The next month without Shanks in the studio found the guys to be in their natural rhythm. All instrumentals and harmonies were recorded and green-lit by the label. But their toughest critics were allowed to sit in for a first listen, arms crossed and eyebrows furrowed in deep thought.

Jon and Dave exchanged a look as the last track was played, glancing over at the critics. Ethan and Ari leaned back in their chairs, the eight year olds each nodding or shrugging.

"So?" Jon asked, leaning his hip against the soundboard.

Ari wrinkled her nose. "It sounds like old man music. Maybe you should team up with Harry Styles for some younger vibes."

Dave's mouth dropped open and looked down at his son, daring him to agree. "Don't forget that unlike Jonny boy here, I have zero issue beating your little ass if you insult my work like that."

"Depends," Ethan said thoughtfully, scratching his chin. "How much is my input worth to you?"

"How much do you enjoy having a home, bed and that Playstation?" David asked.

"Or those boobie magazines under said bed?" Ari quipped.

"How do you know about that?!" Ethan asked defensively. "One! I found one! I swear! I found it at Colton's and I wanted to see what it was."

Jon's face became very serious and stared his daughter down. "What were you doing in his room?"

"Playing on the Playstation, Dad," Ari scoffed, rolling her eyes at him. "But I do want big boobies like those girls one day," she said, looking down inside her top. "Can I get them, Dad?"

Ethan glanced at his best friend instinctively, attempting to lean over and peek but was slapped by Dave and quickly dropped his gaze. "Didn't Momma and Auntie J have them too?"

"Oh dear God, don't go asking them," Dave laughed. "But...no...your Mom had naturally big tits. They only got bigger with kids. Same with your Auntie J."

"Then they disappeared after children," Jon muttered beneath his breath.

"What about me?" Ethan asked. "Will I get bigger too? I don't look half as big as you and Colton!"

Now it was Ari's turn to glance over and blush.

"Tell you what," Dave shoved two packets of cookies at the kids. "We'll have these discussions later...and preferably not with you two together!"

"And maybe less hanging out in bedrooms," Jon muttered.

"Why? He has a Playstation!" Ari argued and pouted.

"Can't believe I'm saying this," David shook his head. "But I agree with Jon. Maybe when you're over, we could move the Playstation into the lounge."

Jon looked at his friend in shock. "Did...Did you just agree with me!?"

"Hell was bound to freeze over at some point," Dave snorted, grabbing his phone from the table. "Hey hey Tico, what's good?"

In response came sniffles from the other end with a quiet, "He's gone...mi amor is gone."

"Ali...wha--when?" His body stilled at the words.

Jon watched his friend's face go whiter than he'd ever seen David's face go. "Kids, go back to the main house."

"But Dad, you said-."

"I said go, Arielle!" Jon snapped and immediately felt contrite for it when his daughter's face started to crumple into tears. "I'm sorry, Babymine. Just go find Mrs H and if you see mama...tell her to come here." Jon saw David stumble to a chair and sit heavily. "Now, please, Ari." He ushered the two kids out the door and briefly watched them run across the lawn toward the big house.

"Hold on, Ali..." Dave turned on the speakerphone then said, "Jon's here with me, darlin'. What happened?"

"Ali, it's Jon. What's happened?"

A pained scream from Ali made both men jump followed by her phone hitting something hard. They could only listen as the woman let out cries of anguish and heartbreak.

"Ali?! Sweetheart...where's Tico?" David asked, sending Jon a worried look.

"Mom..." Hector's faint voice could be heard calling to her. "No...come on...I know but you have to..."

"Hector?!" Jon mouthed to David. He had an uneasy feeling in his gut and it was getting stronger with each passing moment.

There were muffled sounds as though someone was fumbling with the phone. "Hola...quién es este?"

"Hector? It's Dave and Jon...your mom just called and started crying...what in the hell is happening?"

"Mom can't really talk right now," Hector said behind quiet sniffles. "Was...did she call about Dad?"

"I'll ask again...what happened and where the hell is Tico?" David asked, his voice cracking and his patience thinning. "Sorry to snap, kid, but your mom calls crying, then drops the phone and screams...just tell us, please!"

"Hector," Jon said, gripping the back of David's neck and working the muscles a little. "Do you have anyone else there with you and your Mom at the moment?" He had an ugly feeling squirreling away in his gut so badly that he thought he was going hurl.

"No one knows..." Then the 14-year-old lowered his voice. "Papa's gone." They could hear Ali still crying in the background. "The...the police are still here. I'm...I'm scared."

"Oh god," Jon groaned softly as David emitted a keening wail beside him.

"Jon?!" Julie and Leesha stepped through the studio door. "Ari said you needed us."

Jon looked up at his wife and his face must have said it all as both wives rushed over. He had to hold tight to his emotions just for a little while longer, allowing David to collapse into his startled wife's arms. They had to be strong for their brother's son and wife. "Hector...hand the phone to one of the police for me, son."

"Okay, Uncle Jon," the teenager replied and there were muffled noises as the phone passed from one set of hands to the other.

"Mr Bon Jovi?" the unseen person asked.

"Yes. And you are?"

"Sir, I'm Officer Hueng from the local police," came the reply. The voice was strong and calm. "I am familiar with your band, sir, and I'm sorry that I have to inform you that Mr Torres was found unresponsive on the tenth fairway of the golf course here. Paramedics were unable to revive him. Mrs Torres and their son have been advised and we're waiting with them until Mrs Torres' family arrive. I'm sorry for your loss, sir."

Jon's world tilted at that. He was beyond, beyond...he was numb. Hector's and Ali's tears became his own and he closed his eyes.

"Thank you, Officer," he murmured as his friend and their wives wept. He felt Julie's arms go around him and he held on tightly. "Um, can you ask whoever turns up to call me. I'll foot any costs involved." He looked at David who was inconsolable in Leesha's arms. "We'll be there as soon as we can organize flights."

"I will pass the message on, sir," Officer Hueng said. "May I call this number if we need any information?"

"Yes!" David exclaimed, his voice thick with tears. "It's my phone but you can call me anytime."

"And you are, sir?"

"David...David Bryan."

"Thank you, Mr Bryan. We'll be in touch. Again, our condolences." The line went dead.

Suddenly, like a black hole, the air was sucked out of the studio leaving them gasping and reeling from shock. Shaking and tears staining his cheeks, David yanked himself free of Leesha's arms and stormed from the studio.

"FUCK!" They could hear him scream outside. The sound was full of heartbreak...a soul being devoured by the darkness.

Leesha made a move to follow her husband but Jon gripped her elbow, stopping her in her tracks. He merely shook his head before kissing Julie and following his brother down the stairs and across the lawn to the edge of the river.

David sank down to his knees just on the edge of the riverbank, burying his fingers into his blonde curls and gripping them like a man on the brink of insanity. "Go away, Jon...please..."

"No chance, Lema," Jon said softly, slowly walking up behind him and lowering to his haunches behind his oldest friend, covering his back and holding him close. "I know, man. I know it hurts," he murmured as he felt the man's sobs wracking his body. He let him cry, scream and rail at life but he never let him go. He knew too well what it was like to lose someone you cared for beyond measure.

Jon shed his own tears too, and, when David's tears had finally stopped even though his body still shuddered with sobs, he heard his friend finally speak.

"How the hell do I look Leesha in the eye now?" David choked out. "I just lost a brother and lover. I'll never feel his touch or breath on my skin again...ever..."

Thinking of Richie, Jon kissed the back of David's head and said, "You just do, man. The girls know. They know and they're still with us. I promise you, Leesha will understand. We're lucky men, you and me, babe--"

"Stop calling me that!" David exclaimed, shrugging Jon off his shoulders. "Just don't..."

"I'm sorry," Jon replied softly as he sat down on the grass stretching his aching knees out. "Did T...? I didn't...fuck!" he groaned in frustration and despair.

"Yeah...he did...only he did," he replied flatly, angrily wiping his tears onto his t-shirt. "Not even Leesha can call me that." He stared out over the river and shook his head.

"Did Ali know?" Jon ventured.

David nodded and added, "She'd join in during the early days."

"Like I said...we're lucky men, Lema," Jon said after a few moments of reflective silence. "We've had the love of two great men and two incredible women."

"You really don't know how to leave someone to their own thoughts, do you?" Dave snapped. "I've done my fair share of optimistic bullshit. All I wanna do is be alone and drown my thoughts in a bottle." He heaved himself up from the ground and called out, "Leesha! Ethan! Come on! We're going home!"

Jon rose from the ground, following his friend with concerned eyes as he stormed to his car. David climbed in the driver's seat, slammed the door and started the engine, staring off into the distance as he waited for his family.

Leesha, followed by Julie, hurried down the stairs as her husband's voice echoed across the property. They hugged briefly but fiercely before separating as Ethan came scurrying out of the house with his sister in tow.

Jon didn't move a muscle. He didn't want to make things any worse than it already was. He met his wife's tear-stained face, however, and he almost buckled under the weight of his grief as their friends' car spun its wheels and tore off down the drive.

*~*

Hot water engulfed David as the tub jets drowned out any other sound. He lay back in his oversized tub, neck craned, staring down at the ceiling, fighting the demons that crawled and clawed their way through his mind. Once more, he cursed himself. "If only..."

A knock at his bedroom door broke him from his reverie. "Honey?"

"Yeah..." He called out.

Leesha entered the room tentatively, closing the door behind her. She walked into the bathroom and stopped a few feet away from the tub, staring down at her husband's pale and tortured features.

"Are you okay?"

David sighed and closed his eyes. "I really don't know anymore," he replied sadly.

Leesha slowly approached the tub and lowered herself next to the cool marble, handing her husband a full wine glass.

"Can I help?" she asked softly, brushing his cheek with her fingertips.

"No," David replied flatly, taking a sip of the ruby red liquid. "It's just pain."

"I'm sorry, baby," Leesha said. "I just..."

David raised his hand, silencing her mid-sentence. "Don't apologize, kitten. There's nothing to be sorry for."

"You and I...and Tico...I promised you..." Leesha mumbled, lowering her head.

"I know, and I'm sorry, kitten. I don't know what's wrong. It's like I'm..."

"Drugged? Stunned? Disorientated?" Leesha finished.

"Yes," David replied. "All of them."

"You know I'm here to listen...but I won't force you into talking about it."

David gave her a small smile. "I appreciate that, kitten."

"I need to get the kids to bed," she said, standing up and adjusting her silk robe. "Just holler if you need anything..."

David nodded and watched as his wife slipped from the bathroom and closed the door, leaving him alone with his thoughts. He slid under the water, staring up as the ceiling swam into distortion.

"Who invited you to this little gathering, pooch?" Tico chuckled and took a swig from his bottle. A pretty blonde sat on his lap, stroking his chest and cooing over his every word.

David took a seat on the other bed, smiling. "I did. Didn't feel like hanging around drunk Jonny and horny Richie...never a fun combo."

"That's why I party on my own," Tico replied. "No one ever tries to fuck me up when I'm by myself." He turned his attention back to his female companion. "Go find Alec...I need to handle some sensitive business here."

The blonde winked and sauntered to the door, grabbing her purse on the way out. Tico watched her leave with lust burning in his eyes, David's voice breaking through his reverie. "What did you invite her for?"

Tico shrugged and gave a wry grin. "She was bored."

"She was bored?" David asked incredulously. "With you?"

"I can be very charming when I want to be," Tico replied, finishing off his drink.

David smirked, his tongue darting out to wet his lips. "Oh, I know...too bad you waste it on trash."

Tico rose from the single bed, moving to stand beside David. He placed his hand on the younger man's shoulder and squeezed gently. "You're just jealous, baby."

"You're drunk," David snorted, making no move to stop Tico's advance.

"I'm just getting started," Tico purred, their mouths finding each other once more, their hands roaming the other's body.

Tico's face swirled out of focus as a new memory flooded his mind's eye and David found himself kneeling on cold marble, his hands bound together and staring at the floor. Tears stained his cheeks and warmer, calloused fingers caressed his arms.

"She's gone...just like that...she left me," Dave panted through cries and anxiety.

"And what was your role in all this?" Tico demanded as he stalked around him.

"I mean...I wasn't the greatest or most loyal husband," David stuttered, his voice growing weaker.

"Explain, pooch," he said, stopping dead in front of the blond. "Why do you think this way? Has she said anything specifically?"

David sighed and bowed his head. "You...that cute little stylist, Lexi...some photos got back to her..."

"Idiot!" Tico barked, sinking his fingers into the curls and yanking David's head back. "Did you not think to cover your ass with taking photos?! If nothing in this machine we call Bon Jovi, we cover all bases against this kind of stuff."

David groaned and stared up into Tico's eyes. "I didn't take them, I swear...I don't know who did."

"Are you saying April got them by illicit means?" the older man frowned, thinking.

"Please...please just make me forget," Dave begged.

"Oh, I'll make you forget," Tico smirked after a moment of silence, pregnant with erotic promises. "I'll make you forget the photos, I'll make you forget your wife and I'll even make you forget your own name, pooch." Tico trailed his nail along David's jawline and down the center of his throat, pressing his finger against the pulse point at the base, "But you will not forget who your Master is, do you understand me?!"

"Yes, Master."

Master...Master...Master...

His hand traveled down his chest and stomach, eyes squeezed closed to keep the vision of Tico from fading. He cupped his balls and rolled them gently in his palm, fingering slowly at his tight pink asshole. The ache in his groin grew hotter, more insistent.

He raised his hips and slid his middle finger into the puckering hole, moaning as the swollen head breached the tight ring of muscle. He pushed in slowly at first, the elastic ring massaging the smooth, wet skin of his finger.

His hips rose of their own volition and he began fucking himself slowly, sliding his finger in and out with forceful, sensuous strokes. The insistent ache in his balls grew stronger and his breathing grew ragged.

"Don't come!" Two voices echoed in his head, a mixture of Tico and Leesha's commands. His free hand found a nipple and twisted it, the pain filling him up like warm whiskey. He moaned and ground his hips, his entire body wracked with spasms of need.

"No, don't come!" his subconscious voice cried out, but he could feel his orgasm approach. He pushed himself deeper, faster, the finger moving faster and faster, unable to stop his hips from lifting from the tub.

He let out a long, low, "Unnnh" and shuddered in pleasure, his insides clenching around his finger, milking it as he would with Tico's dick.

Dave reentered the band's dressing room, his heart pounding and skin flushed with excitement. At Jon's request, they had made a surprise appearance at the VIP party.

"Weren't those the two chicks from soundcheck?" Richie asked, pulling on a fresh shirt for the show.

"Damn straight," David chuckled. "Cute ones too."

"Red wrist bands?" he asked. "How long are you gonna keep them around for?"

David opened and closed his mouth like a fish out of water, his eyes finding Tico and silently asking for permission. "Um...not sure? They're great girls...but still fans..."

"Fuck, Lema," Richie chortled. "Don't look so panicked, man! I'm talking hours or until tomorrow...not the rest of your fucking life." Richie clapped him on the back, laughing, and left the dressing room.

"Yeah, babe...no need to look panicked," Tico chuckled.

David dropped onto the couch next to Tico, his fingertips teasing the older man's thigh. "So...what do you think?"

Tico cocked his head to the side. "I'm thinking maybe take the girls out after the show. Start at the hotel bar and go from there?"

"Yeah..." David bit his lip and leaned closer. "Maybe..." He licked his lips and kissed Tico's shoulder. "You're the only one I've been with for some time..."

"Babe, you have my permission. I've never stopped you from seeing anyone else," Tico cooed, running a finger across David's bottom lip. "See where it goes. If it goes nowhere, you know where I am and you know I'll happily bury my cock in your ass and make you scream."

"I...uh..." Dave swallowed and grinned. "Thank you, Master. Although...we do still have some time before the show. How about we go into the rehearsal room for some fun?"

Tico's kiss was warm, wet, and intoxicating, a brushing of lips that sent a hot current of desire coursing through David's body. He grabbed the drummer's ass and pulled him closer, deepening the kiss.

"Anything for you, babe."

Dave choked back a groan as he stroked his cock, his vivid imagination playing back to those times alone with Tico in the rehearsal room backstage. Tico had taught him many tricks, tricks he now employed when he pleasured himself.

He rested his head against the tub, stroking himself faster, imagining Tico leaning over and pulling his cock between his lips. He'd always been the one constant. The one solid thing Dave could rely on. Whether for after-show snuggles, a drink, or a hard fuck, Tico was always the one.

As his orgasm began to build, he moaned into the empty room. This always happened. The thought of Tico always left him hot and bothered. He pictured himself splayed across the bed, Tico kissing his weathered lips, then unzipping his jeans and climbing between his legs.

Tico had always been the dominant one, but when Leesha came along, he'd given in and taught David how to bring out his own dominant side. Dave shuddered at the memories. He'd begged Tico to teach him. He'd begged him to let him cum. And he'd begged him to let him fuck him.

"Master..." he whispered, his muscles quivering and cock throbbing. He'd begged and whimpered as he watched Tico and Leesha on the bed. Those calloused, well-practiced fingers massage and tease her sweet wet cunt.

A dominant establishing his place on top.

As he was tied to the chair, he watched Tico eat her pussy and make her scream. His cock sliding into her...the smell of sex filling the air around him. The vibrant purple ropes biting into his skin, sweat rolling down his brow as he tried not to cum too soon.

He closed his eyes, memories of those few times they fucked, or fucked him, flashing through his mind. The hard deep thrusts...moans of pleasure echoed through the room. From Tico...to Leesha...Master to Mistress...

David's eyes flew open and he looked over to the closed bathroom door. His breathing ragged. Cock rock-hard. He turned off the jets and climbed from the tub. No need to dry himself. Out in the bedroom, Leesha was sitting at her laptop typing away.

"Have a nice bath, baby?" She asked.

"Invigorating," he groaned, crossing the room and grabbing her arm. He pulled up roughly from the chair and threw her onto the bed. Leesha screamed out and clawed at his chest, but David kept shoving her down. He straddled her, his fingers pressing down on her soft breasts.

"Baby..." she moaned.

"Master," he corrected. She whimpered and threw her arms around his neck. "You're mine. Always have been, always will be. You belong to me." He lifted her shirt and studied her tits. Red-tipped nipples. Perfect. David leaned down and sucked one hard little nub. She let out a loud cry and grabbed his hair.

He sucked hard again and her whimpers became louder. He pushed himself farther down and she opened her legs. David grunted and slid his cock into the hot wet space between her thighs. She moaned and grabbed his ass.

"Finally..." she whispered. "Master."

"Yes, kitten," he growled, pulling himself out and pushing in again. She cried out and dug her fingers into his back, nails digging into his skin. He closed his eyes and pictured Tico watching them, tangling his fingers in Dave's curls as he fucked his lover.

Suddenly she was bucking against him, pushing herself onto his cock, her moans echoing through the room. His hips pistoned against her, his cock sliding in and out of her wet, hot pussy. He slid down the bed, grabbing her by the legs and pulling her toward him, her ass against the back of his thighs.

"Make me forget," he hissed. He slid his hands under her stomach and gripped her tits, twisting her nipples as he fucked her. She screamed with her ass wiggling, begging for more.

His breath was hot in his ear. "You belong to me," he growled. "Always...to me. You're my cunt. My pussy. My bed. My slut." He pushed deeper, hitting that last little spot deep inside her pussy. She screamed again, her entire body tensing up.

David let himself go. He grabbed her thighs and held them open, pounding into her. His cock slid in and out of her, her walls tightening and pulling his very soul from his body. She screamed and screamed, digging her nails into his back and grabbing his ass.

He could feel her pussy swelling around his cock. "You belong to me, kitten," he moaned, his cock ready to explode. "You're my whore. You're my wife. You're my slut." He watched her eyes close, her head falling back and mouth open in a silent scream.

"I'm your Master," he whispered. "I'm your...husband." He felt her orgasm ripple through her pussy, and he let himself go. He arched his back and shouted, slamming into her and flooding her with his cum.

"Yes, Master..." she whimpered.

"Yes, kitten," he groaned. He collapsed on top of her, his cock slipping from her and dripping. He lay on his side, panting.

She rolled over and laid her head on his chest, fingers dancing down the center into the thatch of hair. "You need to take baths more often..."

"Bitch," he growled, grabbing her hair and pulling her head back. She gasped, opening her mouth and letting out a sexy little moan.

She rolled her eyes, a smirk on her lips. David growled and pressed her head down harder. Tears filled her eyes. She snarled at him playfully and snapped her teeth. Her bratty side was coming out and, as he wrapped his hands around her throat, David knew it was gonna be a rough night of fucking fueled by his lost lover.

Once Leesha fell asleep, David was left to the bitter darkness and his demons. He lay in bed, Tico and Leesha's images flashing through his mind. He ached and his chest was tight. He'd thought they'd gotten through the worst of it. But apparently not.

Death was a cruel Mistress and he felt her cloud envelope all of them in her arms. How long would it take for the rest of them to be ripped from life? Who would be the next broken heart? The next empty, cold pillow?