FRAUD: An Unfit Hero Novel

by Faiman, Hayley

  I snort at his words. “I don’t know about that.”

  He takes a step away from me, lifting his chin toward me. “The fact that you don’t even see it, means it’s fucking true. You got lost in booze, but you’ve never lost your music. You’re so fucking talented you make the rest of us look like middle schoolers up on that stage trying to piece together the right chords and beat.”

  Austin finishes his speech, grins, then turns and walks away from me before I can say anything else. I’m glad, because I don’t even know how to respond to that shit.

  Shaking my head, I reach for my phone and decide to call Louis. Hutton hasn’t returned my calls, even after two hour’s time and that shit has me really fucking concerned.

  LOUIS

  I answer on the first ring, not because I have nothing better to do, but because it’s Beaumont and also because I have nothing better to do. Gallup is my retreat, my time to relax from training to enjoy peace and quiet, to take in the calm and just breathe.

  However, it can be boring as fuck sometimes. That’s why I like it when Beaumont is in town. He’s usually who I hang with. Wyatt, Rylan, and Ford work all week long and I admire that shit, but it means they’re busy all week long while I stare at the fucking wall.

  “Yeah?”

  “You made sure that Hutton got into the house okay, right?” he asks as his greeting.

  Frowning, I clear my throat. “Watched her walk up to the door and open it. What happened?” I demand.

  He takes a moment, too fucking long as far as I’m concerned to tell me what’s wrong. “I haven’t been able to get ahold of her at all,” he explains. “I’ve called, and called, she hasn’t returned them. I’m starting to get pretty worried. Hutton always answers or returns my calls almost immediately. This isn’t like her.”

  “Fuck,” I bark as I stand from my sofa. “I’ll run over there, check on her.”

  “Thanks,” he murmurs.

  Ending the call, I slip into my shoes and practically run toward my truck. I may be next-door neighbors with Beaumont, but that doesn’t mean that I can even see his house from mine, I can’t.

  Speeding down the old road that connects Beaumont’s property to my own, I turn hard into his entrance. His gate is open, and that’s the first sign that something is possibly wrong. That gate closed behind me, I watched it. The only way that it could stay open is if someone knew how to do it through the control panel inside.

  Making my way down his long drive, I slam on my brakes as soon as I’m in front of his house. Shifting my truck into park, I jump out and jog toward the front door. The door opens before I can even reach for the knob, as if someone was watching me the entire time.

  I don’t know who I expect to see on the other side of Beaumont’s door, but it is most definitely not an almost naked Andi Anderson.

  Her lips turn up into a smile and she tilts her head to the side. “How did I know it would be you who would come in here like a knight ready to save the day?” she asks, taking a step back so that I can walk inside.

  “What the fuck are you doing here?” I growl.

  Her laugh is loud and long mixed with a little evil. “Running off little fat girls who don’t know their place. You know she actually thought they would be together, really together? I guess she didn’t get the memo that men like Beaumont don’t end up with girls like her.”

  “So, you think that we end up with women like you?” I ask.

  Her lips turn up into a wry smile. “Naturally. It’s just easier, Louis. How have your relationships with nobody’s turned out?”

  I curse to myself. She’s right. My relationships in general have been fucking shit. I thought that I had something with Tulip, at least the beginnings of something, but after just one night together she went back to her ex. She told me it was just easier to stay with him rather than be with someone like me.

  As much as I want to think it was because I’m a boxer and gone a lot of the time, I know it’s because I’m half-black. That’s always the reason that they leave me.

  Andi has a point, famous women and women who are climbing toward fame don’t give a fuck what color you are, if you’re fat or short, thin or tall. They’ll cling to your arm just for the chance to rise.

  “Beaumont isn’t like the rest of them and Hutton isn’t either. You came here to be a cunt and Beaumont ain’t gonna appreciate that shit, not at all.”

  Andi shrugs one shoulder, glancing down at her nails as if they’re fascinating. “I don’t care what he thinks. It doesn’t matter. All that matters is that the public thinks we’re a happy couple. He can hate me all he wants. This is for the best and once he realizes it, things will be easier for everyone, including that dumpy thing that just left here.”

  “You’re deranged.”

  Turning away from her, I start to walk away, reaching for my phone that’s in my pocket.

  “Louis,” she calls out.

  Stopping, I look over my shoulder and arch a brow toward her. “I’m not a bad person,” she attempts to explain.

  “You hurt Hutton, who Beaumont loves, for your own personal gain. I don’t even have to know what that gain is to know that you did it for yourself. You’re just like all the other beautiful bitches out there. You only give a fuck about you, nothing and nobody else matters.” Her bottom lip trembles and I watch as she shakes the guilt away. “You did that to Hutton’s store, didn’t you?”

  Her lips twitch and she dips her chin. “She was lucky that I didn’t send the media the video. I have several. But a sex tape scandal would only make her more interesting to people. I want her to fade away.”

  I shake my head, my eyes closing before I lift my gaze back to hers. “Be a better fucking human, Andi. Leave them alone. Beaumont found his happiness, and it isn’t with you. Accept that shit.”

  “Never,” she sneers. “Andi Anderson doesn’t lose.”

  I snort. “You haven’t lost shit, Andi. You never had Beaumont and you never will.”

  Walking out of the house without looking back, I tug my phone out of my pocket as I climb into the driver’s side of my truck. I think about leaving, but I decide not to. Not until I’ve talked to Beaumont.

  “What happened?” he demands.

  I almost chuckle, but this isn’t remotely funny. “I don’t know where Hutton is, she left, but…”

  “But?”

  I can hear his breathing coming out in nervous pants. “Andi was here when I arrived. She and Hutton got into it. I don’t know what was said. Hell, I don’t know why Andi is really here. All I know is she’s the one that vandalized Hutton’s shop. She’s been behind it all and she claims she has a video recorded of the two of you together, of you and Hutton,” I say, clarifying.

  Beaumont is quiet for a moment, then I hear him let out a long exhale. “Brian, Daniel and Andi have some grand master plan. Daniel is afraid that I’m going to quit. Brian and Andi have been using and fucking, for God only knows how long, he’s left his wife over it all.”

  “Shit,” I hiss.

  He snorts. “Yeah, shit.”

  “What do you want to do, I’m still sitting here outside your house.”

  “I’m calling that sheriff, what was his name?”

  “Enrique Hernandez,” I grunt. “Want me to stay here?”

  There’s a moment of silence as if he’s trying to think about exactly how he wants to play this. “Act like you’re leaving, maybe pull around back so you can be there when the deputy shows up. But I don’t want her to know you’re there. I’m going to turn my cameras on so that I can make sure she doesn’t leave.”

  Beaumont ends the call and I do as he asks. I turn around, driving down his long driveway until I know for certain that Andi can’t see my truck, then I off-road the fucker until I pull up to the side of the house where I know she won’t be able to see me outside the back windows.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  HUTTON

  My phone rings, again. Glancing down at the device, I bit
e my bottom lip and decide to just send it to voicemail, again. I’m not upset with Beaumont at all, in fact, I really do want to talk to him but I need to get advice from my grandfather first.

  “Well, you show up here when you should be at home. What’s happened, Toots?” he asks as he leans back in his rocker.

  The front porch. This is where every single debacle of my life was ever hashed out. Where I cried over boys, where I cried over my parents and their behavior. Where I cheered when something amazing happened—it’s all taken place right here.

  “His ex-girlfriend vandalized my store, then was at his place. Beaumont offered to let me stay there alone, since we didn’t know who did the vandalism. He thought it would be safer.” I almost laugh at my own words. How ridiculous.

  “Not sure about this fella and his dealings,” PawPaw drawls.

  I press my lips together and look out into the darkness. “I have been on the fence about his lifestyle this entire time, but one thing I have never been on the fence about…”

  “Is him,” my grandfather says, finishing my thought.

  “Yeah.” I nod.

  There is a moment of silence and I hold my breath, curious to know what he’s going to say next. He always, always has something insightful to say. His advice is and has always been golden and spot on.

  My PawPaw has lived a long life and had a good woman by his side the entirety of it. He’ll know what I should do. He’ll guide me in the right direction, just like he always has.

  “Then don’t let this moment define the two of you. Did he have knowledge of this woman doing what she did? Being at his home?”

  “I don’t think so.”

  He waits for a moment, his eyes searching mine. “You love him,” he states.

  It isn’t a question, because he knows me so well that he knows it to be the truth. I nod, confirming his statement, anyway. I do love him. I think I’ve always loved him. Ten years hasn’t changed my true heart when it comes to Beaumont. It beats for him, it always has.

  “Then you need to answer him when he calls you again. Tell him what’s happened, let him step up and be the man that you need him to be. If he doesn’t, then it wasn’t meant to be. If he does, then you can’t deny that he is who you belong with.”

  Inhaling a deep breath, I let it out in one big whoosh. “Even if I don’t want to be thrust into the spotlight?”

  “That spotlight burns as bright as it fizzles. At the end of the day, at the end of your life, you’ll only remember the moments the two of you shared, not what was shared with the rest of the world. That stuff doesn’t matter anyway. What happens between the two of you, the life you build, that’s all that truly matters.”

  We don’t say anything else. I know that he’s right. I know that what he says is completely spot on. He should know, after all. I continue to stare into the darkness, willing my phone to ring again.

  I stay curled up in the porch swing alone. My grandfather eventually takes himself to bed and I eventually watch the sun rise. In that time, Beaumont doesn’t even attempt to call me. My heart breaks at the idea that this could be the end.

  I don’t know why it feels so doomed, why we feel so doomed. I know that he doesn’t have any feelings for Andi, but maybe she’s on to something. Maybe Beaumont realizes that with her everything is just that much easier.

  PawPaw walks out of the house, surprising me as he thrusts a hot cup of coffee toward me. “You gonna take all this lying down, hiding?” he asks.

  “I don’t know. He hasn’t called again.”

  “He will. When a man wants something, he stops at nothing to get it.”

  Blinking, I try to hold back the tears, mostly because I’m tired of crying. “Maybe he doesn’t really want me, anymore.”

  “Why? Because some pretty thing is tryin’ to stake a claim she don’t have?”

  “Yeah.” I nod.

  He chuckles. “Could be that he thinks you’re through with him. Maybe he’s giving you a little time. Maybe you shouldn’t assume nothin’, Toots.”

  Gulping, I lower my head and look into my lap. He’s right. I shouldn’t assume anything. It’s one of the worst things that you can do. I can’t read Beaumont’s mind and he’s been nothing but honest with me, even when he knew that I wouldn’t like the answers.

  “I think I need to go back home,” I whisper.

  “You’ll be back in a couple days? Spend the weekend with me?” PawPaw asks. He’s worried about being alone for the anniversary of my grandmother’s passing.

  Standing to my feet, I grin. “I’ll be here, nothin’ could keep me away,” I promise as I lower my body and touch my lips to his cheek.

  “Proud of you, Toots,” he whispers.

  Without another word, I make my way inside and get ready for the day. I have to leave early since my drive back home is a couple of hours long. It’s going to be a long day since I didn’t sleep even for a second last night, but I feel better than I did driving out there.

  Something about my grandfather and his advice always does that, even if I don’t have a clear answer of what’s to come, it just always seems so much easier after I’ve talked it out with him and this is no different.

  It’s time for me to make some things clear to Beaumont and to have some things cleared up with him. I’m not going to live scared in my own town. I’m not going to live in fear that this crazy woman is going to make my life hell, I won’t allow it. I’m stronger than that. Beaumont and I are stronger than that. This ends now.

  BEAUMONT

  When Hutton doesn’t answer the phone again, I make a decision. This tour has been widely successful and I’m going to finish it, but I need at least a few days to myself.

  Marching into the bus, I’m not surprised to see Daniel fucking some woman on the floor while Brian is having his dick sucked by the woman I saw him standing next to in the bar.

  “Out,” I bark.

  Both women turn to look at me while both men glare in my direction. “Ladies, you need to leave,” I state.

  My tone must convey my irritation and the seriousness of this moment, because both women quickly grab their shit and leave, naked. Brian lifts his pants up and over his hips, but doesn’t leave his spot sitting on the chair. Daniel pulls his own jeans back on, but stays shirtless.

  “What the fuck, man?” Daniel asks with a sniff.

  “I’m done,” I say.

  They both look to one another, then over to me. “You’re what?” Daniel asks, though he doesn’t sound so much surprised as he does pissed off.

  “I’m done. Meaning you’re both fired.”

  Brian growls. “I help write your music, you can’t fire me.”

  I shrug one shoulder. “You’ll be compensated however my lawyers decide is appropriate according to any contracts we have, but this is done. And Daniel, I’ve had enough of your shit.”

  “What brought all this on?” Jesse asks, jumping out of his bunk, looking tired and confused.

  Since meeting Laurie, Jesse has changed, and it’s been for the better. “Brian left his wife and has been using, and fucking Andi. Daniel and Brian have been in cahoots to get rid of Hutton and bring Andi back in, to try and force me to be with her. Brian, so she can continue fucking him and supplying him. Daniel, so he can use her in PR and make a boatload of cash because his current shit-ton isn’t enough, apparently.”

  “Fuck.” Jesse whistles.

  “Right?” I ask. Turning toward them, I cross my arms over my chest. “This is my life. This is not a publicity stunt. This is not a game. This shit is real between me and Hutton. I will not have the people in my circle, people who are supposed to be on my team scheming behind my back like this.”

  “You can’t fire me, it’s not the end of the tour,” Brian announces, a smirk playing on his lips.

  “Then, I have the right to end the tour at any time that I see fit. This was the last show. I’ll deal with the aftermath of that, but I am fucking done with you bastards.”

 
Making my way into the bedroom of the bus, I close the door and lock it behind me. Without a word, I pack my bags. I’ll deal with the repercussions later. Right now, the only thing that matters is Hutton.

  Strapping my favorite guitar over my chest, I reach for my laptop bag and throw that strap over my shoulder before I grab ahold of my suitcase handle. My shit is all thrown in the bag, not even folded, but I don’t care.

  Unlocking the bedroom door, I’m not surprised to see Brian and Daniel standing at the exit. Austin and Jesse are facing me and they both grin. I watch as they turn around and charge both Daniel and Brian.

  My eyes widen when they take them both down to the ground. They all four struggle, but when Brian and Daniel are completely restrained, Austin lifts his eyes to meet mine and he smirks.

  “Go get your girl, Beau.”

  “You sure you don’t want to stay on with me?” I ask him.

  We’ve been through some shit, but the past week this man has been at my back in a way that I never thought possible. And right now, he’s showing where his true loyalties lie. This man is a friend, he’s a brother, plain and simple.

  “I think that I might need more than you can handle,” he chuckles. “I always got your back though.” He dips his chin before he lifts it back up. “Always. But this is your time to shine. You don’t need us, Beaumont, not that you ever did.”

  “But, dude.” Jesse smirks.

  Turning to him, I laugh because the guy is so fucking happy all the time, you have no other way to react other than to smile at him.

  “Yeah?”

  “You always need a bass.”

  “I need a drummer too,” I say, jerking my chin toward Austin.

  Austin looks down at Brian, then back toward me. “Meeting in a couple weeks, the three of us?”

  “Come out to my place in Texas. We’ll do informal.” I grin.

  “You motherfuckers,” Brian shouts, spit flying everywhere as he struggles against Austin’s hold. “Plotting and planning right here in front of us. Trying to cut us out, without me and Daniel, you would be just some hick trying to be someone.”