EVEN THOUGH LUCA had no technology in his house beside his television, he knew just by hearing her name that Amina Ryan was his way to make Hollywood bleed.

She'd been all over the news-the pop star sensation that blew up overnight and took the hearts of million with her original song. Luca wasn't surprised hearing that she signed up with Manning records, the very same label he signed onto when he first blew up-Brandy's label. It would be a smart decision for her; Brandy managed most of the biggest stars in Hollywood.

Luca needed her on his side.

She was the key to bringing Hollywood down. People all around the globe had heard about her, and she was already a fan favorite on TV. She was in the hearts of everyone already, with just one damn song. She could hurt Hollywood by exposing the dark place to the people who truly make it so big.

She wasn't what Hollywood wanted, and Luca couldn't help but be intrigued by why Brandy wanted her. She wasn't anything like Hollywood's singers. Her skin tone was different, her hair was curlier, and her figure wasn't model-like. She was human-and being a human in Hollywood wasn't safe. She had a strong Queens accent from what he watched in interviews on TV, and he hoped that Brandy didn't try to change her appearance and accent to try to fit her in Hollywood. She was what Hollywood stayed away from, but the people loved and wanted to see more of.

Everything that made Amina, Amina, seemed to not matter to Brandy. He wanted her voice, but why couldn't he have taken her entirely?

Luca needed to make sure that what happened to him and others didn't happen to her. He was done ignoring what was going on around him-what Brandy was trying to hide from him. He wasn't going to let anyone else get hurt.

The doorbell rang loudly, the sound echoing throughout the once quiet house as his dogs began to bark hysterically. Shushing them as he throws them a random toy beside him, Luca makes his way to the front door.

His entire house was spotless and left no trace of anything broken from his many breakdowns the nights before. He looked refreshed, healthy, and sober-everything Brandy was expecting for him to be while isolating him from the outside world. Even though Luca was anything but these things, he had to act like he was to remain somewhat alive. Lying was something he was beginning to be good at, how could it not be? All he learned was to lie and fake a smile.

He looked in the mirror, adjusting the collar of his shirt as he ruffled his hair. This was all an act-he was an act. Luca Jackson was never real; just a man-made from the devil himself. He was molded to be the perfect icon and bachelor, to have no faults and to be nothing like his peers. He wasn't supposed to be a weak man who let others control him. He wasn't supposed to let the things that happened to him happen.

He wasn't Luca Jackson-Luca Jackson was someone better. He was just Luca. A disappointment. A disgrace. Someone who shouldn't even be considered a man. He was nothing.

Ear piercing barks echoed from behind him, causing Luca to finish back at his reflection as he walked to the front door. Taking the handle, he quickly unlocked the door as he threw it open.

Brandy stood in front of him with a giant smile as Mavis glared began his back.

"Hello, boy!"

He brought his arms around Luca as he laughed and patted his back. Luca stared straight ahead, his eyes boring into Mavis's who just chewed her gum and stuck her middle finger up at him.

Classic Mavis.

Luca rolled his eyes, quickly stepping out of Brandy's hold as he stared at him unemotionally. "Let's get this over with."

This was the last meeting for Brandy to decide whether or not Luca can go back out into the public if he can't, Luca's locked back up in his house for another four months. He can't be stuck with himself, not again.

Brandy laughed boyishly, patting Luca's shoulder a few more times before walking past him and to his living room.

Mavis walked in behind Brandy, a sadistic smile on her lips and a playful glint in her eyes. "Don't you look cute."

"Fuck off," he cursed bitterly as he closed the door behind her.

He couldn't understand how he thought she was someone he could put his trust in. She was just as bad as Brandy. She was conniving, a lair, a manipulator, and worst of all, heartless. She turned her back on Bella when she needed her the most, and Luca could never forgive anyone for that. He couldn't forgive himself for not being there for Bella.

He never cared about what Jacob and Mavis did to him. Never once thought twice about the situation he put himself in with Brandy. Didn't think of all the fucked up shit he had to do and see to 'get where he was'. He never cared because it was all his fault. He wasn't a man. No man would let the things that happened to him happen. He was a mere boy, and boys couldn't survive in a place like Hollywood.

Brandy loved to say Luca was born for Hollywood. That his mindset was something that could mentally and physically handle the things everyone in Hollywood threw at him. What he meant to say was that he was fucked up mentally growing up in Hollywood that nothing phased him or could phase him anymore. Nothing that was thrown to him could hurt him. That didn't mean that nothing that happened to his friends didn't affect him. That didn't mean what happened to Bella didn't wreck him. What happened to her woke up all the trauma Brandy taught him to bury deep inside him.

"Looks like you've been keeping yourself busy."

Luca closed the door behind him, walking to Brandy who was scrutinizing the large piano.

He smirked. "Had nothing better to do these past few months."

The dogs ran up to Brandy, sniffing his legs and crotch. "Well hello there," he bent down to pet them, but both animals growled and walked away before he could do so.

He sighed, getting up from his knees as he looked at the dogs emotionlessly. "Did you name them?"

Luca looked down at the two dogs on both sides of him. "That's one thing." Or was it two? "And you can guess who this one is."

Mavis rolled her eyes. "Smartass" She muttered as she inspected his alcohol cart.

It was like Brandy gave him alcohol as a way of coping with the problems he gave him. It wasn't a guilty matter though-Brandy was never the guilty type nor the man, to tell the truth about what he'd done to his artists. He thought drugging them up was easier for them than releasing their emotions. And most let him, doing anything and everything they can to keep the lifestyle they had. Luca let him until he didn't.

"You look better," Brandy complimented, pressing his finger against the lowest piano key.

Mavis rolled her eyes. "He's lying."

"You would know all about that, wouldn't you?" Luca replied bitterly, crossing his arms over his chest.

Mavis's face grew hard.

Brandy dropped the stack of papers back on the piano carelessly. "Where's the music you've been working on?"

Luca smirked. This was his ticket out. If Brandy didn't want to talk about all the shit, he did to him in the past, and what he was doing to Luca and Bella in the present, then he wasn't going to make anything easy for him.

"I'm not giving you anything unless I'm off this fucking probation bullshit."

He sounded casual and relaxed, which confused both Brandy and Mavis as they shared a look of uncertainty.

"Now Luca you're in no position to be making-"

"If I'm not out of this fucking house in an hour I'm burning this house down with you both in it."

"Luca-"

He didn't understand what his plan truly was. Luca can't be surprised. Brandy only cared about himself and the money he was receiving.

"You're not getting any songs off of me unless I'm out of this fucking house."

Brandy sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Look at the way you're acting Luca! Do you expect me to think you're okay?"

"I'm fine."

"You're not fine."

"No, but I have to act like it." He leaned in close to brandy with a sadistic smile. "Wouldn't want another break down now, would we?"

He knew Brandy could smell the whisky and beer off his breath, but he didn't care anymore. He was letting go of the smallest part of what he needed to let out. If people over Twitter could make fun of his breakdown, why couldn't he? Tweets among tweets were blasted on news outlets to poke fun at Luca.

Brandy rolled his eyes tiredly. "You should know how this works by now Luca."

"Yes, I must come to the fact that what you did to me was okay and that I have to stand by and smile. I watch you do it, my friends?" He let out a bitter chuckle as he glared at both adults. "Sorry, but I'm not like Mavis."

Mavis's eyes hardened. "You asshole-"

Luca turned to her with a menacing glare. "I didn't put my career before my friends."

Mavis threw her hands up in the air as she looked between Luca and Brandy frustratedly. "Bella said nothing happened, why can't you fucking believe that?"

Brandy sighed, walking to the liquor cart as he poured himself a shot of whiskey in a red solo cup beside the bottles. Tilting his head back, he winced slightly as he downed the alcohol quickly.

"Because you made me say something."

"Nothing happened to you!!" He yelled suddenly, throwing the cup as it bounced off the wall and onto the floor. " a real man wouldn't let the things that you claimed happened to you happen!"

He didn't make this up, why would he? How could he? Why would Luca at nothing but seventeen lie about the things Brandy did to him? All he was told was that it was what he wanted, but all he knew was that it was all his fault. Everything was his fault. He wasn't a man.

Luca chuckled bitterly, nodding his head slowly. Taking a bottle of vodka with shaking hands, Luca unscrews the cap as he pours the liquor into a glass cup.

"If you're so worried about me saying something you don't want the public to hear why fucking do them?"

He wanted to kill him, punch him, bring him pain. All the emotions he buried deep within him were resurfacing vengefully. He didn't care about what happened to him before, but why now? Was what happened to Bella his awakening of what he was trying to forget? Was he finally getting out of his high and coming back to reality?

"You know exactly why." Brandy said in a bored tone, looking out the backyard.

"Why do the shit you've done if you did-"

He looked away from the door and towards Luca furiously. "I haven't done anything! You put it in your head that I did something to make me the bad guy!"

"You're a-"

Brandy cut him off as he took an aggressive closer to Luca. I'm the person who's been there for you since day one Luca!" He pointed an accusing finger at him as his glare hardened. "Don't blame me for your problems."

Luca let out a bitter chuckle, nodding his head as he looked at Brandy amused. He had to control himself. Brandy wasn't ever going to admit what he did to him and Bella. If he did it to the two, what made Luca think he didn't do worse things to other artists who thought he'd sign them on to his label?

He wanted to puke just at the thought, shuttering with disgust.

Brandy sighed, clapping his hands loudly as a broad smile filled his lips. "Next order of business."

How quickly he can change such a severe subject with not a single care.

Luca sighed, biting his inner cheek from snapping again as he walked to his couch and sat down in the spot, farthest away from Brandy. Thing one and two follow in pursuit as they take up the remaining room.

"I know you've heard about the two new artists."

Two?

"I thought it was just the girl."

"Amina Ryan and Noah Ozark." He gave Luca a pointed look, "people to cover up your embarrassing mistakes."

God, this couldn't have gone any worse. Two people who he had to make sure nothing happened to. Two people who could also potentially be in the gravest danger if they can't find a way of getting out of their contracts as soon as possible.

There were two signed on with Brandy. Amina was terrible enough, but now a boy? Luca prayed that both didn't make it big enough to get under Brandy's wing-like he did. He hoped they didn't do anything he was forced to do to get into his management.

"Why sign two so suddenly?" He asked, trying to maintain his fake interest in the topic.

He needed to know everything and anything brandy was thinking about these two. He needed to make sure they didn't hold his interest enough to change them into what he wanted them to be. He hoped that neither were special enough to stay in Hollywood for long.

He was beginning to heat up. Unbuttoning the fire few grains of his shirt, Luca sighed tiredly as he ran a hand through his damp hair.

"Your stage antics humiliated me. Had to bring someone to cover the management."

"You humiliated yourself."

Brandy chuckled, Mavis quickly following. "You're insane."

Luca nodded his head. "I wonder why that is." He turned to brandy impatiently. "What's so special about them?"

There had to be something in this for Brandy beside covering up his embarrassment. Lucas' career itself could never indeed die, and there's no way his breakdown could bring Manning records under fire unless people knew Brandy had something to do with it.

"The girls were beautiful and had the voice of someone worth remembering."

Luca nodded his head slowly, waiting for him to say something about the second victim. "And the boy?"

Brandy shrugged his shoulders casually. "A precaution."

"A precaution?"

A precaution-a backup plan just in case Amina wasn't mentally stable enough for what was coming to her. If she got as big as Luca though, there was no backup plan. She was set in stone if she reached significant popularity.

"Some people aren't like us, Luca," Mavis whispered.

"Us? There is no us!" He slammed his hands on the counter loudly. "I'm only here now because I signed a contract without fucking understanding what I was getting myself into."

Brandy pushed his shoulders roughly, causing Luca to stumble back in surprise. "You have it good compared to others you selfish bastard!"

Luca laughed loudly, taking a step closer to Brandy who took one back. "Good? Do you call what you did to me good? What you did to Bella-"

"That's enough," Mavis says, stepping in between the two.

"It's not enough! What you did to us wasn't-"

Brandy mushed Mavis away as she stumbled back into the counter. "I didn't do anything to any of you!"

Luca shook his head, raising his hand as he clenched his first open and closed. Looking at Mavis to make sure she was okay, he watched the female roll her eyes as she adjusted her shirt.

"I'm not going to beg." Luca said, "because I know you need me back."

"We don't need you," Mavis claimed bitterly.

"Who's we?" Luca mutters confused. "If I remember correctly you haven't released a top single without a feature in two years."

She goes to open her mouth, but Luca cuts her off. "Someone deserves your title, someone who has talent."

"And who would that be? Bell-"

"Don't you fucking say her name."

"Now relax you two," Brandy ordered, looking at Mavis who rolled her eyes and turned around to walk to the couch.

They were driving him more insane than what he was feeling. They were acting like nothing happened-that neither of them was the cause of what happened to Bella. As if the trigger for his breakdown had nothing to do with both of them. The two people he and Bella trusted the most ended up being the people to kill them.

"You have a press conference at one in three days." Brandy informed, scrolling through his phone.

"The story is you busted a rehabilitation center and got the care you needed," Mavis explained to Luca.

He sighed, shaking his head. "I can't recover from what I told my fans."

He didn't deserve to. No one should disrespect the people who love and support them. He took his anger out on the people who truly cared for him. When in reality he was trying to hurt Brandy he hurt himself and his fans.

Brandy turned off his phone, putting the device in his pocket. "You had a nervous breakdown on stage and then fainted. Trust me they'll forgive you."

Brandy walked to the front door Luca and Mavis following behind him. "So that's it? I'm back in."

He knew Brandy was desperate, but he didn't imagine that he was this desperate. He was letting him in the public's eye just when he yelled at him about all the trauma he never gave Luca and his other artists.

Brandy threw open the door, walking out the house as he turned around with a broad smile. "Of course you are! You're Luca Jackson!" He fished his phone back out his pocket. "Meet me at the studio tomorrow at nine. I'll send a driver here for you."

Mavis' side stepped Luca, her shoulder bumping roughly against his as she walked to Brandy.

"Luca Jackson is back everybody!"

And he was ready to make Hollywood bleed.

I still haven't gotten use to updating and I'm so lazy to re read my chapters so if you catch anything incorrect it'll be edited sooner or later lol.