Fitzwilliam Darcy, Rock Star Read Online Free PDF

from the band?” Alex asked.
    “They will be expected to perform a thirty-minute set at the start of each show. Generally that would work out to be six songs. They will also be expected to participate in any promotions that are done for the shows.”
    Alex bristled inside but was careful not to let it show. He had been managing bands for ten years, and he knew how many songs were in a thirty-minute set. He pushed his annoyance down. This was far too important a deal to lose his temper over.
    As Caroline continued selling her deal, Darcy, Bingley, and Richard stood together, talking softly.
    “Do you really think they can do it?” Richard asked.
    “What choice do we have?” Darcy said blackly. “They can play and they’re available.”
    “I think they are wonderful,” Charles objected.
    “You think the girl is wonderful, Charles.”
    “Isn’t she gorgeous?” he asked, not perceiving the acid in Darcy’s tone.
    Elizabeth was carrying her instrument cases to her truck, oblivious to the negotiations as she passed by. Then she heard Darcy’s voice rise above the murmur, catching her attention.
    “Let me make this clear to both of you. If these girls come with us, they’re there to play. They are not going to be anyone’s personal playthings, got me?”
    “Darcy!” Charles replied, his voice echoing the shock Elizabeth felt.
    “No, Charles! Listen, these girls are just starting out. They’re not prepared for what’s going to happen to them. Christ! They don’t even have people to set up and break down the stage for them.
    “When they get on this tour, they’re going to get a taste of a completely different world. Once they do, they’ll try to do anything to hang on to it—and that would definitely include us.” His tone was flat and ugly. “So I’m only going to say this once: keep your dicks clean.”
    Elizabeth was shocked beyond words. The breath left her lungs as she was stung by what she had heard. Silently she moved away from the trio and back into the dressing room where Jane and Charlotte were packing and excitedly discussing their visitors.
    “Lizzy!” Charlotte exclaimed upon seeing the flabbergasted look on her face. “What happened?”
    Elizabeth repeated Darcy’s warning verbatim, causing Jane to gasp in shock and Charlotte to swear under her breath.
    Elizabeth just shook her head in amazement, trying to understand why that man would say such an outrageous thing about them. Then the absurdity of it struck her. Elizabeth covered her face, which was quickly getting red, with her hand. “Damn it, they think we’re whores!” she squeaked between her fingers until she could no longer control herself and broke out in laughter. “Charlotte! Don’t you get it? They think we’re morally loose women who are a threat to them! Them! Slurry! The bad boys of rock and roll with the worst reputation in the business and we are going to somehow corrupt them!” She had to stop as her laughter became too strong to continue.
    “Well, you know, we are just so hot! We could totally make them our slaves,” Charlotte took up the charge. “Because, after all, we’re only here for their money!”
    “And their drugs!” Jane piped in loudly. “I don’t know about you, but I want some of those party drugs they are all doing, right?”
    All three of the girls were laughing so hard that they were holding each other up when Alex knocked on their door and asked them to come out. It took them longer than it should have for them to compose themselves, mostly because they would start laughing again whenever anyone made eye contract. Eventually, they regained control and filed out silently.
    The others were all there: Alex and Bill Collins on one side and Caroline, Anne, and Slurry on the other side.
    Elizabeth quickly realized she would not be able to look at Darcy without laughing, so she carefully looked at anything else.
    “Well, ladies,” Caroline said brightly, “I’m pleased to say we have