Ryder Steel Read online

  Table of Contents

  A Note For The Reader

  Blurb

  Dedication

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Epilogue

  Afterword

  Playlist

  Acknowledgments

  Connect With Me Online

  About The Author – Thia Finn

  here.

  Thia Finn

  Ryder Steel

  By Thia Finn

  Copyright 2018 Thia Finn

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This book contains material protected under the International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author/publisher.

  FILE SHARING:

  Please note that this book is protected under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). It has been made available for your personal use and enjoyment. No permission has been granted to upload this book onto ANY file-sharing websites. Doing so is a violation of federal laws and measures have been taken within this file to track the originator of such shared files, should it be found on piracy sites. Thank you for respecting the hard work of the author to produce this content.

  WARNING: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  Disclaimer: The material in this book contains graphic language, sexual content and drug use and is intended for mature audiences, ages 18 and older.

  ISBN13: 978-0999292341

  Edited by Swish Design & Editing

  Proofreading by Swish Design & Editing

  Book designed and formatted by Swish Design & Editing

  Cover design: Jason Anderson Photography

  Cover photo model: Wander Aguiar

  Cover photographer: Wander Aguiar Photography

  Cover Image Copyright 2018

  If you have not read Assure Her, you need to do so before reading Ryder Steel. While this book is not a sequel, it is a companion to the original story and requires you to know the sequence of events leading to Ryder’s story. Hope you enjoy this final story.

  Thia Finn

  Ryder Steel...

  The rock legend.

  Every guitarist wants to be him.

  Every woman wants under him.

  No words describe his legendary band, Steel.

  His life is another story. Over twenty years ago he lost his only lover. Now he’s found his only daughter, Chandler Chatam of Assured Distraction fame.

  Now he can live.

  Now he can start over.

  Now he can love.

  Or will someone destroy it all?

  G’Anna Luician…

  She aims.

  She shoots.

  She works her magic.

  What photographer doesn’t dream of shooting the great bands? Those candid bits and pieces of the real lives of the legendary band, Steel, for the taking. Moments in time to be captured.

  She’s booked solid, but nothing will stand between the eye of her camera and accepting this offer to tour with the band.

  Or will someone destroy it all?

  To Lacy Griffin Hendricks and Teale Griffin.

  You both are everything I dreamed you would be. My pride in you knows no bounds.

  A Note For The Reader

  Blurb

  Dedication

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Epilogue

  Afterword

  Playlist

  Acknowledgments

  Connect With Me Online

  About The Author – Thia Finn

  APPROXIMATELY TWENTY-TWO YEARS EARLIER

  RYDER

  The raspy sound coming out of me happened every time I played in a smoky bar. My lungs gasped for filtered oxygen. It’s part of the price musicians pay to make it in this fucking industry. Since none of us had seen twenty-one yet, chilling after our set here seemed like a dumbass idea.

  We did it to hang with our growing fan base and network with anyone who listened and might work to promote the band. I made it seem like a chore when the truth was, we loved talking to the people. They fed our need and helped us continue this slow climb. None of us had developed egos like a mega-band might have. For now, we loved hearing from our listeners. We loved knowing they supported us by showing up and buying our music.

  Tonight was different, though.

  Tonight, I sat at the scarred wooden bar alone.

  Tonight, I lingered while the other band members did the dance for us.

  Tonight, I tried to wrap my head around what happened a year ago today.

  I wasn’t one to celebrate anniversaries. Hell, I couldn’t tell you the month my parents got married much less the date, but this date holds a fold in my memory.

  Today’s date was different.

  Today’s date will always stick with me.

  One year ago today marked the last time my eyes took in Laina’s gorgeous face, kissed her perfect lips, or heard her lilting voice. She disappeared one year ago today. She walked out of my life with the biggest question hanging over our heads we’ll ever need an answer to.

  Were we going to be parents? Was a baby in the plan? Were we ready to take on such a huge responsibility as teens straight out of high school? Dammit, if only she were here now to explain where she disappeared to and why.

  “Fuck.” I lay my head down on my folded arms. “I need a beer.”

  “I think I can make that happen.”

  An unfamiliar female voice caused me to raise my head. “Oh, sorry. I was talking to myself.”

  “Yeah, I do that too, sometimes. Just stop when you start answering your own questions. Makes you look psycho.” I stared at the smoking smoking-hot blonde’s perfect white smile. Catching the attention of the bartender, she called out, “Two Coors Lights, please.”

  “Hell, they won’t s
erve me. They already know I’m not old enough to drink. They only hire us to entertain the customers.” What a bitch move that was, especially today.

  “They’ll serve me, and who says I’m not one for double fisting my beer?” Her face lit up again. “Let it sit between us like I’m lining them up. It’ll be fine. The bartender’s a friend of mine anyway. Honestly, they should let you guys drink if they let you perform.”

  “That’s the truth, but the TABC doesn’t see it that way. Those fuckers get hard issuing tickets and pulling permits.” Cardboard coasters landed on the bar top before the brunette behind it set the bottles down. My mind said grab it, but not wanting to show my intent, I let the cold glass sit while the two females exchanged looks.

  “Thanks, girl. I owe you.” The blonde gave the bartender a wink.

  “Just don’t let his dumbass get drunk.”

  A bewildered noise left my lips before I could stop it. “Yeah, right. On one damn beer? Doubtful.” Sheesh, she knew it wasn’t my first.

  Her charcoal eyes glanced over the bar top and shook her head before making her way down to the other customers waving Benjamins in her direction.

  The frosty bottle called my name, so I snagged it up and looked at the buyer. “Thank you.” I tipped the bottle to hers and clinked. “Salud.” I took a healthy guzzle instead of sucking down the contents like I wanted to do. By nineteen, I’d chugged my share of beer—one bottle was a sip.

  “So, Mr. Musician, I enjoyed the band’s show. How long have you guys been playing together?”

  “Seems like fucking forever. We’re playing here in Austin for our local fans for the next few nights. Been on tour most of this year opening for some big names, but we like to keep our Austin people happy. Hell, we owe them. They gave us our start.”

  “Forever’s a long time.”

  “Sure as hell is.” I looked at her and briefly raised the ends of my lips. I knew this woman’s beauty captured attention wherever she went. Her look said older than me but not a cougar by any means. The long legs in the skin-tight black jeans looked damn good. The flesh peeking through the rips teased me. Her spike-heeled short boots made her legs go on forever. Just right for fitting perfectly around my waist while I took her hard and fast against a wall backstage.

  Shit, who was I kidding? The last thing I wanted to think about was fucking another woman tonight. I didn’t deserve another woman when the only one I wanted was God knows where.

  Wrapping both hands around the bottle, I hung my head. I needed to get the fuck out of here and go home to wallow. Why should everyone else be miserable because I was? Yet, here I sat, with a gorgeous woman buying me a drink, pining away for someone I’d never have again.

  “So, you’ve been on tour. Who’d you tour with? Anyone I’d recognize?”

  I looked at her wondering what she listened to trying to decide if she would possibly know any of the bands. “We started out playing in dives all over, anywhere we could book a gig. Then we got noticed when we played some dump in Nashville and were invited to be the opening act for No Need.”

  “Oh, I’ve heard of them. They’ve played here in Austin before. I saw them at Antone’s. Great show.” She held the bottle with three fingers and poked out her pinkie like she drank from a fucking teacup. Watching her tip the bottle that way caused me give a little laugh.

  “What?” She put the bottle down. “Are you laughing at me?”

  “Uh… hell no. Why would I laugh at you? You bought me a beer. You gave me a reason to smile on a shit night. You’re beautiful. What reason would I have to laugh?” Damn, I’m good at covering up for my douchiness.

  Her hard stare cut right through me. “Well, I don’t know about all that, but I could’ve sworn I heard you laugh.” Her eyes continued to study me. “You know you look a lot better smiling than when you’re sulking.”

  “Sulking, huh?” She had it all wrong.

  She took another drink, little finger out. “Uh-huh. What’s got you looking like you lost your best friend? From where I’m sitting, seems as though you’re living the musician’s dream.” She glanced back at the stage. “You got yourself a good band, and you’re coming off a successful tour. It sounds like you’re doing all right to me.”

  I looked back over my shoulder and watched the rest of the band making their rounds in the audience, shaking hands and signing a few large racks here and there. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. I should be grateful.”

  “Obviously, something’s still not right for you tonight.”

  I emptied the beer and slid the bottle over to the far edge in front of her. “Nope, it’s still not right. Guess you could say I lost my best friend, a year ago today.”

  I rolled around on the stool and put my elbows on the bar top. I needed to leave before I became the quintessential fuck crying in my beer at a bar. “Hey, I’m going to take off. Thanks for the beer. We’re playing again tomorrow night at Stubbs. I’ll leave you a ticket at Will Call if you want to come hear us play again.”

  She tipped her bottle in my direction. “I just might do that. Hadn’t been down there in a while to listen to a band.”

  Before I could say anything else, she moved back to face the bar. Guess that was my cue to leave. I knew she’d never show up, but I’d leave a ticket just in case I got it wrong.

  RYDER

  The soft bed where the band made plans to hang called my name. Finding sleep sounded ludicrous to my addled brain. I needed more than one beer if I was going to pass out. Maybe I should have tried harder with the blonde and brought her home with me. She could fuck my brains out, and then I could drift off mindlessly.

  I pulled out my phone and opened the pictures. Laina smiled at me as though life was perfect. She’d taken the selfie of the two of us, her leaning back into me with my arms around her. Dammit, we were so happy sitting beside the cold river water at Zilker Park.

  I swiped to the next shot. It was us on the university’s campus. She loved going there to walk around campus or sit under one of the huge live oaks gracing the lawns between buildings. It made her feel like she belonged. If things hadn’t gone south as they did, she’d be there now going to class, meeting up with study groups, and standing in the stadium watching football on Saturdays.

  Instead, she vanished. Her parents refused to give up where she went. Before I could find out anything, they disappeared too. Moved to God knows where. Left me high and dry. Even though I thought the whole story seemed strange, the police informed me adults didn’t have to get my approval to move away. The men in blue had a good laugh at my expense when I begged them to find Laina’s family. After telling me how asinine my request was, they showed me out the door of the station.

  So, it’s another night. Alone. Depressed. Needy. Wondering about life and why I exist.

  Hearing the door bang back against the wall, I rolled over to see who might want to interrupt my pity party.

  “Dude. Get the fuck up. We got something to do.” Jason rummaged through his bag on the floor at the foot of the bed.

  “I’m doing it.”

  “No way. Get your sorry ass up. Pity Party for one is now over. Repeat, Pity Party for one is now over,” he announced it as though through a loudspeaker. “You’re too young to be checking out of the world this soon.”

  He picked up the edge of the mattress, and I found myself hitting the floor with him laughing. “Told you to get up, Ryder Steel. We need your street cred to get us in the club down the street.”

  “I’m not going to some fucking club.”

  “Sure as hell are, dude. You need to get out, and we need to get in.” He laughed. “Hey, that’s a good line for a song. Write that down somewhere.” He rummaged around the room looking for something.

  “Shut the fuck up and leave me alone.” I leaned against the side of the bed as two more bodies walked into the room.

  “Shit, he’s hibernating again? Ryder, get the fuck up, and let’s go.” I could only grunt and remember how hard it was for us t
o get Joel moving in the mornings when we had to drive hours to the next stop.

  “Can’t y’all just go find someone to occupy your night on your own? I’m tired.”

  “No, you’re not tired, asshat. You’re depressed. You know they make meds for that shit, right? Maybe we need to call ol’ Mom and Dad and have an intervention for your sorry ass.”

  I sat up straighter. “Hell no. That’s the last thing I want is to make my parents worry about me.”

  “Then get. The fuck. Up. Which is what I said when I walked in here. Now. Let’s go, dude.” Joel pulled me up to standing.

  “Fine, dammit.” I stepped into my boots and pulled out my keys.

  The steady thump of club music sounded like shit from the outside when we pulled up around midnight. Every weekend, the line at this place filled in quickly after ten. We hadn’t been here in a long time, but I knew the bouncer, and he kept up with our music. The big guy started smiling when I handed off my truck keys to the valet.

  “Well, well. I hear there’s a new band name now. Steel, right?” He grabbed my hand and wrapped me in his big arm for a hug.

  I looked up at him closely. “Yeah, our PR guys with the label wanted something different, so we went with it. Me, Ryder Steel. Sounds badass, huh?”

  “Hell yeah, it does.” He looked at the four guys behind me. “I’m guessing this is the rest of the band?”

  “Yeah, a bunch of dickheads most of the time but damn good musicians.” I laughed at the three looking at me. “Well, that’s a questionable term on our drummer.”

  Brett double flipped me off before calling my name. “Ryder Steel.” He air-quoted my new name. “You know I’m the best drummer around.” He stuck his hand out to meet the big guy. “Brett Cotter.”

  The third member, our bass player, stepped up from talking to one of the girls who called him over. “Hey, man, I’m Daniel Reyes. Great to meet you.” The two shook hands. He was followed by the rhythm guitar player. “Joel Kelley, and this is Jason Glass, our keyboard player.”