Encore (The Black Eagles Series Book 2) (19 page)

BOOK: Encore (The Black Eagles Series Book 2)
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Statement from The Black Eagles.

We want to make a public apology to the fans that waited outside after we had promised to come to see you all. We had to make the decision after certain events that took place during our show tonight. The details are of a very delicate nature and it isn’t a secret about our current situation. We didn’t take the decision lightly but when our families are threatened we have to take appropriate action. Our tour is going ahead as planned but our security has been stepped up. This does mean until we are 100% certain our situation has been cleared up there will be no meet and greets.

Please stick with us and we will make it up to you. You know we love you all.

Luke, Dale, Toby and Tom.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Impact

‘How could you?’ Allie yelled, as she stormed through Jo-Jo’s door. She stopped in the middle of the room, shaking, her face crimson with anger.

              Jo-Jo stood opened mouthed and confused. ‘What are you on about?’

              ‘You know damn well. How could you do it to me, not to mention Tom?’ Allie stormed forward and slapped her bandmate, almost knocking her into the wall.

              The shock of the outburst and the attack left Jo-Jo speechless. She held her face and looked at Allie. ‘What the hell was that for?’

              ‘Nathan. I know what you did.’ Allie was incensed. Jo-Jo suddenly had a horrible feeling in the pit of her stomach. ‘Last night, inviting him into your room. Telling him how you’d fancied him since the tour started and tried to kiss him.’

              ‘What!’ Jo-Jo spat. ‘And you believe him. It was the other way round. He came onto me.’

              Allie clearly didn’t believe her by the way she gestured with her hands for her to shut up. It was clear that Allie was completely sucked in by this guy, and believed every word that came out of his mouth. Allie, the girl who had been the strong, don’t give a crap kind of girl, was tearing up. ‘You’re supposed to be my friend. Why, Jo?’

              Jo-Jo straightened up and looked her friend in the eyes without breaking her gaze. ‘I didn’t do anything. Al, babe, it’s me. I would never do that, to you or Tom.’

              ‘I don’t believe you. He says you’ve been flirting with him behind my back for ages.’

              Jo-Jo flipped and charged from the room, yelling for Nathan. Cassie and Summer came running from their room, hearing the commotion. ‘Get your lanky ass out here, tosser!’ Jo-Jo yelled, kicking the door in anger.

              Allie was tearfully telling Cassie about what she thought had happened. Cassie glared at her drummer. ‘Don’t believe him. Jo-Jo hasn’t done anything wrong.’

              Allie’s eyes narrowed as she glared back. ‘I should have known you would side with her, your best mate. It’s always been you two and me on the outside. The third wheel.’ Allie had been listening to Nathan telling her how he thought she was undervalued by her band, and how she could do better. Allie had always felt a little on the outside, but in some ways she had always been a little distant. If she wasn’t doing band stuff she would go and be with her family, or friends that weren’t connected to the other two. It had never been a problem before. It was how it was and the other girls had respected it. ‘Even when I’m with you all, including Luke and his lot, I’m always the least involved.’ The anger and the sadness shone through.

              Cassie felt her heart drop to her stomach. This was what she had feared when Nathan had begun his stupid games. Jo-Jo stopped kicking the door, turned and grabbed Allie by the shoulders, begging her to listen. But the argument escalated and they began to fight. Summer banged on Nathan’s door, yelling for him to get out of his room and sort it out. He didn’t and Summer knew in that moment she was done with him.

              Max, Echo’s manager, arrived after hearing the shouting. He was tall and broad, dark skinned and smartly dressed, a sucker for designer clothes and always looking good. He put himself between his scrapping band members, and held them apart. ‘Enough!’ His tone was firm and controlled. He looked at Cassie and demanded to know what was going on. Cassie filled their manager in and he looked at Summer who looked at the floor, mortified. ‘Is he in there?’ Max asked.

              ‘Yes.’

              ‘OK, then,’ Max said, turning to Allie and telling her to calm down. Allie began to rant about loyalty and friendship. Max held his hand in front of her mouth to silence her. ‘And what about benefit of the doubt or listening to a friend who’s been in your life longer than five minutes.’ Allie wisely stopped. Max wasn’t someone you argued with. He turned to Jo-Jo and calmly asked, ‘Is what Nathan claims true?’

              ‘Good god. You really have to ask?’ Max raised his eyebrows at her. ‘No. He came onto me last night and I told him exactly where he could go.’

              Max stood in front of the door, lifted his leg and with one forceful kick the door flew open. It smashed against the wall as he boldly walked in and Nathan jumped up from his bed. He’d been hoping it would all just go away if he ignored the banging on the door. He backed against the wall as Max approached him.

              ‘Talk. Now,’ Max barked.

              ‘I don’t know what you mean.’

              ‘Don’t be a prick. Talk!’

              Nathan tried to give some vague, pathetic answers. He was still claiming Jo-Jo had been flirting with him but then began to backtrack. ‘Maybe I did read the situation wrong.’

              Max’s thunderous laughter filled the room. ‘You have five seconds to start telling the truth or your band is on the first plane home.’

              Summer walked towards him looking him in the eyes, and seeing the lies in them. It wouldn’t be the first time he had pulled a stunt like this, and she knew exactly what was going on. She also suspected the rest of her band were involved. The embarrassment made her feel sick, and looking at Cassie’s face made it worse. ‘Nath, just stop. What is wrong with you?’

              ‘Babe, trust me. Jo-Jo can’t keep her hands off me.’

              Summer punched him on the arm making him yell out. ‘This is not a game.’

              Allie looked over at Jo-Jo then back at Nathan and she saw the difference in their expressions. Jo-Jo was angry but her expression locked on Nathan. His expression was guiltier, like a criminal that had been caught out. Then the veil dropped and the mist cleared from her eyes.

              Nathan laughed and tried to pass it off as a stupid joke, a prank that he realised now was not in the least bit funny. Summer hit him again on the arm. She called the rest of her boys and they stood in Nathan’s room like school children in front of the headmaster.

              ‘Rocco. You’re normally involved. What’s the truth?’

              ‘I told him not to actually do it. It was just a drunken joke. You know what he’s like.’

              Allie looked at Nathan, who looked away. ‘Tell me,’ she demanded.

              Rocco admitted that before they had started the tour a joke had been made, over some beers, about Nathan getting both girls into bed. Rocco claimed he hadn’t actually been serious but Nathan wouldn’t back down.

              Cassie flew across the room, screaming in his face. She grabbed him round the neck and launched him over the bed. He landed in a heap on the floor. ‘I told you not to mess with my girls. What kind of person are you?’ Cassie could fight like a man when the right buttons were pressed. It was a scary thing to be on the receiving end of, and it was clear on Nathan’s face as he stood up that he was shocked. Cassie went for him again, but Max held her back.

              ‘Get your stuff and fuck off home. You’re not welcome!’ Max roared. He was livid at his behaviour. These were his girls, his friends and his job. He did not like them being treated so badly. It was also his job to ensure things ran smoothly, and this was not running smoothly. Shadowed Faces hadn’t heard a peep from their manager since the tour started, so he was clearly not doing his job. He’d be hearing from Max the first chance he got.

              ‘I was a bet!’ Allie was heartbroken. The first man she had fallen for in a long time had completely fooled her. It was the first time in her life she had ever been made the fool. She should be joining Cassie but she was devastated, numb. ‘So, everything was nothing but a show to win a bet?’  

              ‘Allie, I’m sorry, but that was at the start. I did, I do like you,’ Nathan weakly tried to explain, to worm his way out of it.

              Allie wouldn’t listen to any more of his lies. ‘You lied about Jo, my friend. I hit her because of you.’ Allie turned to Jo-Jo, her eyes wet with tears. ‘I’m sorry, really sorry.’ Jo-Jo hugged her and told her it wasn’t her fault. Needing some air, Allie ran from the room to escape the hurt and humiliation.

              ‘Allie!’ Jo-Jo shouted after her before deciding to follow, but glaring at Nathan before she left. ‘You broke her heart. How fucking dare you do that? I’m not bothered about the lies about me, but what you did to her is disgusting.’ She turned to her manager. ‘If they are not kicked off this tour, you can forget it. I’m not continuing with them. Until they are gone, I’m on strike.’

              Needing air and some space, Allie ran to the lift. She ran through the hotel doors, and saw the bars across the busy street. In her mind everything he had done and said to her over the weeks played out. Just hours ago, in her room, he had told her he loved her and made love to her, or so she had thought. But it had been nothing but a bet. She felt physically sick at being so stupid and her skin crawled at the thought of his touch. Humiliating wasn’t even the right word to describe it. She would go and have a drink and calm down. Get steaming drunk and wake up in the morning with a raging hangover, make up properly with Jo-Jo and put it behind them and bring the roof down at the next show, fully united. At that moment she wanted to be alone to lick her wounds.

              Jo-Jo followed her down the stairs and through the door. She could see Allie heading for the busy road, running and clearly very upset. Jo-Jo saw it coming before she had a chance to shout, as it played out in slow motion. Allie running into the traffic and then the screech of tyres. Jo-Jo’s cry was cut off as the shock rendered her speechless. She threw her arm out as if she could catch her friend and pull her back. Instead she stood rooted to the spot as Allie’s body bounced over the blue car that had just crashed into her. She was thrown into the road and continued to bounce after the initial hit of the car, finally landing motionless in the road. Cars stopped and people rushed to help.

              ‘No!’ Jo-Jo screamed as she ran, pushing people out the way. But it was already too late. Allie was a mangled mess. There was blood everywhere, and her arms and legs were in what seemed impossible positions. Then she heard the screams. Cassie and Max were running towards her. She didn’t look back. Instead she picked up her friend’s lifeless body and held her. Cassie was screaming for someone to help, do something.

              Max was doing his best to stay in control, but he was failing. And his important asset, friend and the band’s drummer was dead. Allie Mitchell had died on impact. Her life cut off aged twenty-one after one stupid bet, a joke for a laugh. Nobody was laughing now.

*****

Summer stood on the steps of the hotel and threw up as the scene played out in front of her. She could hear Cassie screaming. ‘No. Allie. No!’ She should be there by her side, but she couldn’t make her feet move. Behind her the rest of her idiot band members stood silent.

              Nathan was on his knees, wracked with guilt. This was his fault and he knew it. He never expected this outcome. He couldn’t speak or move. He had liked her, maybe not loved her, but he was devastated too.

              Summer turned and her anger poured out. ‘What have you done? Are you happy now? Was your little bet worth it? She’s dead, Nath, she’s dead.’ Rocco tried to take her hand, but she pushed him away. ‘Get off me. We’re done, all of it. I’m out. Find another singer. I’m done with you all.’ Summer meant it. Her priority now was Cassie. She had lost her friend and everything was broken. She ran towards the scene. Cassie was on her knees over her friend’s body, being coaxed away by a paramedic. Max was holding Jo-Jo, stopping her from going for Nathan. All she could do was wrap her arms around her girlfriend and cry too.

              Echo’s tour was cancelled. The news filtered through quickly causing hearts to break all over the world.

*****

‘Tom…oh...Allie... she’s dead. She’s dead...I need you.’ Jo-Jo was hysterical.

              Tom stopped in his tracks. They were just heading for their tour bus after a show. He turned to face the others, as he took in the words. ‘What? Allie’s what?’

              ‘She’s been hit by a car after that idiot broke her heart…it happened so fast. Oh, my god! Tom...she’s dead...’

              Tom fell against the bus as he realised this was real. ‘Shit, babe. I’m so sorry. What do you need me to do? Where are you?’ He heard her sobbing turn into gut wrenching cries as she could no longer continue the conversation.

              ‘What’s happened? Tom, what’s going on?’ Luke asked sensing this was serious. Tom looked pale as he answered. The group collapsed into each other’s arms. How much more heartache could they take? Luke took the phone, which had been passed to Max, who was barely holding it together. He explained the full story and said Jo-Jo wanted to be with Tom, and Cassie needed to be with Jo-Jo, but they needed to go home first to sort things and see Allie’s family. Once that had been done he asked if it would be OK if they joined them.

              ‘Do whatever’s needed. If Jo-Jo needs Tom, nothing will stop that. I’ll send him home if I have to and get a stand-in. Can I speak to Cassie?’

              Max explained that the two girls were too distraught to speak. Cassie wouldn’t speak to anyone but she would call when she could.

              ‘Max, call Nancy. She’ll help you with whatever you need.’ Luke was thankful that they had the next few days off. They would need time to take this in and make some plans to fit with the rest of their tour.

BOOK: Encore (The Black Eagles Series Book 2)
6.29Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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