Page 27 of The Twisted Beats

For eternity I’ll be swimming in her oceans, breathing her air, drinking from her rivers, and eating from her bountiful earth.

From now until forever, Livianna Hemings is mine, no matter how destructive it turns out to be.

“This is my sister, Livianna.” Bren points at the most captivating girl I’ve ever seen as he hops sideways over the last two stairs that lead into their newly finished made-for-a-band basement.

I’m checking out the grand piano near the corner and the guitars hanging on the wall when Livianna’s eyes grab mineand pull them into her clutches. My heart beats in triple time and the entire room disappears around us.

Reality fades to black. She stands frozen in a spotlight a foot before me like she’s on a stage, wearing cut-off jean shorts and a tight black tank that shows off her luscious tits. My goddess is all I see and I realize right now, I’m a goner.

Bren flips her long, brown ponytail as he passes her by. “Livianna, this is Callum Mayze. We like to call him Callum the cash king Mayze. Cash for short.”

Her breath hitches as her thick, long eyelashes flutter. She visibly shivers even though it’s about ninety degrees out today.

“Hi,” she breathes. She tears her eyes away from mine as her head slowly turns to Bren.

As I try to stop my racing heart, I square my shoulders and straighten myself out to appear taller. I step close to her, way past the appropriate distance I should be, and into the danger zone.

If I’m gonna own the stage and perform for millions, I best be able to handle this beautiful little pipsqueak no matter how much she’s causing my pulse to race.

“I’m gonna call you Lily,” I declare as her sweet cotton-candy-like scent drifts around me.

Fuck, I’m in trouble because I want her to melt like sugar on my tongue right now.

Her ponytail flips as she spins back to me. My chest flicks with heat and zooms between my legs. My teenage hormones are taking over, so I try in vain not to get hard.

“It’sLivianna, not Lilianna.” Her voice is way too seductive for such a young girl, which has me about to burst at the seams.

If I don’t get a hold of myself, I’ll be on the floor kissing her feet. I shift my weight from side to side and adjust my pants.

My gaze pulls her back into a magnetic stare. “I know, but I’m still gonna call you Lily.”

“Do what you will.” She waves it off and sways toward her ma, Lorna. “So why do they call you Cash?”

Lorna is lounging on a contemporary square gray sectional sofa. It’s enormous but still doesn’t make a dent in the room.

I’m trying to figure out what ripped through me and stole my soul, so I’m at a loss for words. Which is ridiculous considering lyrics are my thing.

Bren saves my ass and answers for me. “Because Cash is gonna work us through the money maze and find us the cash, making us rock kings. Simple as that.”

Groans and moans bounce off the walls from Bren’s parents and my uncle, John.

John’s my pops’ brother and our band’s manager. He’s smart and doesn’t take much shit.

“You think that’s bad? Wait until you hear what they call Brendan.” Uncle John emerges from behind the bar on the far side of the wall, swirling some liquid amber in a short glass.

“Brendan, what’s your nickname?” Lorna stands and slinks to her husband, Greg, who just followed us down the stairs.

“Guns.” Bren leans over and plucks his guitar off a clip hanging on the wall.

“Why Guns?” Lorna kisses Greg.

Bren swings the guitar over his back, hanging it there by a black leather strap.

“Have you seen my arms?” He flexes his biceps and everyone except Livianna busts a gut.

As I stare at her, my groin tightens, electricity shreds up my chest, and ropes strangle my heart. I move to the piano, yearning for her as I do.

“Nah, Mr. and Mrs. Hemings. We call him Guns because when he told me his middle name was Brooks, I instantly thought Brendan Brooks is like a BB gun. Because BB doesn’t sound strong enough, I changed it to Guns.” Islide across the black lacquer bench and lift the piano key cover.