Love Evolution (21 page)

CHAPTER 25 

The next morning, Manny strutted into V
’
s presidential suite, looking like a gigolo with red leather pants and a collared paisley shirt undone almost to the waist. At first the meaning of V
’
s note had been unclear to him. He had briefly considered that the mysterious
“
M
”
might be Marcus Anthony, one of her many prior conquests. But the more he thought it over, the more convinced he
’
d become that after all this time, V was finally admitting her attraction to him.

“
What are you wearing?
”
V screeched, when she saw him.

“
Oh, I don
’
t know,
”
he preened, stroking his mustache.
“
Just a little something I put together. You like?
”
He ran the back of his knuckles down her cheek.

V scampered away from him, looking at him like he was nuts.

Over in the corner of the room, Marie and Toby covered up their laughter with bouts of coughing.

V glanced their way briefly, getting suspicious. Turning back to Manny, she looked down her nose at him, and said with a haughty tone,
“
You look ridiculous. Besille is going to be here any minute with his crew. You don
’
t have time to change but for heaven
’
s sake button up that shirt.
”
Exasperated, V threw her hands up in the air.

By the time the interview with Besille was over, V was beyond infuriated. For some unknown reason Manny had been making eyes at her, blowing kisses, and belting out Lionel Ritchie songs between takes. His half-ass attempt at a moonwalk had been tragic. She had barely been able to concentrate.  Whatever had gotten into him today, V was going to put a stop to it right now.

“
Manny, what the hell is wrong with you? Are you on drugs?
”

Manny shook his head.
“
I
’
m just high on you, baby,
”
he said giddily.

“
Whatever,
”
she said disdainfully.
“
Look if you weren
’
t one of the best personal assistants in the business, you would be out on your ass after this stunt. I think the stress must be getting to you.  Call my therapist and schedule an appointment immediately, or you
’
re fired!
”

*****

Meanwhile in the hall outside V
’
s suite, Besille
’
s reporter antenna went up, sensing a potential story. He made a call to get someone on his staff to do a background check on that wacky personal assistant. These stupid celebrities always underestimated him. They thought he was just a pretty face with a charming personality.
‘
Better a witty fool, than a foolish wit,
’
he thought smugly.

*****

Brutal Strength
’
s morning rehearsal went much better. Everyone was well rested, except for JR, who had received his payback from Avery in the form of a five a.m. wake up call. After the band exited the stage, Stephen was still not satisfied with their performance. He cornered Dwight.
“
Just what is going on with Avery and Marcus?
”
he demanded.

“
It
’
s complicated,
”
Dwight shrugged sheepishly.
“
Trust
me,
you really don
’
t want to know.
”

“
Well, whatever it is, I hope they get it straightened out. Tonight
’
s performance needs to be flawless.
”
Having taken little comfort from their conversation, Stephen turned away and pulled out his cell to call Trevor. It went directly to voicemail. Shaking his head, he dictated,
“
Your guitarist and my lead singer are acting strangely. Call me as soon as you get this message. We need to talk.
”

CHAPTER 26

In a rundown motel in East Los Angeles, Antonia Bartoli looked around at the empty beer cans and discarded fast food sacks in disgust. She flicked her long black hair back over her shoulder and checked her makeup in the dresser mirror. Stroking a thumb down her cheek, she smoothed foundation onto her luminescent olive skin. She picked up black eyeliner and colored around the outside of her gray eyes before taking a tube of lipstick and running it over her lips. Antonia frowned at her reflection.

This way of life was rapidly getting old. The accommodations were definitely beneath her standard of living. Antonia was a Four Seasons kind of girl, used to room service and caviar. She knew it was necessary, though.

Being grateful to be alive was one thing, but this was hardly living
…
 

Antonia had fallen for Justin the first time that she had watched him perform with his sister at Club Indigo. His pretty boy good looks had gotten her attention, but it had been his voice that captivated her. Before long they were an item.

They had secretly been seeing each other for weeks when Joe found out. He had flown into a murderous rage. Joe Campanella was not the forgiving, live and let live type. More like the shoot first and ask questions later, psychotically jealous type. 

Somehow, Antonia had managed to calm him down, insisting that it was just a harmless flirtation. She had almost gotten back to her own place when she realized she
’
d left her purse back at Joe
’
s apartment. Returning, she let herself in silently, not wanting to argue with him again tonight. Luck was on her side. His guys were watching the pay per view fight at full volume down the hall in the living room. She picked up her purse off the table in the foyer, ready to sneak back out, when she overheard Joe talking to Vince. They were in his office, and the door was slightly ajar. Hearing Justin
’
s name mentioned
,
Antonia moved closer to listen. 

In a voice seething with anger Joe told Vince,
“
Get rid of him.
”

“
You mean kill him?
”

“
I mean, make him disappear,
capice
? No one crosses me,
Vinny
. I
’
ll handle the girl myself.
”

Antonia left quickly and quietly, heart in her throat. She wandered the darkened city streets for hours, terrified and unsure what to do. Afraid to go back to her own apartment, she finally
headed to the midtown restaurant where Justin was supposed to meet her that evening. When she got there, the hostess looked around worriedly and hustled her to a back office.

Vince stood up when she entered, and she took a scared step backward. Then she noticed Justin sitting in the other chair.
“
It
’
s ok, it
’
s ok,
”
Justin said, standing up and coming over to her.
“
We
’
re safe here.
”

Vince opened his wallet, flashing his FBI badge. Antonia stared at him incredulously. Vince had been around since she started seeing Joe. He was someone Joe seemed to trust, implicitly.  She
’
d had no idea.

Vince explained,
“
We
’
ve known for quite some time that Campanella
’
s had his hand in a lot of illegal stuff, but we needed to catch him in something big, something that would really stick. Conspiracy to murder ought to do the trick.
”

“
I know. I overheard you two in his office.
”
 

He arched his brow.
“
Campanella told me to make Justin disappear, which is exactly what we
’
re going to do.
With both of you.
That is until we get all the charges lined up. With what I got on the wire I
’
ve been wearing, and your testimony, we
’
ll be able to put that scumbag away for a long time.

Hearing the hotel door open, Antonia turned, her thoughts abruptly returning to the present. She gave a relieved sigh. It was only Justin. The sight of him always took her breath away. Not tall or buff, like the men she usually preferred, he was gorgeous nevertheless. She loved running her fingers through his silky copper colored hair, and when those green eyes focused on her all lit up with passion, well, he was more than a little distracting. But living with him twenty-four seven had been another thing entirely.

“
Great news,
”
he told her, smoothing down his windblown hair.
“
They arrested Campanella today.
”

Antonia threw her arms around him.
“
Finally, Justin!
”
she exclaimed, ecstatically.

He withdrew her arms from around his neck.
“
I
’
m calling my sister, babe.
”

By the hard tone in his voice, Antonia knew his decision wasn
’
t open for debate. At the beginning, Justin had fought the FBI tooth and nail when they refused to let him contact his sister, only relenting when Vince convinced him that it was the only way to protect Avery.  

“
Justin, the fact that Joe
’
s in jail doesn
’
t mean you
’
re safe. He could still get a message out to one of his guys.
”
She made her hand into a gun and pretended to fire.
“
Then boom, one less witness.
”

Justin shook his head.
“
I
’
m done with this, Antonia. I
’
ll take my chances. I
’
m more worried about my sister than myself.
”

“
At least let me make the phone call,
”
Antonia urged him.
“
The fewer people in New York who know you
’
re alive, the better.
”
 
She dialed Avery
’
s number. Hanging up after a brief conversation, she informed him,
“
She hasn
’
t been there in weeks. Jeff doesn
’
t know where she is. Avery told him that she was off doing studio work.
”

Justin thought for a moment.
“
Trevor will know.
”

A short phone call to Trevor
’
s office yielded useful information.
“
His secretary says he
’
s here in LA for the Grammy nomination concert,
”
Antonia told Justin excitedly.
“
I read about that in the paper. The artists are staying at the Ritz and the
show
’
s
at the Nokia Theatre. Traffic
’
s being rerouted around the whole LA Live entertainment complex tonight because of it. I bet if you go over to the hotel, you can catch him when he gets back from the show.
”

Justin grabbed his car keys.
“
I
’
m on it. Trevor Barnes is in for one hell of a surprise.
”

CHAPTER 27

‘
Surreal city,
’
Avery thought, as she waited backstage at the Nokia Theatre. The night was young, but already she
’
d seen pop icons Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars perform, and stared slack jawed as rock
‘
n roll legends Robert Plant and Pete Townshend walked by. Now she was about to take the stage as a member of one of the biggest bands out there.

Mary had made certain they all looked the part. They had all endured a marathon primping session at her behest. Avery looked her preppy best, in monochrome with her trademark newsboy cap. Next to her, JR grinned ear to ear, shirtless. Dwight was handsomely attired as well, but Marcus outshined them all in black leather pants and boots offset with a white t-shirt, every inch the quintessential rock god.

Avery tried not to look at him. It was too distracting. Just a few days ago, they could have really enjoyed these moments together, she thought grimly. She peeked out at the audience, all seven-
thousand
of them, mostly fans but also other recording artists, producers, executives, and media. Suddenly, she felt lightheaded.
“
Oh crap, I think I
’
m
gonna
be sick.
”
She spun around and bolted for the bathroom.

“
Look out, we
’
ve got a runner,
”
JR commented drily.

“
I was afraid of that,
”
Dwight muttered.

“
I
’
ll get him,
”
Marcus told them. He waited for Avery outside the men
’
s restroom.

Lucky for her, it had been empty. When she came out with a wet paper towel over her lips, Marcus was leaning against the door frame.

Trying not to smile, he asked,
“
You ok Ace?
”

Avery glanced up at Marcus, green eyes wide with panic, right leg working rhythmically like a convulsion.
“
I
’
m sorry. I can
’
t do this, Marcus. Did you see all those people? Eddie Van Halen is in the first row! Eddie Van Halen!
”
Looking for sympathy, she found only mirth in Marcus
’
sparkling blue eyes. The turd was making fun of her.
“
Don
’
t mock me, you cretin!
”
Avery kicked his steel-toed boot. His grin only got wider and he began to laugh.

Just like that, Avery
’
s fear was forgotten. His genuine
smile,
and the sound of his easy laughter warmed her. She crossed her arms over her flattened chest and peered up at him. Tapping her foot impatiently, she raised her eyebrows, waiting for him to stop.

Marcus wiped tears from the corners of his eyes, and his expression turned serious. He reached out to put his hands on Avery
’
s shoulders, but pulled back at the last moment.
“
Sorry, Ace. I couldn
’
t help it. You had yourself really worked up there. Listen, BS needs you out there. You belong on that stage. You
’
re
gonna
slay
‘
em
. Let
’
s go.
”
Not waiting for a reply, he turned on his heel and headed backstage.

Just before going on stage, BS did their group huddle. Glances were exchanged again beneath clasped
arms,
Avery
’
s lingering on Marcus long after he turned away. The large theatre had quieted down to just a low hum of voices after Adele completed her number. A stage hand wielding an
iPad
walked over to them and said,
“
You
’
re up next.
”

During the commercial break, they filed out and took their respective places on the darkened stage. Positioned forward toward the audience, wound tightly like a spring, Avery clutched her guitar neck. But when the blinding stage lights came up, all that tension uncoiled, and she channeled the nervous energy into one of the best performances of her young life.

The whole group pulled out all the stops. JR
’
s spinning sticks never touched the ground. Even Dwight hammed it up. But the crowd really fed off of the chemistry that she and Marcus managed to capture, at least this one last time. As the band exited to a standing ovation, Avery was still a little jittery from the nonstop adrenaline surge.

Just offstage, Trevor pulled her aside.
“
What is it, Trevor?
”
she asked, noticing the intense look on his face.

He pulled her in closer and leaned his head down.
“
Jeff called my office. He wants to know what to do with the money we wired him.
”
 

“
What? He was supposed to pay off Campanella!
”
she exclaimed.

Trevor smiled.
“
That might be a little difficult,
kid,
…
considering
the fact that he was arrested today.
”
 

Avery broke into a wide smile.
“
Righteous.
”
It was divine justice. Maybe this was a sign that things wouldn
’
t go as bad as she feared with Marcus tonight. She could only hope.

Trevor crooked his arm around Avery and they rejoined the band. All the members of BS stayed together for the post-concert meet and greet with the VIP
’
s. The tables in the backstage rooms were laden with all sorts of food and decorated with elaborate ice sculptures. Stephen kept up
the introductions, including a succession of movie executives and video game moguls who wanted to buy the rights to use BS
’
s songs.  

Avery made several unsuccessful attempts to speak to Marcus alone. She wanted to tell him the truth and get it over with. Her stomach was in knots. She hadn
’
t been able to eat anything since the morning, but none of the food looked appetizing to her. Finally, as things were winding down, she spotted him over near one of the buffet tables, talking on his cell phone. When he finished the call, she got his attention.
“
Can I talk to you?
”
she asked in a low voice.

“
Sure, Ace. What
’
s up?
”
he responded, pocketing his cell.

“
I really need to tell you something, but I can
’
t do it here. Can we find somewhere private to talk?
”

“
I
’
m sorry, Avery. Can it wait until morning? That was Veronica on the phone. I
’
m heading over to her after-party.
”

“
Sure,
”
Avery replied dully.

‘
Why not prolong the agony?
’
she thought with resignation.