Free Blush by Anne Mercier Page A

She knows what it means. Her nostrils are flaring, her fists
are clenched, and then a couple really hot guys come walking over
asking for autographs. Childish, I'm sure, but two can play this
game.
    We're laughing and flirting as I sign their
CD's. One of the guys is going to come to our concert in L.A. when
we get back there and wants me to sign his arm so he can have my
name tattooed. Pretty cool. And he's going to have Harley do the
work.
    I'm enjoying talking to both the male and
female fans that have surrounded us for autographs and conversation
when my dad comes over muttering Italian curse words under his
breath. I'm about to ask him what's wrong when I hear Welcome to
the Jungle by Guns N' Roses start blaring from somewhere.
    We all turn to look and Xander's over there
grinning like a loon while my mom is barreling down on the groupie
whores.
    “Oh, this is going to be freaking awesome,“
Sera says as we head over there.
    “Oh boy.“
    “I love Mama Russo,“ Meggie tells me with a
bounce.
    Jesse's raking a hand through his hair.
Uncomfortable? Good. Asshole. Indulging the skanks. If I wasn't
here, he'd probably be fucking them right now. Bastard.
    I stand next to my mother, hands on my hips
mirroring her position, Sera and Meggie on the other side. Jace and
the guys are standing over by Xander, smirking while Jesse
struggles.
    “Just who do you think you're talking to old
woman?“ Blondie says.
    “Oh no she did not!“ Meggie screeches.
    “Oh hell,“ Xander chuckles. “It's on like
Donkey Kong.“ He messes with his phone and This Means War by
Avenged Sevenfold starts blasting. I nearly laugh when mama looks
over to X with approval.
    “Who am I? Who am I ? I'll tell you who
I am, little girl,“ she sneers, advancing on the blonde and her
friend. “I am Regina Russo. I am this man's,“ she says with a sneer
at Jesse (go mama), “mother-in-law and if you think I'm going to
allow you to continue to grope a married man, my daughter's
husband, you're sadly mistaken.“
    Blondie opens her mouth to speak and mama
points her well-manicured nail in her face. “I don't know what it
is you think you're going to accomplish by trapping this man in a
position he's clearly not comfortable with—“
    Blondie cuts her off. “Oh, he's plenty
comfortable. In fact, he's hard as a rock right now.“
    Mama sneers.
    “I've been hard since Blush—since my wife went on stage,“ Jesse corrects.
    “Hell yeah,“ Xander adds. “We all were.
They're fucking hot as hell.“
    “Truth,“ Ben says and fist bumps Xander.
    “Hmm. Why didn't Mrs. Kingston come over and
handle this herself?“ the brunette asks cockily.
    “It's Russo-Kingston and she can't be
bothered to deal with any of you skanky bitches. You can try to get
your filthy claws into Jesse, but she knows who he's going home to
and it sure as hell isn't you!“ Sera sneers.
    “That's okay. I've gone home with him
before,“ Blondie adds with a smirk.
    Wow. I didn't see that one coming. I want
nothing more than to turn and run in the opposite direction but I
won't give this chick the satisfaction and I definitely will not be
giving Jesse the satisfaction of looking in his direction. Right
now there's just too much hurt, anger, and too many other emotions
running through me to be near him.
    Face to the Floor by Chevelle starts
playing and I nod my approval to Xander.
    “In the fuck 'em and chuck 'em wing. Honey,
you act as if that makes you special. How many have been in that
wing, do you think? Oh well, it doesn't really matter. You were
nothing but a plaything for these guys to get off with. That's it.
You never got past the starting line. You see, me? The first time I
was at Casa Falling Down? I was in his real bed. I got the code to
the locks, inside and outside of the house. All in one weekend. Oh,
did I say weekend? I did. You got what? A couple hours?“ At this
point Blondie's smirk has fallen, both her and the brunette's faces
are pale and drawn