by Anne Mercier
Before I know what's happening, Lucy is standing next to me, eyebrows raised as she eyes Cindy's hand on my dick. Fucking hell. I'm just so used to their aggression that I don't even pay it any attention anymore, but from the look on Lucy's face I don't think she's all that amused.
Lucy crosses her arms over her chest as Cindy continues to rub her hand over my dick. It's doing nothing for me, her hand rubbing me, but Lucy sees that I'm hard and, fuck, she assumes it's because of this other girl. Shit. I've been hard since Blush started their set tonight. God damn it. I don't think this is going to go down very well.
I know it for a fact when Regina Russo comes marching up, mirroring Lucy's pose, arms crossed, eyebrows raised, lips pressed in a thin line. The only difference is, Regina's toe is tapping and the tips of her ears are red.
I am so fucked and not in the way I'd hoped to be.
“A laugh, if purchased at the expense of propriety, costs too much.“
—QUINTILIAN
“OH, I DON'T fucking think so,“ I murmur. Just who do these skanks think they are anyway? I stand next to Jesse, who is doing nothing to deter this whore from rubbing her hand over his dick which, by the way, is hard. Fucking bastard.
I cross my arms over my chest. He chuckles at this bitch and her friend who are rubbing all up on him. Just wow. Seriously? I just accepted this dickwad's proposal? He's supposed to be my husband and he's allowing this? Well, maybe I should allow some of the male fans to give me the same attention. Hmm. That actually sounds like a great idea.
I turn and walk over to Sera, giving her the look. She knows what it means. Her nostrils are flaring, her fists are clenched, and then a couple really hot guys come walking over asking for autographs. Childish, I'm sure, but two can play this game.
We're laughing and flirting as I sign their CD's. One of the guys is going to come to our concert in L.A. when we get back there and wants me to sign his arm so he can have my name tattooed. Pretty cool. And he's going to have Harley do the work.
I'm enjoying talking to both the male and female fans that have surrounded us for autographs and conversation when my dad comes over muttering Italian curse words under his breath. I'm about to ask him what's wrong when I hear Welcome to the Jungle by Guns N' Roses start blaring from somewhere.
We all turn to look and Xander's over there grinning like a loon while my mom is barreling down on the groupie whores.
“Oh, this is going to be freaking awesome,“ Sera says as we head over there.
“Oh boy.“
“I love Mama Russo,“ Meggie tells me with a bounce.
Jesse's raking a hand through his hair. Uncomfortable? Good. Asshole. Indulging the skanks. If I wasn't here, he'd probably be fucking them right now. Bastard.
I stand next to my mother, hands on my hips mirroring her position, Sera and Meggie on the other side. Jace and the guys are standing over by Xander, smirking while Jesse struggles.
“Just who do you think you're talking to old woman?“ Blondie says.
“Oh no she did not!“ Meggie screeches.
“Oh hell,“ Xander chuckles. “It's on like Donkey Kong.“ He messes with his phone and This Means War by Avenged Sevenfold starts blasting. I nearly laugh when mama looks over to X with approval.
“Who am I? Who am I? I'll tell you who I am, little girl,“ she sneers, advancing on the blonde and her friend. “I am Regina Russo. I am this man's,“ she says with a sneer at Jesse (go mama), “mother-in-law and if you think I'm going to allow you to continue to grope a married man, my daughter's husband, you're sadly mistaken.“
Blondie opens her mouth to speak and mama points her well-manicured nail in her face. “I don't know what it is you think you're going to accomplish by trapping this man in a position he's clearly not comfortable with—“
Blondie cuts her off. “Oh, he's plenty comfortable. In fact, he's hard as a rock right now.“
Mama sneers.
“I've been hard since Blush—since my wife went on stage,“ Jesse corrects.
“Hell yeah,“ Xander adds. “We all were. They're fucking hot as hell.“
“Truth,“ Ben says and fist bumps Xander.
“Hmm. Why didn't Mrs. Kingston come over and handle this herself?“ the brunette asks cockily.
“It's Russo-Kingston and she can't be bothered to deal with any of you skanky bitches. You can try to get your filthy claws into Jesse, but she knows who he's going home to and it sure as hell isn't you!“ Sera sneers.
“That's okay. I've gone home with him before,“ Blondie adds with a smirk.
Wow. I didn't see that one coming. I want nothing more than to turn and run in the opposite direction but I won't give this chick the satisfaction and I definitely will not be giving Jesse the satisfaction of looking in his direction. Right now there's just too much hurt, anger, and too many other emotions running through me to be near him.
Face to the Floor by Chevelle starts playing and I nod my approval to Xander.
“In the fuck 'em and chuck 'em wing. Honey, you act as if that makes you special. How many have been in that wing, do you think? Oh well, it doesn't really matter. You were nothing but a plaything for these guys to get off with. That's it. You never got past the starting line. You see, me? The first time I was at Casa Falling Down? I was in his real bed. I got the code to the locks, inside and outside of the house. All in one weekend. Oh, did I say weekend? I did. You got what? A couple hours?“ At this point Blondie's smirk has fallen, both her and the brunette's faces are pale and drawn tight.
Meggie snickers and mutters, “Cum bucket.“
Harsh and gross but this chick is playing hardball.
Thunderstruck from AC/DC starts playing and it pumps me up.
“So yeah, honey. You can think you matter. You don't. You were a fuck, a means to get off. That hurt look I see on your face? I feel no sympathy for you because you chose this. You. Chose. This.“ I accentuate each word with a poke to her chest. “So I, as Mrs. Russo-Kingston, didn't feel the need to dirty her hands on you. You're no threat to me. None of you are, which is why I was over there with the classy fans having a good time. If my husband can't think to just tell you to fuck off, then that's on him. But dragging my name into it, you made a huge mistake there. I'll do what he obviously doesn't feel comfortable doing because he doesn't want to lose paying fans. Hell, I'll give him the two hundred bucks for the tickets later. Now,“ I say stepping even closer. “You and you,“ I point to Blondie and her friend, “and anyone else who thinks they have a shot at Jesse, fuck the fuck off and get the fuck out of here before my Italian starts boiling. Right now it's only at a moderate simmer. ‘Kay, thanks, bye.“ I turn to stand next to my mom again when I get shoved from behind.
Kung Fu Fighting from Carl Douglas starts to play.
“Are you fucking kidding me?“ I ask with a laugh. “That's the best you've got? Now I know you are truly pathetic.“
A new addition to the foray, a black-haired chick, who thinks it's smart to shove me curls her fingers into a fist and I smirk. That's when Eye of the Tiger by Survivor starts. I love Xander so much right now. When the fist comes flying at my face, I merely dodge and weave. I'm fucking Italian. My cousins are in the fucking mob. I had to learn to defend myself at a very young age and this chick is just slow as hell. I reach up and grab her fist and her eyes widen, her mouth forms a perfect “O“, and a collective gasp goes around the room.
I step up to her, my hand squeezing her fist painfully, as she tries to shake me off.
“You just bit off more than you can chew, honey,“ comes from Kennedy.
“You were seriously going to hit me?“ I ask incredulously. I look around the room. “She was going to hit me?“ They all nod. “Do you realize I could have you thrown in jail right now? I could press charges and they would stick. You'd be sitting in there all weekend because there's no court hearings until Monday morning and if your public defender can make the time to come see you, you might get out before suppertime. Then there
's the fact that I could have turned around and punched you right in the fucking face, like I wanted to do, and break your fake-ass nose. But I didn't. Do you know why?“ She shakes her head. Another One Bites the Dust by Queen starts playing.
“A few reasons, really. First, I don't want blood on my clothes. Spenser gets pissy when I ruin new outfits. Second, I'm keeping these heels and I don't want blood on them either. Third, I don't want to hurt my hand. With the way things are going, I'd break it and it'd really suck being on stage with a cast.“
I hear the guys murmur their agreement and bite back a snicker.
“And last, but certainly not least, I feel sorry for you. All of you.“ They all flinch. “You have to stoop to this to try to get a rockstar and for what? Because he's famous? Because he's good looking? Because he's rich? Whatever your reason, it's sad and pathetic. You shouldn't be here doing this. You should be out looking for the real thing whether the guy has money or not,“ I growl and throw her hand down. “Now move the fuck on and get the hell out of here.“
“Whatever,“ the black-haired chick says and starts to swing for me again. Cryin' Like a Bitch by Godsmack cues up. I sigh, tilt my head as if to say seriously?, and let my fist fly right into the bridge of her nose. I hear it crunch, blood splatters, and she squeals like a pig.
“Bitch,“ I say, shaking out my hand. Cage steps up with security, gives me a nod, and they haul her off.
We Are The Champions by Queen begins to play and I look at Xander. “Do you have a fight playlist?“
He nods. “I knew it was going to happen.“
I snort.
“Anyone else?“ Cage asks. No responses. “Then move the fuck on.“
The bitches scatter like rats and the fans I was engaged with before, who must have followed us over, all start snickering.
“That's going to make the news,“ Damian tells me.
I nod. “YouTube as well, I'm sure.“
“Likely,“ Cage agrees.
“Why'd you let me do it?“ I ask him.
He shrugs. “I thought it'd take a couple shows for it to get to that point but I had no idea how rabid these Falling Down fangirls were.“
Ethan grunts.
“I knew it was coming,“ Cage adds. “I figured I'd let it play out, get out there wherever it's going to go because they're going to see you, Lucy. They're going to see you handle yourself in a manner they likely have no fucking clue you can. Those of us who know you, know you can handle yourself. Now everyone else will, too.“ He pulls me in to his chest and kisses my forehead. He picks up my hand which hurts so bad right now it's all I can do not to cry.
“Let's take a trip to the ER,“ Damian tells me.
I nod.
Jesse steps forward. I turn to him. “No.“
“Lucy.“
“I said no.“
“Dude, let it go for now,“ Ben says, a hand to Jesse's chest to keep him from coming toward me. My hand is killing me and I'm pretty sure broken but I will hit him if he steps any closer. My Italian's at a full-out boil and there is no holding me back right now.
“I'll go with her,“ Xander says.
“Me too,“ Sera adds.
“I'll stop in at your hotel in the morning, mama.“
She nods, lips pressed tight in a thin line.
My dad steps up and hugs me. “Nice punch.“
“Thanks daddy. I'll see you in the morning.“
He kisses my cheek. “Be safe, Button. Call and let us know.“
I nod and walk out of the arena, away from Jesse. Anger, disappointment, hurt, fear, disgust, and a touch of indifference flow through me. It's the indifference that has me worried. That should not be there but I know why it is. It's all I've got to protect myself when this shit happens—and it will happen again. I can't understand why—how he could allow that to persist. Ego boost? Habit? I don't know and honestly, at this point, I don't care. There's that indifference again.
“I don't know what—“ Xander begins.
“It doesn't matter.“ I shrug as I climb into the back seat of the car.
Sera puts an ice pack a roadie handed her over my hand and I hiss a breath. She cringes.
“Sorry.“
“Not your fault, sissy.“
“You know it's broken, right?“ Xander asks.
I nod. “I saw the bruising was immediate. Hopefully they can set it without surgery because there are two bones sticking up on the top of my hand.“
He nods. “Whatever it takes.“ He pulls me into his side and I rest my head on his shoulder, my hand on my lap, and Sera leans her head on my shoulder.
Cage's phone keeps going off and he finally turns it off.
Damian turns around. “Jesse.“
I shrug. “I figured.“
“I'm sure he's worried—“ Cage states, his eyes meeting mine in the rearview mirror.
“He should be,“ I tell him, cutting him off. He sees it. The indifference. The wall that I'm building up.
Cage's lips thin out into a line much like my mom's did and he nods. “Yes. Yes, he should.“
“WELL, MRS. KINGSTON, your hand is definitely broken,“ the hot Dr. Kane Donovan tells me in an amazingly sexy Irish lilt. Mmm, mmm, mmm. A sexy Irish accent will make even the most devoted woman purr.
I sigh. “I had a feeling.“
He nods. “There is a little displacement so we're going to try to set that for you before we put a cast on.“
“Lovely.“
“Do you have those waterproof ones?“ Xander asks. “That way when she sweats up on stage she won't itch like a motherfucker.“
“We do. If you see here,“ the doctor puts up the x-ray, “your third and fourth metacarpals are fractured. The fourth, as you see here, is just slightly off center but that's simple enough to rectify.“
“Will I need surgery?“ I ask.
“Nope. We can hook you up right here,“ he tells me. He really is a very nice doctor, very handsome, professional, and extremely patient. You'd have to be to deal with Xander. And, Jesus, that accent.
“Oh good. We do have a day between shows but that's travel time. I really don't want to fly if I don't have to and then deal with security having a fit because of any metal that might be put in there,“ I babble.
“Wow,“ Xander says. “Take a breath, Luce. What kind of drugs did you give her?“
“The really good kind…for Lucy at least.“ Dr. Donovan smiles, but it doesn't quite reach his eyes and he lets me see it. Secrets? I have no clue what that look means. He's complex for a stranger. I don't need any more complicated men, but it seems I'm a magnet for them.
“So you know, doc,“ Xander begins, “she gets plowed off of one, maybe two drinks tops.“
“Such good meds,“ I slur, turning my head on the pillow. “Where'd Sera go?“
“She went to call your mom,“ Xander tells me.
“Ah. Mama Russo is a force to be reckoned with. Did I make YouTube?“
Xander laughs. “I haven't looked yet.“
“Well look. Sheesh.“
Dr. Hot Stuff laughs. “Since it's going to be on the news before you walk out the door, what exactly happened?“
As the sweet doctor casts my hand, I go through the entire story. He murmurs and makes appropriate noises at the appropriate times. Have I mentioned his accent? Wow, it's hot in here.
“So you see, doc, I was trying to be good. I didn't want to hit her.“
He gives me a look.
I grin sheepishly. “Okay, okay. So maybe I did want to hit her, but I didn't. I tried to walk away, be the bigger person and all that.“
He nods. “Sometimes it doesn't work out that way no matter how much you want it to.“
“Exactly!“ I tell him. “I feel really good right now. Floaty.“
He chuckles. “Good. Then you won't feel any pain for a while. We'll give you another dose of the pain medication before you leave so you can sleep when you get to wherever you're going.“
I look him u
p and down, only my eyes roving over him, and Xander sees the look.
“Oh shit,“ Xander says.
The doc's eyebrows pull together.
“So, doc. Tell me.“
He nods.
“Do you like working here? Is this what you saw yourself doing when you wanted to become a doctor?“
“I like it alright.“
“Come on now. I was honest with you.“
“Touché.“ He pauses for a minute while wrapping the pink casting material around my wrist, arm, and hand. Pink! A pretty hot pink that I hope glows in the dark and keeps my butthead husband awake at night.
The sexy doc looks up and meets my gaze. “No. This wasn't what I saw myself doing.“
I nod.
“What do you want to do?“ I ask.
“Honestly?“
I nod.
“Private practice and not a practice where we focus on quantity instead of quality.“ The “like we do here“ is purposefully left off the end of that sentence.
I nod.
“Hmm. Maybe we could help you out with that,“ I murmur.
“Oh my God, Lucy,“ Sera chides as she comes back into the room.
“What?“ I ask innocently. “I'm only trying to help the hot doctor out.“
He smirks.
“And how are you doing that?“ Sera asks.
“Well, you see, Dr. Donovan isn't happy doing this job. He wants quality over quantity.“
Sera grunts.
I nod then shrug. “He could think about it.“
“Think about what?“ he asks.
Oh my. That accent is distracting me.
“I was trying really hard not to say anything,“ I begin, “but I can't hold back any longer. Your accent is so sexy, doc. I bet you have women falling all over you with those good looks and sexified accent.“
He laughs. “Sexified accent.“ He considers this for a few seconds then nods. “I think I like that one, lass.“
