shuddered, wondering yet again, if only she had done something different, would she have been able to save him?
It was as if Marcus could read her mind. “ Avery, ” he said, “ we all have to take responsibility for our own choices. Justin made his. The drugs were there for you also, weren ’ t they? ”
She nodded.
“ But you didn ’ t take them, right? ”
She shook her head, vehemently. “ No, never. ” Scooting over closer to him on the sectional, she laid open her notebook to show him what she had written down so far. “ Hey, I think I have the lyrics worked out. What do you think about this? ”
I am all you ever need, her desire calls
Telling her lies, her memory stalls
Poisoning the body , it seems so tender
It takes so much strength not to surrender
It loves to catch her as she falls
A siren calls him, a heavenly voice
He cannot resist, there is no choice
Upon the rocks, he feels no fear
She lures him there, the edge is near
An untimely fall, now she will rejoice
The desire so strong, it holds on tight
Strength to overcome, not in sight
Your senses so dulled, nothing alive
It tells you, you need me to survive
Your mind fights for what it knows is right
A desire to feel like never before
Always needing so much more
Death is looming, a desire so strong
A song to lure, a drug to belong
Don ’ t be fooled, there ’ s life to adore
CHAPTER 13
As Avery was getting dressed the next morning, the phone rang. “ Hey, I have a little problem, ” Trevor said ominously on the other end.
“ What is it? ” Avery asked, heart fluttering.
“ I ’ ve got a $350,000 check that ’ s burning a hole in my pocket. It needs to be deposited somewhere. It ’ s made out to this awesome guitarist I know, Avery Jones. ” He chuckled. “ Maybe you ’ ve heard of her? ” Trevor had to pull the phone away from his ear as Avery let out an ear piercing scream.
“ Sorry Trevor. That ’ s awesome news. There ’ s a bank just around the corner. ”
Avery arrived at the bank early enough to be the first customer of the morning. She opened an account and called Jeff to tell him she had the money to pay Campanella.
“ Oh, Avery, that ’ s great news. ”
“ I hate to ask you, but could you take it to Campanella for me? He already knows you, and you ’ re the only one I can trust to do it. ”
“ Absolutely. Consider it done. Just send me a little extra cash to buy some disinfectant soap to wash off the scum afterward. ”
She finished up at the bank, making arrangements to have the money electronically transferred to Jeff ’ s account in New York as soon as the funds became available. On the way back to her hotel, she stopped somewhere she had always wanted to shop- the Apple store. Once she had her purchase in hand, she immediately texted Marcus.
Avery: U up yet bum ?
Marcus: Been up for hours scrub. Sup?
Avery: Bought a new toy today- I want to show u. Biking- Stanley Park?
Marcus: Meet u @ Aquarium parking lot in 30, u got coffee?
Avery: Will run to Caf é A. CU soon!
When Avery ’ s taxi dropped her off, Marcus stood on the sidewalk waiting. She smiled when she saw him. Marcus always looked good, but today he was ruggedly handsome in faded jeans, a knit cap like hers, mirrored sunglasses, and a dark leather jacket.
Avery handed him his cup of coffee.
“ Thanks, it ’ s a little chilly for a ride this morning, but I ’ m game if you are. I haven ’ t done this in ages. ” As they filled out the paperwork to rent bikes, Avery showed him her new toy, an iTouch . Marcus raised an eyebrow as she gushed on and on about all it could do. “ Avery, you realize those have been out for a while now. ”
“ I know, I know, but I ’ ve never had one. I just downloaded Foo Fighters ’ new album, Wasting Light . Have you heard it? ”
“ I have, it ’ s a winner. Not seventies though. Are you softening your stance about current
Abhilash Gaur
C. Alexander London
Elise Marion
Liesel Schwarz
Al Sharpton
Connie Brockway
John B. Garvey, Mary Lou Widmer
Shirley Walker
Black Inc.