Margo stroked her belly and tried not to gasp. Again. She’d already done it enough for Simon to hear, despite her efforts to stay quiet. He was already obsessed with documenting every step of this pregnancy, so if he even guessed she might be—
“Oh, shit, I think the baby just kicked.”
“What? Are you sure? You better sit down. Or no, stand up! Should we call the doctor? Isn’t it too soon for—” He broke off and swore under his breath. “Fuck, I forgot where I was. We gotta tell people soon, Violin Girl, before something happens.”
“Like your big mouth blabbing all over town?” she asked drily, rubbing the side of her belly in circles. “I’m not even sure it’s that. Might just be gas.”
“What did I tell you about those apples?”
She couldn’t help laughing. “You’re ridiculous. I haven’t had any apples today. It’s really soon though for kicking. Like…really, really soon. So, maybe—” She sucked in a breath as that ripple in her side echoed again. “Yeah, not sure. That felt like a punch.”
“Hello, prodigy. Are you surprised?” His voice softened. “Fuck, I need to come home. I want to be there for this.”
“You can’t take off now. It might not even be anything.”
“But if it is and I’m not there for it? I vowed I wouldn’t miss a second of anything and this has been the biggest moment so far. Well, minus the picture. I have it in my wallet, you know.” He let out a little laugh. “I keep looking at it as if it’s not even real. How can this be our life, Violin Girl?”
Finally seeing her second earring, she picked it up and juggled the phone so she could slip it in. Good thing she had something to do, since her husband’s awed tone was making her choke up.
Damn hormones.
“I’ll make sure he or she saves some punches for Daddy.”
“Why am I certain of that?”
“Because you’re a smart guy. Now go to work. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Sure you don’t want me to come with you? We barely got a chance to go through the place. If we’re thinking about making an offer, we should both go again.”
“This is just an impromptu visit. I just want to see if it matches up with what I remember or if I’m making it more than it was in my head. We’ll go again this weekend, you and me. See if it still feels like ours.” She smiled and peeked down at her nearly flat stomach. Well, as flat as it ever was. There was a slight swell, almost invisible. “Maybe the baby will weigh in too.”
“I can’t wait. I love you, Violin Girl. And my lemon drop.”
“Our lemon drop,” she reminded him, though that possessive note in his voice made her happier than she’d ever been.
She’d been so worried how he would react at her unexpected pregnancy, yet from the moment he’d known, he’d been nothing but supportive and excited. She’d married a good guy.
The very best guy.
“Ours,” he agreed. “Later.”
She ended the call with a smile and immediately answered another call from their realtor. The house was waiting for her. Her realtor had an appointment that was running over, but she’d get there as soon as she could.
Margo assured her this was just a scoping-out visit and if she had any questions, she’d wait to ask them when Simon accompanied her. He’d have fifty of his own, she was sure. Usually, things like if that tree was really sturdy enough to hold that swing or if the neighbors were assholes. Not exactly the usual prospective homeowner’s concerns, but Simon was Simon.
And they were going to buy a house.
Them.
Yep, the anticipatory butterflies were back, with no accompanying baby punches. If that was what they’d been. It was Simon’s kid though, so anything was possible.
She grabbed her bag, made sure she had her phone for pictures, and headed out to the parking garage. Felt like a good day to take Simon’s Audi. He had a sunroof, and it was absolutely beautiful out. Sunny, warm, not a cloud in the sky. Soon enough, the dog days of summer would be upon them and she’d be as big as a house.
She kinda couldn’t wait.
Inside the car, she plugged the address of the house in Santa Monica into her GPS. It shouldn’t take her too long to get there. Middle of the morning traffic was a lot better than rush hour. Still, she wanted to be back before Simon was done in the studio. Maybe she’d get dressed up and they could go out to dinner. Do something fun like a date night since they’d become sparser as time went on. Once their baby arrived, there wouldn’t be as many opportunities to sneak away for a night on the town.
For now, she wanted to enjoy their time together as a couple. Maybe they should do one of those babymoon things she’d heard about. Go away somewhere exotic while she could still semi rock a bikini.
She drove out of the garage and in no time, she was on the freeway. She hummed along with the satellite radio, the wind blowing in her hair from the cracked sunroof, and couldn’t help grinning when an Oblivion song soared out of the speakers. It still blew her mind to hear herself—to hear them—on the airwaves. By now it should be old hat, but it so wasn’t. She hoped the magic never faded.
And she definitely hoped she never lost that little shiver that came from hearing Simon’s deliciously husky voice.
A husky voice that was yet again about to be on her phone, because the music stopped in favor of a beep and an alert on the car screen—your honeybunch is calling.
She laughed aloud and hit the touch screen to answer the call. “How the hell did you rig it to say that? This isn’t even my car.”
“I knew you’d drive it. You like the power. The control. The sunroof.”
“Option number three. Why are you back again? What happened to work? I thought you had to sing. You know, your job.”
“Ian’s still gone. Oddest fucking thing. He booked out of here, and then Li came in for a second and wanted to know if I’d talked to you. She’s acting weird. I said yes, and then she was gone again before I could ask her what the hell was going on.”
Margo frowned and signaled for the exit. She coasted off the ramp and took a turn, then another, and another after that. The house was conveniently located near the freeway, but not too close, which was another selling point. But right here, the area was nearly deserted.
“That’s strange. Maybe I should call her. I know she’s freaked about Ian dating her cousin, but why would she run in to ask about me? She hasn’t tried to call, unless she texted and for some reason it didn’t show on your fancy in-car system. Oh. Look at that. Good timing.”
She blinked as a call from Lila flashed across the screen.
“I suppose I should take it. I’ll talk to you—”
The car jerked forward, and the shriek of metal on metal screamed through her head.
Her body jostled hard against the steering wheel, her seat belt snapping tight to anchor her in place. She didn’t even scream. Had no breath for it. Shock dulled her senses as the car ricocheted back and forth, aiming for the trees that lined the road. Woods.
She tried to steer. Couldn’t gain control. But even as the car rocked, she somehow managed to glimpse at the rearview, and the boxy black truck behind her.
Still coming. Too close. Far too close.
Sunny day. Didn’t they see her?
Another jolt came again, harder now. This time, there was no way to keep the scream from leaving her throat.
Her baby. God, her baby!
So much pain.
“Margo? What the fuck is happening? Goddammit, Violin Girl, what is it?”
Then silence.
Just silence.
Thanks so much for reading Rock Reclaimed. One-click Rock Redemption to find out if Margo and her baby will survive. And will Ian get to keep the new love he’s found with Zoe, or will he lose everything? Maybe even his life.
Preorder ROCK REDEMPTION now!
I
lost everything.
Stripped of all I’d found, now even my name is a scar.
A reminder of how far I’ve fallen and what was ripped away.
By my own devices, if not my own hand.
My music is all I have left, and the memories of the only woman I ever truly loved.
Zoe, who owns my heart.
I’ll do anything to earn her forgiveness. Even lay myself bare.
And I want my brother back.
Finally, I have a family, if they’ll have me. A real life beyond the trappings of fame.
I’ll do whatever it takes. Even start all over again.
But not all the demons of the past have been laid to rest. Now my final reckoning is at hand.
And those I love most may get caught in the crossfire.
Author’s Note: Find redemption with Ian Kagan, our new rockstar anti-hero in the conclusion of our super hot, romantic suspense trilogy, Rock Revenge. The trilogy occurs in the Oblivion world though it can be read on its own. Rock Redemption is a full-length novel with a HEA.
One-click ROCK REDEMPTION now!
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Oblivion World Character Chart
Beware...spoilers aplenty in this character chart. Read at your own risk!
Nick Crandall: Oblivion lead guitarist
Twin brother to Elle/Ricki, married to Lila Shawcross, daughters Charlie and Avery, co-founder of Oblivion
Simon Kagan: Oblivion lead singer
Brother to Ian Kagan, married to Margo Reece, co-founder of Oblivion
Deacon McCoy: Oblivion’s bass guitarist
Married to Harper Pruitt, daughter Alexa Grace, co-founder of Oblivion
William ‘Snake’ Scotsman*: Oblivion ex-drummer
Son Axl with Chloe Adams, co-founder of Oblivion
Jazz Edwards: Oblivion drummer
Sister Molly McIntire, married to Gray Duffy, son Dylan Edward and daughter Briana
Gray Duffy: Oblivion rhythm guitarist
Married to Jazz Edwards, son Dylan Edward and daughter Briana
Margo Reece: Oblivion violinist
Sister Juliet Reece, married to Simon Kagan
Lila Shawcross: Ripper Records executive and Oblivion’s manager
Married to Nick Crandall, daughters Charlie and Avery, stepmother to Michael and Malachi Shawcross
Donovan Lewis: Ripper Records CEO
Chloe Adams: Waitress
Married to Michael Shawcross, son Axl (Bio-father Snake Scotsman) and daughter Hope
Michael Shawcross: Warning Sign guitarist
Brother Malachi Shawcross, married to Chloe Adams, daughter Hope
Juliet Reece: Warning Sign bass guitarist
Sister Margo Reece, in a relationship with Randy Pruitt* and Tristan Eves, son Joshua Randall
Randy Pruitt*: Warning Sign roadie/lighting tech
Sister Harper Pruitt, in a relationship with Juliet Reece and Tristan Eves, son Joshua Randall
Tristan Eves: Head chef at The Hollow
In a relationship with Juliet Reece & Randy Pruitt*, son Joshua Randal, best friends with Hunter Jordan from Hammered
West Reynolds: Warning Sign keyboardist
In a relationship with Lauren Bryant, daughter Chloe (isn’t in her life)
Lauren ‘Lo’ Bryant: Author
In a relationship with West Reynolds, best friends with Ethan Haywood
Denver Casey (nee: Casey Lewis): Tour bus driver for Rebel Rage and Warning Sign
Donovan Lewis’s niece, married to Ryan Waters
Ryan Waters: Warning Sign jack-of-all-trades
Married to Denver Casey
Ethan Haywood: Professor at UCLA
In a relationship with Molly McIntire & Luc Moreau, best friends with Lauren Bryant
Luc Moreau: Warning Sign co-lead singer
In a relationship with Molly McIntire & Ethan Haywood, former lead singer for The Grunge
Molly McIntire: Warning Sign lead singer
Sister Jazz Edwards, in a relationship with Ethan Haywood & Luc Moreau
Malachi Shawcross: Warning Sign drummer
Brother Michael Shawcross, engaged to Elle ‘Ricki’ Crandall
Ricki ‘Elle’ Crandall: Warning Sign guitarist
Twin sister to Nick Crandall, engaged to Malachi Shawcross
Hunter Jordan: Hammered lead singer
Brother Noah Jordan, married to Kennedy McManus
Kennedy McManus: Publicist for Hammered
Married to Hunter Jordan
Reed ‘Bats’ Mason: Hammered lead guitarist
Zachary Kane: Hammered rhythm guitarist
Indiana West: Hammered band manager
Victoria Sheer: Actress/Model
involved with Reed Mason, ex-girlfriend Hunter Jordan
Faith ‘Keys’ Keystone: Hammered keyboardist
Married to Quinn Alexander
Quinn Alexander: Roth Defense specialist, former Navy Seal
Married to Faith Keystone, best friends with Noah Jordan
Callie Templeton: Photographer
Sister Ava Templeton, married to Owen Blackwell, daughter Lily
Owen Blackwell: Hammered bass guitarist
Married to Callie Templeton, daughter Lily
Hudson Wyatt: Hammered drummer, former Formula 1 race car driver
In a relationship with Piper Lockwood
Piper Lockwood: Owns Rosie & Hank’s Pussy Palace Café
In a relationship with Hudson Wyatt
Dex Munroe: Ripper Records Executive, manager for Hammered and Warning Sign
Ava Templeton: Blogger, runs Hammered website and blog, writing book on Hammered
Sister Callie Templeton
Ian Kagan: Solo artist
Brother Simon Kagan, involved with Zoe Manning
Zoe Manning: Artist/photographer
Cousin Lila Shawcross Crandall, involved with Ian Kagan
Bent: security for J Town, JoEllen Foundation
Lindsey York: Brooklyn Dawn lead singer
Jamison DuCaine: Brooklyn Dawn lead guitarist
Teagan Daly: Brooklyn Dawn keyboards/sax
High school friends with Ricki ‘Elle’ Crandall
Cooper Dallas: Brooklyn Dawn drummer
Zane Landry: Brooklyn Dawn rhythm guitarist
Oz Taylor: Brooklyn Dawn bass guitarist
Alexander Nash: Record producer
Friends with Logan King
Roman: Clothing Designer
Noah Jordan: Roth Defense specialist
Brother Hunter Jordan, best friends with Quinn Alexander
Flynn Sheppard: Solo country rock artist
Friends with Luc Moreau, friends with Ian Kagan
Sabrina Price: Ripper Records executive who manages Ian Kagan
Johnny Cage: Rebel Rage lead singer and solo artist
Involved with Evie Pierce
Evie Pierce: MMA fighter
Brother Sutton Pierce, friends with Lindsey York and Jamison DuCaine, involved with Johnny Cage
Logan King: All the King’s Men lead singer
Married to Isabella Grace, daughter Nichole King
Isabella Grace: Bookstore owner in Winchester Falls
Married to Logan King, daughter Nichole King
Aidan Roth: Roth Defense CEO and head security detail for Warning Sign
Brother Marcus Roth
Marcus Roth: Roth Defense CEO
Brother Aidan Roth
Have you read all the books in our Oblivion Series? Each book can be read as a standalone, but to enjoy the series the way we intended, this is the reading order.
Lost in Oblivion
Seduced (prequel)
Rocked
Rock, Rattle & Roll
Twisted
Untwisted
Destroyed
Consumed
Committed
Shattered
Fused
Owned
Lost in Oblivion Holiday Stories