Whole Lotta Heart

By Amity Cross

Sebastian Hale is a wreck.
Juniper Rowe, the love of his life, is at a crossroads, and he’s powerless to help her. All Sebastian can do it wait, hoping she comes back to him before it’s too late.
But when his past comes knocking, carrying threats of destruction and revenge, it’ll take a whole lotta heart to make it to the other side.
Sebastian and Juniper’s forever is waiting, but if only they have the strength to weather the storm...

Will Sebastian and Juniper be able to find their way back to one another? Find out in Whole Lotta Heart, the FINAL book in the Rock Star Hearts series by Amity Cross.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Nicole R. Taylor
• Release date: Dec 5, 2018
• ISBN: 9781370702626

Amity Cross

Find out more about Amity and her books by visiting:https://www.amitycrosswrites.com

Book preview

1

Stargazers

BREAKING NEWS - 01:14 December 25th

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Juniper Rowe, girlfriend of mega-star Sebastian Hale, of Australian rock band Beneath, has reportedly been rushed to hospital just after midnight Australian time.

Sources reported police cars and an ambulance descending on Hale’s multi-million-dollar mansion on Sydney Harbour in the early hours of Christmas morning, after hearing a loud bang and shouting from inside the property.

Stargazers has been led to believe that security had been increased significantly in recent weeks, along with the appearance of several armed bodyguards surrounding the band. Multiple sources are rife with speculation that one or more members of the band have been targeted by a stalker, and tonight’s events certainly add fuel to the fire that all is not well in the Beneath camp.

At this stage, the New South Wales Police haven’t issued any statements, and requests have been made for privacy until they have more information. No official statement has been made by Hale, any of his bandmates, or their label, Galaxy Records.

Juniper shot to notoriety after making her debut at the first Beneath concert after Hale’s disappearance earlier this year.

Sources close to the couple report that Hale was happier than he’d ever been, and fans and critics have been treated to some of the band’s best performances on their recent US tour. But their fairytale romance was marred by a sex tape scandal that reportedly broke apart their relationship until they were sighted entering a Los Angeles hotel together prior to Beneath’s recent US press junket. It’s barely been weeks since the band made their debut on the coveted daytime television circuit, letting the world know their wild ways off stage are becoming a thing of the past.

We can only speculate, but we believe Juniper had everything to do with the band’s step up into a new era of mega-stardom, which can only lead to greater opportunities for Beneath. The power of love has certainly done great things for the leading man of rock ‘n’ roll.

Investigations on the incident are ongoing, and we’ll report more news as it comes to hand.

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BREAKING NEWS - 03:03 December 25th

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We can now confirm that Juniper Rowe, girlfriend of rock star Sebastian Hale, has been rushed to hospital suffering a gunshot wound after an unknown assailant broke into Hale’s Sydney home.

As reported earlier this morning, police and paramedics arrived at the property just after midnight on Christmas Eve, Australian time, after reports of a loud bang and shouting from inside the property.

Rowe is currently undergoing surgery at Sydney’s St. Vincent’s Hospital.

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BREAKING NEWS - 09:45 December 25th

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Florence Victory, the long-time tour manager for Australian rock band Beneath, has been arrested for blackmail, theft, money laundering, and embezzlement.

She was apprehended by Australian Federal Police on Christmas Eve, and taken into custody to await sentencing. Sources told us she was confronted at Galaxy Records’ Sydney office in a meeting that included CEO Grant Myers, all members of the band, and several witnesses, including Juniper Rowe.

Rowe is currently in hospital after an unknown armed assailant broke into Hale’s Sydney home and opened fire. It is unclear as to whether this development has anything to do with Rowe’s assault, but Victory had been found in possession of millions of dollars of Beneath’s money that she’d allegedly laundered into an offshore account. Contacts also reported there was also a long list of past employees she had blackmailed in order to ensure their silence, including a contract Rowe was forced to sign after extensive threats were issued from Victory.

A source close to the former tour manager accused her of filming the explicit footage of Rowe and Hale that leaked earlier this year. If this is the case, she certainly has a long list of charges to answer to.

At the time of publishing, there have been no official statements made by Galaxy Records, the Australian Federal Police, or from Beneath themselves.

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BREAKING NEWS - 13:01 December 25th

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Sebastian Hale, lead singer of Australian rock band Beneath, has released a statement following the alleged shooting at his Sydney property.

It was posted moments ago on Hale’s social media accounts, along with a candid photo of the embattled couple from Beneath’s last US tour.

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‘On Christmas Eve, an unknown assailant gained entry to my home and attacked my partner, Juniper Rowe.

She suffered a gunshot wound to the stomach and a blow to the head when she fell. She underwent emergency surgery early this morning.

At this stage, she is in serious but stable condition in the intensive care unit. For now, all we can do it wait.

Her attacker is currently behind bars thanks to the security staff on-site and the quick response of the New South Wales Police. I would also like to thank paramedics and the staff at Sydney’s St. Vincent’s Hospital for their exemplary care under these stressful circumstances.

We appreciate your interest and well wishes but would like to ask for privacy in this difficult time.

Thank you.

Sebastian Hale.

PS: To the media camped outside the hospital. Go home and enjoy Christmas with your families, and be thankful you have one. Besides, the ambulances can’t get through.’

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There has been no statement from the band or Galaxy Records regarding the arrest of Florence Victory.

At the time of publishing, it is still unclear as to whether Beneath’s European tour will go ahead as planned.

2

Sebastian

V anessa? It’s Sebastian.

The phone was pressed against my ear and I rubbed at my gritty eyes. It’d been a long day and I was beyond exhausted, but I could hardly feel any of it.

Oh, hey, Vanessa replied, sounding distracted. Merry Christmas. Where’s Juniper? I wanted to thank her for the presents she sent down. Ziggy loves his little Beneath T-shirt.

Vanessa…

There was a rustling sound on the other end of the line. What’s wrong? Her tone had changed, and I didn’t know how to tell her without it hurting.

Juniper… She was… Last night… She was shot.

Silence permeated down the line, though I could hear faint sounds of someone moving in the background.

What? I— She drew in an audible breath. I just spoke to her last night. How…?

Someone broke into the house, I said, everything around me numb. They… She’d had parcels and letters sent to her, and someone had been trespassing in the backyard.

What? I— I heard a muffled sob on the other end of the line.

We had security and bodyguards, but they still got in.

Sebastian… I-Is she…

She’s in an induced coma. I glanced through the window at Juniper and pressed my palm against the glass. It was as if a part of me was in that bed with her. Sleeping, fighting, dying. "Vanessa…"

Okay, I’m packing a bag and I’m coming. Where are you?

Wait, I— I swallowed hard. I’ll get you a ticket on the next flight. I’ll call you back.

Sebastian?

Yeah?

She’d never leave you, you know that, right?

I know.

When she hung up, I called Harry. I could hear kids squealing and yelling in the background, and I knew I was interrupting.

I know it’s Christmas, I said to him when he answered, but I don’t know who else to call.

Don’t worry about it, he replied. What do you need?

I need to get Vanessa here. Do whatever you need to do. Hire a fucking charter if you have to, I’ll cover whatever the cost is.

I’m on it. Don’t worry about anything. I’ll sort it all out.

Harry?

Yeah?

Thank you.

No problem. Give Juniper my love.

The call disconnected and my hand fell to my side, the phone heavy.

I slid open the door and shuffled into the room. Sitting in the worn armchair by Juniper’s bed, I resumed my silent vigil, waiting and hoping. The tube in her mouth tugged at her lips, the tape holding it in place sticking awkwardly to her pale skin. Her freckles looked darker than usual, but maybe that was because her pallor was so pronounced.

The left side of her head had been shaved, and underneath the thick wad of bandages, I knew a whole row of surgical staples held her flesh together. Ironically, it’d been the blow to her head that’d caused the most problems, not the bullet wound in her stomach—the same bullet that took the life of our unborn child. That one had been a shock. Neither me nor Juniper had realised she’d been pregnant at all, and now it’d been stolen from us. When, or if, she woke up, how was I going to tell her?

Hey.

I looked up to find Josh sliding the door closed behind him.

They let you in? I asked as he approached Juniper’s bed.

Pfft, of course they let me in, he said. I’m Josh fucking Carroway. You’re the one who let them believe you were her husband.

I tensed and turned back to Juniper, but she slept on.

How is she?

I shook my head. No change.

The doctor said it’d take time, right? We just have to wait.

That was easy for him to say. A piece of my heart withered with every passing moment.

There’s news crews and paps downstairs, Josh went on. The cops are there trying to move them away from the entrance, but it’s a fucking circus. I almost got molested trying to get into the building.

I didn’t care.

Mate…

Being here brings back so many memories, I murmured, listening to the soft electronic beeps coming from the machines hooked up to Juniper. It stinks the same, too. Fucking antiseptic and lemons. Same shit, different hospital.

But it’s not the same, Josh said, standing at the foot of the bed. His hands rested on the mattress and he stared at Juniper. It isn’t going to end the same way as your mum.

The doctor said she might have deficits. Amnesia, decreased motor function, problems with smell and taste—it could be anything since he hadn’t elaborated.

I wouldn’t worry until we have to. Take it day by day. Today, we just be with her, okay?

I leaned forward and took her hand in mine. She was cold, so I placed my other palm to capture some warmth.

She won’t wake up until the doc takes her off whatever medicine he gave her, Josh went on. You should get some rest, you look like shit.

No, I’m fine here.

Seb—

"I said I’m fine."

Okay, okay. He held up his hands. If you don’t wanna leave, then at least give something to those clowns downstairs so they do. Fuck their statements. It’s already all over the news. So is what happened to Vix. There’s all kinds of crazy rumours about her being the one who— He cleared his throat. No one has the story straight, which is probably why they’re downstairs foaming at the mouth.

Can’t they just leave us the fuck alone for once in their miserable lives? I fumed, my head staring to ache.

I totally agree with you, but they’re blocking ambulances from getting into emergency. People don’t stop having heart attacks or car accidents because it’s Christmas. You have to give them something.

Why is it always me? I muttered.

Josh frowned. You shoulder a lot for us, mate, but it isn’t my place to tell the press about Juniper. Not unless you want me to…

He was right, if ambulances were getting stuck, I didn’t want another life hanging in the balance because of me. I had to give them something, otherwise they’d get out of control and even more headlines would come back and try to ruin us.

I glanced at Juniper, not wanting to leave her side for even a second.

I’ll stay with her, Josh said.

I can’t leave her. I made a promise.

Mate, she’s my fucking family now, too. You made sure of that. If anything changes, and if she so much as twitches, I’ll come get you.

I ruined your Christmas.

You didn’t ruin anything. That bitch with the gun did. Besides, my family is in Melbourne. They knew I wasn’t coming over for dinner today anyway. He gestured for me to get up. Write something nice, okay?

I gave one last look at Juniper before backing out of the room. It was like a part of my soul had been torn away and no matter how far I tried to reach into the darkness to grab at it, I couldn’t bring her back. I couldn’t bring my mum back, either.

I sat on a lone chair by the nurse’s station and took out my phone, a long string of bright red Christmas tinsel tickling the back of my neck. There was a plethora of missed calls and text messages running down the screen, but I cleared them all. I didn’t want to talk to anyone. Fuck, the only person I wanted to talk to was in an induced coma.

A nurse walked past and threw me a sympathetic smile. Another woman leaned over the counter and waved to get my attention.

Are you okay, Mr. Hale? she asked. Can I get you anything?

I shook my head.