Encore (The Black Eagles Series Book 2) (5 page)

To my beautiful Liss,

Well done for being so brave, and for making me so proud. Things have been tough, and I am so lucky to have you in my life. You’re my angel, my light. Tonight is a special night, to celebrate. It is a thank you, from all of us, and a VERY belated 21st birthday party. I know you're worrying already. Don’t panic! The box and the bag hold everything you need. Don’t take too long, beautiful.

Happy belated birthday and thank you. I love you and I always will!

Luke

Xxxx

              The tears had fallen before she got to the end. She felt arms wrapped around her and Megan’s sweet voice telling her not to cry, everything was OK now.

              ‘You didn’t need to do all this.’

              ‘We wanted to, Luke needed to,’ Megan told her. 

              ‘Megan, I am so sorry—’

              Megan shook her head, stopping her. She didn’t want tears over that situation, not tonight. ‘Oh, my god! Liss, open the damn box. I’m so excited for you to see it,’ she demanded, changing the subject.

              Melissa ripped at the paper revealing a white box. The name on the side made her squeal with excitement. Inside was a specially made dress by Chelsea Bray, a new London designer who Melissa was a big fan of. Her speciality was combining elegance and rock chick, and the dress inside was a perfect combination of both. The mini body-con dress was black and fitted her perfectly. The difference was that the sides had been cut, and stitched loosely back together with actual guitar strings that lay against nude material to protect the skin. Luke’s main brand of guitar Strings – Elixir had been used. Fake eagle feathers were entwined into the material to give it a light ruffled looked.

              ‘Oh, my god! Luke!’

              Underneath was another box – new shoes to go with it, of course. Simple black heels, again with the effect of eagle feathers, of course, again fake. Guitar strings were entwined around the heels, giving them a very rock chick look. The outfit was magnificent, and she couldn’t wait to get ready. Twenty minutes later – a record for her – she was ready. As she stared into the full-length mirror her scars screamed at her, laughing. Deciding that she wasn’t going to let it bring her down, she threw her make-up bag on the bed – tonight she was going make-up free. There was no need to hide from her friends, more importantly from Luke. He was all she cared about. He loved her, and what others thought meant nothing to her.

              ‘How do I look?’ Melissa quietly asked.

              Megan smiled, and taking a step back she picked up the two glasses of champagne from the table and handed one to her friend, raising hers in the air to propose a toast. ‘You look amazing. You are officially back.’

              ‘You really think so?’

              ‘Yes. You are my inspiration,’ Megan said. ‘I wish I could look as good as you.’

              ‘You look incredible tonight. Stop being so down on yourself. I am me, and you are you. You have to stop thinking like you do, ’ Melissa reassured her friend.

              Megan smiled. ‘Thanks.’ They clinked their glasses. ‘Now, Cinderella, it’s time to get you to the party. There are several rock stars waiting for your arrival.’

*****

Melissa looked wide eyed at the entrance to the barn. It looked like the entrance to a VIP club  with red carpet and gold poles draped with purple ribbons. Awaiting her at the door were Ray and Zac. Ray held his hand out to her to guide her inside.

              ‘Your public awaits you, Miss Webb,’ Ray said and Zac opened the door so she could enter. The darkness was lit up only by the light from the stage.

              ‘No way,’ Melissa gasped as The Black Eagles burst into life with a song she had never heard before. It had been a secret they’d been working on for a while, even before the recent events, and was the one thing Luke had made sure they finished. Melissa had been its inspiration, only it had evolved over time and was eventually titled “Beautiful Thief”. It was fast paced and vivacious, and every time Luke sang the line ‘You took it. I couldn’t stop you, beautiful thief,’ he locked eyes with her and grinned. His eyes told her all she needed to know.

Being on that stage, guitar in his hand, had brought the fire back into his eyes. It was where he needed to be, and she couldn’t stand to see him without it any longer. He looked like her Luke again, full of life and with his front man stance back. It didn’t matter to him that the crowd were his friends and family. They were the most important people in the world to him and he put everything into the performance. Melissa smiled as she noticed Megan jumping up and down at the front. She had never been given the chance to see them perform fully; this was her first real experience. Beside her were Cassie, Jo-Jo and Allie, shouting and jumping too. Melissa joined them feeling like total fan girls, happy to indulge them, now and again.

              The barn quickly filled with music and happy chattering. It was a brilliant start to the party, and everyone hugged and kissed Melissa.

              ‘Happy belated birthday,’ all four boys shouted through their microphones once they had finished the five-song set.

              Then Luke jumped from the makeshift stage, marched towards her and grabbed her face in both hands. His kiss was passionate despite their audience. She looked so beautiful to him and it still shocked him how much he adored her. He could feel the ruffle of the fake feathers in his fingertips as he pulled her closer. ‘You look incredible.’ He breathed into her ear. Before she could respond they were interrupted by the sound of Mick coughing beside them. They were adults, but Luke was still groping his daughter in front of him. It wasn’t something he wanted to see. They giggled and let each other go, for now.

              ‘Nice dress,’ he said smugly.

              ‘Thanks. Some guy gave it to me.’

              ‘He must like you.’

              ‘I guess he must. Not sure if I like him though. He’s a bit smug.’

              Luke smirked knowingly and nodded in agreement. ‘If he has you for a girlfriend, he has every reason to be smug.’

              ‘Careful, I won’t be able to fit my head through the door, with all the compliments.’ She laughed, and he stroked her cheek commenting on the fact she hadn’t worn make-up.

              ‘I don’t have to worry, or hide, here. I’m surrounded by the only people I trust.’

              ‘You don’t have to worry, or hide, anywhere. You are better than any of those cretins sat behind their computers, posting their opinions. You’ve never needed it, and you don’t now,’ he told her.

              She smiled and kissed him. ‘Thank you. Who is the beautiful thief?’ she asked, changing the subject.

              ‘I think you know,’ he answered, kissing her nose. ‘You stole my heart at Ruby’s and I want it back.’

              ‘No chance.’ Before she could go in for another kiss, they were interrupted.

              ‘Bitch. A thank you would be nice or at least hello.’ Beth stood beside them, trying to hide her excitement by pretending to be annoyed. Since arriving, Melissa hadn’t even had chance to speak to Beth, who had been busy organising things. Beth’s frown soon turned to a smile and she threw her arms around Melissa. ‘I love you.’ Her embrace was full of love, and excitement. ‘But you know that. Enjoy your party, babe.’

              ‘It’s perfect. Thank you. I love you more.’

              Luke left them to chat about babies and things. He had a beer with Dale at the bar and chatted to various guests.

              ‘Dude, outside, smoke now,’ Dale ordered with a slight slur, and Luke knew it was going to be one of those nights. He followed Dale outside where it was quiet, apart from Tom and Jo-Jo who were sat a few feet away, deep in conversation. They were making the most of each other before she left the next day. It could be eight weeks before he saw her again, and the recent events had made all of them appreciate each other much more.

              Dale blew smoke rings while looking thoughtful. After a minute he looked Luke in the eye, sighed, and put his hand on his shoulder. ‘I know we never do soppy shit…’ he trailed off looking embarrassed before continuing, ‘But I love you, even though you are one annoying little shit.’

              Luke laughed and patted Dale on the back. ‘Right back at ya.’ He thought for a moment as he watched Dale sway a little while taking another puff of his cigarette. He wondered how they had all felt during his abduction so asked Dale the question.

              Dale seemed to freeze, and looked around before answering. ‘We thought you were dead. Honestly, I have never been so scared in my life. I tried to keep Melissa strong for you. It took everything not to lose it in front of her. Seeing her in that hospital after what that nutter did…’ He paused again and Luke sensed he needed to get this off his chest. ‘Then there was Beth and our news: the day after you went missing I was suddenly going to be a dad. I needed to talk to you about it but I couldn’t and thinking I might never speak to you again...’ He took another puff on his cigarette. ‘It killed me.’

              This was the most emotional Dale had ever been about anything in his life. Luke thought the lump in his throat might choke him, but he swallowed it down. He suspected this had been building over time. The drink and the relief it was over had finally caught up with his friend. Luke had a lot to thank him, Beth, Toby and Tom for. ‘Thank you for looking after Liss. It couldn’t have been easy but she told me how supportive you all were. I love her so much, and if he had…’ Luke still had trouble saying the words.

              ‘I’m sorry I didn’t protect—’ Dale started to say, but Luke cut him off with a firm no.

Nobody was to blame but Amber and Jay-Den. Luke wouldn’t allow anyone to feel guilt over it but them. ‘You don’t apologise for what
they
did!’ he snapped.

              ‘I did my best,’ Dale said.

              ‘You did more than your best. Thanks, man. I don’t know how I can ever repay you.’

              ‘I don’t need rewarding for it. Anyway, we would have been in so much shit otherwise,’ Dale joked, the moment passed, and they went onto band talk.

              Mid joke with Dale Luke’s phone shrilled in his pocket. He lifted it to his ear without looking at the screen. The conversation was not a good one, and his face went pale as he uttered some hushed profanities at the caller. ‘Fuck!’ Luke yelled as he threw his phone to the floor.

              ‘What?’ Dale asked, now concerned as Luke was hyperventilating. A full-blown panic attack was about to grip him. Tom came running, hearing the shout. He had seen them having their heart to heart and decided to leave them to it. This was different. He knew that kind of yelling from Luke, and knew it wasn’t good.

              ‘Tom, keep Liss away,’ Luke instructed. ‘Until I calm down. She can’t see me like this and I can’t tell her, not here, not now.’ Tom agreed but demanded to know what the problem was. He needed to know what she was being kept from. ‘Another one,’ Luke hissed. ‘One night was all I asked for, but people don’t like seeing us happy, do they! I’m such an idiot…’ Luke raged and kicked out at a post. The call was from a newspaper that was preparing to run another story about one of his girls from the tour. A kiss and tell.

              ‘But she knows all about it,’ Dale said trying to calm him.

              ‘It still kills her to read it, to see those girls. If it were lies then it wouldn’t matter. But they are true, mostly. They add to it to make it sound better but I did have sex with them. That’s the fourth one, and I can’t deny any of it. All she sees is them, and their perfect faces.’

              Dale had no words of comfort. All he could do was calm Luke down and get him back inside before Melissa came looking.

The noise of the party buzzed behind Melissa as she made her way to the main house. As she reached the bathroom, she almost collided with Lyla as she rushed through the door.

              ‘Oh, sorry, Liss,’ Lyla said, her short cherry red hair feathered around her face.

              ‘It’s fine,’ Melissa assured her. She noticed the girl wouldn’t look her in the eyes, choosing the floor or the wall. There was something odd about the girl’s behaviour, Melissa thought, and told her to wait for her. She had noticed it earlier in the evening. Lyla had been clinging to her boyfriend, watching his every move; it wasn’t jealousy, but fear. Melissa wanted to make sure she was OK as there was also the small weight of guilt that Melissa felt. In some way it was her fault the girl’s boyfriend, and his band, were left without a label, and no signs of another coming their way.

              Lyla was waiting as instructed and they took a walk in the cool breeze around the grounds of the farmhouse. Silver Daggers were just starting their set.

              ‘I’m so sorry for what’s happened to Zac,’ Melissa blurted out after several long minutes of silence and she asked if Lyla understood why she’d had to do what she did. Lyla looked wide eyed, expressionless at first, then without warning she buckled at the knees. She was shaking violently, a kind of convulsive shivering, not caused by the weather as it was a warm evening. ‘Lyla!’ Melissa gasped and dropped to the floor beside the sobbing girl. ‘I really am sorry.’ Her guilt was magnified now. Had she really caused so much pain?              

              Lyla looked up, tears soaking her face, and grabbed Melissa by the shoulders. ‘What have I done? Oh, Lissa. What have I done…?’ Her sobs took over again before she continued. ‘I’m not mad with you, I admire you so much. I am so lucky to even have you talk to me—’

              Melissa stopped her. She hated people thinking she was better than them. She wasn’t. ‘Don’t say things like that. I’m no better than you.’

              ‘You are. I’m a stupid idiot who didn’t think it through,’ Lyla wailed. Her mascara ran down her cheeks and she wiped her eyes smearing it even more. Her eyes were pleading, but the words just wouldn’t come out. Melissa took some tissues from her bag and wiped the girl’s face. As she did so, she saw the young girl under the mask of make-up, just nineteen and scared to death. ‘Thank you, for bringing Jay-Den down.’ There was sheer gratitude in her voice and more tears fell. It was the way she said it, like a victim thanking the police who had caught the criminal.

              Melissa felt alarm, and sick to her stomach. ‘Honey, what did Jay-Den do?’

              Lyla crumpled again, shaking her head as she repeated ‘He will never forgive me. I love him, and I never meant this. Oh, god. It was only supposed to be the once.’

              Melissa reeled back, hands to her mouth. ‘Oh, Lyla, you didn’t?’ Melissa had guessed it. The thought horrified her, but she knew tonight wasn’t the time to get into it. She pulled the shaking girl back into the house and into the bathroom where they had recently collided. ‘You need to talk to Zac—’

              Lyla reacted with absolute fear at that suggestion. ‘Please don’t tell him! Promise me!’ she begged.

              ‘
I
won’t,’ Melissa assured her and her features relaxed. ‘But
you
will.’

              ‘I can’t!’ Lyla cried.

              Melissa wiped the girl’s face with tissues and in a soothing voice told her that tonight she could keep her secret. She would meet with her next day, and she could tell her everything. They would decide together how to break it to Zac. ‘Let’s sort your make-up out. You had a perfect face when you left, and going back without it will alert suspicion. Not to mention your boyfriend and his band are performing specially for me and I’m not even there.’

              Lyla took a deep breath, dried her eyes and allowed Melissa to re-do her make-up. As Silver Daggers ended their second song the two girls blended into the crowd. Luke smiled as she cuddled up to him. Both were doing a professional job of hiding their worries, and neither one suspected the other.

              The rest of the evening went ahead without any further revelations. Echo ended the live music with an explosive and energetic performance, then left quickly to prepare for hitting the road on tour.

*****

‘Say something,’ Luke begged. Melissa hadn’t said a word since he had told her the news. She just sat on the edge of the bed staring at her feet. ‘Liss, please say something. Anything…’

              ‘How many more are there?’ she snapped.

              ‘I don’t know. I didn’t keep count. Six...seven.’ He heard her take a few deep breaths to compose herself before looking at him. It wasn’t easy for her despite his complete honesty. He hadn’t kept anything from her, but every time these girls crawled out of the woodwork it was like a dagger to her heart.

              She wanted him to deny it; he couldn’t and it hurt. Tonight, mixed with the alcohol consumed, the news hadn’t been received well. Melissa was still reeling from the whole Lyla bombshell. Nothing had been confirmed in that conversation but it hadn’t needed to be. Melissa knew that Lyla had been given the same deal by Jay-Den as she had, but Lyla had agreed. It made Melissa sad deep in her heart for them both. She had promised to keep it quiet for now, and that included Luke. If he knew, there would be no way he would keep it from Zac, who was becoming very close to Luke. He would feel it was his duty as a friend to tell him. She needed to hear the girl out before throwing her to the wolves. It would cause another shockwave, only this time another band would be torn apart. How would Lyla look them in the eyes again? How would she even begin to tell Zac what she had done? Melissa shuddered. No good could come of this but the truth still needed to be told. Lyla would only drive herself mad with guilt, Melissa thought. Her anguish continued to flow towards Luke, and although she knew it was wrong she couldn’t seem to stop it. ‘What’s this one called?’ she hissed, irritated with Luke and the situation at hand, and Lyla. She was acutely aware that it was unfair that Luke was bearing her full fury.

              ‘Ruth. Why does it matter?’

              ‘Was she pretty?’

              ‘Liss…’

              Melissa glared at him. ‘Was Ruth pretty?’ she demanded.

              Luke shrugged while taking a step backwards. ‘She was OK.’

              Melissa flew at him, tears streaming down her face. ‘Was she good, Luke? Better than me? Did you enjoy her?’ she screamed, hitting him so hard in the face he stumbled backwards. The shock on her face mimicked his and brought her back to her senses. She was horrified by her actions. It was fuelled by all the pain in her heart that was still consuming her and everyone around her. Jay-Den was still destroying people. ‘Luke,’ she whispered timidly. ‘Oh, god, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that.’

              Luke said nothing as he turned to leave the room, rubbing his face. Melissa ran after him and slammed the door. ‘No, Luke. Please don’t go,’ she begged, blocking the door. ‘I’m sorry.’ She stroked his reddened cheek. ‘It drives me crazy. I hate it that they had you even for a second,’ she explained placing her free hand on his other cheek. ‘It hurts so much. I can’t bear it, and it’s all my own fault.’ It
was
her fault, she should have believed him.

              Luke sighed and took a step backwards, never taking his eyes off her. ‘You have no idea how much I want to take it all back. I can’t change any of it. You wouldn’t speak to me…’ Luke hissed at her. ‘I was a mess!’ He sank down onto the bed, leaning back onto the sheets.

              Melissa felt terrible. After everything he had done for her over the months, and that night, she should be more understanding. She shook herself as if to get rid of the anger, and lay beside him. ‘Don’t leave,’ he whispered as he closed his eyes.

              Melissa leaned over him and brushed her lips against his. ‘It just makes me angry. I hate seeing their smug faces. Selling it…like…it’s nothing. Like you’re nothing but money in the bank,’ she whispered as her hair fell around both their faces. ‘Sorry. Let Ruth have her five minutes of fame.’

              Luke opened his eyes and took her face in his hands. ‘None of them meant anything. They didn’t have me, not even for a second. They got a shell of me, you get all of me.’ He pulled her face down to his, their lips meeting frantically. It was a bruising kiss, desperate and needy. Their sex life had been affected by the events. Melissa had been so horrified and violated by Jay-Den that for weeks Luke couldn’t even hug her without her flinching. And the few times she had allowed sex it hadn’t been the same. Luke could just tell she was doing it for him and her heart wasn’t in it. He had stopped asking and decided to wait until she was ready. It seemed that tonight was that night.

              ‘Make me forget. All I want to think about is you,’ Melissa begged as Luke undressed her. His touch on her skin was like electricity. She didn’t have to worry or fight any more. She felt as light as a feather. His kisses were gentle and loving all over her body, and she felt like crying as the realisation of how much she had pushed him away had started to become a barrier between them. Each kiss seemed to be smashing it down.

              ‘I’ve missed you,’ she heard him whisper. Her kiss answered him, and the desire came back. It raged through her. Those girls wouldn’t ever know her Luke and he wouldn’t have given them the real him. The one she was getting now. Passionate, loving and desperate for her. ‘Don’t be angry. I’m sorry…’

              Melissa told him to stop apologising. ‘Don’t tell me, show me. Give me what nobody else will ever have. I want you back. I want everything back. I want us back.’ He did just that. The one thing that had been keeping them from being completely together was now all she could think about. It felt like their first time all over again. It was that feeling when they were together, like nothing else mattered. She hadn’t felt that for so long, but she did now. Her thoughts did not intrude, nor guilt weigh on her heart, no more fighting to prove she was telling the truth. No more Amber. At this very moment all she felt was love and she let the tears fall as Luke tightened his hold on her. There wasn’t one part of her that wasn’t kissed or caressed. ‘I love you, Luke. Thank you for my party. It was so perfect. I’m sorry for pushing you away…’

              ‘Stop saying sorry. And you deserved it,’ Luke said before he smothered her lips with his and they focused on each other.

              Later in the early hours of the morning as they lay together breathless, she could hear the beating of his heart as her head rested on his chest. ‘What are you thinking about?’ Melissa asked.

              Luke had that look on his face. The one that meant he was worrying or considering something, or both. ‘Our future. Is music worth all the aggro? Maybe I should just quit?’

              Melissa sprung up like a cat, glaring at him. ‘What?!’ Luke looked out of the window and shrugged. ‘Have you completely lost your mind?’

              ‘Yes. Maybe I have. ’

              ‘No way, Luke. No.’

              Luke wouldn’t look at her but explained how he felt it was the right thing to do, for her. He knew she hated being in the limelight and dating him meant she couldn’t change it. If he left and was replaced, eventually people would get bored and they could be normal again. He admitted how he felt it was all his fault and he didn’t deserve any of it, anyway.

              As expected, Melissa was horrified by his decision. She grabbed him and rested her forehead against his. ‘Now listen to me, Luke Black. You are not to blame, you are not quitting the band. That’s the most stupid thing you’ve ever said.’

              ‘I think it’s for the best.’

              ‘OK, answer this. Do you want to quit? Could you handle it?’

              ‘I will do what is right for us’

              ‘OK. You can break it to the boys in the morning.’ Melissa saw the flash of devastation flicker across his face, but said nothing. Luke wouldn’t cope and she knew it. She let a few minutes pass before putting him out of his misery. ‘Give it up, if that’s what you truly want. But not because you think that’s what I want, or need.’

              ‘Isn’t it? We have enough money to keep us going for a while... ’

              ‘Money isn’t the point. I can take the limelight and the shit that goes with it, the months apart from you, if I have to. I don’t like it but I will deal with it. I’m pretty thick skinned these days.’ She looked fierce as she straddled him and gazed down. ‘What I can’t handle is a boyfriend who’ll be miserable if he goes ahead with this idiotic idea. I won’t have that man take that from you too.’ She kissed him and told him she never wanted to hear him say that again. ‘It’s not about money. It’s about you and what you love doing. I couldn’t bear to see you lose it. You’ve worked so hard. And do you really think your band would let you leave?’ It was doubtful. They would almost certainly beat him just for suggesting it. ‘They need you. Are you really going to do that to them? Seriously? You are the heart of that band. They stay because of you. You leave, there is no Black Eagles. Who will write the songs for them and still be the same? Nobody can. You bring the essence of the band. It would just be some other guy trying to fill your shoes and without sounding biased, it’s not even possible. You know they all suck at songwriting. Great musicians, but you might as well throw them in the ocean and watch them drown. Pretty awful way to repay them.’ Melissa looked sternly at him.