The tromp of soft footsteps jerked Keys to his feet.
A tiny nurse all of about five feet tall strode into the room wearing blue scrubs. “Mr. Johnson?” she said, beaming.
“Yeah?” Keys towered over her.
“Your girlfriend is ready to be discharged. She’s signing paperwork at the moment, but she’s eager to see you.” Her grin lit up her petite features. Crow-black hair framed her heart-shaped face.
“I’ll wait here,” Trevor said.
Keys nodded. “Thanks. We’ll come and get you.”
“Where is she?” Keys said.
“Follow me. She’s down this corridor,” the nurse said. “I’m Julie Wong, by the way. It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
“Thanks. Same.” The words emerged from Keys’ mouth, but his brain only focused on seeing Mia. His footfalls squeaked against the white tile floor.
“Here we are,” Nurse Wong said, indicating room number two-twenty-two.
Keys rushed into the room.
Mia sat at the end of an exam table, dressed in a flimsy blue-dotted examination gown. Dark bruises colored each knee. “Hey,” she said, her features softening.
“Hey,” he said, closing the gap between them. “Can I touch you?”
“Nothing’s broken except my mind. I’ve got a list of counselors to choose from for mental health evaluations.” She tapped the clipboard sitting in her lap.
“Good.” Keys snatched the clipboard and placed it behind her. Then, he helped her from the table and wrapped her in his arms. “Good God, baby. I thought I’d never get the chance to do this again,” he murmured into her hair.
“I know. I’ve never been more frightened in my life,” she breathed against his neck, her arms clasping him tightly. “And you arrived like a bad-ass superhero. Two minutes later, and I’d be as dead as Darion is.” She shuddered against his chest. Then, she leaned back and gazed into his eyes.
He’d never been happier to look at someone in his life. “Let’s get you home, what do you say?”
“Can we go to your place? It might be a while before I can tolerate stepping into my apartment,” she said.
“Absolutely. We can take your cat as long as he stays out of the Muse Groove. No cat hair on the instruments or recording consoles,” Keys said. He kissed the top of her head.
“If we keep the door closed, he’ll manage.” Mia squeezed him tightly. “I’m so happy to be alive.”
Keys’ throat closed. “Me, too,” he choked out.
Mia’s gaze dropped to his hands. “Where are your rings?”
He glanced absentmindedly at his fingers. “Oh. I had to get them all cut off of this hand. My fingers look like fat sausages.” He wiggled them, wincing at the pain.
Mia tsked. “Oh, no. Are you going to be able to play the piano?”
He turned his hand over and back, studying the damage. Shades of purple, brown, and red covered his knuckles, the back of his hands, and his fingers. “Of course. I didn’t break any bones.” And, it gave him sick satisfaction to know the damage he’d inflicted on Darion before the bastard chickened out and blew out his brains. The diamonds and rubies had left their mark on Darion’s slimy face.
“What will happen to your rings?” she said, alarm flashing from her eyes.
“They’ll be repaired by a jeweler,” he said, drawing his finger across her cheekbone. “Mia. They’re just things you’re concerned about. You’re far more important than a thing.”
“I appreciate that,” she said, clutching her hands before her. “But, they’re your things.”
“I can get new things. But you, my angel, are irreplaceable.” His gaze latched onto hers, and for a few long moments, they didn’t look away from one another. All sorts of emotion stirred in his belly and heart. But, instead of running from the feelings inside, he stayed present, with himself and with Mia. Finally, he said, “Let’s get out of here. Would you like me to step outside so you can get dressed?” he said.
“That’s too far. Stay here.” She released him and stepped to the gray melamine and black plastic-trimmed closet.
He studied her as she removed the dumb gown, and she donned her skin-hugging trousers, shirt, and jacket. God, she’s gorgeous.
“These clothes are going in the trash bin once I’ve dressed in something else. I never want to see them again,” she said, without turning around. She reached into the cupboard and retrieved her purse. Swirling to face him, she said, “How’s your motorcycle?” She stepped next to him.
“It will live. A buddy of mine picked it up and has it at his shop. He’s a genius. He’ll have it better than ever,” Keys said, draping his arm around Mia’s shoulder and tucking her close.
“Good. I’d hate for you to have destroyed your bike.” Mia wrapped her arm around his waist.
“Shit, baby. I’d destroy everything I owned rather than lose you. Things can be replaced. You can’t.” His heart squeezed tight in his chest.
He guided her out of the room toward the waiting room where Trevor sat. “Trevor drove me over in his Mustang. He can drop us off at my place. Do you need to pick up anything at your house?”
She tossed her head back and forth quickly. “No. Not yet. Maybe we can send someone up to gather some things. But I don’t want to set foot there.” She paused. “I forgot about Max. We have to get him. He’s probably sitting in the window waiting for me.”
“Okay. Either Trevor or I can run up and gather some clothes and stuff for you, along with Max. Will that be all right?” Keys couldn’t get her close enough to him.
“As long as we’re together, everything is okay.”
Thirty minutes later, Keys helped Mia into the bath he’d prepared for her. As she slid her lovely body into the soothing water, he scanned the bruises along her arms, knees, and hips.
“How’d you get so bruised?” he asked, brushing his fingertips across her shoulder.
“Same as you. I tussled with a madman.” She reached for his hand and kissed the top of it. “Darion kept watching me and swerving into traffic. It’s a wonder we didn’t crash. I kept slamming into the door.” A shiver shook her body. “I’m going to have nightmares for a while.”
“I’ll keep you safe.” Keys crouched next to the tub, gently stroking her back with a soapy washcloth.
Mia cast her gaze at the water rippling all around her. “I…I’m sorry I broke up with you. It’s not what I wanted.”
He took a long, deep sigh. “Yeah. That was a low moment. For both of us. Running scared.”
She nodded her head, and the tips of her long hair swirled in the water.
“But, there’s scared, and then there’s terrified. Me being scared of commitment seems childish to me, compared to you being scared for your life,” Keys said, dipping his fingertips in the water. The heat stung his many bruises.
“Right?” She flashed him an open-eyed look of pure vulnerability. “I simply became terror. Nothing else existed. And, now…now that I’ve survived and Darion is dead….” Her forehead creased as she studied him. “Do you think we can try this boyfriend-girlfriend thing again, for reals this time?”
“Absolutely. I never want to be apart from you again,” Keys said. This time, he knew he’d succeed.
Keys
The next afternoon, Keys sat on his red sofa, engaged in a stare-down with Mia’s cat.
With unblinking yellow-green eyes, Max stared back at Keys from his perch on the back of the sofa.
A mug of strong, black coffee sat on Keys’ denim-clad thigh, held in place by his bruised right hand. He lifted the mug to his lips and took a swallow, cringing at the discomfort in his fat-fingers and swollen knuckles. Then, he reached out and placed the mug on the still cracked coffee table. “Ground rules, kitty. No pissing or pooping anywhere but your litter-box. Absolutely no entrance into my music studio, got it?”
Max blinked and slowly turned his head to the side, either ignoring his request or agreeing with him, Keys couldn’t tell.
>
His doorbell rang, accompanied by the hammering of fists.
“Let us in,” Gia called.
Now what? Keys rose, scooped up the cat, and sauntered to the door.
The cat purred against his chest.
“Hey,” Keys said.
“Aw,” Gia cooed. “It’s Maxie. Is Keys being a good cat-daddy to you?” she said, kissing the feline’s nose. “What? He actually is? I thought you were going to say you’re being neglected. That’s good to hear.” She lifted her gaze to Keys. “You look like roadkill.”
“Thank you,” Keys said, staring at his bandmates and Zander, who hovered outside his door. “I feel like dog’s balls, that’s for certain. But, Mia’s alive. That’s all that matters.”
“Can we come in?” Dante said.
“Depends. I’m not in the mood for another confrontation. Not after the hell of the last twenty-four hours.” Keys stroked the cat’s furry head.
“Understood,” Dante said, pushing through the door.
Trevor and Zander followed him.
“We’re here to make amends,” Dante said, settling on the arm of Keys’ sofa.
“Are you?” Keys said, lowering the cat to the ground. He made his way to sit on the opposite arm to Dante.
Trevor and Zander settled on the other sofa.
Max trotted to the sofa, leaped on the back, and sniffed Dante.
“Where’s Mia?” Gia said, plopping on the sofa next to Dante.
“I had to give her something to help her get to sleep a few hours ago. She’s mentally wasted. She had nightmares and woke up at five, kicking and screaming.
“Aw, that’s awful,” Gia said. “Poor thing.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Dante said, his expression pinched.
“Yeah, me, too,” said Trevor.
Keys eyed both men, searching for signs of insincerity. Satisfied that they seemed sincere, he said, “She watched her ex blow his brains out after he terrorized her. It’s going to take a bit to get herself sorted. This shrink she met with last night at the hospital said she’s got all the signs of PTSD.”
“Damn,” Dante said.
“That’s harsh,” Trevor said.
An uneasy silence smothered the room. The only point of contentment came from Max, who sat purring next to Dante.
“I think he likes your hair,” Keys finally said, smirking.
Dante scoffed while scratching the cat’s chin. “Right. All dem kitties loves me.” He turned to Keys and locked eyes with him. “I want to apologize to you for being a dick. I’ve been uptight lately. Kennedy…” He dragged his hand through his long, Hollywood-style locks. “She was pregnant, but she miscarried.”
“What? You never told us,” Gia said, punching him in the arm.
“I didn’t. We wanted to wait until we were certain everything would be all right, but fate had other plans for us. The miscarriage happened after Cancun.” Dante’s lips turned down in a frown.
Keys frowned, unsure of what to say. He never imagined Dante would want to pursue fatherhood.
“That sucks, man,” Trevor said.
“Yeah, I’m so sorry,” Gia said. “So, that’s why she didn’t drink any alcohol in Mexico. Are you going to try for another?”
“Well, maybe. This was a surprise. But, Kennedy and I have talked about it, and it might be cool to bring another musician into the world. I’m sure he’ll be talented.” Dante smiled.
“She might prefer to hang out with her mama’s tigers,” Gia said.
“True that,” Dante said. “Anyway…” He directed a pointed gaze at Keys. “Miscarriage or no miscarriage I shouldn’t have been such an asshole to you. Your ideas—some of them, at least—were solid. Maybe we can consider them down the road.”
Keys recoiled. Do they think, after all this, I intend to stay in the band? “I still intend on releasing a solo album,” he stated, crossing his arms over his chest.
Dante put his palms out. “I know, I know. We all talked about it. We support you. We don’t want to replace you. You can still play with us…if you want to, that is. We’re still a family.”
“Losing your friendship isn’t worth the drama,” Gia said, looking up at Keys with soft eyes.
“Yeah. We’ve all missed you, Keys,” Trevor added.
Keys considered for a moment. “I’m not sure. Don’t get me wrong. I appreciate the apology and the invite to remain in the band. But, I don’t know which end is up at the moment. All I know is, Mia’s alive, I’m alive, and I’ve got to move forward with her.”
Zander finally spoke. “Keys, I need to say something, too. I was really disappointed with Mia when she told me about your relationship and her desire to be your music manager. But, I was selfish. She’s a top-notch manager, and I honestly don’t think I could have risen to the top of my game without her. But who am I to judge who someone loves?”
Keys nodded.
Zander continued, dark stains ringing his eyes. “But, when I saw her last, she was crying. I made her cry by not being happy for her and wishing her well. The song you two created blew my mind. I think you’re going to be an amazing team. So, instead of acting like this douchebag friend, boss, or whatever I am, who’s disappointed in her, I’ll be kickstarting her agency with some funds.”
Keys drew his head back. A giant brick of emotion lodged in his throat. He cleared it a few times before he could speak. “That’s kind of you, Zander. I’m sure she’ll appreciate it. I offered to pay for her therapy. She’ll need a lot to get back on her feet. But, she’s a fighter. She’s lived with the memories of her prick of an ex for years now. She’s been living in fear for far too long.”
“Count me in on support, too,” Dante said.
“Me, too,” Gia said.
“I’m in, too,” Trevor said.
Everyone regarded him with the most sincere expressions he’d ever seen. The brick returned to jam up his windpipe. “I, uh…” He worked to dislodge it. “I don’t know what to say, except thank you.”
“Whatever you need, man,” Dante said. He rose, stepped toward Keys, and stuck out his hand.
Keys eyed Dante’s hand and then Dante’s face. Can I simply forgive, let go and move on? His eyes narrowed as he regarded Dante. Finally, the answer became obvious. He stood, took Dante’s hand, and pulled him in for a hug.
Gia whooped and cheered. “Yay, the family has made it through the latest drama.” She leaped to her feet and put her arms around both Keys and Dante.
Trevor joined in as well, then, Zander got in on the action.
Keys knew he and Mia had their work cut out for them. Starting a relationship on the riptide of trauma might be rough. But then, he’d never done anything halfway. Together, with their friends’ support, they might just make it to the other side. And that was a commitment he was willing to make.
Epilogue
Ten months later.
Keys played the closing chords to one of his and Mia’s songs to a packed auditorium in Los Angeles. It was his second encore song of the night. He planned on giving the audience one more after this. His body was so jacked he seemed to hover over the piano bench at his concert grand piano.
Tonight’s concert, his last in the Key to Love tour, had sold out eight minutes after the tickets went on sale. Throughout the entire tour, he and Mia had played to packed houses. Talk of Grammy’s for two of his songs and his first solo album buzzed in the airwaves. Critics had likened him to a cross between John Legend and Stevie Wonder, due to his “soulful vocals and R&B fusion” combined with his “funky jams and percussive, jazzy backbeats.”
A bright spotlight focused on him and the baby grand, while blue lights illuminated his backup band and the trio of singers he’d hired to accompany him on tour. The song, called Fresh Start, a tribute to his relationship with Mia, made him smile so hard his cheeks ached. As the driving crescendo built, he abruptly bolted to his feet and kicked the bench away.
The crowd roared.
As he played the
closing notes and sang the last phrase, his hands flew across the keys, and his voice soared. His eyes connected with Mia, who stood just off-stage, her crystal-laden electric guitar in hand. His grin grew wider, and he inclined his head slightly, indicating for her to come onstage.
Dressed in a form-fitting black leather jacket, a short red leather skirt, and thigh-high boots, with her hair pulled on top of her head in several thick braids, she strode onto the stage playing the opening lines to their latest hit, Lava Love. She crossed to center stage where a microphone stand had been placed.
The band and the vocalists seamlessly picked up the beat.
“You. And. Me. We’re magic. Born. Of. Something tragic,” Mia sang in her powerful voice.
Everyone in the auditorium got to their feet, stomping, clapping, and singing along.
Keys grabbed the microphone from the stand near his piano, and jumped up and down, singing, “Can. You. Feel. Fantastic. Let’s. Do. Something drastic.” He bounced his way to Mia’s side and pressed his cheek close to hers so they could sing into her microphone. “Let’s. Let. Go. Into this lava love.” While he sang, he held his microphone toward the audience.
Everyone sang the chorus, “Let’s. Let. Go. Into this lava love.”
His eyes locked with Mia’s. The love reflected in those beautiful caramel orbs matched his feelings, heartbeat for heartbeat. His heart felt like it would explode in his chest, like fireworks filling the night sky.
When the song came to a close, a din of screams, whoops, hollers and whistles filled the auditorium.
Keys took Mia’s hand, lifted it high, and then bowed in unison with her. “Thank you, everyone,” he shouted into the microphone.
“We love you!” Mia yelled, kissing her fingertips and spreading her arms wide.
“And we love you!” several people yelled back.
Keys jogged offstage, leading Mia. When they got backstage, he took her in his arms and kissed her long and hard.
She tasted of peppermint and perspiration. She smelled divine. He couldn’t wait to get her alone and ravish her, his all-time favorite past-time. When their lips parted, he said, “Great tour, Miss Song, soul mate, and manager.”
The Key to Love Page 26
