Until Korry

UNTIL KORRY PULSETUNES ROCK GODS KL SHANDWICK Published in 2023 by K. L. Shandwick Copyright © K. L. Shandwick The author has asserted their moral right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988, to be identified as the author of this work. All Rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, copied, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior written consent of the copyright holder, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser. This ebook is a work of fiction, Names, places, characters, band names and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or names are used within the fictitious setting. Any resemblance to actual person’s living or dead. Band names or locales are entirely coincidental. This book is dedicated to the musicians and song writers whose lyrics inspire me every day. CONTENTS Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Chapter 28 Chapter 29 Chapter 30 Chapter 31 Chapter 32 Chapter 33 Chapter 34 Chapter 35 Chapter 36 Chapter 37 Chapter 38 Chapter 39 Chapter 40 Chapter 41 Chapter 42 Chapter 43 Chapter 44 Chapter 45 Chapter 46 Chapter 47 Chapter 48 Chapter 49 Chapter 50 Chapter 51 Chapter 52 Chapter 53 Chapter 54 Chapter 55 Chapter 56 Chapter 57 Chapter 58 Chapter 59 Chapter 60 Chapter 61 Chapter 62 Chapter 63 Chapter 64 Chapter 65 Chapter 66 Chapter 67 Epilogue UNTIL KORRY playlist Acknowledgments About the Author Also by KL Shandwick kelly shandwick CHAPTER 1 KORRY “Come on, get your ass into gear,” Greg said cheerfully as he poked me awake. I squinted up at him, confused about where I was for a minute, then sat up a bit, perching my head onto my elbow. “How the fuck did you get in here?” I muttered, glancing first at him then toward my closed, hotel room door. Blinking slowly, I stopped and closed my eyelids to soothe my stinging eyes. “Raff had the extra key,” he informed me, still sounding too cheerful. “For security reasons, you moron,” I said. “Not to let your ass in here to annoy the fuck out of me,” I ground out as I flopped down on my side again. Dragging the comforter up to my chin, I attempted to go back to sleep, but it was suddenly whisked away, leaving me lying buck naked on the mattress. “Are you fucking kidding me right now,” I growled in temper. “Gimme that cover back and get the fuck out of my room,” I yelled. “Oh, to be sure, I could do that n’all,” he said, nodding with a smile on his face that made me want to smack it right off. “But I distinctly remember you saying, ‘No matter what I say, don’t let me sleep longer than two hours’,” he mocked, mimicking me in a poor American/Irish accent. “Well, I’ve changed my mind,” I argued, and curled up tighter in the bed. Jet lag was something I usually didn’t suffer from much, but when I did, it incapacitated me. “You’ll be sorry, if you can’t sleep later,” he warned, like he was my father. “I don’t intend on sleeping later,” I mumbled. “Did you see all those gorgeous Italian women downstairs earlier this morning?” I muttered with a bit more interest in life, as I remembered how each one we passed had been more stunning than the last. “You’re not here to party. You’re here to do your job,” Greg replied. I guessed he was trying to impersonate our boss Donnie’s broad, New York lilt. “Jesus Christ, will you shut the fuck up, and get out,” I demanded again. “I will, when you get up,” he bargained, this time leaning on the bed and bouncing on the mattress. “If I’m only allowed two drinks before we perform the gig, I need company to keep me straight.” Grumbling, I crawled off the bed and headed into the shower. “That’s more like it,” he gushed, giving me a round of applause. I glanced over my shoulder. “How much weed have you smoked since we landed?” “A bit,” he admitted, opening my balcony door and stepping outside. I shook my head, turned the faucet on and went to freshen up. “You’d better not be in this room by the time I get out of the shower.” Although the journey by private jet across to Europe had been comfortable, the time change sapped me of any energy I’d had in reserve. However, all it took was a few minutes under the steaming jets to revitalize me. Greg was right to nag me because from previous tour experience, the longer I slept, the longer it took me to get acclimatized to the time zone. Playing a one-off gig with a price tag of a cool two million dollars was the easiest money we’d ever make. The performance was for a select guest list of celebrities at a launch party, for a new scent from a leading perfume brand. The performance was the gift that kept on giving because I mean, Lake Como, Italy, what’s not to love? Plus, also in attendance were the who’s who from the beauty industry, including the A-list male and female celebrities that were the sponsored faces of the brand. The marketing company’s entertainment choice surprised me since it was a perfume best known for its sophisticated promotions. Our grungy rock band, Screaming Shadows, was hardly a fit with that. As I stepped back into my room with a towel around my waist, I heard a commotion below my balcony. “You’re joking.” I scoffed