Face the Music (A Brothers of Rock - GONE BY AUTUMN - Novel) by Karolyn James Read Free Book Online

to play again, no. Besides, Gone by Autumn was finishing up the set and about to go into an encore.
    Asher wanted to keep an eye on Jocelyn. There was no way she was getting away so easily tonight.
    Not a chance.
     
    *
     
    The first time Chad hit Jocelyn, it was a complete and total shock. To the point that Jocelyn actually just froze in place, her mind unable to comprehend the pain in her cheek. She had just stared at him, her eyes filling with tears but none of them streaming down her cheek. A second later, Chad grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her in for a hug.
    I’m sorry, I had to. Just to get you to be quiet. For a second. Okay, baby?
    Jocelyn didn’t knee him in the balls or scream for help. She simply nodded and promised herself it would never happen again. After the third… maybe fourth… time it happened, Jocelyn stopped keeping count. It quickly became all about how to avoid putting Chad in a position that he felt he had to swing at her.
    She knew it was wrong and maybe even a little pathetic, but by then Jocelyn had nowhere to go. She was alone in a world that continued around her, and no one even noticed that she had become a shell of who she used to be. Not even her father.
    She was numb to it now.
    When she saw the excited look in Chad’s eyes after the Gone by Autumn show ended, Jocelyn turned, not wanting him to touch her. But he put his hand to her back. She stiffened, but didn’t dare pull away.
    “This is big,” he growled at her. “They’re thinking of walking away.”
    “Why?” she asked.
    “Designs. You don’t seem quite enthusiastic.”
    Jocelyn slowly looked at Chad. There was still a mountain of tension from the other night. After leaving him passed out in his bed, Jocelyn was bombarded at the office with a million questions the next morning. Jocelyn tried to act like she was doing him a favor and allowing him to get some rest, but as she spoke she spent more time licking her lips than talking. Chad accused her of lying and demanded she give him her cell phone records.
    And it had been getting progressively worse since.
    Jocelyn didn’t want these people having a say in her business. They were drunk, almost unruly, and nothing they said gave her confidence that their investment was legal or would help the business.
    “I’m sorry I didn’t bring more designs,” Jocelyn said.
    “Are you getting smart with me?”
    “Wouldn’t it be easier to have a real meeting? So we can show everything? Without the music and the people…”
    “You…”
    “Hey, Chad, my man,” a hand clamped down on Chad’s shoulder.
    Chad turned. “Christen. Talk to me.”
    Jocelyn’s nerves pinched when Chad tried to act cool.
    “We’re splitting. There’s a wicked party a little bit away. We want to keep this going.”
    “We can join you,” Chad said.
    “No, man. Take the little lady home. She looks tired.”
    “Well, can we at least shake on the idea of…?”
    Christen shook his head. “Hey, you’re a man of ideas, right? You’ll get something. When you do, call me again. I’m always up for a few drinks and some talk.”
    Just like that, whatever deal Chad had been working on was crushed. And just like that, fear spread through Jocelyn’s entire body.
    When Chad looked at her again, his eyes narrowed. The veins in his neck were pulsing. “Let’s talk outside.”
    Jocelyn looked around for help, but there was none. In a place with well over a thousand people, there was no damn help. Not unless she screamed and unleashed hell.
    But before she could even contemplate having the strength to do something bold, Chad had her by the arm and was pulling her. They went out the same side door from the other night. Jocelyn found herself praying that the guitarist was out there again.
    Nope.
    The first thing Chad did was look around.
    That’s how Jocelyn knew it was coming.
    She tried to step back but hit the wall. Chad came at her, stopping inches from her face.
    “You ruined that deal,”