Encore (The Black Eagles Series Book 2) (22 page)

              Melissa nodded. ‘How could you do that?’

              ‘It took a long time but getting him clean and back to health was my priority. We were just friends through that time. We didn’t live together or share a bed. I refused to let him touch me for months, and as he got better, he changed. I made him want me to the point where he would beg, and I still wouldn’t give in. And when I did it made him realise what he’d nearly lost. We wiped the slate clean, and started all over again. We divorced on the quiet and I made him work to win me back. And boy did he work for it. We remarried and had our boys and never looked back. I had to truly forgive him. You can’t say you forgive someone and then keep throwing the mistakes in their face. You either forgive and let it go, or move on for good.’

              They sat for hours discussing both their lives, continuing to discover how much they had in common. Saskia helped her put things in perspective. She was a very wise woman and talked a lot of sense. She told Melissa to seriously think about taking on some of the work offers. ‘Get out there. Do something for
you
. You could be anything. I’ll be your agent if you need someone to represent you. I’ve done it in the past, and could come out of retirement for you.’

              Melissa decided that Saskia was right and having her as an agent would be incredible. ‘Fuck it. OK, let’s do it. I’ve so many things that need looking at. Truth is, I don’t know where to start.’

‘You’re going to be fine,’ Luke assured Melissa, who was pacing the dressing room of the TV studio. She had finally agreed to do her first interview and was going out there on her own. It was a morning show, and was watched by millions. Saskia, officially Melissa’s agent, was fussing around but looking confident in her surroundings. Melissa was dressed casual smart in black trousers and white cami top. Her make-up and hair had been done and in Luke’s eyes she was perfect.

              ‘I’ve never done this before. I’m shaking.’

              ‘You’ve been through worse, you can do this.’

              Saskia gave her more words of encouragement – what to say, and what not to say, how to hold herself and how to avoid questions she wasn’t comfortable with. It had all completely gone out of her head. But she didn’t have time to back out now, as she was called to the studio.

              Luke kissed her and told her to just be herself. ‘People already love you, mostly. Those that don’t are clearly morons and don’t matter.’

              She took a deep breath and made the walk to her space on the cream sofa opposite the show’s presenters. Tilly Wise and Jim Moss greeted her warmly and she sat down, holding herself as instructed, confident but friendly. She smiled at the camera while being introduced but her heart hammered in her chest. Her hands began to sweat as did the back of her neck. Everything was surreal and she didn’t feel like she was really there.

              ‘Thank you, Melissa, for agreeing to speak to us today. We know this is the first ever interview or public appearance you’ve made.’

              Melissa smiled and answered as expected. ‘Thank you for having me.’

              They asked the usual questions: how was she after all her recent events? how was Luke, and the rest of the band? how was she coping? and so on. She breezed through them, surprising herself, until Lyla and Allie were brought up. She stumbled on the questions and got emotional, but somehow managed to stop herself from crumbling completely.

              ‘You’ve been through such a lot for someone so young. Do you know what an inspiration you are to millions of women?’

              Melissa never really knew how to respond to that question. It wasn’t something she believed herself. ‘I’m completely honoured, of course. But I never set out to be that. It’s so mind blowing that strangers feel that way about me. I’ve had some lovely messages, and I want to say that I do read them all. If you sent one, I’ve read it. Luke has read them, and we are so very grateful, but we get so many we can’t reply to them all. One day, when things are calmer, I might try to go back and try to connect with people.’

              The interview went onto some of the awful events during Luke’s abduction and Melissa answered honestly as much as she could. The presenters became braver in their questioning. Saskia tried to intervene but to her dismay, and Luke’s, she gestured that she was fine. Suddenly, she was OK with it, finding telling people the truth liberating in a way. People could hear her say the words, not read them in an article.

              ‘How do you feel about the gossip that surrounds you? What’s the worst one you’ve had?’

              Melissa straightened up and took another deep breath. ‘I honestly hate it. I’ve learned to accept it, and try not to let it get to me. It’s very hard to do that. They all hurt me, but the rumours about Toby and me upset me most. Yes, I love him. Yes, I’m very close to him but he’s my friend and that’s it. Nothing more.’

              Tilly Wise leaned forward. ‘So it’s completely false.’

              Melissa looked at her, and for a second Luke thought he saw a hint of a glare but she held back. ‘Of course it’s false. What kind of person do people think I am?’ Melissa knew she should just leave it there but something took over, the rebel in her had been held back long enough.

              Luke stood proud and thought, Go on babe, fucking tell them.

              ‘Myself and Luke are very much together, happy and fighting through another crisis. We will still be standing side by side at the end of this. I love him, he loves me. Not juicy enough for you. Tough. Megan and Toby are also happy. Dale and my precious Beth are happy and enjoying being parents. Ebony is the sweetest thing on the planet. Jo-Jo and Tom are happy, although Jo-Jo is still coming to terms with the death of Allie, as we all are. The band is tighter and more committed than they’ve ever been. Just because you read something doesn’t make it the truth. One thing that is the truth is what Jay-Den Lake did, and I want to tell every young girl out there. You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to. Fight back if someone is hurting you. Tell someone, anyone you trust. Don’t be a Lyla, don’t let them make you feel worthless. You’re not…’ Then she lost control, tears flowed down her cheeks, and suddenly she was aware of the cameras.

              From behind the scenes Luke saw her begin to shake, and he wanted to go to her. Saskia advised him to stay where he was. ‘She has to do this, Luke, she has to. You have to let her conquer this, hard as it might be. I know you want to protect her but it doesn’t help her. That girl of yours is potentially an icon.’

              ‘Fine. I know,’ he agreed. ‘It’s just a habit.’

              ‘It’s very sweet, Luke, but sometimes you have to let her do things herself.’

              Melissa managed to pull herself back together and calmly talked about the trial and how she’d coped. Both Luke and Saskia watched as she finished her interview with sheer class and as Tilly put it ‘with such kind-hearted words to her fans’. She was then led outside where people were lining the street, all waiting for a glimpse of their idol. Girls held banners with messages and quotes:

              ‘Liss, you’re queen.’

              ‘Lissa and Luke, our rock king and queen.’

              ‘You saved my life.’

              ‘My inspiration.’

              The screaming and crying went on. Then it hit her like a hammer: these were
her
fans. Luke wasn’t with her and they were still going nuts. She remembered being young and being so obsessed with bands and actresses, wanting to meet them and never getting the chance. So she smiled as she approached the first barrier, then walked up and down saying hello to as many people as possible and making their day, even if she
was
flanked by several large bodyguards.

              She leaned against Luke on their way home feeling good. ‘Well done. You were amazing today,’ he whispered into her hair. They were surrounded by people and it felt claustrophobic. They couldn’t talk like they used to unless they were at home. Luke was beginning to understand how Melissa felt and prayed that Amber was found soon so they could get some normality back.

*****

‘Ian, you have to stop calling me,’ Megan hissed into the phone. Since the girls had brought down Death Wishes, he hadn’t stopped calling her. At first it was to thank her and then to check she was OK after the Amber situation. Today he called for no apparent reason.

              ‘I can’t. Megan, I think I’m in love with you.’

              ‘What?!’ Megan felt dread run through her body, and her stomach knotted up. This wasn’t something she had expected or knew how to handle.

              ‘You heard me.’

              ‘Ian, you can’t call me saying things like that. Just stop. Please…’ she said and hung up. It was the only thing she could think of. Now she had to decide if she kept it a secret or told Toby, who was in the bedroom packing, getting ready for the UK shows. Now wasn’t the time. Despite the situation they were in he was in a very good mood. He was throwing stuff in his case, untidily she noticed, so she sat beside it and folded everything neatly for him.

              ‘Have you packed?’ he asked. She laughed and he knew it was a stupid question. Organised as ever, Megan had packed the day before. The girls would travel with the boys until it was safe not to. He caught onto her mood and assumed she was still worrying about Amber. She didn’t correct him. He sat down next to her and pulled her into his arms. ‘I promise you it’ll be fine. I won’t let anyone hurt you, ever again.’

              Megan looked up at him and knew telling him was what she should do. He trusted her and was always honest with her. The guilt was already eating her up and it hadn’t been half an hour.

              ‘Toby, please don’t get all worked up…but...I need to tell you something.’

              Toby sat and listened, calm at first, then slowly the anger crept into his face. ‘Slimy little prick. Give me your phone,’ Toby said. He was keeping as calm as possible for Megan’s sake but was absolutely raging.

              ‘I promise I never did anything to make him think he had a chance,’ Megan said quickly as the panic set in that he was mad with her.

              ‘I know. But...’ he was saying, but then Ian picked up. ‘No. It isn’t Megan. You stay the fuck away from her. You sly little prick. Who do you think you are? They exchanged several angry words before he hung up after issuing his final threat.

              ‘I think he’s been told,’ Megan said, giggling and trying to make light of it. She relaxed when Toby leaned in and kissed her.

              ‘He does have taste, I’ll give him that. See, you’re causing drummers to fight over you. And you think you’re not pretty.’ Megan blushed and they finished packing, Ian forgotten.

*****

‘That was so much fun,’ Melissa said excitedly to Saskia, the phone resting on her shoulder as she kicked her shoes off. Saskia had arranged for a magazine interview and photo-shoot and it had gone really well. It had been exhausting but fun, and her fear of getting herself out there was decreasing.

              ‘See, I told you. And they bloody loved you. Just had them on the phone. You’re a natural. I’ve another job for you.’ Saskia was working really hard for Melissa and getting her some very interesting work. ‘How would you feel about being involved in a music video?’

              Melissa fell onto the sofa, stunned. She wasn’t expecting that. ‘Are you serious?’

              ‘Deadly serious. They’re new, called Roll the Dice. Think they’re from Sheffield. I actually had two bands asking for you, but one I don’t think is right for you. They wanted a bit of nudity and some scenes were of the raunchy kind. I thought you…’

              Melissa laughed loudly, and naturally declined. She listened to what she would need to do and it sounded like a good job. She was happy to help out a new band and having her in their video would definitely help them get noticed. The money wasn’t spectacular but she didn’t care about that. She was earning her own money and it was helping her stop worrying so much and reflecting on all the negatives. She wouldn’t be needed for a few weeks so she could continue on tour with Luke as planned.

              ‘Go and pack. You leave soon, don’t you?’ Saskia laughed knowing Melissa wouldn’t be ready.

              ‘Yes. Shit. Gotta go, we leave in two hours.’ Her two hours was shortened to one after what was meant to be a quick call to her mum lasted an hour. But it was her mum and she needed to reassure her at least a thousand times that she was fine.

*****

Megan cursed at her phone. Since the boys had started their first UK gig this year Ian had called her several times. She didn’t answer, but she was getting annoyed.

              ‘Seriously, boy got it bad.’ Beth chuckled. ‘Stupid twat.’ She threw the phone into her bag so Megan didn’t have to see it. ‘Ignore him. Enjoy the show.’

              The Black Eagles were nearing the end of the show. “Bound” was next and the girls prepared for it. Luke loved performing it: it was so emotional every time. Most times, at the end, people could see the tears, but only for a second before he turned and wiped them away. Tonight was no different.

              ‘Another cracking show!’ Beth said clapping. Melissa noticed her baby weight was mostly gone. Her curvy figure was back and so was her confidence. Her ring shone on her finger and Melissa smiled inside. She grabbed Beth’s hand and admired it again.

              ‘So have you set a date?’

              ‘Sorta, but let’s get Amber off the streets first. I want to go dress shopping with my best friend without fear of death.’ She tried to sound relaxed but the uncertainty was clear in her voice. It faltered a little, didn’t sound as strong.

              ‘Ebony will be fine. I won’t let anything happen. I promise.’

              ‘I haven’t been scared since I was a kid. But when Ebony was threatened it was the worst fear. It was like burning knives in my heart.’ Beth pulled Melissa away from the stage entrance, wanting to whisper something only Melissa could hear.

              ‘If she ever turns up, tries to hurt Eb or you again…’ her eyes darted around ensuring nobody was within earshot. ‘I’m not lying when I say I’ll end her. She’s mental and dangerous. She’s caused so much pain...’ She stopped as some of the road crew passed them and didn’t continue as the boys surrounded them now and they no longer had privacy. She squeezed Melissa’s hand and mouthed, ‘I love you, Liss,’ before letting go and putting on her mask, the everything is fine one.

              Melissa felt a chill down her spine because of the look in Beth’s eyes and her tone of voice. Beth had meant every word. They collected Ebony from the dressing room where Cassie and Jo-Jo were taking care of her. They would get back on the bus and head from Birmingham to Newcastle and then back down to London to play the O2. The crew got to work packing everything up for the journey, and Luke and the boys chatted to Ray, while the girls headed to the tour bus to get settled. Security stood outside guarding the bus door waiting for the boys to show.