Page 88 of Ravaged For You

Maddie’s mouth drops.

“Your rival band? Those guys? They’re here as well?”

“The one and the same,” I reply. “The assholes themselves in all their shit glory.”

“Of course their plane is next to ours,” Bishop seethes.

“They can’t do anything without doing it next to us,” Drake adds.

We pass by the group to board our own plane.

Oz Cantor, the famous frontman of Tainted Lives spots us at the same time as we spot him. He nudges his bandmates. They all face us. As we pass, Oz opens his arms wide aggressively.

“Well, well, well,” he cackles. “If it isn’t our lowly little competition, Ravaged.”

He pronounces our band’s name like it’s poison he’s spitting from his mouth.

He’s just like he’s like in photos. Bright red curly hair. Pale, freckly skin. Dark green sneering eyes.

To me, he’s fucking ugly as fuck.

“Oz,” Drake greets, trying to move past him without a fight developing. That plan doesn’t work with a guy like Oz. He’s determined not to let us slip from his grasp.

“You guys better get that plane started. You have an album to promote, don’t you? You need all the help you can get, seeing as you are vastly behind us in record sales. Isn’t that right?”

“Look,” Drake replies. “We don’t want any trouble, Oz.”

We’ll be on our way, and you be on yours,” I add. “We don’t have to say anything to each other.”

Oz laughs directly back in my face. We must be no further than ten yards apart from each other on the tarmac of the airport. I can practically see the disgust in his eyes from this distance.

His fellow bandmates chuckle along with their leader, their bags lying next to them. It’s like the rest of Tainted Lives have no personality at all other than to act as simple yes men to the frontman.

“We don’t have to say something to each other, but I want to,” Oz gloats. “Both our new albums are coming out on the same day, and we’re going to beat you guys to pulp. You know what? Me and the guys have been making some bets on how many more copies we’re going to sell than you on release day. I gotta let you in on a little secret… the numbers are pretty big.”

It’s Bishop’s turn to speak. “Just back away, Oz. We simply want to fly out in peace.”

Oz laughs mockingly again. “You guys think you’re so tough and cool. You guys are, in fact, nothing but posers.”

“One day, I swear, Tainted Lives will be a support act for our tour,” I reply. “Nothing else but a little backup at the beginning of our show when everyone’s still getting their drinks and finding their seats in a sold-out stadium under our names. I promise one day you’ll wish you’re even one-tenth of our band.”

“As if,” Oz retorts. I see my words have had an effect on him, though, despite his bravado. “We’re going to be bigger than you. No one is going to remember you guys at all in a year’s time. Ravaged will end up in the trashcan of music history. I won’t stop until you’re Tainted Lives’ supporting act.”

I smirk and take Maddie’s hand. “Well, it’s been real nice catching up with you, Oz, but we’ve got a flight to catch.”

“Is that your girl?”

The question makes me stop. It’s not a simple question.

It’s a goddamn threat.

“What?”

“Is that your girl?” Oz repeats. “I saw her on my Instagram. I recognize her. At first, I saw all those negative comments and thought she was quite pretty but seeing her in person makes me admit that she’s a bit too plain for a guy like you, Axel.”

What the actual…

The next moment is pure instinct and adrenaline.