Fury

by Tammy Coons

  “I think Fury will be responsible for making Fury a hit in the states,” Steph remarked.

  “The article is coming along quite nicely,” Cheyenne said.

  “I hope so,” Rodney replied.” And the photography? Do you have any pictures I can see?” He was looking at Steph with his beady grey eyes.

  “As a matter of fact, I do.” She sat her camera bag down and pulled out a folder, handing it to Rodney.

  He opened it and began thumbing through the pictures. “These will do.” He closed the folder and slid it back across the bar to Steph. Suddenly Ian’s phone rang.

  “Excuse me,” Ian said, walking away to take the call.

  “Do you mind if I take some pictures of you three?” Steph asked, readying her camera.

  “Yes, we do.” Rodney’s dismissive tone was overt.

  “Ah.” Steph shot Cheyenne a sideways glance. She lowered her camera.

  “The band will be here in 5 minutes,” Ian announced. Cheyenne wasn’t sure if it was her imagination, but Ian seemed as uncomfortable with these men as she was.

  “Care for a drink?” Cheyenne asked Steph.

  “Sure,” Steph grumbled. “Light beer, surprise me.”

  Cheyenne’s insides twisted as she saw Ted Brown, the reporter from the competition, approach. He shook hands with Rodney and they exchanged pleasantries. She elbowed Steph and nodded in Ted’s direction.

  “Ah, Ms. Carson. We meet again.” He admired her in his lecherous manner, and then seemed to notice Steph.

  “Stephanie. Where’s Kevin?” It was a low blow and Cheyenne was about to retort when Steph beat her to it.

  “Probably in rehab, isn’t that where the two of you met?” Ted’s smile faded.

  “If you’ll excuse me I’m going to step out for some fresh air.” Cheyenne announced as she stood. “Steph, would you care to join me?”

  “I would love too,” Steph said between gritted teeth.

  “We’ll be right back,” Cheyenne said to Ian who nodded. Once outside Cheyenne blurted,” Jerk off!’”

  “Amen!” Steph sipped her drink.

  “Do you know what Steve said? He said ‘I didn’t expect such a beautiful woman’,” Cheyenne said, flicking her Zippo shut. She took a long drag off her cigarette.

  “And that frickin’ Rodney, what the hell was that? These will do,” Steph mimicked him in a British accent. “This night just gets better and better.”

  The summer air was warm and the stillness welcoming.

  “Ladies,” Ian said from behind them, startling them both. They turned to him. “The boys are here.”

  “And?” Steph shrugged.

  “Listen,” Ian began, shutting the door behind him. “it is very important that my associates see all of you interacting properly.”

  “What the hell is going on?” Cheyenne blurted. “I thought we had an exclusive. Why is Ted Brown here?”

  “Just trust me and do as I say,” Ian hissed.

  “Alright we get it,” Steph replied.” This is some sort of evaluation. It’s a little late in the game for this, isn’t it Ian?”

  “Yes. It’s entirely too late for second guesses. Goddess is bleeding all over the hotel, photos of you and David are all over the papers and Cheyenne’s fraternizing with Scot. Is it any wonder that my judgment is in question?” Ian fumed.

  Cheyenne’s jaw dropped.

  Ian yanked opened the door. Cheyenne and Stephanie reluctantly followed him.

  “Just stop drinking and keep it together for an hour,” Steph whispered. “We’ll say we have a lot of work to do and bow out. Ok?”

  Cheyenne nodded.

  Fury stood at the bar talking to Steve, Rodney and Mark. Ted Brown was still nearby and seemed to be hanging on their every word. Models were flocking around the band like pretty, starving birds.

  “Oh God,” Cheyenne sighed, seeing Scot look in her direction.

  “Be cool.” Steph grabbed Cheyenne’s arm. They walked to the bar.

  “So, Boys, what do you think of our little helpers?” Rodney smirked.

  “They’re doing a bang up job,” Scot said.

  Phillip chuckled and rolled his eyes. “Yeah.” His sarcasm was obvious. A stunning blonde model flanked him and smiled as if she were in on his private joke.

  “You seem to have a different opinion, Mr. Kersey. Do you have something to share?” Rodney asked.

  “Now, Phillip,” Ian said, putting a hand on his shoulder. “You have to agree. They are doing a fine job and we all know you didn’t want this exposure.”

  Phillip laughed as the model perched herself on his lap. Cheyenne noticed his expression change when he glanced at Steph, who was eyeing the model with an amused expression. He swiftly lifted the model away from him and quietly sipped his drink.

  “I feel things are going quite well,” Cheyenne chimed in.

  “Steph’s photography is amazing,” Nathan said, putting his arm around Steph.

  “And also amazing is the front page of the paper today. You’re pretty photogenic yourself, Brier,” Phillip remarked, making Rodney chuckle. Steph blushed, but her face as expressionless as a Vegas poker player.

  “OK, OK.” Ian waved his hands in the air. “Let’s move on.”

  “I think they are doing a brilliant job. Of course, I wouldn’t know any different since I’ve never been allowed to give interviews...” Bret’s snarky remark was a welcome backhanded compliment. Cheyenne and Steph smiled at him, thankful for the unexpected ally.

  “Me too,” David shrugged.

  Rodney gave David a long silent glance, sipping his drink.

  “Well, I for one am happy to hear that this is working out.” Steve turned to Cheyenne. “Would you care to join me for a smoke?”

  Cheyenne glanced at Scot, surrounded by models vying for his attention. Scot was nodding and laughing at something one of them was saying. As he glanced in her direction, she couldn’t read his stoic face. “Sure.” She grabbed her drink and followed him out. Cheyenne reached into her purse and pulled out a cigarette. I’m going to need a liver and lung transplant if I don’t slow down. While closing her purse, she turned on her recorder. She had a gut feeling about this man, and her writers’ instinct took over.

  “I’m sorry about the remark I made about your looks earlier. I want you to know I’m not an ass like Rodney,” Steve said smiling.

  “OK.” Cheyenne looked around feeling awkward.

  “We are all under a lot of pressure at the moment; there’s quite a bit of money riding on this tour so this article is particularly important to us.”

  “We’re aware of that,” Cheyenne said. “We’re working hard to make sure that we paint Fury in a positive light.” As his gaze lingered on her cleavage, she felt the overwhelming urge to hurl her drink at him.

  “I’m going to go back inside.” Cheyenne moved away.

  “So soon?” Steve grabbed her arm with lightning speed.” Cheyenne bristled at his unwelcome touch. Outraged she felt violated. “Ah, don’t be coy. You don’t need the innocent schoolgirl act with me.”

  “I have no idea what you mean!” Cheyenne snapped. She regretted going off alone with him and loathed the way he was eyeing her.

  “There’s no need for you to play hard to get. You see, we don’t just let anyone into our little circle. No one gets near Fury without us knowing about their past, and that responsibility falls to me. I’m very good at what I do. My goodness, I imagine you were very popular in your past profession.” Steve’s grip on her arm was slightly painful.

  Understanding dawned on Cheyenne’s face as she realized he knew about her stripper days.

  “You weren’t so frigid with Scot according to my security team,” He added, tracing an admiring finger along her exposed cleavage.

  “I need to use the ladies room,” Cheyenne blurted. She trembled violently. Steve let go of her arm and put his hands in the air.

  Cheyenne fled straight to the restroom. She opened a stall door just in time t
o fall to her knees and vomit. The thought of her stripping past coming out was unbearable. Her night with Scot was common knowledge and seeing trouble looming caused her to despair. At that moment she felt like trash. She threw up again and realized that her hands were still trembling uncontrollably. After several minutes she finally regained her composure. Flushing, she stood slowly holding back tears. She couldn’t believe that any legitimate business associates of Fury would behave this way. Remembering the recorder, she quickly shut it off. She took a few more moments to gather her composure and freshen up. Taking a deep breath she headed out into the bar.

  As she tried to recall the way to the VIP area, Nathan intercepted her on the dance floor. The women who’d been dancing with him glared at her jealously.

  “How about a dance, Cheyenne?” he purred. His silver grey suit accentuated his emerald eyes. Still a bit dazed, Cheyenne nodded. She wanted an excuse to stay away from Ian and his cohorts, and Nathan was a tantalizing distraction.

  As he led her onto the dance floor a mix of the old song by INXS, I need you tonight, began to play.

  “I love this song.” Nathan pulled her close, the lengths of their body pressed flat against each other. He dipped her skillfully, and as he pulled her up to face him, Cheyenne’s hair tossed wildly around her. His face was millimeters from hers. Her breath caught in a small gasp. His demanding presence frightened her a little and excited her a great deal.

  “I love it when you make those naughty little sounds,” He murmured in her ear, his wet lips touching her earlobe. Cheyenne felt a tingling from her ear that quickly shot down to her center. Her nervous energy from her altercation with Steve quickly morphed into a heightened sexual state as Nathan traced her body with his hands and grinded against her. Before she realized it, Cheyenne was physically responding to him. Her muscles seemed to remember the sexy dance moves of her past before her mind could. As she undulated seductively, Nathan’s face lit up enjoying her enthusiasm.

  His hands trailed from her lower back to her ass. Cheyenne turned away and his arm snaked around her waist as he grinded on her from behind. Her head fell back and her eyes closed as she felt him against her.

  As he spun her around to face him again, her temperature spiked white hot. His hand was in her hair again and he looked as if he would kiss her when Scot appeared to his right. Cheyenne’s eyes flew open wide as Scot tapped Nathan on the shoulder. Nathan glanced over his shoulder nonchalantly.

  “What? We’re dancing, go away,” Nathan said, turning back to Cheyenne.

  Scot reached out and grabbed Cheyenne’s wrist.

  “I’m cutting in,” Scot declared. His tone was non-negotiable.

  “Piss off,” Nathan replied, and shoved Scot with both hands.

  Scot seemed to be caught unprepared and stumbled, bumping into a couple of patrons. Heads turned and people were watching them raptly. Her heart in her throat, Cheyenne looked around the dance floor and then at Scot, her mouth dry.

  Scot’s angry eyes shifted to Cheyenne, then back at Nathan.

  He advanced on Nathan and violently shoved him back. Several women caught him before he fell. Instantly, Phillip appeared between them, along with Fury’s security team, and the bouncers. They kept them apart as both men tried to attack each other.

  Terror gripped her at the site of their confrontation. Unable to bear witness to the violence, Cheyenne fled toward the exit. She’d nearly escaped, when Bret appeared in front of her.

  “Cheyenne?” he managed, his expression concerned.

  “I…I can’t,” she cried, not slowing a step as she plowed past him and out into the summer night. She gulped at the fresh air as if she’d been drowning. After a few deep breaths, she stumbled down the street and hailed a cab.

  Stephanie began worrying about Cheyenne when Steve returned without her. She sat fidgeting with her camera, her eyes searching the club for any sign of her friend. Nathan and Scot had vanished and she’d had another beer, listening as Bret and David discussed a new song they were working on. Attempting to ignore Rodney’s barrage of snide comments about the American work ethic, she stood to go in search of her missing colleague.

  “Cutting out early?” Steve’s sparkling eyes seemed to poke fun at her.

  “Well, you know, we Americans only work forty to eighty hours a week. Go Capitalism!” Steph was unimpressed with Ian’s associates.

  “I’ll walk you back,” David volunteered, standing. Steph had noticed him dodging groupies and models all night.

  “Of course you will,” Rodney chirped. Steve snorted.

  “I’m good David. I guess chivalry, though terminally ill, isn’t dead.”

  She grabbed her camera bag and left the VIP section to see Nathan and Scot being corralled by Phillip and security.

  “Quit being such a baby,” Nathan slurred at Scot. The way he was stumbling, there was little doubt he was intoxicated. Steph looked around and realized they had been trying to fight each other.

  “What the hell, Nathan?’ Steph stepped between then.

  “He did a bunch of shots on the way here in the limo,” Phillip whispered to her urgently.

  “Stephanie, you need to get him away from me.” Scot’s icy look convinced her.

  “Hey, let’s go somewhere else and have a drink. Rodney is about to get my foot up his ass.” Steph touched Nathan’s arm. He looked at her and his face softened into a broad smile.

  “Yeah, he’s a royal bastard. Let’s go.”

  “I’m coming along.” Phillip gestured for a security guard to join them. Nathan shrugged.“Suit yourself.”

  As they made their way into the limo, Steph’s mind raced. This entire night had blown up in her face. First the coked out roadies doing God knows what, the mob-like business associates of Ian’s, and now the band members coming to blows. First she needed to defuse the situation with Nathan. Then she needed to hunt down Cheyenne.

  “I know where we can go!” Nathan slurred. “Crazy Horse!”

  “I don’t know that might be a little too racy,” Phillip replied, his eyes shifting to Steph.

  “Let’s just go,” She responded..

  They arrived at the burlesque club and were shown immediately to the VIP section. Topless dancers had the crowd spellbound. Nathan was dancing on the tables and having a blast as Steph did her best to keep him from falling and studiously avoided eye contact with Phillip.

  “I love this place,” Nathan yelled to the applause of the people at nearby tables.

  “I have to find her and talk to her.” Scot stared into his drink as he unloaded to David and Bret. Scot had never been incredibly close to Bret, who was best mates with Phillip. However Bret was happily married, which made him the resident expert on relationships. And David was always a great listener.

  With Nathan gone, the bouncers had agreed to let Scot stay as long as he remained in the VIP section. Thankfully, Ian and his associates had been out for a smoke when Scot was ushered back to their roped off section. “What do you think you’re doing?” David replied. Scot stopped in his tracks. It was uncommon for David to say anything, let alone something so confrontational.

  “You know, “Scot replied, turning and taking his seat, “I have no fucking clue what I’m doing.”

  “Can you tell us what is going on? I guess what I’m asking is, are you lonely? Is there something we’re missing? I mean, she is cracking…” Bret turned a chair around and sat across from Scot.

  “I’m drawn to her. I have been since the moment she appeared on my terrace. Her indecisiveness is just driving me mad. And this Nathan facet is like rubbing salt in the wound.” Scot waved the bartender over for another drink.

  “You and Nathan have been shitty with one another since we formed this band. That’s nothing new. Back to Cheyenne: Is it the chase? I mean, it’s not as if there aren’t birds getting starkers and falling to their knees before you nightly,” Bret asked, tossing his long hair and taking drags off his cigarette. As if on cue, a woman approached Bre
t from behind and wrapped her arms around his neck. Barely turning his head, he glared at her.

  “Back the fuck off.”

  She fled like a scalded cat.

  “You know damn well groupies have never been my scene. It would be nice to have a woman look at me, and see me, not ‘Scot Charles, Rock Star’... Cheyenne is the first woman I have had a normal conversation with in 5 years,” He replied, looking from Bret to David.

  “Look, Scot. Cheyenne’s a totty. But it’s her decision. I think the ball is in her court. She’s aware of how you feel. She’ll either come to you or not.” Bret looked almost sagely by neon blue light of the bar. Somehow his singsongy Welsh accent made the bitter advice easier to swallow.

  “He’s right. I really like Cheyenne and she seems very genuine. However, kicking it off with Nathan for her attention could jeopardize a lot of hard work we’ve all put in over the past few years.” David’s face clouded over. “Not to change the subject, but I have just about had it with Rodney. He is so uncouth and his behavior tonight was unacceptable.”

  “I get the feeling Steve said something to upset Cheyenne. What exactly do we need them around for?” Bret agreed.

  Scot said nothing, his mind fixed on Cheyenne.

  Nathan was good for two more drinks before he passed out on the table. The security guard had gone to arrange for their ride. Alone with Phillip, Steph awkwardly looked around the room. The erotic atmosphere only increased her discomfort. She accidentally made eye contact with a Parisian lounge lizard, who nodded at her with an eager smile and slithered her way. She immediately stood and closed the distance between herself and Phillip. She sat down so close to him that she was nearly on top of his lap His face contorted in surprise.

  “This is awfully sudden.” He remarked, both eye brows lifted.

  “Just go with it.” She replied with a small nod toward the predator. Phillip glanced at the man, then glared at him and put his arm around Steph.

  “Walk on.”