determined to find out what it is.

Senator Maxwell has always given me the creeps.  There’s something about that man that just doesn’t sit right with me.  And that wife of his.  Her fake tits and fake nails and Botox induced surprised face, just pure yuck.  I would never have guessed Max was any part of that.

Today’s press conference will shed new light on everything.  Joshua Seymour, the band manager for Liquid Regret, called exclusive press in for their response to the senator’s announcement. 

Noise at the front catches my attention.  These men are gorgeous, every last one of them.  Max looks like he hasn’t showered in a week and has spent every night with his mouth attached to the lip of a bottle.  The poor guy has a story to tell.  If he doesn’t tell it tonight, it will be my personal mission to get it out of him.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we called this press conference today to discuss some of the events that have come to light over the past few weeks.  As always, these men are my priority and at any point if I feel like this conference is getting out of