The Strip Read Online Free PDF Page B

the warehouse. Gabriel Phelan owned four of the casinos on the strip on Las Vegas. One was a daring, brand new high-rise that split the Nevada sky with its shimmering metal and glass; and that was the one that he wanted Black Squirrel to play in for the next six months. It boasted a tri-level club on the first floor with enough room for three thousand revelers. The band's platform was immense and the backstage was incredibly well stocked.
    He'd given them rights to decorate however they chose. He would foot the bill. Not only was he paying for their set up, but he was paying for their room and board within the hotel. He was paying them a sizeable salary, to boot.
    It was a dream come true for them all. There was just one problem. Claire couldn't shake the feeling that something about this entire deal was not right. It was simply too good to be true.
    There was a strange feeling uncoiling in the pit of her stomach. Lately, her skin had been flushing hot and cold. Her chest had felt unnaturally tight and her heart had been skipping beats.
    She knew she was either having panic attacks or mini heart attacks. And since she was in good shape and ate well and was fairly young, she was betting on the former.
    Not getting enough sleep undoubtedly played into it to some extent. She'd been having the same recurring dreams for months now. They involved a man with piercing blue eyes that terrified her, another man with stark green eyes that melted her insides, and a horrific, nightmarish mad dash through the woods in an attempt to escape a beast that gained on her a little more with each passing moon. The dreams were draining her strength and stealing her concentration.
    Claire sighed as she glanced down at the rack and the toms in front of her. She needed new drum skins. Badly. She'd beat these ones to their last layer.
    "You need new skins, girl."
    Claire glanced up to see Roman watching her from where he was setting up his own equipment a few yards away. It was as if he'd read her thoughts. She wasn't surprised. She sometimes wore her thoughts on her sleeve.
    "And now you can afford them," he added with a single nod and a smile. She knew what he was getting at. He wanted her to be happy about their new gig. And he was right. With the pay that Phelan was giving them now, they could all afford new equipment. They could afford a lot of things.
    "Not if she donates her paychecks to some spaying and neutering charity again," Mary Jane retorted. "I swear to god, Charlie, if you give all of your money away this time around, I'm telling Jessie on you."
    Claire smiled at that. "Please do."
    Mary Jane glanced up from where she'd been tuning her bass and pinned Claire to the spot with her mascara'd gaze. "Girl, you are all kinds of wayward, you know that?" Her red lips spread into a knowing smile.
    Just then, Claire's back pack began to play Beethoven. She left her kit and went to the bag, which was sitting against the wall. She pulled her phone out of its front pocket and flipped it open, as usual forgetting to check the number first.
    "Two-talk," A voice said.
    Claire blinked. "What?” she asked, her brow furrowed.
    "Two-talk, Charlie. It's two little buttons. You can't push two little buttons to let me know you're alive?"
    Claire let out a breath. It was Jessie. She'd forgotten to call him when the plane had landed. She'd been having a minor panic attack at the time and all she'd been able to think about was whether or not she wanted the beer that Roman was offering to buy her at the first bar they came across in the airport.
    She'd opted against it, knowing it would wear off just in time for her to have to practice with a hangover. That was three hours ago.
    "Jess, I'm so sorry."
    "I know, girl. That's why we call you Charlie," Jessie said grudgingly. She could hear the exasperation in his tone, but she could also hear that he'd already forgiven her. "So, how is everything going so far. Kosher?"
    "So far, so good," Claire nodded. "We're just