With only eight minutes to spare I was moving towards the front of the bus putting on my jewelry on along the way. Trevor was still asleep on the couch from earlier. I shook him awake needing to get him moving towards Madison. I didn’t want her standing out there all by herself.
“Avery what the fuck? Is the show over already? I just need a few minutes to change and we’ll roll to the club.”
“Trevor I need you to get your ass up now. My life is falling the fuck apart and I have to be in a damn meeting in seven minutes.” That got his attention. He sprung up from the couch ready for battle.
“What the fuck you mean your life is falling apart? Is he here? I have no problem sending him away! Just say the words and it’s done.”
“Stop being so dramatic you big goof and get your speed demon ass out front and pick Madison up and bring her back here. She can hang out with you or you can bring her over to the green room. I don’t care but whatever you do you keep her away from Layla’s bus. I want to be the one to explain Hunter to her. Please do this for me. I’ll explain this fucked up turn of events after the show tonight. I’m sure Madison will fill you in before I do anyway.”
“I don’t like this sweet cheek’s but I’ll do this for you. I’ll make sure she doesn’t catch wind of Hunter before you have a chance to talk to her but I’m telling you now if she causes you grief I’m booting her ass out,” my best friend stated.
I closed the distance quickly and placed a kiss on his cheek. I knew he meant every word. He was my knight in shining armor. “I love you Trevor. You are one of the best things in our lives but I knew this day would come. Frankly I’m grateful she showed up. Still don’t know if I would have the courage to drop my little secret on my family if I wasn’t pushed. I don’t think Madison will stay upset. At first maybe but if anyone would see my reasoning it will be her. I think this will be a good thing.”
“If you say so. I’ll use one of the gators to ride around front and pick her up. Now get your ass moving. If you hurry you might just have enough time to get to the green room before Lennie flips the fuck out. Get a move on sweet cheeks.”
Without another word I was out the bus door and high stepping it back into the stadium. With a minute to spare I came to a stop just as the girls were walking into the green room. When the group was in the room and the door closed I motioned for Layla, Cali, Demi and Ember to come closer. I needed to give them a heads up on what I’d be walking into when I get out of this room. “I’ve got something to say really quick and please don’t put too much thought into it because I know this will work itself out.”
“Okay spit it out Barbie,” Demi said impatiently.
“Yeah Avery what’s going on. I had a feeling something was keeping you. You’re normally the first one here woman,” Cali added.
Before Layla or Ember could comment I spit it out. “Madison is here. She just showed up. Called me about a half hour ago to let me know she’s outside. She sounded desperate. Something must be going on back home so I couldn’t turn her away without speaking to her but you all know what this means. Our little guy isn’t going to be a secret anymore. Layla, I plan on taking her out with me and hopefully breaking the news. If not, I’ll let her get out whatever is eating at her tonight then introduce them first thing in the morning. I’ll handle this but, I just wanted to give you all a heads up.”
Just then Leonard walked up tapping his watch like the asshole he was. “Get a move on ladies. It’s time to get this shit moving. Avery why aren’t you on the bus with Tanya? How many times to I need to tell you that you’re not part of the band? You don’t have to be with them for every little thing.”
“First of all dickhead, she was told to be here. Second of all, you ever speak to someone like that in my family again I will fuck you up. Now let’s get this shit over with. We all need a nap before tonight cuz none of us have slept worth a shit with everything being delayed. We’ve already got the damn sound check over with and that fucking interview with the sleazy reporter who was more worried about my tits than what we had to say,” a pissed off Demi exploded.
That shut Leonard up, at least for now anyway. He turned back around and headed towards the couch in the corner of the room leaving me with the girls by the door. “You do what you think is right girl. We’ll be here for you no matter what. I’ve got little man taken care of. He’ll be glued to Ben for the rest of the day anyway. You tell her when you’re ready,” Layla said low enough for just us to hear.
“Ok we can talk more about this shit when we get through listening to what douche bag has to say. For now, let’s get this shit over with. I’m ready for a nap and it’s already after four o’ clock in the afternoon. This whole day has fucked up my schedule,” Ember added.
With a few nods the five of us broke apart to move over towards the asshole manager. I sat with the girls and listened to good ole Lennie bitch about merchandise sales and autograph sessions for almost an hour. The girls put their input in while I remained quiet as a church mouse. I had enough shit to deal with; an argument with Leonard wasn’t on my to do list today.
“Well if you don’t have anything else I’m going to take a nap. Ladies let’s roll,” Ember said letting Leonard know the meeting was over. Instantly knots formed in the pit of my stomach. I knew I’d be facing Madison very shortly. I needed to put my shit aside and help her first though. I needed that feisty brunette calm when I sprung her nephew on her. I’d take her back to the bus and let her vent before the show. Once she’s done venting I’ll take her up to watch the show and out for a night on the town when the show was over. Hopefully that will put her in a better mood to allow me to spill some news. Maybe I could get her to just hang with us for a few weeks while I take Hunter on that little vacation I promised before I take him home to meet the rest of his family.
Ember held the door for Layla, Cali, Demi and myself. When we stepped out into the hallway I saw a blast from the past. Just seeing one of my closest friends after almost five years had me wanting to cry. She was at the end of the hall on her phone. I plastered the biggest smile I could on my face and moved to greet her.
When I got closer to her my demeanor changed. I found her pacing on the phone looking distraught. I knew it was a call from home. OH FUCK NO! This wasn’t happening on my watch. Not in the mood for this shit I walked up and snatched the phone away. I wasn’t even sure who she was talking to but I really didn’t fucking care at the moment. I put the phone up to my ear just in time for Axle’s voice to ring through.
"Once we get this shit settled you can take the fuck off forever if you want but, right now I've had a fucking brother shot and two women of the club disappeared. Now is not the fucking time for you to seek your independence. You need to get your ass back here so I can protect you."
“What did you just say?” It took a moment for him to realize it was me or maybe like myself the sound of the voice on the other end of the line caused an overload of emotions that needed to get put back in check before anything else was said. Leave it to Braxton O’Shea, aka Axle president of the Dominant Devils… Madison’s twin brother… the love of my life…. the father of my son to rattle me.
Oh my god some heavy shit was going on back home if someone had been shot but, at least, the two women disappearing meant Madison and myself. At least he could rest easy with that one. I actually felt bad for a moment. The sound of his voice was laced with stress and pain. Didn’t mean I was going to take it easy on him though. Just wasn’t my style with him anymore.
"Avery! What takes Madison with you? How the fuck did she know where you were when no of us have been able to find you?"
"Well unlike you she pays attention. She knew what band I was traveling with and looked up their tour schedule I guess. Apparently she saw we were in Jacksonville tonight and headed this way. Hell, I was asleep when she pulled in the arena parking lot. One of the other backup vocals drug me from my bunk because the fucking incessant ringing of my phone woke her up."
"There's so much I want to say to you but I don't have enough time. There's some heavy shit crashing down around the club. I'll get the Brunswick chapter to lend us a few escorts for you guys. They can ride down and escort you guys back," Braxton said like that was the end of discussion.
"Not going to fucking happen Braxton," I said throwing out his real name. "I'm on the job. I can't just up and leave. We still have a week left of the tour. With lots of interviews and appearance scheduled between here and New York City. The final show is schedule for Madison Square Garden then I’m taking my fucking vacation I have planned. Traveling with a high profile all female band meaning lots of security. I’m fine and I'm planning on getting Madison cleared to hang around for the rest of the tour. If all goes well she'll be able to hang with me for a bit, she’ll get to see a little of the glamour and clear her head away from the club shit."
I waited for Axle to respond to my defiance. I knew he was going to blow at any minute. I paced backstage with Madison’s phone pressed to my ear and took noticed that not only was the caller on the phone quiet but so was everything else. I looked around to find Trevor comforting a distraught Madison while Layla, Cali, Demi and Ember stood to the side quietly watching. I know they were waiting to see what this phone call would be leading to. They wanted to see if I was strong enough to handle it. They’ve been the ones to pick up the pieces after my phone calls back home. They knew it tore me apart and had me wanting to run back home at the end of every call. That’s the whole reason my calls to my Dominant Devils family are few and far between. Each time I hear from one of them I’m ready to drop everything and come running. Romy was the only one I spoke to on a regular basis. She makes sure to keep me up to date. She’s the only one from back home who knew I had gotten pregnant and I know she would never tell anyone. We’ve been thick as thieves since babies. I know all her dirty details and she knows mine for the most part. Plus, I warned her that if anything ever leaked about my kid, the band I was with or where I was at, that I would disappear for good.
Needing to break the silence I spoke into the receiver hoping to get him riled up and get the call over with. "Look if you have nothing more to say then I'm hanging the fuck up. Honestly I don't even know why the hell I'm talking to you anyway."
"Okay! Okay! Chill the fuck out woman. I'll make you a deal. I won't send anyone after Madison to bring her back but when this tour is over there will be someone waiting at the last stop to escort Madison and yourself home. She will have to give me her word that she'll never do something fucking stupid like this again and you have to guarantee me you'll stay around until the next tour picks up; that is if you want to go back."
"Well I'll agree to the escort home from the last show but I'm not sure when the next tour will be. The band is running on fumes from the six month straight stretch we've spent on the road. I told dad I would be home for a visit, not for good. I was planning on coming home for a few weeks before I treat myself to a vacation on a white sandy beach with plenty of little umbrella drinks."
"This isn't up for debate Avery. I laid my deal out. So it's either you finish the tour with company or I send someone after both of you to drag your asses back here kicking and screaming. And if either one of you decide you want to run away again I’ll be spanking both your asses!"
"Fine but if I get a call to head back to L.A. to lay vocals on the next album you've got to let me. This is my career you’re fucking with. If you remember correctly, you trying to dictate to me how to run my life sent me running years ago."
"Okay. I get it. I won't interfere with your career again. You've got a good head on your shoulders and I'm not telling you to live like a nun but keep your head low and for now on both of you answer your goddamn phones when they ring. I'll see you both in a week." Axle hung the phone up without even saying good bye. That stung quite a bit. He had never hung up without saying “I love you, babe forever and always” let alone good bye. I stood there stunned looking at the phone. I couldn’t move.
I felt someone wrap the arm around my shoulders. Layla used her fingers to turn my head so I was looking her in the eye. “It’s going to be okay girl. No matter what, you have us. We will always be here for you but that look on your face is something I’ve seen over the year’s. Every time he manages to get you on the phone I see the same thing. Your still not over him. I think maybe you need to stop putting off that visit home. You never know what you might find waiting for you. Now why don’t you take that pretty ass of yours and go check on our boy. We’ll keep your guest entertained. I’ll tell her you’re going to get a shower so you can be ready for the show early and be able to give her your full attention until curtain call,” Layla whispered only loud enough for me to hear.
I couldn’t speak so I just nodded my agreement. I turned away from Layla and took off towards the bus. She was right. I needed to face him and everyone else back home. It was time to pull up my thong and face what I’ve been running from for years. First though, I would let Madison get her shit aired out, then after the show I’m going to take tonight and drink my little heart away. I’ll wake with a hangover and a brave face tomorrow ready to tackle whatever hurdles stood in my way. Something told me hurricane Madison would only be the first hurdle to clear.
Layla
I watched as one of my closest friends took off towards the buses before I turned to her guest leaning against the wall with Trevor. I didn’t want to run her off but I was going to make damn sure she wasn’t here to fuck over Avery. Avery has come a long way from the broken twenty-year-old she was when I first met her. I’ll be damned if I’m going to let anyone knock her back down to that.
“Okay Madison, I’ve got to get to know you better before I pass any judgement. Depending on how this goes will determine whether I let you hang around and finish out the tour with us,” I said flatly. I put my bitch face on. Not to be mean but to get my point a crossed.
“Okay it seems fair enough,” Madison answered as I felt -my bandmates move up bedside me.
“Alright. I guess I should introduce us. I’m sure you may know we’re the members of Break Away. My name is Layla. The long haired red head is Ember. The raven haired moody girl is Demi. Which leaves my sister Cali. Beside you, is Trevor, Avery’s best friend.”
“Pleased to meet you all. I never knew my girl was traveling with Break Away. She never told us. She just told everyone she was traveling with a band she met in California,” Madison replied.
“Yeah, well I’m sure she had her reasons. Those reasons probably benefitted us just as much as they did her,” Ember threw back at her.
“When I met Avery at a bar she was performing in a few years back I saw a girl running from home trying to prove them all wrong. I took a liking to her instantly and we have been like sisters ever sense,” I informed her.
“Excuse me for what I’m about to say but, if that’s the case why are you all holding her back?”
“What the fuck you just say bitch? If you think that then you really don’t know her at all. We aren’t holding anyone back,” Demi snapped at Madison. Before I could say anything Madison fired back at Demi.
“Oh really. I heard her out there and I grew up listening to her. I watched her develop that sinful voice of hers. When everyone at home told her she was nuts for thinking a female voice could be heard in the metal world I stood behind her a hundred percent. Romy and I covered for her, which I might add is not an easy feat in our world, every time she had to sneak out for gigs across the state line. We pushed her to do what she loved. Hell, I was the one that told her she needed to get to California. I knew she would never make her dreams come true living in South Carolina. I did that, ME! What the fuck have the four of you done other than give her a job and keep her in the back? What we’re you afraid she might outshine one of you?”
Although I admired this girl for sticking up for Avery, even though she had no clue, I sure as hell wasn’t going to let her get away with the venom she was spitting. “News flash darling we aren’t
holding anyone back. I wish I could explain in detail but that’s a conversation you need to have with Avery. We have tried to get her to pursue a lead in a band. The first night I heard her I wasn’t there to offer her a gig singing backup for me. I had every intention offering her a chance at stardom. I wanted to back her and help mold her into the next metal princess the world so desperately needs. She wouldn’t have any of it though. She has her reasons and as her friends WE supported them. Still do I might add. I don’t know how many projects with other big name bands we’ve talked her into doing. So before you come in here pointing fingers and making accusations I suggest you have that little talk with her. Let her explain everything and might I suggest you listen to EVERYTHING she tells you without passing judgement. Make no mistake darling if you do, you will answer to me. I don’t give a flying fuck who you are or where you came from. You disrespect our girl I will make your life absolute hell,” I said screaming the last few words!
Apparently I’m losing my touch because the bitch started grinning. I’m standing here trying to put the fear of god in her and she thinks its comedy central. This bitch is touched. Don’t know whether to laugh with her or back hand her. I chose to stay quiet and wait for what she had to say. It didn’t take long before she took her turn laying it out for me either.
“I’m not one for apologies but if what your saying is true then I’m sorry. I’m not one to pass judgement on any one unless its someone fucking with my family. Like it or not girls, Avery is my family. We take care of our own. I have no intentions of fucking up anything for Avery. This trip was about me. I needed to get away. I have always supported Avery and I always will dammit! So don’t you four think you’re going to sit back and pass judgement on me either. If you know Avery as well as you say you do, then you know that we both come from a family that is extremely over protective. The only way to get them to realize they need to back off is to disappear. When I left in the early hours this morning I had no idea where I was headed. I’m not one to believe in fate but I’d have to say that fate is what led me here. I saw the concert poster on the door of the gas station earlier tonight when I stopped for gas. At first I thought I was just looking at an advertisement for a kick ass show with my favorite band, but after looking at the poster closely I saw my girl in the background. She never told us who she was touring with or even where they were touring. Oh and please don’t take this the wrong way; I want no issue with you but if you think the four of you scare me, Avery must not have elaborated on me or anyone else from her family.”
Coming Home: Dominant Devils Book 2 Page 3
