Relentless (Relentless Soul Book 1)

by Ryan, Rachel

  A couple of hours later, as I stand around listening to Luke, Hunter, Emma and Tori reminisce about the tour, my eyes find Ava's. She is standing beside Jeremy who is talking and laughing with Travis, our manager and looking bored out of her mind. Jeremy has definitely been making the most of the celebrations and is already on his way to being seriously plastered. Ava grins at me and I tilt my head toward the door signaling for her to follow me. She nods her head and turns and quietly says something to Jeremy before walking out of the room. A few seconds later as I make my toward the door, I turn to see Jeremy glaring at me from across the room. I realize he must have seen Ava leave through the same door, but at the moment I don't really care.

  Closing the door behind me I see Ava leaning up against the opposite wall. She looks so beautiful tonight. Her black skinny jeans show off all of her curves and her low cut, chocolate brown, draped top is well fitted and displays just enough cleavage to be sexy but still classy and tasteful. Her hair falls in soft waves past her shoulders and I want to run my fingers through the beautiful dark waves. We stare at each other in silence for a few seconds as I slowly inch closer to her.

  "Hey."

  "Hey, yourself."

  "You looked like you needed rescuing in there." Grinning at her I lean my shoulder up against the wall beside her and she turns to look at me.

  "Oh. No, it was fine. Jeremy and Travis were talking business. I kind of zoned out for most of it."

  "Did you enjoy the final show?"

  Nodding, her smile widens and lights up her eyes as she stares up at me. "It was so cool. The crowd was wild and so into it. I swear you guys just keep getting better with every show. And there's no shortage of groupies in there tonight, so that just shows how popular you've all become."

  Changing the subject I ask her how her tattoo is feeling.

  "It's fine. It was a little sensitive for a few days, but it's all good now. Now that it's all healed up it looks heaps better." To prove her point she lifts her shirt and pulls her waistband down slightly for me to look at her tattoo. Bending down I catch a glimpse of the tattoo, but it's her soft golden skin that holds my attention. Reaching out I run my fingertips over the tattoo and hear her sharp intake of breath. Feeling my pulse thumping through my body I swallow my desire and look up into her eyes.

  "It's beautiful."

  Suddenly I hear an angry voice shout "What the fuck?"

  Jeremy

  Brody stands up straight as Ava lowers her top and they both just stare at me.

  "What the fuck is going on?"

  They glance at each other and then Ava steps toward me.

  "I was just showing Brody how well my tattoo has healed."

  Stepping past Ava I stop in front of Brody. His shoulders lift and he stares straight back at me.

  "Look, I understand that you went with Ava when she got the tattoo, so obviously you saw more of her body than I would want you to see. But that doesn't mean you can ogle my girlfriend whenever you feel like it."

  Brody stands up straighter and leans in toward me.

  "I wasn't ogling her Jeremy."

  Chuckling, I glance back at Ava to see her cross her arms and frown in my direction.

  "Yeah? Why the fuck did you two sneak out here then?"

  "We weren't sneaking. And maybe if you had been paying her a little more attention she wouldn't be out here with me."

  Feeling my blood starting to boil I shake my head. I can't believe the fucking nerve of this guy.

  "You've been sneaking around behind my back this whole fucking time, Brody. You're always there to save the fucking day and it's really starting to piss me off."

  Brody looks past me and I glance behind me to see a bunch of people looking through the door, no doubt wondering what all the commotion is.

  My attention snaps back to Brody as he softly says "Jeremy, you're drunk. You need to pull yourself together, bro."

  He lifts his hand and places it on my shoulder but I push it away angrily. "Don't you call me ‘bro’. If you were my bro you wouldn't be in love with my fucking girl."

  Brody's eyes look past me again and I turn to see Ava standing there with her mouth slightly open and her brows are raised in surprise.

  Chuckling, I look at Ava in disbelief. "Don't pretend you didn't know, Dundee. It's so fucking obvious the way he's always watching you. And you two spend so much time together. Even Jo could see it."

  I realize that I said the wrong thing as Ava closes her mouth and puts her hands on her hips.

  "You talked to Jo about our relationship?"

  "Yeah, I needed some advice."

  "So you talk to the girl who is in love with you about our relationship?"

  "Ava, she's my friend. And lately she seems to be the only friend that isn't going behind my back." I glare at Brody again.

  "Tell me, Jeremy, what advice did she give you about our relationship?"

  Shoving my hands in my pockets I shrug my shoulders. "Look, Dundee. I needed someone to talk to and I couldn't go to my best friend so she was the next option."

  Ava shakes her head and looks at me with sad eyes. "You could have come to me, Jeremy. You could have talked to me. Or do you not consider me one of your friends? This is bullshit, Jeremy. If you don't trust me enough to talk to me, how is this relationship going to work?"

  Fuck! Why the fuck did I bring Jo into this conversation? Stupid alcohol!

  "Jeremy, I can't be with someone who doesn't trust me."

  Is she fucking kidding me? What the fuck just happened? She turned it all back around on me.

  "I can't deal with this shit." Shaking my head I storm off back into the conference room and head straight for the bar.

  Ava

  As I watch Jeremy walk away I can't believe he has been talking to Jo about our relationship. I would never go behind someone's back and cheat on them; I have more respect for myself than that. Turning around I walk as fast as my feet allow me. I need to get some fresh air. My breathing feels heavy and my chest is tightening. Hearing my name I start to run. Pushing on the door with so much force I almost fall through it I walk out into the cool night air and stare up at the stars. Why does everything good in my life always turn to shit? Breathing fast and shallow I try to calm down but I can't, my mind is scattered. Jeremy doesn't trust me. Of all the people for him to go to for advice, he goes to the girl who has been secretly in love with him for years. A gentle hand touches my shoulder and I turn around to see the face of the one person that seems to keep me calm.

  "Ava?"

  "Why didn't you tell me?"

  "I couldn't Ava. You deserve better than me and he really likes you so I stepped back."

  "I could have made that decision myself."

  "I know but you don't deserve my baggage Ava my mind is fucked up. You don't deserve that. You deserve someone who is going to be there for you. Not someone who is too afraid to open their heart."

  "You deserve that too Brody. You are a beautiful caring person and since we met, you are the only person who has always been there for me. You can't change what happened in your past, but you need to understand that it wasn't your fault and you need to move on with your life and be happy. Find someone who can make you happy."

  Brody stares down into my eyes and inches closer to me. "I've already found her, Ava. But she doesn't belong to me." Looking up into his eyes I seem to lose sight of everything else. He leans down and kisses my forehead. My eyes close and his lips are so soft on my skin. After a few seconds he pulls back and I open my eyes.

  "We better get back in there."

  Walking beside Brody I'm so lost in my thoughts, I just focus on the sound of my heels clicking on the floor as I wonder what will happen when we get back inside.

  Brody

  God she smells so good. As we walk back to the party, I am so tempted to just drag her off into the night, so I don't have to share her with anyone. The way this girl makes me feel is beyond amazing. I never thought I could feel this way about anyo
ne in my life. For almost half of my life I have been consumed with the guilt of not being there for my baby brother. If I couldn't be there for my own family, how could I have a relationship with someone? How could I expect someone to put so much faith and trust in me and not fail or disappoint them in the end? But Ava, she makes me feel like I could be there for her, love her, cherish her, give myself to her completely. I was so close to kissing her hot little mouth, but at the last minute, Jeremy's image popped into my head and I found myself kissing her forehead. But it wasn't enough. I want her so bad. My body and my heart ache for her.

  Opening the door I wave my arm in front of me, signaling for her to go in first. When she does she suddenly stops and I hear a small gasp come from her mouth. Looking over her shoulder, I wonder what made her react that way. Straight ahead of us sitting on the couch with two blond groupies is Jeremy.

  "Motherfucker!" Pushing past Ava I stride over to the couch and pull Jeremy away from the groupie that currently has her tongue down his throat and pull him by the collar of his shirt into a standing position. "What the fuck is wrong with you? Why the fuck would you do this to her?"

  Jeremy smiles and sways on his feet. Obviously he's had a few more drinks in our absence.

  Glancing over my shoulder, I see Ava still standing in the doorway, a hurt look in her eyes. Suddenly, Tori is by her side putting an arm around her and leading her from the room. Turning back to Jeremy I shake him and yell at him again "Why the fuck would you hurt her like that Jeremy?"

  He somehow gathers some strength and pushes me away from him.

  "Why don't you just stay out of my fucking business for once, Brody?" He sways again, unsteady on his feet as he slurs. "I'm a fucking rock star; I don't have to put up with your shit. Or hers."

  "You're a fucking dirt bag, Jeremy." Suddenly my body takes on a mind of its own and I feel my fist clench as I pull it back and land a punch right on Jeremy's jaw, splitting the side of his lip. He goes down like a lead balloon and lands straight on the couch. "And you've just lost the best thing that ever happened to you."

  Turning, I almost run out the door and look both ways down the corridor. Taking a chance I head out the way Ava had gone earlier to find her and Tori hugging.

  What do I say? How do I comfort her?

  My boots crunch on the gravel and the girls both turn in my direction.

  "Uh…Sorry to interrupt. I just wanted to check that you are okay."

  Tori steps away from Ava "I'm gonna…go back inside and give you two kids some privacy. Plus I got some ass whooping to do. Look after her Brody"

  I study Ava's face as she smiles at what Tori just said.

  "Are you okay, Ava?"

  Nodding her head she smiles up at me as I move closer to her.

  "Yeah, I'm fine. I knew it was bound to happen. I just didn't expect it to happen this soon." She looks up at the sky and I watch her with admiration. She is handling this so well and with complete dignity. "I think deep down I knew it wouldn't work. We're just so different."

  I can't believe what I'm hearing. I knew she had reservations about a relationship with Jeremy, but I didn't realize just how deep those reservations were.

  She looks back into my eyes and takes a step toward me.

  "Plus, I think my heart wouldn't let me get too close to Jeremy because it knew what it really wanted." She takes hold of my hand and I can feel the air sizzle between us as I stare into the golden depths of her eyes.

  "What are you saying, Ava? What does your heart want?"

  She leans in closer and whispers "My heart wants you, Brody. I think it has wanted you from the moment we met."

  I'm frozen. I have wanted this moment to happen since that first day I laid eyes on her in the elevator. I felt an instant connection with her that day and I'm sure she felt it too. I can't believe she is finally saying the words I've been waiting and wanting to hear for the last eight weeks. Leaning forward I cup her face in my hands and place a soft kiss on her gorgeous lips. She grips my waist and pulls me closer to her. She closes her eyes and I watch her as she parts her lips and traces her tongue around my lips. Kissing her is heaven. I claim her mouth with the hunger that has been burning inside of me for the last eight weeks and I hear a small whimper as I run my hands through her beautiful soft hair. She opens her eyes and the passion and desire I see in her eyes makes me feel so much love for her.

  Tearing my mouth from hers I stroke her hair from her face as I finally put my feelings into words.

  "Ava, Baby, I have wanted to kiss you ever since I saw you in that elevator." This brings a gorgeous smile to her lips. "For the last eight weeks I have told myself that I wasn't right for you and you deserved someone better than me. It has been torture watching you and Jeremy together, but I just wanted to see you happy. You are the most amazing person I have ever met. You're strong and determined and so fucking sexy. I do love you. More than I have ever loved anyone in my life. That's why I'm going to take you home now and let you have some time to yourself so you can sort this all out in your head. I want you to be with me, but I want you to be sure it's what you want."

  The door flies open behind us and I turn to see Hunter and Luke dragging a very drunk Jeremy from the building. There is blood on his lip and Ava gasps when she sees it.

  "What happened to his lip?"

  Luke looks at me with a cheeky grin "Brody's fist happened to it."

  As they walk past us to the waiting car, Ava looks at me.

  "You hit him? Because of me?"

  Shaking my head I grab hold of her hands "I couldn't stand to see you hurt like that."

  Ava slowly backs away from me. "But you two are best friends. I never wanted to come between you like this. God, what have I done?"

  The door behind us flies open again and this time it's Tori and Emma.

  Ava rushes over to them "Can you girls take me home? I have to go."

  Tori looks at me in confusion, "Sure, Ava."

  Ava glances back at me "I'm sorry, Brody. I have to go."

  She walks off into the night with Tori and Emma and a little piece of my heart.

  Ava

  "Ava. Are you okay?"

  "No Tori, I need to go. I never meant to come between them."

  "Jeremy made his bed and now he has to lie in it. He should have treated you better. He would have if he really cares about you, like Brody."

  The car stops and I open the door instantly, over my shoulder I mumble "Thanks, I'll talk to you later." As soon as the car has started to drive away I make a run for it.

  Running into my bedroom I can't stop the tears from flowing. I need to go, I never meant for this to happen. I won't ruin a friendship, a band. Leaning down on my floor I lie down on my stomach and reach under the bed. Grabbing the cold handle of my small suitcase I pull it out and throw it on the bed. As I throw some clothes and various toiletries into my suitcase I make a call to the airline company to book a ticket on the next flight to Australia.

  I leave a message on Jennifer's phone telling her there has been an emergency and that I have flown back home for three weeks. I tell her that I will send the last of the tour photos and articles to her when I land. I apologize endlessly but I need space, I need to go. Zipping up the suitcase, I set my alarm for four; I managed to get on the first flight tomorrow morning.

  Chapter 25

  Brody

  As I pull up outside of Ava's apartment building I switch off my bike and take my helmet off. After the events of the other night, I have tried to stay away. I lasted forty eight hours before my body couldn't resist seeing her anymore. Walking up to her door I knock a couple of times. I'm so nervous. I have no idea what was going through her head the other night when she left with the girls. It seems like she thinks she was coming between me and Jeremy. But I don't care. After the way he treated her, he no longer deserves her respect. I was honest with her. I was honest with myself for the first time in a long time. I want her with all of my heart and I'm not going to let anyone come
between us. Not even my best friend.

  Peering through the glass in the front door, I knock again. I wonder where she is. The door to the apartment beside Ava's opens up and an elderly lady walks toward me.

  "She's not here son."

  Is she talking about Ava?

  "Where is she?"

  "My son is the landlord of this building and he said that she's gone back to Australia. He asked me to keep an eye on the place for her."

  She disappears back into her apartment and I can't move. She's gone? Why would she leave like that? I scared her away. I must have come on too strong the other night with all the talk about love. Fuck!

  As I slowly make my way back to my bike, I feel my heart shattering into a thousand tiny pieces.

  ***

  Travis has called an emergency meeting with the band and as I enter the room my eyes are met with an angry blue glare. I ignore the death stare from Jeremy and sit down at the opposite end of the table.

  Travis stands and rests his hands on the table.

  "Okay, now that all band members are present, can someone please explain what the fuck happened at the after party the other night?"

  Jeremy chuckles "Why don't you ask Brody?"

  My head snaps in his direction. "It's simple, Travis. Jeremy got pissed and accused me and Ava of sneaking around behind his back. He then decided to stick his tongue down some whore's throat and broke his girlfriend's heart. She has since flown back to Australia."

  Jeremy's mouth opens in surprise and I give him a dirty look.

  "What? You didn't know that your girlfriend has left the country? Have you even bothered to call her since that night?" Jeremy looks down at the table. "No, I didn't think so."

  Travis shakes his head.

  "Well, boys." He looks at me then Jeremy. "Sort this mess out. You've all worked too hard to let some girl come between you. This band is more important than that." I can't listen to him belittle Ava like that. Standing up, I grab my helmet off the table and leave the room.