by Kacey Shea
There isn’t even time for me to scream before Austin rears back and socks Coy in the nose with a solid right hook. Austin doesn’t come across as an athlete. In fact, I’ve always assumed he was the lazy one, not ever really moving with speed or purpose. But the crunch of bone on bone is audible, and for a second I’m not sure who’s hurt.
Coy lunges toward Austin, but he ducks out of his reach. Losing his balance, Coy hits the floor on his knees. Blood streams from his nose but his eyes narrow with determination. “You’re gonna pay for that.”
“How about you leave?” Austin goads. “You aren’t welcome here anymore.”
“That so?” Coy pushes to his feet and straightens his spine. He wipes the blood away with the back of his hand and turns to Austin with raised fists.
“So, that’s a no?” Austin rolls his eyes and when Coy doesn’t move. He raises his fists and bounces on the balls of his feet. “Let’s get this over with.”
“Anyone ever tell you to shut your mouth?” Coy attacks with a strike that Austin dodges.
“All the fucking time.” Austin grins, dips his chin, and shocks all of us as he lands three rapid jabs to Coy’s stomach.
Coy grunts with the impact and reaches out for Austin. They fall to the ground, scraping around until Coy’s on top. I cringe at the next punch, but it’s Austin who gains the upper hand, landing hit after hit to Coy’s body.
Coy hesitates and Austin throws him off center, pinning him to the ground with his legs.
He fakes a punch to his gut, but as Coy blocks it, Austin lands a hook to Coy’s eye that snaps his head so hard we all hear the impact.
Coy’s gaze holds Austin’s a moment longer, but then his body goes limp as he’s knocked out.
“Shit.” Trent’s gaze bounces between Austin and Coy’s crumbled form as if he can’t believe what happened.
Austin climbs off the floor, turns his back to Coy, and shakes out his hand. “Fuck, that hurt.” He chuckles, but as his gaze settles on mine, his lips turn downward.
I wait for him to ask me to leave. This is the moment I’ve been prepared for since setting foot in this house, really.
“Your eye. Come on, let’s get some ice on that.”
“Ice?” I’m confused.
“Yeah, your face is pretty fucked up right now.” He reaches out to touch my skin but out of habit I flinch. The lines on his face soften. “Sorry, that was rude.”
A giggle tumbles from my lips at his candor. Why it’s so funny I can’t say, other than I was expecting him to kick me out and instead he’s more concerned for my safety.
“Cops will be here in a few minutes.” Deb steps back into the room. I didn’t even notice her leave.
“Oh, God. Better send up the bat signal.” I don’t understand the reference, and when Trent catches my stare he clarifies. “Bedo. He gets pissed when we don’t give him a heads up.”
Right. “Doesn’t he get pissed anyway?”
“Why, yes, he does!” Austin laughs and pats Trent’s shoulder with a slap. “I like her.”
“Stay inside.” Deb peeks through the curtains. “The paparazzi will be swarming as soon as they get word.”
“Okay.” Trent nods and levels his stare on me. “Don’t worry, Jess. We got your back. You never have to see him again. Never.”
I should feel bad. It shouldn’t be so easy to walk away from the man who saved you, but it is. Coy isn’t who he was. I’m no longer a young, naïve girl. He was going to hurt Deb. He would’ve beat me in front of his friends, and I’m certain he would have hurt them, too.
“Come on.” Austin nods toward the kitchen. “Let’s go get some ice.”
My gaze drops to Coy’s crumpled body. A sense of calm settles the rapid beats of my heart at his immobility. There’s no part of me that even wants to check whether he’s still breathing, and I turn to follow Austin.
He grabs two towels from a drawer, lays them on the counter, and drops two handfuls of ice inside before wrapping them up. He hands one to me and sets the other on his knuckles. “You’ll press charges? We all will.”
The cold against my skin stings and I wince at the burn. I’m angry at Coy, but I’m guilty of setting him off. Those photos of Sean and me hurt. I don’t want to be vindictive. I just want to be free.
“Jess . . .” Austin draws my name out until I meet his stare. His gaze is kind and sincere, “You don’t deserve to be treated that way. No one does.”
Trent steps into the doorway and braces his hands on the framing. Worry etches into his brow.
“I don’t want to ruin his life.” My admission only furrows their brows more, but it’s how I feel. Coy’s already killed his shot with Three Ugly Guys. If I press charges, it’ll only help ruin career opportunities in his future.
“Coy wasn’t lying. He cheated on you.” Austin’s revelation gains my total attention. He shrugs as though he doesn’t really want to tell me. “He has a few times.”
Trent swears and runs his hand through his hair. I don’t know him well enough to understand why Austin’s words have him so upset.
“What? Sorry, but I wasn’t gonna rat him out. You know how it goes, bros before . . .” He winces with an apologetic grin. “Girlfriends?”
“Austin, do you have a fucking point?” Trent’s glare lands on his friend.
“Yeah, I do.” Austin levels me with his stare. “Coy is responsible for his actions. We can’t let him get away with this. He’ll only do it to someone else. You’ve been treated like shit, but I don’t see you throwing punches and picking on someone smaller than you. There’s no excuse for that behavior.” He shrugs and checks his hand beneath the ice pack, working his fingers open and closed a few times before meeting my gaze. “If you don’t split now? Jess, that dude is fucked in the head. He hits you hard enough and you don’t get to wake up.”
The doorbell interrupts our heart to heart. “Oh, the cops are here! I’ll get it!” Austin pushes off the counter, drops the ice in the sink, and struts to the door. “Fingers crossed there’s a hot chick officer!”
Trent steps into the kitchen as Austin passes by. His stare is almost uncomfortable and he shrugs.
“He’s . . .” The words die on my lips as I don’t exactly know what to say.
“An idiot. Mostly.” He grins. “But what he said was true. I hope you understand what Coy did is totally unacceptable. We don’t want someone like that associated with us.”
“What about the tour? What will you do?” I can’t imagine they have a backup plan in place, especially only days from leaving.
“Fucking drummers.” Trent rolls his eyes. “We’ll find someone. We always do. I’d actually like to thank you for your scandalous escapades with Sean. Without them we would have had to deal with this shit while on tour. At least we have, what, four days?” He winks. “Bedo’s gonna love that.”
“I’m really sorry.” I am.
“Don’t be.” His lips press together in a firm line a moment before he cocks one eyebrow. “But you might try and track down Sean before he reads about this on his own.”
“Oh, um, actually . . .” Crap. Sean. He’ll be walking in that door any minute. I feel totally unprepared.
“What?”
“Sean’s on his way back. He’ll be here soon.”
Surprise arches Trent’s brow and his mouth falls open. “Tonight?”
“I, um, Iz checked himself out of rehab. I overheard Bedo and I thought Sean would want to know.” I don’t want Trent getting the wrong idea that I intended to stir this up. “It all happened this morning. I didn’t know anything about the tabloid piece. I swear.”
“Shit.” Trent runs his fingers through the waves of his hair and tucks it back behind his ears.
I can’t help but feel responsible for the stress this causes him and the rest of the band. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. I’m just worried about Iz. I thought he was doing better. He sounded fine in his messages.” Trent’s gaze trains on the floor.
>
“He called you?”
“Several times. I never pick up though. Shit.” He grabs his phone and touches the screen, searching for something. He presses a button and Iz’s raspy voice amplifies from the speaker.
“Hey man, it’s me. I want you to know I’m sorry. I never meant to hurt you or any of the guys. I understand why you don’t want to talk. I wouldn’t want to talk to myself either. But I needed to tell you I’m sorry, and I’m thankful. Playing with the band . . . it was everything, man. Everything. And this . . . it’s just not for me. I’m done, man. But I love you like a brother. Tell Lexi I love her too.”
“He left that on my cell last night. I meant to check it but we’ve been so busy getting ready, and with Sean gone, I just . . . shit! I should have picked up. Been encouraging him. I was just so angry, and then I didn’t want to deal. I figured he was safe there and I’d talk to him once he got out.” Trent’s shoulders fall with the weight of his words.
“It’s not your fault he checked out.”
Trent lifts his chin and nods. “And Bedo knows about this? You’re sure?”
“Positive.”
He glances back at the voices coming from the front entry but doesn’t move to follow. “Why didn’t he tell us? We were together all day.”
Setting the ice pack on the counter, I rub my fingers against each other, debating whether I should say more. I don’t know Trent, but given the person Deb is, I take a chance that I can trust him. “I got the feeling earlier that Bedo didn’t want you to know.”
He lifts his brows. “How’d you get the feeling?”
“He asked me not to interfere.” I chew at my bottom lip.
“But you called Sean?” Trent dips his chin as if that’s hard to believe. Or maybe he’s skeptical of my motives. Given the circumstances, he has every right to be.
“Iz is important to him.”
Austin appears in the doorway. “Uh, hate to break up the party, but we’ve got cops and a shitbag drummer who’s starting to wake up, so . . . yeah.”
“Okay, then.” Trent gestures for me to leave first. “Let’s get this over with, because next we’ve got a different drummer to track down.”
26
Sean
Strange. The line drops and our conversation is cut short for no apparent reason. I check to make sure I still have reception. Four bars. Tossing my bag in first, I slide into the waiting cab and rattle off the address before calling Jess back.
It rings and rings before going to voicemail. I don’t know why she won’t pick up, but unease creeps through my mind. I set the phone on the seat next to me and exhale a frustrated breath before trying once more. This time it goes straight to voicemail. A sliver of fear pricks at my thoughts for the rest of the cab ride. Something isn’t right.
The flashing blue and red lights at the end of our street only escalates those fears. As the cabbie slows, my pulse kicks up. I reach for the door handle, my bag already strapped across my shoulder as we roll closer to the chaos.
“Fuck,” I whisper, taking in the blockade of media, paparazzi, and police cars. It’s the ambulance though, inching its way out of our drive and through the frenzy, that moves me into action. “Stop! Stop here!” I take out cash and slap it between the seats. “Keep the change.” My feet are on the pavement and pound with each stride as I run toward the emergency vehicle. It zooms past, lights flashing and sirens blaring, and I miss my opportunity.
My chest heaves and I stop a second, watching the ambulance head down the street. I consider chasing after it on foot, but I’m no match for a vehicle. I need to know what happened. Who’s inside. Dread fills my gut, but I reason that it could be anyone. Maybe Iz came back? Maybe it’s nothing more than a simple accident? It can’t be Jess. It just can’t be.
I jog toward the house in a half-run, half-walk. As soon as the paps spot me coming, the shouts start. Questions hurtle and cameras flash but I block it all out, picking up my pace until I’m at the police line.
“Excuse me, sir.” An officer holds his hand up and blocks my way. “Sir, you need to stay behind this line.”
“I live here! I’m Sean Willis. This is my home,” I sputter, and wish he’d move a lot quicker as he reaches for his radio to verify my right to be here. I should be thankful he’s not letting just anyone inside the property, but the protocol feels like an eternity. He finally checks my ID and I’m off, racing toward the front door because it’s wide open. I stop short, my feet frozen at the sight of a cell phone shattered into pieces. Jess! No, no, no. She has to be okay. I should never have left. It was selfish to leave when I know the danger Coy possesses.
“Excuse me,” a police officer says and it snaps me into motion. He passes as I move to the right and the sound of hushed voices from the kitchen draws me there. Inside, Trent, Austin, and Deb huddle around the counter, talking with cups of coffee in hand. No Jess.
“Where is she?” I push the words from my lips, but the quiver of fear reverberates and betrays my worst fears.
“Sean.” Deb’s gaze furrows and her spine straightens.
“Is she okay? Tell me she’s okay!” Panic creeps through my limbs and it’s all I can do to take the few steps forward to meet them at the counter.
“Bro, chill.” Austin stands straight, pointing over his shoulder. “She’s giving her report to the cops.”
She’s talking to the cops. I never imagined that would ease my fears, but it does. “And Coy?”
Austin’s lips pull wide and he waggles his brows. “Met the end of my fist, so he’s taking a quick trip to the ER before jail.” He holds up the back of his hand for my inspection and puffs his chest. “Dude, you should have been there. I clocked him good.”
While I appreciate Austin’s excitement at beating up Coy, my concern remains with Jess. “I need to see her.”
“Give her a minute.” Deb fills a cup with coffee and places it in my hands. “It’s been a long day. This isn’t easy for her.”
Which only increases my need to be at her side. To encourage. To protect. I want to be whatever she needs.
“We’ve all given our statements, and Bedo’s on his way. Don’t freak, but we’ve got another problem.” Trent pulls his phone from his back pocket and taps on the screen.
“I already know. That’s why I’m here.” I take a sip of coffee. “Do we have any news on Iz? Anyone heard from him?”
Austin’s brows lift. “Iz is missing? I thought he was still in rehab.”
“Here.” Trent shoves his phone in my hand. “This is what you need to see.”
My jaw drops; not at the headlines, but from the photographs. Jess and me in the backyard the night we were together. The first time I went down on her. She’s beautiful, a fucking temptress with her head tilted back in pleasure and my face between her legs. The image conjures the sound of her breath falling short, my name on her lips, and even the taste of her arousal. Those were all meant for me, not some stranger. “This is a security issue.”
Trent nods. “Which I’m sure Bedo will be all over, you know, after he has an aneurysm.”
“Yeah, he’s gonna love hunting down another drummer. We really are cursed.” Austin swears, his next words a whisper. “Speak of the devil.”
“Fist fights. Exhibitionist features. This is how you lie low?” Bedo storms past us all, slaps his briefcase on the end of the kitchen island and pulls out his laptop. “Maybe next time I’ll send you all to a monastery.”
“Would there be virgins?” Austin smirks and raises his brow.
By Bedo’s narrow glare, he doesn’t find Austin funny. “Please tell me he hasn’t gone outside to talk to the press.”
“None of us have.” Trent tips his head toward me. “Sean just got back.”
Bedo lifts his gaze and meets my stare. “How good of you to join us. Have a nice little vacation?”
“Peachy.” I pop the word with a forced smile.
Bedo’s attention drops to his phone and his fingers race across the ke
yboard. “So, we’ve got what? Iz gone AWOL. Coy’s in jail? We pressing charges?” We all nod and he rolls his eyes, “Thought that might be the case, so add in finding a new drummer. Oh, and we’ve got the spread of Jess and Sean all over magazine stands. Anything else I’m missing? Please. Tell me. Because as it is, I’m not sleeping tonight.”
“Hey.” Jess enters the kitchen, her chin down as she walks to Deb’s side. “I’m really sorry.”
“Don’t apologize for him.” Trent’s stern reply mirrors my thoughts exactly.
“Yeah. Besides, I’ve always wanted to knock someone out.” Austin winks and her lips turn up at one corner as if she might laugh. The smile doesn’t quite reach her eyes when her gaze lifts to meet mine.
I want to rush to her. I want to wrap her in my arms. Kiss her gently; kiss her hard. I want everything when it comes to Jess, but instead, my feet cement to the ground with indecision because what I want most is for her to return my affection. I don’t want any of it if she doesn’t feel the same.
“Excuse me.” An officer comes to the doorway. “We’re about ready to wrap up. We have everything we need for now. Expect a few follow up calls in the coming weeks. You all have my card.” Deb slides a business card into Bedo’s hand before he can even ask. My friends all nod and the officer settles his hands at his waist. “You all have a good night.”
Bedo shakes his head and snaps his laptop shut. He stands from the barstool and levels us each with a stare before settling on me. “You know, sometimes a little heads up would be nice.”
“Like you telling us about Iz?” I challenge right back. I don’t know what he’s trying to pull, but I won’t allow him to lay a guilt trip when he’s done the same.
Austin lets loose a long whistle. “He’s got you there, Bedo.”
“I didn’t tell you about Iz because I was hoping we’d have him back in rehab before anyone noticed otherwise.”
I don’t buy it, but I also have no proof otherwise. “So, tell us.”
Bedo’s jaw works back and forth before he slides back into his chair. “Here’s what we know. Iz checked himself out of rehab yesterday. He doesn’t have much money, maybe a few hundred bucks to his name. The facility advised him to stay, but they had no legal right to hold him without his consent.”
