Chapter 67 Fallen God 22

Chapter 67 Fallen God 22

Dion

“That was fucking...” Tearing the headphones from my ears to dangle around my neck, I beamed a wide smile around at the others, who answered it with nods of agreement. I didn't need to finish the sentence because we all felt it.

That was good. Really, fucking good.

The best take we had done yet, and we had only been in the studio for a few hours. Sometimes it just happened like that. Everything just clicked into place.

And that's what had just happened.

Yes, the song was good. The lyrics were some of the best I'd ever written and coupled with the music they had crafted, it felt polished, ready to go. Perfect. If any such thing ever existed in our world.

Maybe perfect wasn't the right word, but it felt good.

If the other songs we were laying down went as well as this one had, then we would record our next album in record time.

Not that I was under any illusion that all of them would go as smoothly.

“What do you think, Erik?”

Erik, as always, was hanging around. Sometimes I didn't have a clue what he did that warranted him being paid a shit ton of money, but he was the glue that held us together. Anyway, it didn't really matter to me how much he made from us. Without Erik, there would be no Dionysus Rising. He cleaned up more shit than I could ever possibly know. Mostly mine of late, but the others had given him their fair share of crap to take care of. And there was always a look on his face when he was dealing with trouble.

He had that look on his face now as he hovered in the studio door. His phone was pressed to his ear and a frown caused his eyebrows to pinch together. He was massaging the line there almost like he had a migraine.

“What’s happened now?” Slowly, Tate placed the bass down, propping it up against the wall like it was as fragile as a newborn baby. He sounded bored, but then, weren't we all? So much shit had happened in the last year, even by our standards, that we were all fed up with it. We just wanted to make music now – to finish the album so we could have some time off over Christmas and new year before we were thrust back into the spotlight for the promotional album tour.

At least that's what I wanted. Living with Lola had shown me the one thing I was missing in my life: normalcy. I wanted to make music; I always would, but I wanted a home as well. A home that was full of smiles and laughter and, well, her.

I wanted Lola to live with me in my place that I was hoping would soon be our place. Bunking with her at Elodie's was fine, but it wasn’t permanent and we both knew it. Maybe that's why I had done what I had.

Erik's eyebrows twitched, his eyes finding Jax first. A silent message went between them.

“If it's Isla, I'm going to personally tell her where to go,” Tate said, oblivious as the silent back and forth between Jax and Erik continued.

“It's not Isla, not this time, anyway. I do have news about her, although it can wait for now. It’s–” His eyes met mine.

“Is Lola ok?” Louis asked before I could get the words out.

“She's fine. The press ambushed them outside a coffee shop and she got a little hurt.”

My heart flip–flopped in my chest. She had got a little hurt? Shit.

“Elodie is with her and checking her over,” Erik continued, his eyes never leaving mine. “It's nothing, Dion, she just–”

Ignoring him totally, I pushed my way out of the room and headed down the corridor. It should have been deserted, but for some reason, it was full of people. All of them were looking at me, trying to get a glimpse of the infamous playboy rushing off to a woman. Maybe that was all in my imagination, I didn't know. I didn't really care as long as they got out of my way.

“Where is she, Erik?” I called out over my shoulder. I didn't care who heard or saw my panic. If Lola was hurt because of my stupid stunt, I would never forgive myself.

“Ladies.” He didn't make a move to stop me. He knew better than to get in my way when my mind was made up. And it was well and truly made up about Lola.

Pushing my way into the toilets, I paused taking in the scene unfolding in front of me. Elodie had her back to the door, shielding my view of Lola but I could see her ankle and foot clearly because it was being held in Chance's lap. His fingers were probing over her skin.

Elodie turned. “Dion?”

“Erik told me Lola got hurt?”

Stepping away, Elodie finally let me see Lola for the first time. She was leaning heavily on the sink. Her hair had been flattened by her hat which was clutched in her hand. Her smile was dazzling when she saw me. There wasn't an ounce of pain on her face.

“Hey you.”

“Hey.” Eyeing her from the top of her head to the bare foot still pressed into Chance's lap, I took stock of her. She looked fine. “You ok?”

“Yeah, I'm fine. Everyone is making a fuss for no reason. I slipped, that's all.”

“Where was your security?” Anger made my voice lower.

Lola's eyes widened. “He was right with us. It wasn't his fault.”

“Maybe not.” I let my eyes settle on Chance. The big man looked indifferent, but nodded his head.

“I'll find someone else for her,” he said.

“So, what's the damage?” I asked, changing the subject before things got awkward.

“Just a twisted ankle. Some ice and rest for a little while and she will be fine.” Tapping Lola's knees, he heaved himself to his feet. “No more ice skating tricks for the press, you hear me, Lola?”

She smiled at him in her soft Lola way. “Yes, boss. And tell Rake thanks for the pick up.”

“Rake?” Chance and I parroted together. I threw him a look, and he shrugged.

“Her security,” Elodie chimed in. “We didn't catch his name, so we gave him one.”

Chance boomed out a laugh. “I'll tell the others. It will probably stick. It suits him.”

“He picked you up?”

Lola's smile slipped a little. “Yeah, he was really good.”

“He shouldn't have let you fall in the first place, Lola. His job is to protect you.”

“From ice?” One blonde eyebrow disappeared into her hairline. “It's not his fault I'm clumsy.”

I stared at her in silence. She looked pissed. Angry at me. And I wasn't sure why.

“Could you guys excuse us?” Lola said sweetly, but I wasn't fooled. The look on her face differed so much from her tone that I knew I was going to get an ear bashing the second the door was shut.

“Yeah, of course. There's ice right there.” Elodie pointed to the sink next to the one that Lola was leaning on. “But she probably should head home or something and keep it raised for a while.”

“I'll take her home myself,” I said, and Lola scowled at me.

“I don't want Rake fired because I fell over,” she said the moment the door banged closed.

“He's not being fired, Lola, he's being moved. I want someone more experienced shadowing you.” Moving towards her, I waited for the smiles she always threw my way when I walked towards her. They didn't come.

“Maybe I don't want anyone shadowing me, Dion.”

“Well, that's not really your choice to make right now.”

“Elodie doesn't have someone with her all the time,” she countered.

“No, she doesn't, but you aren’t Elodie.”

“I didn't ask for this shit, Dion. I don't need security…hey, what are you doing?”

Ignoring her, I reached past, my fingers scooping up the ice next to her, but I didn't move straight away. I kept my arms on either side of her, trapping her against the countertop and sinks.

“How badly did you fall?”

“I took a tumble onto my ass and…” she blew out a breath as I took her earlobe into my mouth. “It doesn't even hurt that badly. Everyone is just being silly and ohhhh.” She moaned softly.

“You can put weight on it?”

“Yes.”

“Good.” I chuckled, popping the button of her jeans open. “That's good.”