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publicity, maldicion , when you let the cat out of the bag, it ’ s gonna be stratospheric. They see you, ” he pointed to her, “ they ’ re gonna remember me, ” he pointed to himself. “ It ’ s gonna be great for business! ”  
     

CHAPTER 6 
     
    Avery had done her best to cut all ties to her friends before she left New York. She ’ d told everyone that she would be doing studio work and not to expect her back anytime soon. No specifics. The less information they knew the better if this was going to work out. Maybe, just maybe, if she was lucky, she could fly under Campanella ’ s radar for a while.
    Wanting to master Brutal Strength ’ s entire catalog, Avery spent the next few days practicing their songs. The Sutton Place Hotel in downtown Vancouver became her temporary home. It was ideally suited to the task with a full service hotel tower on one side and long-term apartments like the one she currently occupied on the other. Her one bedroom suite was twice as large as the two-bedroom apartment she ’ d lived in back in New York. Avery loved the balcony. It overlooked one of the main thoroughfares, Burrard Street, which conveniently connected her to the shops and restaurants in the vicinity.  
    When the day for her to play with Brutal Strength finally arrived, Avery could hardly contain her excitement. On the short cab ride over to Black Cat ’ s home office in Kitsilano her knee bounced up and down the whole time. Trevor ’ s attempts at small talk were mostly lost on her. She couldn ’ t wait to meet the rest of the group and jam with them.
    They split up as soon as they entered the building. Trevor went into the control room to listen with Stephen, and Avery slipped into the studio where the band was waiting. Marcus spotted her as soon as she stuck her head in the door and strode right over. He grinned widely. Avery returned his smile, relieved to see that his mood seemed vastly improved from the last time she had seen him. 
    Marcus was inexplicably pleased to see Avery again. The guy had a na i vety about him that he found refreshing. ‘ Unfortunately, ’ he mused, ‘ that quality will make him a target in this predatory business and surely get him chewed up and spit out if someone doesn ’ t look out for him. ’
    Marcus had long since drunk the Kool-Aid, figuratively speaking. Years on the road had made him irrevocably jaded and cynical. There wasn ’ t much he hadn ’ t seen or done. His behavior on tour had earned him a bad reputation. He only hoped not to repeat the same stupid mistakes in the future. Been there, done that, have the bill from rehab to prove it. He definitely didn ’ t want any of that for a nice kid like Avery.
    “ Avery, this is my older brother, Dwight. He ’ s our bassist and band anchor. ” The man who shook hands with her shared the same blue eyes and fair complexion as Marcus, but that was where the similarity ended. Rather than being tall and lean like Marcus, Dwight was shorter, by at least a couple of inches, and wider framed. He had thick blond hair with red highlights similar to Avery ’ s locks.
    “ Nice to meet you, Avery, ” Dwight said, pointing back and forth between their heads. “ You and I are gonna look good on stage together. Give the fans something better to look at than this troll. ”   His blue eyes sparkled as he shoved Marcus playfully.
    “ Likewise, ” she smiled tentatively at him. He came across as a warmer, friendlier version of his brother.
    “ And this guy on the drums is John Raymond. ” Marcus smirked. “ We call him the Evil Stepchild. ”
    “ You can call me JR, all my friends do. ” JR looked like a California surfer, tall and slim with the requisite long blond hair and tanned skin. He smiled, flashing brilliant white teeth, and extended his hand to her.
    “ Who ’ s ready to rock? ” Dwight asked, doing his best imitation of a fan-girl, sashaying his hips and spinning around in circle, hand behind his