Hollywood Bleeds

twenty four

ONE MINUTE LUCA was on Beverly's stage having a panic attack on live air, then the next him and Amina were sitting in an empty studio waiting for Brandy and his surprise.

Luca wanted to be anywhere but there, but Brandy never took no for an answer. His head was punching violently, the aftermath of his panic attack rocking him hard. His hand still shook and his face was slightly sweating. His throat was dry even when he finished two water bottles and had a third beside his leg. He didn't want to think about what Brandy surprise was for him—he knew full well anything Brandy gave Luca was something he didn't want. He gave him liquor for therapy. He gave him a mansion as a hush, hush gift to keep Luca from retaliating.

"Are you okay?" Amina asked from the other side of the couch.

He was never going to be okay, not if he wasn't in therapy and still under Brandy's control. He knew his interview was going to go viral, he'd just hope it worked in his favor rather than Beverly's. If their interview went viral, the fans would speculate that everything isn't okay with Luca—which had its pro and con.

Pro being that everyone was keeping a close eye on Luca and if he was to come out with his truth, it wouldn't shock the world that his manager traumatized him—his breakdown and panic attack proving that something wasn't right with him. Con being that no one cared enough to try and being light to Luca's situation and Brandy made him stay longer in the mansion as he went fully mental.

"I feel fine."

He wanted to lay on his couch and listen to music to help him forget about the days events. To pounded over every word he said and thought of a better way he could've said it. To be with his dogs in a place he didn't consider his home and hope for a release that drinking was no longer giving him.

Luca sighed when Amina gave him an I sure look. Scouting across the couch, Luca sat beside Amina as he moved a piece of hair behind her ear. "I'll get better. I'm okay Amina."

He didn't want to lie to Amina, but he also didn't want her worrying about him. He was going to be okay. As long as she was, a part of him would be too. He wasn't used to having someone care for his mental health and whereabouts, and even though he always wished for someone to care for him, Luca found it odd. He was the one to take care of everyone. The one people came to talk to—at least he was until a two years ago. Now, he was just Luca Jackson, the guy who had a breakdown on stage that people were forgetting ever happened.

"You scared me out there." She admitted with a soft whisper. "That could've ended badly Luca, you could've hurt yourself."

"I'm sorry."

"No, I am," she said stubbornly. "I should've seen it sooner and I should've stopped it. She was prying too far."

Luca quickly shook his head. "Don't blame yourself." He lifted her chin with his finger. "If anything, you're the one that's helping me get better."

Amina gave him hope when he needed it. She pushed him to be a better man while others and himself tried to pull him in the wrong direction. She made him want be a better man.

Suddenly the door was thrown open, a wide eyed Mavis coming into both of their views. "You need to leave now."

Luca automatically stood as Amina followed his actions hesitantly. He looked at Mavis cautiously. "What's wrong?"

She was never the type to worry about his mental health or be on the look out for him, so why now? And what was so scary that she had to warn him to leave? Mavis, the woman who hated Luca's guts and was Brandy's right hand man to the evilness he put on his victims. She stood by and watched what he did, she even manipulated woman to trust in brandy. She didn't have a conscience, or felt guilt—yet here she was worrying about him seeing something she thought wasn't good for Luca.