Free No Holding Back by Amanda Dresden Page A

he loved him like a brother.
    Throughout their performance , Wade looked back at Chris who was clearly lost in her drums. Her hands were a blurring whirlwind of smashing hits and strikes against the cymbals and toms. She did a damn fine job disguising her looks, but he knew that underneath all the layers of clothing, she had to be a sweaty mess by now, but if she was uncomfortable in anyway, she didn’t show it. He knew most drummers wore next to nothing thanks to the exercise they put themselves through. Even Hess went topless on all Heretics’ shows, but Wade knew that it was impossible for Chris. Regardless, to Wade, she beat the hell out of the drum set and looked like she was having the time of her life.
    She may have wowed him at the audition, but putting everything on the line right up to the concert hour was something Wade wouldn’t have done for just anyone, but he knew Chris was different. He was relieved that Heretic’s numerous special effects and lighting didn’t seem to bother her one bit or interrupt her concentration. Thankfully, he owed it all to his gut instinct.
    This was Heretic.
    It was nearing midnight when Wade tore through the lyrics of their last song and by then, a gigantic mosh pit was already pushing exhausted security to the edge. As Wade made motions to dismiss himself and Heretic from the stage, he thought he heard a familiar chant rising from the audience. He cupped his hand to his ear and what he heard made him smile.
    “Live Dead! Live Dead! Live Dead! Live Dead!”
    Wade’s head fell back and he laughed drunkenly to himself before he brought the microphone to his face again.
    “So, it’s like that , is it?”
    More chanting. More raving. More lunacy.
    “You think we go around playing our most bad ass song for just anyone ?”
    Wade smiled when the chant grew louder and louder until soon, thousands of voices molded into one single unifying chant.
    “LIVE DEAD! LIVE DEAD! LIVE DEAD! LIVE DEAD!”
    Wade threw his infamous evil smirk in response to their cries and fanned his arms as wide as he could open them. Then, he swung around to face Chris. From under her hoodie, she locked eyes with him and already, she could feel his ruthless stare. Despite the sweat that ran down her back soaking her through her t-shirt, his looks alone gave her the chills and it didn’t take long to know what was happening.
    Wade was gauging her.
    He had a bond with Heretic - an invisible chain that all band members shared with one another, but that took time. But for some reason, Wade could feel connection forming with Chris and it caught him off guard. He knew it took years for new members to connect with their new homes, but Wade stood there dumfounded. She knew exactly what she was thinking and Wade could read her reaction just as easily.
    He wanted her to play Live Dead just as bad as she did.
    Wade remembered her stunning performance and the way she played their most difficult song at the audition. He knew she ached for it, but a small part of him told him it was too soon. 
    His gut said otherwise.
    Ultimately, he knew the decision belonged to Chris and to Chris alone.
    Wade saw her confident expression as clear as day and it was his turn to feel her burning stare. She nodded and it was settled.
    “You want it?” Wade purred. “You got it!”
    Wade adjusted his guitar once more around his sore neck and heard it crack as he moved it in a circular motion. He looked to Chris one more time and watched as she spun her sticks around so fast in her fingers they were a blur when suddenly, she threw them both high into the air.
    Wade froze watching the delicate pieces of wood go up and do somersaults in the air. A fleeting moment of panic gripped him when he thought of what would happen if she didn’t catch them – subjecting Heretic to ridicule so soon after Hess. But she remained eerily calm as they fell back down to earth and into her hands.
    While the crowd screamed unabated, Wade ’s stomach did