Love Rock'ollection: The Brutal Strength Rock Star Trilogy, books 1-3 (25 page)

V scurried over, laying her hand on his tensed arm as if that would soothe him. How could he have forgotten how much she loved her games? Her glazed gaze flicked to him. “Marcus, don’t be mad. It’s not what you think” she exclaimed dramatically loud. By this point nearly everyone in the room was staring at them. “I tried to stop him, Marcus. I really did. But he’s just like Keith was. He wouldn’t take no for an answer.”

Marcus tried but couldn’t see his guitarist around the bodyguard. “I assume this is what you were trying to tell me, Ace,” he shouted over the bodyguard’s shoulder. “Don’t worry about it. She’s all yours.” He turned to focus on his ex, lowering his voice so only she could hear. “I don’t feel anything but relief. Avery’s naive, but he’ll figure you out soon enough. You’re the same self-centered bitch you’ve always been.”

Turning on his heel, he spun around and exited the suite without a backward glance.

DOWN SEVERAL LEVELS, Marcus was still feeling unsettled as he banged on Dwight’s door. “Let me in!” he demanded. “I need to talk to you.”

Inside Dwight glanced at Avery. She had shed her disguise after the concert, and come to his room for moral support. He raised a questioning brow at her.

“It’s time for him to know the truth,” she whispered.

Dwight squeezed her hand and went to open the door.

Marcus stormed into the room and then went completely still, every muscle in his body frozen in shock as Avery stood to face him.

“Marcus,” she whispered, looking apologetic and nervous as she twisted her hands together. “I can explain.”

He shook his head, his mind reeling as he stared at the unexpected softness and curves of the beautiful woman standing before him.

There was no way
this
Avery had been
that
Avery...at the party…kissing V.

So, who the hell had it been?

Then the truth hit him.

There was only one person it
could
be.

Avery’s twin.

Her not-so-dead twin brother.

He hadn’t gotten a really good close look, but across the room the resemblance had been uncanny.

But what the hell was her game? This was way more twisted and convoluted than any stunt V had ever pulled. He would’ve never believed it if he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes.

All those sleepless nights second guessing himself about his attraction to Avery. As it turned out his body had known what his brain had failed to reason out.

But his temporary relief was swiftly swallowed by the rage that billowed up in its wake. The full magnitude of what Avery had done, the depth of her deception, hit him like a punch to the gut. All this time she had been a woman. A woman he’d been more open with than anyone he’d ever known.

He’d have to give it to her, she was one talented little actress. Lies upon more lies, but why? Had anything she told him been the truth?

His eyes slashed to his brother. “Dwight, get out,” he ordered before cutting his gaze back to Avery. “I want to talk to
her
alone.” His voice shook with the force of his anger.

Dwight hesitated looking uncertain as he noted the dangerous look in Marcus’ eyes.

“It’s ok, Dwight,” Avery told him. “Don’t worry. I can take care of myself.”

Dwight dipped his head in acknowledgement before easing to the door where he stopped and glanced back over his shoulder.

Avery had returned to her seat. While he watched, she scooted back, straightened her spine, and clasped her hands together in her lap. She looked so vulnerable and young, like a little girl bracing for a reprimand. But though her big green eyes were shadowed with trepidation, her expression remained resolute.

Dwight sighed. This was about to get ugly. He closed the door, hoping for the best.

As soon as the latch clicked, the room descended into complete silence.

Tension trickled down Avery’s spine as Marcus studied her, his gaze running over her body, top to bottom slowly and then back up.

Marcus couldn’t help noting how well she filled out her jeans or how flatteringly her green v -necked t-shirt stretched over her breasts. Hello- where had those been the past few weeks?

Stop,
he told himself.
It doesn’t really matter now.
Get your
eyes back to her face
. He redirected his gaze with effort. Torn between his desire for her and the temptation to rail at her, a muscle began to twitch in his clenched jaw.

“How long has Dwight known?” His voice cracked the air like a sharp whip.

Avery jumped. She found it difficult to concentrate, watching him struggle for composure, his fists opening and closing. “Two days,” she whispered, her heartbeat thundering in her ears.

He gave an aggravated snort, crossing his arms over his chest and glaring at her.

“I was going to tell you at the farm…”

“Oh, that soon, huh?” he interrupted, voice dripping with sarcastic ire.

“Yes… I know I should’ve told you sooner. Marcus, please.” She reached out a hand to touch him, but he stepped back out of her reach.

“Don’t you dare touch me.”

His scorn made Avery flinch. She rushed to explain. “After the Besille thing, I knew I had to tell you right away, but I wanted to help you finish the album first, and I wanted to…” Her voice choked to a stop. She looked down, clamping her lips closed unable to continue.

“What did you want?” Marcus pressed, his voice lethally soft as he leaned over her. “What, Avery?” He put both his hands on the armrests of her chair and shook it. When she looked up the pain in his blue eyes was difficult to stomach. “Tell me.”

“I wanted to be near you,” Avery admitted, the words tumbling from her mouth.

Marcus made a disgusted noise, pushing back from her chair and turning his back to her.

Avery rose, staring at his tensed shoulders, heart in her throat. She reached out a shaking hand to him before coming to her senses and placing it back at her side instead. “I love you, Marcus,” she said so softly, she thought he wouldn’t hear.

Marcus whirled around, the lines of his face drawn back in disdain.

Avery took a frightened step back.

“Oh please, Avery. What kind of idiot to you think I am? Give me a little effing credit.”

Wham. There it was, the rejection she feared, like a door slamming shut somewhere deep inside. Up until then, she hadn’t realized how much she’d hoped telling him how she felt would make a difference. It hadn’t. This outcome had been inevitable from the very beginning. She only had herself to blame. She should have tried harder to find another way out of the mess with Campanella. But it was time to get out of Marcus’ life, make as graceful of an exit as she could before she made things worse by begging.

“I don’t know what else you want me to say, Marcus.” Her voice sounded as dead and defeated as she felt inside. She blinked back the sting of tears. “I’m sorry. I made a huge mistake. There’s no excuse for what I did.”

“Damn right! You messed with my band and my personal life. You had me so screwed up, getting back together with V was looking like a viable alternative. And that night with that blonde...” He trailed off making a dismissive motion with his hand. “Well, never mind. The farce ends here.” He moved to the door and yanked it open. He didn’t turn back around, but it was obvious he expected her to leave, and that he hated her so much he couldn’t even stand to look at her. “I hope you’re happy, Ace.” Marcus spat out her nickname like it was poison. “You’ve made a complete wreck of my life.” Her chest burned from his venomous words. “V was just a minor wound compared to this. After what you’ve done to me, I’m going to have to rebuild my soul.”

SOMETIME LATER, THERE was a knock at Avery’s door. Blinking through her sheen of tears, she hesitantly opened it. JR took one look at her and shook his head. “Oh, honey. I’m sorry.” He led her over to the bed, the mattress sinking when he took a seat beside her.

“He hates me, JR,” she whispered her voice hoarse from crying. “If you had seen the look on his face...” She shuddered. “Did he say anything to you?”

“No, but I saw Dwight out in the hall. He’s gone to try to talk some sense into him.” He tipped her chin back running calloused thumbs through the wetness on her cheeks. “What are we going to do with you, Avery?” His eyes were soft with concern as he studied her blotchy tear stained face.

Unable to endure his scrutiny with her emotions still so raw, she lowered her head scooting closer, tucking her chin into his chest. She was grateful for the comfort he provided. She settled into his embrace.

“Why couldn’t you have fallen for me?” he half teased after a while. “Not enough of a challenge, huh?”

She looked up at him, managing a wan smile.

“What I really don’t get is why you lied about your brother being dead.”

“I didn’t.” Avery shook her head. “What are you talking about?”

“Marcus told Dwight he saw Justin at the party with V.”

That wasn’t possible, was it? Avery stood on wobbly legs. Marcus had to be mistaken, but she couldn’t take that chance. She squeezed JR’s arm. “Take me up there, JR. Please. I need to see for myself.”

“Alright.” He looked skeptical.

“Come on JR, hurry!” She tugged on his arm when he moved too slow for her.

“Ok, Ok, Avery.” He followed her out into the hall, and onto the elevator. She gnawed on her lip, heart racing as it rose, willing it to go faster. She started to feel lightheaded.

A crowd awaited them when they exited onto V’s floor. Seemed the party was winding down. Avery pushed past the few remaining people mingling in front of the doorway. Scanning the room, she saw Veronica first. As their eyes met, V’s jaw dropped and all the color drained from her face.

And then she saw movement, a flash of familiar red out of the corner of her eye. She turned and the room seemed to spin. “Justin,” she gasped before everything went black.

WHEN AVERY CAME to, she found herself snugly tucked into her brother’s side, him leaning back against the headboard in her hotel room. Slowly blinking up at him, she twisted around, and clutched his shoulders. “Tell me I’m not dreaming. That you’re real, and that you’re alive.”

“You’re not, and you bet I am. I missed you, sis. I wanted to get word to you that I was ok, but the FBI convinced me you would only be safe if you believed they had killed me. I’m so sorry for what you went through.” Justin kissed her forehead and wrapped his arms more tightly around her, as if sensing she needed physical confirmation that what he said was true.

Then he proceeded to fill her in on the whole affair involving Campanella, the FBI, and his disappearance. By the time he was finished, she stared at him in wonderment.

“Now your turn. What the hell is going on with this?” He ran his fingers through her short hair, lifting his brow inquisitively. “And JR said you’re the guitarist in Brutal Strength?”

She nodded immediate affirmation, then slowly shook her head. “Used to be…But not anymore. It’s a long, complicated story.”

“Hey, I’m not going anywhere. Spill it. I’m all ears.”

Avery told him the whole convoluted tale, and he listened attentively. She even confided how she felt about Marcus and how the lead singer had responded to her confession tonight. By the time she finished, the darkness outside the windows was just giving way to the predawn light.