International Tour

INTERNATIONAL TOUR PART TWO OF TOUR SERIES LUCI FER CONTENTS Trigger Warning 1. BRAX 2. CHARLIE 3. BRAX 4. CHARLIE 5. BRAX 6. CHARLIE 7. BRAX 8. BRAX 9. CHARLIE 10. BRAX 11. CHARLIE 12. CHARLIE 13. BRAX 14. CHARLIE 15. BRAX 16. CHARLIE 17. BRAX 18. CHARLIE 19. BRAX 20. BRAX 21. CHARLIE 22. BRAX 23. BRAX 24. CHESTER 25. BRAX 26. CHESTER 27. BRAX 28. SHANE 29. BRAX 30. BRAX 31. BRAX 32. CHARLIE 33. BRAX 34. BRAX 35. CHARLIE 36. BRAX 37. BRAX 38. BRAX 39. CHESTER 40. CHARLIE 41. BRAX 42. BRAX 43. CHARLIE 44. BRAX 45. BRAX 46. BRAX Epilogue Acknowledgments TRIGGER WARNING This story contains content that might be troubling to some readers, including, but not limited to, sexual harassment, grooming and post traumatic stress disorder. Please be mindful of these and other possible triggers, particularly during Chapters Eight and Nine. Please seek assistance or medical advice if needed. This book is dedicated to the dreamers… let your soul sing. 1 BRAX I bounced excitedly on my toes, down centre stage, the tingling vibrations of the music started to invade my being. I stepped forward, and the strobe light vanished like it was never there in the first place. There was no trace of the vibrant reds, oranges, or other colours. The thrumming of the drums had turned into a chirping, startling my senses alive. The bloody alarm clock! How was it morning already?! "Well, fuck." The frost of the air conditioner saturated the bedroom, and I tugged the duvet higher, seeking the warmth. Drowsy dreaming gave way to creative sparks and new ideas, which set my mind adrift to all we had accomplished since our Regional Tour. Abandoned Bygone had finally broken the charts, and with the heightened success came notoriety I had often dreamt about. Becoming famous later on in our journey afforded us the maturity to navigate the media-induced storms more clearly. My band and the songs became the beating heart within me. We found the ability to speak strongly through our music and inevitably emerged as industry leaders. Our renown grew broader, and so did our smiles. It was what we worked so hard for. And, as our fans pulsed around us, we became electric… a frenzy of action. We didn't just hear the tunes any longer. We fed off their vibes, thriving at the apex of our craft. After our Regional Tour, we returned to the studio and worked solidly on our new album, Bold Fortune. Like the first, Mile End, it quickly became a smash hit. The debut song, “Private Destiny,” reached diamond in the first month. With multiple Platinum awards and over ten million streams, it was now our highest-selling track. This was what we were born to do; we couldn’t escape that. It was our destiny. There was no denying Charlie was the anchor to help me thrive. She brought calm to my life. Her soul complimented my own. I learned to love myself and find balance. I could be a pillar for others because I was able to heal in the space she had given me. The alarm screeched across the room again, causing me to toss in the bed and seek refuge. I felt like I’d barely slept. The boys and I had worked painstakingly in the recording booths, with multiple awards shows and performances to promote the album threaded through our studio schedule. And, as if that wasn't enough, just before we wrapped up a few hours ago, Mark reminded us of an urgent meeting called by the studio executives later this morning. "Make it stop, Cutie," I mumbled into my sheets. I tried to get comfortable again, fluffing the pillow several times before throwing it over my head. Finally, Charlie turned it off, and I felt her shuffle in the bed, fussing with the down comforter before releasing a sigh of contentment. "What time did you finish last night, Batman? I didn't hear you get home." Charlie's morning voice flooded the room. I wrapped my arm around her waist and pulled her closer, enjoying the warmth of her body. "Late," I sighed heavily. "I feel like I just went to bed." Seconds later, her soft fingers stroked my face, her nails running up into my hair, shrouding me in a comfort only she could provide. "Mhm, that's nice." She asked, “when’s the meeting,” and I quickly racked my brain before telling her, "Eleven." "I'll call you an hour before and ensure you're up." I nodded but didn't open my eyes. The physical exhaustion had hit me like a right hook to the jaw. "Ring the home phone. My mobile's on Do Not Disturb." "Alright," she promised. "I've got to get showered and ready for work, my uber will be here in an hour. I love you. Go back to sleep." "Love you, too," I whispered, still not opening my eyes. I pushed my lips out, signalling I wanted a kiss. I didn't have to wait long before I felt the soft skin of her hand on my cheek again and the smooth deliciousness of her lips skimming over my own. She was gone too quickly, and the bed felt void of familiarity. Before I could register much, I nodded back to sleep. A few hours later, I woke to the phone chirping beside me and drowsily reached for it. I knew it was just Evil Midget with my wake-up call, so when I answered, I was quick to moan rather sexily, "Talk dirty to me, Cutie." "Sorry, bro. I don't feel that way about you." Fuck! Of course, it was Chester. I groaned, “You’re supposed to be Charlie,” his amusement was blatant. "Yeah. I got that, but I'm your wake-up call instead. She's stuck in a meeting. So, still want me to give you some sexy time?" "Nope!" I shut him down fast, adding, "I'm good. I'm up." "Damn… I'm better than I thought if you already have a hard-on!" His wild