Dominant Devils MC
Book 2
H.M. Stewart
Copyright
© 2016 H.M. Stewart
All rights reserved.
Without limiting the rights under the copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in, or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without prior written permission of the author, H.M Stewart.
Printed in the USA
Dedication
To my Hero,
I watched you for years battle the monster we call cancer. In my eyes you will always be the strongest man I know. I hope that your looking down on me as I finally chase the dreams that you and I had so many conversations about over the years. You always told me, “there was anything to it but to do it”. Well I’m finally doing it! Deep down I know if you were here you’d be quick to tell me what you thought, but you would never judge me, just brag about my accomplishments. I always knew you would always be there for me no matter what. You were always cheering me on and I know in my heart you’re still doing that from somewhere up above. This ones for you Britt!
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
Playlist
“Dream On” By Aerosmith
“Dance, Dance” By Fall Out Boy
“Remember Everything” By Five Finger Death Punch
“Love-Hate-Sex-Pain” By Godsmack
“The Best is Yet to Come” By Hinder
“Mama, I’m Coming Home” By Ozzy Osbourne
“Lifeline” By Papa Roach
“Time is Running Out” By Papa Roach
“Addicted” By Saving Abel
“Black Magic” By Slayer
“Snuff” By Slipknot
“Breakdown” By Tantric
“All or Nothing” By Theory of a Deadman
“Lost in You” By Three Days Grace
“Echo” By Trapt
Chapter 1
Avery
I was sitting on the tour bus with Hunter asleep in my arms. I should be napping right along with him yet, here I sit holding a sleeping toddler dreaming of what was. The last few days I've found myself lost in thoughts of the life I left behind almost five years ago more often than not. I missed my family like something fierce but I'm not quite ready to explain Hunter to everyone. No one has a clue that I had a kid a little over seven months after I high tailed it in the middle of the night. I know my mother will be over the moon but, not sure what everyone else will have to say. It killed me not to spill the beans when I spoke to dad two nights ago. I wanted so bad to tell him but, it's not really something that should be said over the phone. The urge to come clean is killing me and hopefully it will soon be put to bed. I promised to go home for a visit as soon as the tour is over. The length of my visit home will ultimately depend on Axle's reaction. The not knowing how he would react to seeing his son for the first time is what has kept me away for so long. I keep telling myself that he wouldn't want a kid. When we use to sit up and talk about our dreams he made it very clear he had no intention of doing the family thing until much later in life.
Hunter began to stir in my arms. A look at the clock let me know he'd had been asleep for over two hours. Damn time flies when your deep in thought. Looks like no nap for me before tonight's show.
Speaking of which, I need to get little man fed. Trevor will be here soon to keep an eye on him while I go for sound check. Trevor's not only my favorite roadie but also my favorite babysitter. He's been my rock for over four years now. Hell, he's the reason I got the chance with the band in the first place. When the scheduled act canceled last minute at a bar I was working at, Trevor and I ended up performing together. You see his mother owned the bar and was scrambling to get the night’s entertainment covered. She took a chance on me (she really was out of options at that point) and reached out to her son to help me through. He was a roadie for the band even then. He's the one who introduced me to Layla, the lead singer of Break Away, which lead to my audition for backup vocals. I’ve been with the band going on four years now.
After getting quite drunk off of tequila one night I confided my life's history in just one sitting. He knows about my family including the man I love. Trevor knows how I split in the middle of the night without a trace with a goal of making it big in Hollywood only to find out I was pregnant two months after arriving. I filled him in on how I worked my ass off waitressing at night at his mother’s bar, while I auditioned religiously during the day. I'm not sure why but he took a liking to me that night and we've been stuck like glue ever since. He keeps an eye out for Hunter and I like the big brother I never had. Hell, the three of us get mistaken for a happy little family more often than not. The problem with that is a big one. Trevor is one fine specimen of a man but he bats for the same team if you get my drift. He is very masculine but gay as they come. It truly is a pity for the female population because he would be one hell of a catch.
Just then the bus door opened and in walked Trevor looking exhausted. The roadies are always the last ones done after a show and the first ones up when we roll in. They’ve got the task of setting everything up while the rest of us get to sleep in, as well as disassembling everything once were finished with the show before we roll on to the next city. Today was no different except the truck carrying the equipment had a flat just as we hit the Florida line coming from Alabama last night. This put everyone behind but, as they say “the show must go on”. When we finally rolled into the venue everyone was scrambling to get the stage set and the band’s equipment in place. Normally Trevor had time for lunch and a nap before he sits with Hunter while I go to sound check but that wasn’t the case today.
“Hey there good looking. You look like you need a cup of coffee,” I said looking into Trevor’s droopy eyes.
“As much as I would love a cup of that special brew you make, you don’t have time sweet cheeks. Layla stopped me on my way here to tell you to hurry your skinny ass up. Apparently with us rolling in late they had to reschedule an interview for this afternoon. Not only will sound check be cut short but it’s also been moved up and hour.”
“HOLLY SHIT! I’ve got to go but Hunter hasn’t even woken up from his nap yet. I’ve still got to make him something to eat,” I said beginning to panic. “I’ve never been late for sound check.”
“You won’t be late. Just go. I can get little man lunch. Then hopefully he won’t mind curling up on the couch with uncle Trev and watch some TV.”
“Okay. Okay. Don’t go to any trouble. He’ll be fine with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. There’s fresh fruit in the fridge if Harvey and Luther didn’t get into it this morning,” I said not trusting the men I shared the bus with not to take advantage of the fruit I sliced up before bed last night.
“Quit it Avery. I got it. You act like I haven’t taken care of my nephew without your help before. Now get your ass moving sweet checks. Layla is really feeling the pregnancy hormone thing today. As much as she loves you I don’t think even you will be able to escape her wrath today,” Trevor said with a serious look.
I reached up and placed a kiss on his cheek as I made my way to the door. “I love ya good
looking,” I said to my best friend (Romy would kick my ass if she heard me call him my best friend) as I made my way off the bus. Before I closed the door I heard him say “right back at ya sweet cheeks”.
I dashed across the parking lot to the back entrance. Waving my pass in the air while I made my way past the stadium’s security. Thank god neither one of them decided to stop me. Without being noticed I made my way to the stage set up on the stadium floor while the rest of the group was walking towards the stage talking to their asshole manager Leonard. I could see Layla, the lead guitarist and lead vocals, getting very emotional as she let the groups manager have it. Cali, Layla’s sister and the bands drummer, was showing strong support for her sister while rubbing her back. Demi, the bands bass player and Cali’s best friend, stood with her arms crossed staring out at the empty seats with one hell of a pissed of look on her face. Ember, the second guitarist and keyboard player, was the only one on the stage away from the heated conversation. I made a bee line straight for her. It seemed like the safest place for me. Although, I thought of these four girls as family, I was not a member of the band technically. There asshole manager made sure to remind me every chance he got.
“Hey chick! I was hoping Trevor got to you before Leonard had another reason to bitch. I can’t believe how much of an ass he can be,” Ember said as she walked to me pulling me in for a hug.
“What’s his problem now? It seems like all that man does is bitch and complain anymore. He needs to back the fuck off before Ben loses his shit and finally beats the hell out of him,” I said to Ember with venom in my words.
“Oh honey I think that’ll happen before the night is over. Old Lennie over there just informed us that the news of Layla’s pregnancy was leaked yesterday. Then he proceeded to tell her that the father needs to stay a secret. Apparently the label feels that they can come up with a better story than how Layla fell in love with her bodyguard and he knocked her up.”
“OH FUCK! I think Leonard just signed his own death wish. That’s horrible! I can’t believe the label would say something like that.”
“Yeah, I know right? I walked away after I heard that. Don’t worry though because I made sure to call papa bear to check into it for me on the down low. He doesn’t seem to think it was the label at all. He has a suspicion that it was good ole Lennie who’s behind all this,” Ember informed me.
“That’s fucked up if it’s true. If he’s still breathing when Ben gets finished with him I’m sure he won’t have a job or reputation if that’s the case.”
“Yeah well our contract is just about up with Leonard anyway, so who knows. At least there’s only one stop left of this tour after tonight and we’re all off until after that baby is born. You finally going home to see your folks or will you be joining us back in California when this leg of the tour is done,” Ember asked?
“I think I’m going to take Hunter on a little vacation, then take him to meet his grandparents for the first time. I’ve been putting this off long enough. The longer I wait the harder it’s going to be. Lord knows four years of my child’s life is a long time to make up for. I just hope they can forgive me and understand why I took off,” I said on the verge of tears.
“Don’t cry girl. You know no matter what, all you have to do is call. If they can’t get over it then you and my surrogate nephew will hop a plane to California and hang with me,” Ember said hugging me tight. She pulled back just enough to look me in the eyes before she spoke again. “I mean it Avery. You need any of us you know we’re here for you no matter what.”
“What’s going on up here girls? Whose ass do I need to kick other than Leonard’s?” I spun to see Demi had make her way on the stage trying to lighten the mood a little bit. Before I could blow off her questions and change the subject Ember answered her.
“I was just telling Avery that if her parents can’t deal with the past that she would always have a place to stay with me,” Ember stated matter-of-factly.
Demi focused on me as she spoke the words that made me appreciate the family that had taken Hunter and myself in. “You listen to me woman. I don’t care if your parents or your biker family approves or not. You have family that will be there for you. Granted we might be a little dysfunctional but we’ve been your family for the last four years. We love you and we will always be here for you,” Demi said as I pulled out of Ember’s embrace and wrapped Demi up in a giant hug. Being that Demi wasn’t the affectionate type she froze and kind of patted my back before pulling away.
“Enough with the heavy shit. Can we get on with the sound check,” Demi said loud enough for everyone to hear? She gave me a wink before she spun on her heels to pick up her bass and start to play a few cords.
I took that as my que to move to my place on the stage. My mic along with Tanya’s, the other back up vocalist, were set up to the right of Cali’s drum kit. Speaking of Tanya, where the hell was she? I looked around the venue spotting her at the sound board with Mica. Tanya waved before she proceeded to jump down and head towards the stage. I noticed she went way out of her way to avoid getting close to the three that were wrapping up their conversation. Before long she was joining me at our designated spot on stage. Tanya was a sweetheart. Even though I wasn’t as close to her as I was with the rest of the group, I still thought a lot of her. She was very timid and didn’t know how to take Demi’s bluntness and on more than one occasion Leonard had brought her to tears. She was going to need to grow a back bone if she wanted to go anywhere in this business.
“How’s Hunter? I didn’t get to see the little guy before we turned in last night,” Tanya said catching me off guard for a moment. I’m not saying she wasn’t kind to Hunter but, she had never really taken to him like the rest. She enjoyed the freedom life on tour provided. She was always tagging along with the roadies to the after parties coming in after Hunter was already nestled in bed. That’s the reason why Trevor, Mica, Hunter and myself were granted the back set of bunks on the bus we shared with her, Harvey, and Luther. It was a tight fit but we all had different schedules and it’s been working well since the tour started over six months ago.
“He’s fine. He was actually asleep by the time I got to the bus last night. He didn’t get much of a nap yesterday so I came back to the bus to find Trevor and Hunter snuggled together snoring away,” I said with nervous giggle.
“That’s good. I know Trevor loves him like his own. You going out with us tonight or are you turning into Cinderella again?”
“Tanya you know it’s hard for me to go out with you guys with Hunter on the bus. I’m sure Trevor will be out painting the town with you all. You won’t need me for that girl.”
“You ain’t kidding chick. That man can dance all night long. I just wish you could have a night to enjoy yourself before we all split up for months.”
“Thank you honey but I’ll be fine. I’m exhausted as it is. I welcome the thought of curling up and sleeping the night away,” I said to Tanya as Layla and Cali finally made it to the stage.
“I just don’t have it in me girls to do a full sound check nor do we have the time. We’ve been at this shit for six months already so I’m sure we can make due with just rehearsing the cover song and two others. Avery honey you pick the two songs to go over. Tanya you get to pick the cover for tonight,” Layla spoke looking beside herself.
“I was thinking a little “Bad Reputation” for the cover tonight,” Tanya said with a grin. “I think a little Joan Jett will cure anybody’s mood.”
“Sounds fun to me. I’m up for anything to clear me out of this funk,” Layla responded with a slight smile. “What are you thinking for sound check Avery?”
“How about something a little different. I wanna take ya back to the old days in Cali. Let’s do Feel me up or Get Out. Then jump a head just a bit with I’ll be your bitch.” Apparently I must have suggested something right because all the girls were grinning from ear-to-ear.
“I think we got time to do all three. What do you say bitches
,” Ember spoke up before kicking into the first cords of Get Out?
We breezed through sound check in no time. Everyone parted ways to finish up their obligations for the rest of the evening. It was almost three in the afternoon. The opening bands would kick us off at six thirty with us taking the stage at nine. The three acts before us would work to get the fans riled up just in time for Layla to rock this place out.
When I got back to the bus I found Hunter sitting on the couch with Trevor. Hunter was perched at the edge with a bowl of grapes watching some cartoon while Trevor was laid out with his arm over his face slightly snoring. When Hunter noticed I was coming in he turned to me with his little finger pushed against his lips. “Sssh Momma, uncle Trev is snoozing.”
“I can see that baby. Have you been good for uncle Trev while momma’s been working baby boy?”
“Yes momma. I sweared it,” my little boy said while crossing his heart with his little fingers. “I promised uncle Trev I wouldn’t get into anythin’ while he closed his eyes for a sec.”
“Okay baby. Why don’t you and I leave uncle Trev to finish his nap and we’ll go get something to eat from the caterer’s tent with the rest of the guys.”
“Yay Momma! I get to see uncle Harvey and uncle Mica too,” he said with so much enthusiasm I couldn’t help but feel excited too.
“That’s right baby boy. Let’s go get you fed so momma can get back here to get herself together for tonight.”
Hunter jumped from the couch and scrambled to the back of the bus for his shoes. I was going to wake Trevor to let him know where we had gone but I figured we would be back before he woke. I’d make sure to bring him a “to go” plate back when we came. With Hunter’s shoes on we quietly left the bus and headed towards the food tent. I just hope they had some chicken salad on the menu.
Thankfully, we hit the tent just at the right time. Hunter was able to visit with his favorite uncles for a bit while I made my way back in line a second time to get something for Trevor. Once I had a chicken salad sandwich platter for my bestie I walked back over to where my son sat with Harvey and Mica. Hunter was telling the guys something using his hands to talk just as much as his little voice. The looks on the older guy’s faces let me know they knew something I didn’t. As I walked up behind Hunter I heard him say, “but don’t tell momma. Uncle Trevor says she worries too much. She will totally be taking my games away if she finds out.”
Coming Home: Dominant Devils Book 2 Page 1
