Chapter 5

The plane landed at one-forty in the afternoon, and Azure stretched her legs as she got off. It had left on time, and she hadn’t been delayed boarding by an emotionally overwrought scene at the airport. Her friends had told her goodbye last night at a small get together, and it was Darius who dropped her at the airport earlier.

Azure was in the middle of the group of departing passengers, so it took her a while to merge into the terminal. She saw Mathias almost immediately, standing by a window with his hand raised. The sunlight glinted off his dark blond hair, painting strands of it a liquid gold.

He approached her with a smile and took her carry-on. “Is there more luggage?”

Azure shook her head. “That’s all I had.” It was the clothing that she had purchased by borrowing money from the Kirshners.

“How was your flight?” He placed a friendly hand on her back to lead her out of the building and avoid losing her in the crowd.

Azure stiffened at the light contact. “It was okay.” She had never flown before, so she had no basis of comparison.

He nodded and led her to silver Porsche parked in short-term parking. “Have a seat.”

Azure slid into the passenger seat, breathing in the smell of freshly treated leather. “It’s beautiful.” She ran a hand across the supple leather of the dashboard.

“Thanks,” he said, pulling out of the lot and stopping for the line at the exit booths. “Maybe you’d like to borrow it sometime?”

Azure gasped and shook her head. “I don’t know how to drive, but if I did, I couldn’t possibly borrow your car. What if I wrecked it?”

“It can be replaced.” He looked unconcerned as they merged onto the road.

Azure’s mouth fell open as she tried to absorb all the sights that met her as they left LAX. There were huge buildings pointing into the sky, heavy traffic, bustling people, and a thick layer of smog that made her want to choke when she was out in it.

“We’ll have to make sure you learn to drive.” Mathias seemed amused by her rapt expression. “First time to L.A.?”

“First time anywhere.” Azure blushed at the gauche admission. “Or at least that I recall. I was told that my parents traveled everywhere, but I can’t remember any of the places we visited.” She could vaguely remember an old motor home they had driven from place to place. It had been cold in the winter and hot in the summer, but Azure had warm, if fuzzy, memories of it just the same.

“I wish there was going to be some time for you to go sightseeing, but these next three weeks are going to be hectic.” Mathias sighed.

“What am I going to be doing?”

Mathias merged into a narrow opening in traffic before answering. “I’ve hired you a professional voice coach, who will be working with you three hours a day every day. In between that, we have to fit in practices with the band, an image consultation, time for you to memorize the lyrics, and house hunting.”

Azure ducked her head. “I don’t have any money, Mat. How am I going to pay for all that?” It was a question that had nagged her constantly for the last two weeks, as the date of her departure loomed ever closer.

“You’ll be getting some money as an advance when you sign the contract,” said Mathias. “A portion of your part of the royalties will go to repay the advance, but you’ll still have a very nice income left over.”

Azure nodded. “Where am I staying until I sign the contract?” She literally had no money, except maybe thirty-five cents. She couldn’t afford a hotel. Late into the night last night, she had wrestled with her decision, circling again and again around the idea of pleading for Brigette’s forgiveness. In the end, she had forced herself to get on the plane without any real idea of what her future would be, knowing she couldn’t let this opportunity pass her by.

“I thought you’d stay with us.”

“Us?” asked Azure, licking her dry lips.

“Dante and I still live with our mother. It’s more convenient for the little time we spend in L.A. We each have our own wing in the house, and we’ll assign one for you,” he explained. “In fact, we’re heading home now so you can meet Mom.”

Azure nodded and leaned back in the luxurious seat. “That sounds fine for now.” Staying in the same house with Dante? Sleeping in the same house as Dante Starr? No way. She discreetly pinched her arm, relieved to feel a flash of pain. It wasn’t just a dream.

Mathias turned down another street and they were soon heading into a very rich neighborhood. He pulled the Porsche into an elegant driveway and parked it in the garage. They entered through the kitchen and he led her straight through the house, giving her a tour as they went. It was a large and sprawling home, tastefully decorated mainly in shades of white and silver, but Azure found it to be a little too cold for her taste. If she really did get to choose a place of her own, she was going to decorate it with bright colors and cheerful pictures.

Mathias led her out of the house to a balcony adjoining a huge backyard. She could see three people working in the gardens nearby and a woman lying on chaise lounge, reading a novel. She looked up at them and removed the large sunglasses that had partly obscured her face.

Azure caught her breath at her first glimpse of the woman she assumed to be Mathias’s mother. She was old enough, Azure was sure, but she didn’t look a day past forty. Her skin was still youthful, and the few lines were miniscule, not yet deepening to creases. Her hair was still a soft shade of blond, the shade of Finn’s hair, and her green eyes were bright and full of laughter. The figure revealed by the modest sea-green one piece was lithe and firm.

She stood up and smiled warmly at Azure. “You must be our little Azure.” She took Azure’s hand, squeezing gently.

Swallowing nervously, Azure nodded. “I’m Azure Wilkins.”

“What a small voice you have, my dear,” she said, but not in a mean way. “We’ll have to work on that if you expect to be heard over my sons. They can get quite…vocal…at times.” She laughed. “Well, don’t just stand there, Mat. Introduce us properly.”

Pink bloomed in Mathias’s cheeks. “Azure, this is my mother, Ava Starr. Mom, this is Azure Wilkins.”

“Nice to meet you,” Azure murmured awkwardly.

“Likewise. Mat tells me you’ll be staying with us for a while?”

Azure bit her lip. “If that’s not convenient…”

Ava laughed. “Heavens, Azure. Look at this place. I have enough room to house every member of the band plus their road crew. You’re more than welcome to stay with me as long as you need to.”

Her warm acceptance made Azure want to cry for some reason, and she swallowed the lump in her throat. “Thank you, Mrs. Starr.”

“Call me, Ava.” She touched Azure’s shoulder. “Now, let’s get you settled in. I think I’ll give you the green room. Green seems to suit you.” Azure wore a green sundress that Brandy had selected for her. “I can see you surrounded by growing things. Do you like gardens?”

Azure nodded. “I love gardens. My grandmother kept a garden for a time, until it became too much trouble for her.” Azure suspected the real reason Brigette had allowed the garden to wither was because she had known of the joy Azure felt surrounded by greenery.

“Hmm,” said Ava, leading Azure into the house. They climbed a wide set of stairs, three times wider than standard and covered with thick white carpet, inches deep. “It’s right this way. You’ll be very near Mat if you need anything.”

“Thanks,” said Azure as Ava opened the door to her room and led her inside. It was a veritable paradise. The moss-green carpet extended from wall to wall. If possible, it was even deeper than the carpet on the stairs. A huge four-post bed, covered with a hunter green spread, dominated the room. Furniture was an armoire, dresser, and vanity table with a cushioned chair. A huge mirror perched above the vanity table, and could be turned on with the flick of a switch, illuminating the area. “It’s wonderful. Thank you so much.” She would be staying here? For a moment, her old room seemed superimposed over the new suite, but she blinked the thought away.

“We’ll leave you to settle in,” said Ava, heading for the door.

Mathias lingered for a moment. “I hate to throw you in the middle of everything so soon, but Dori, your voice coach, is coming at three for your first lesson. At seven-thirty, the band is hosting a little party to get to know you. Then early tomorrow morning, you have an appointment with Roseaux Fleuers.”

“What’s a Rose-o Flew-ears?” Azure repeated clumsily.

Mathias chuckled. “He’s a highly sought-after image consultant, and it was only by practically begging that I got him to meet with you tomorrow instead of September.”

Azure glanced at her watch, noting she had twenty minutes. “I’ll be down shortly.” As soon as he left, she threw herself across the bed and giggled in delight. The mattress was soft and cushy, and the coverlet was silky to the touch. She bounced up and down a couple of times before gaining her feet and going into the en suite bathroom.

She gasped once more with pleasure when she saw a sunk-in Jacuzzi tub that took up one-third of the room. The tub was marbled dark green with white porcelain taps. The toilet and counters were also a marbled green, and the tile was green and gold swirled together. Fluffy towels were stacked high on a wicker shelf, along with a multitude of bath products from which to choose. Azure longed to crawl into the tub but knew she couldn’t make herself leave it and be downstairs in just twenty minutes. “Tonight,” she promised herself before returning to the bedroom to unpack her bags.

After freshening up with a quick face wash and running a brush through her long hair, Azure went downstairs and found Mathias waiting for her.

“Dori is here. I’ll show you where the studio is.”

Azure followed him through the maze of the house until he brought her into a studio, filled with musical instruments, electronic equipment, and a sound stage.

A tall woman with short brown hair waited for them. “Three minutes late,” she said, disapproving. She eyed Azure critically. “Say something.” Her rough voice held a light Russian accent.

Azure’s voice disappeared at the command. She opened her mouth much like a fish, but no sound emerged. Dori sighed and rolled her eyes. “Repeat after me. I’m going to be a superstar.”

“I’m going to be a superstar.” Azure shifted with discomfort, wanting to laugh at the ridiculous statement, but fearing Dori’s reaction.

“Not with that timid little squeak,” Dori snapped. “Stand up straight and project your voice from your diaphragm.”

Azure did as instructed. “I want to be a superstar.” That was better, wasn’t it?

Dori shook her head, quietly tsking her tongue. “Now sing the scales for me.”

Azure did her best to comply, trying to remember to project from her diaphragm. Her tongue felt thick, and she knew she hadn’t hit the right octaves.

Mathias smiled at her encouragingly as Dori slashed the air with her hand. “Enough. We will have our work cut out for us,” she said, sounding disgusted. “The scales again.”

Azure tried again, suppressing a sigh as failed to hit the right notes again.

“That was much better,” said Mathias when she had finished.

Dori snorted. “Do not give false hope, Mathias. It is dismal compared to what she could do. Because you’re a good friend, I will work with what you give me, but I cannot guarantee anything.” She eyed Azure with distaste. “Again.”

After three hours of torture, Dori finally dismissed Azure. Twice she had burst into tears at Dori’s harsh treatment, but the woman was inflexible. Mathias tried to intercede the first time, and Dori sent him away. She had continued to abuse Azure’s ego and vocal cords in private for the next hour and a half. “Be here at three sharp tomorrow,” had been her parting words, and Azure gladly dragged herself upstairs, where she threw herself across the bed. Would it be impolite the hide in her room for the next few years?

She toyed with the idea of asking for a dinner tray before remembering the party tonight. With a sigh, she heaved herself from the bed and trudged into the bathroom, where she ran a bath. Azure soaked in the tub for nearly an hour before stepping onto the soft green bathmat. She dried off with a fluffy towel and wrapped it around herself, sarong-style. With another towel, she dried her hair in the bedroom in front of the lighted make-up mirror and brushed out the curls. Eying herself critically, she wished she had some skill with makeup so she could put the mirror to good use but didn’t own anything except lip gloss that wasn’t even colored.

She gave up on the prospect and returned to her bedroom to dress in a pair of new jeans and a black crop t-shirt that featured a large daisy across the chest. She felt over-exposed in the get-up, but Brandy had assured her she looked terrific. With a sigh of defeat, Azure left her room and went downstairs to find Mathias.

Instead, she found Dante in the drawing room, sipping something golden from a cut crystal glass. “Hi.” She smoothed a hand through her flyaway strawberry-blond locks. She flicked out her tongue to moisten dry lips and succeeded only in removing the clear lip gloss.

Dante nodded. “Drink?” His voice was like fine scotch—smooth, with a touch of roughness.

“No, thanks.” She settled in a white wing-back, wondering what she could possibly say to this man who was more than a man. He wasn’t a god, but perhaps demigod was the right word. She didn’t remember enough of mythology to be certain. She blinked away her foolish thoughts when she realized he was frowning at her.

“Settling in?” he asked again, taking a seat in the chair adjacent to her. He studied the light on the crystal as if searching for the meaning of life in the contents of the glass.

“Yes,” she said, not sure how to expound. “Mrs. St…Ava gave me the green room.”

He nodded. “Mom always tries to pair her guests with their colors. You seem like the kind of girl who belongs there,” he said cryptically.

His comment didn’t sound warm and friendly like Ava’s, but Azure could think of no reason why he would deliberately insult her.

“How was Dori?”

Azure didn’t want to be rude about the other woman, so she gnawed on her lip, searching for an answer. “The lesson was difficult.”

Dante laughed. “She’s a real bitch, but she’s the best. If anyone can improve on your voice, it’s her.”

Azure squirmed uncomfortably, still not knowing how to take the remark, so she remained silent.

“Have you had any training before?”

“Just a year of choir, but it was conflicting with a class my grandmother wanted me to take.”

He grimaced. “Do you always do what the old biddy wants?”

Azure leaned forward slightly. “I’m here, aren’t I?”

Dante slid his eyes from the top of her head to the bottom of her sneakers and lifted his glass to her. “Yes, you’re, and it would take someone less observant than me to miss it.”

“What?” Her eyes reflected confusion as Mathias joined them. Dante didn’t explain, and Mathias didn’t seem to notice anything amiss.

“Are you both ready?”

“Where are we going?” She knew about the party but had no idea where it was being held.

Hesitating slightly, Mathias finally said, “Jada’s condo. She was gracious enough to host this party.”

Dante laughed, a harsh, grating sound. “Gracious, my ass,” he said under his breath as he rose.

Azure accidentally noticed how tight his leather pants fit across his buttocks and heat rose in her face.

“Let’s get it over with,” he said, tossing back the rest of the contents of his glass. “You have to drive, Mathias, because I’ve had too much already.”

“Fortifying yourself?”

Dante raised a brow but didn’t answer his brother’s question.

With a shrug, Mathias fished the keys from his pocket. “I thought we’d take the Mercedes, so no one has to feel crowded.” They followed him to the black Mercedes, where Azure took the back seat.

After battling their way through traffic for nearly an hour, Mathias finally parked the Mercedes in the driveway of a condo that sat on the beach, not more than one hundred yards from the tide. Azure got out of the car, feeling very nervous. If she wasn’t imagining things, neither Mathias nor Dante seemed to want to be here, and their negative feelings stirred her own.

They strode up the gravel walkway and Dante rang the bell. The door was opened quickly by a Hispanic maid in a stark black and white uniform. Mathias and Dante seemed to know where they were going, and Azure stayed close to them. Maybe a little too close to Dante, as his scent—cologne and something uniquely him—filled her nose and made her light-headed, in a good way. They emerged from the splendidly decorated hallway into a huge common room where several people were sprawled comfortably across butter-yellow leather furniture.

She saw Jada in person for the first time, and her heart sank. Even if she was half as good as Mathias and Finn said she was, Azure could never hope to take the place of this exotic creature. She was walking toward them, her hips moving just perfectly to accent her figure and slightly bounce her generous breasts. She had a long mane of sleek brown hair, brown skin and black eyes. Her lips were so full that they appeared to be in a constant pout, and her face was practically perfect. She was tall, elegant, beautiful, and confident; nothing that Azure would ever be.

“Dante,” she purred, touching his chest. “Mathias.” Her tone grew chilly. “And this must be the little orphan Azure. Isn’t she precious?”

Azure looked at the other members of the group and took in their expressions. Two of the guys seemed neutral, one guy and the other girl were laughing, and the last guy shook his head before returning to his drink.

“What an outfit,” she commented, sounding less than complimentary.

Azure compared her jeans and T-shirt to Jada’s outfit and admitted she was definitely not on the same level. Jada wore a skin-tight, black suede skirt and a form-fitting red shirt with black slashes. Her nipples showed through the thin material, and the neckline plunged very low. She had completed the outfit with thigh-high leather boots that had five-inch heels and rose to two inches shy of the hem of the skirt. Azure remained silent as Jada eyed her thoroughly.

“I hope Roseaux can help you out, Dante.” She sighed. “He has his work cut out for him, what with all the required improvements.” The smile she gave Azure was less than friendly. “There is lots of room for improvement.”

Azure glared at her but didn’t get a chance to respond as Jada continued.

“I hope you can pull it all together by June Thirtieth. I don’t want her to make me look bad.”

“You do that all by yourself,” said Mathias quietly, but firmly.

With an angry look, Jada shut up and returned to her seat on the couch.

“Let me introduce you to everyone.” He took her hand.

She shivered at the brief contact as he led her into the thick of the group, unaccustomed as she was to touching others.

“This is Denise,” he said, waving to the skinny blond, who wore thick black make-up under her eyes. “Crowley.” The guy who had shaken his head at Jada’s meanness nodded and winked. “Tyler and Donny.” They were both average, with brown hair almost the same shade. “And this is Ringo,” he introduced the last member, who had remained neutral to Jada’s taunts. “He thinks he should have been born in Liverpool in time to hook up with the Beatles.” Mathias lowered his voice to a whisper. “His real name is Ralph, but that’s highly classified.”

“Not anymore,” Ringo said, tossing a cushion at Mathias.

Azure spent the next hour sitting around with the group, not speaking much. Mathias sat beside her in the love seat, while Dante perched on the thickly padded arm. Azure’s heart raced, and she found their proximity disorienting. The brothers literally overwhelmed her. How was she going to survive being around them every day? They made her feel funny inside, in a way that was new and terrifying, but also exciting.

She was relieved when the tense evening finally drew to a close. As they walked to the door, Jada approached them. She kissed Dante deeply on the mouth and patted his cheek before moving on to Mathias. She repeated the kiss, and Azure saw her tongue trace the outline of his lips. With a cruel smile, she turned to Azure and said, “You’ll never replace me.”

“I wouldn’t even try,” said Azure, trying to maintain the peace.

“It would be a waste of time,” Jada assured her. “I’ll always be here in the group, keeping you from fitting in. I may not officially be a part for much longer, but I’ll always be hovering on the fringes. I’ll be haunting your every step into my shadow.”

Azure tried to ignore Jada’s melodramatic statement, but a retort passed her lips without her permission. “I can live with that, Jada, but can you?” She held her head high and marched out of the apartment, wondering why Jada hated her. She had made an enemy of Jada tonight, but she was sure the other girl had already been set against her.

Not for the first time, Azure wondered why Jada was leaving the band. She didn’t think it was completely voluntary, or Jada wouldn’t have made that last remark. Why would she care if Azure replaced her if she was choosing to leave? She wanted to ask Mathias or Dante, but they were both distant with her at that moment. Azure hoped tonight hadn’t set the tone for the future, or she wouldn’t last long with Burning Starr.