Chapter Nineteen
When I saw Frank heading back to me, I finally exhaled the breath I’d been holding. The last time we’d been mobbed like this I’d lost my shirt, a shoe, and my junk had been grabbed multiple times. I don’t know where the f*ck the rest of the security team was, but their asses were going to get jacked up for leaving us with barely enough coverage, not to mention having to be saved by a roadie.
“Can you sign these?” a busty blonde asked as she jerked the collar of her shirt down and thrust her boobs up at me.
“Yeah, sure.”
She grinned. “You sign one and AJ signs the other.”
AJ chuckled. “I think this may be the last pair of tits our ol’ boy Jake signs, ladies. He’s officially been taken off the market.”
With my Sharpie, I scribbled my name across her skin. “I think I have to agree, man.”
The blonde pouted as AJ leaned in to sign. “His loss. This is an extra nice pair.” AJ winked as his pen lingered a little longer than it had to, which caused the girl to giggle. Leaning over, he whispered something in her ear. Her eyes widened and then she bobbed her head furiously.
I opened my mouth to argue that if he thought he was getting the bedroom tonight to bang this random chick, he could think again. I planned on some heavy third-base action with my girl but nothing more since I wouldn't dream of degrading her by taking her virginity on the bus. No, she deserved rose petals and thousand count sheets and nice shit. “AJ—” I began but the sound of a scream cut me off.
“What was that?” Rhys asked, craning his neck around the throng of fans.
Then another bloodcurdling scream came—this time calling for me. It cut me right through to my soul because I knew that voice. “Abby!” I cried, dropping whatever the last fan had shoved at me to sign. I started pushing and shoving people out of the way.
“Move dammit!” I didn’t give a shit that I was manhandling fans. Abby needed me.
Once I was out of the crowd, I started sprinting through the parking lot. Frank and AJ were close on my heels. When I rounded the side of the bus, I saw Abby crumpled on the ground, her once pristine, white dress stained with mud and grease, but worst of all blood. Bree stood over her, kicking her repeatedly.
“What the f*ck are you doing?” I shouted running over to them. “Get your damn hands off of her, Bree!”
When she didn’t even falter at the sound of my voice, a growl erupted from deep within me as my fingers molded into Bree’s shoulders. With everything I had, I jerked her off of Abby. I slung her against the side of the bus so hard that I heard the unmistakable crack of bones breaking. Although Bree screamed in pain, I ignored her. My only focus was on Abby.
Crouching down, I nestled next to her and could see the extent of her injuries. Blood flowed like a crimson river from the large gash on the back of her head. Angry red welts were forming on her face, and her lip was busted and bleeding. Her hand clutched her abdomen while her head turned from side to side as she moaned.
My chest twisted so tight in agony that I found it hard to breathe. “Oh Jesus, Angel!”
Her eyelids fluttered open. “Jake?” she questioned hoarsely.
“I’m here now. You’re safe. No one is going to hurt you ever again.”
When Abby’s eyes closed, I glanced up at Frank. “Get the car!”
Without even answering me, he sprinted away. As gently as I could, I gathered Abby into my arms. When I pulled up to a standing position, it jostled us, and she cried out. “I’m sorry, baby. I’m so, so sorry.”
Her eyes widened as her brow furrowed in pain. “Jake…hurts…so bad.”
I grimaced. “I know, Angel, and I’m sorry. But we’re going to get you to the hospital just as quick as we can.”
Cradling her to my chest, I hustled to the curb just as Frank came screeching up. AJ opened the door for me, and I eased Abby onto the seat. She shrieked and clawed at my chest from the pain. Tears stung my eyes as I murmured “I’m so, so sorry,” over and over again. Once I was seated and had pulled her back onto my lap, she just whimpered, rather than cried hard.
LL hopped up front with Frank while AJ slid in beside me. As I held Abby to my chest, I watched her eyes close. “Try to stay awake. Don’t go to sleep.” I didn’t have any medical training, but I knew from how damaged her head was that she probably had a concussion.
But no matter how hard I tried to keep her awake, the pain must’ve been too intense, and she passed out. We screeched up to the ER at Piedmont Hospital on two wheels. How Frank got out so fast I don’t know, but he was there to open the door for me. When we busted through the ER doors, every person in the waiting room turned to stare at us.
It took all of five seconds before someone shrieked, “Oh my God! That’s Jake Slater!”
“And AJ Resendiz too!”
Ignoring them I hustled up to the front desk where an ER clerk stared wide-eyed at me. “My girlfriend has been beaten pretty badly, and she needs medical attention.” When she momentarily hesitated, I shouted, “Right now, did you hear me?”
“Y-Yes, sir.”
The automatic “Authorized Personnel Only” doors buzzed open, and I rushed through them. Two nurses came forward to usher me into a room. Once I deposited Abby onto the gurney, they pushed me to the door. “No wait, I want to stay with her!”
“I’m sorry, sir, but—”
I jerked my hand through my hair as tears of frustration scorched my eyes. “You don’t understand. I love Abby, dammit! There are only two women in the entire world I love, and one is already dying. I can’t lose Abby too!” I cried.
“I’m so very sorry, but it’s against hospital policy to have friends or family members back here while we assess a patient’s condition.”
My fists clenched at my side as I shouted, “Yeah, well, f*ck your precious policy!”
While one nurse began cutting away Abby’s dress, the other put a hand on my shoulder. “Please do as we ask. You’ll be no good to her if you’re in lock-up from security being called.”
“You promise you’ll take care of her and won’t let her die?”
Her expression softened. “We’ll give her the best possible care, but I can’t promise you any more than that.”
Exhaling a defeated sigh, I stomped out of the door. I watched it close behind me while the nurses worked on Abby. The sobs that had been building overtook me. Just as I was about to sink to my knees, Frank’s strong arm came around my waist. “Come on, son.”
With my eyes blinded by tears, I let him lead me past the Authorized Personnel Only doors and back into the waiting room. Collapsing down into a chair, I put my head in my hands as my body shook with sobs.
“She’s going to be fine, Jake. She’s just banged up real bad,” AJ reassured.
“I can’t lose her,” I muttered.
He thumped my back. “You won’t, man.”
“Should we call her brothers or her parents?” Frank asked.
Digging my phone out of my pants, I thrust it at Frank. “Micah’s number is in there. They’re all together tonight. They had a show in Tennessee or Kentucky.”
“Okay, I’ll go call.”
I shuddered at the thought of Abby’s parents and brothers finding out what happened. It was bad enough I wasn’t high on their list of favorite people, so the very fact she lay battered and broken in the emergency room because of me wasn’t going to cement our relationship.
Raising my head, I swiped away the tears. To my horror two people across the room started snapping pictures. Unable to control my emotions, I whirled out of my seat. “Do you have absolutely no f*cking shame? My girlfriend was almost beaten to death not thirty minutes ago, not to mention my mother’s dying of cancer! So you think you could give the f*cking photos and gossip a rest for one moment?”
Their eyes widened in shock while AJ grabbed me around the shoulders. “Let it go, man.” Dragging me over to the registration desk, he asked, “Is there somewhere more private we could wait?”
The lady nodded. “Sure, come right on through here.”
As the Authorized Personnel Only doors buzzed opened again, AJ, along with Rhys who had appeared a few moments earlier, ushered me inside a small room that had a few plush chairs. Chewing my ragged thumbnail, I refused to sit down. Instead, I paced around the room like a caged animal. “Why don’t they come tell us something?”
“They have to check her out first, Jake,” AJ argued.
Standing in the doorway, I caught of glimpse of Bree limping past the door with her father, Lyle. Rage burned within me, and I raced out into the hallway. Before I knew it, I’d grabbed her by the shoulders and was shaking her so hard her teeth were clattering. “You conniving little bitch! How could you do that Abby? She never did a damn thing to you!”
Rhys grabbed my waist and jerked me away. “Don’t touch her, man!”
“Touch her? I want to kill her!”
Rhys’s breath warmed my ear as he spoke in a low voice. “Look, I can understand that you want to break her neck right now, but you have got to think clearly. You physically assaulted her tonight too, and she and Lyle could sue the hell out of you. Give him one hell of a severance package and send them on their way.”
“What about Bree attacking Abby? Is she just going to walk away from all of that?” I hissed.
“It’s the bigger picture, man. Trust me.”
I slung him off of me. “Fine.”
Tears streamed down Bree’s face. “I’m sorry, Jake. I really am.”
“Don’t give me your bull-shit apologies. It’s Abby you should be telling you’re sorry.”
Lyle wrapped his arm around Bree’s shoulder. “I hate that it had to end this way.”
“Just pack your things and go. I’ll have the lawyers get you a settlement.” My eyes burned into Bree. “But I better never see her at any show of mine ever again, or I’ll press charges!”
Bree broke down in sobs as Lyle led her into one of the rooms where a nurse waited to asses her sitation. Brayden and Lily appeared then. Their expressions were ashen and filled with worry. “Heard anything yet?”
“No,” I muttered miserably.
It seemed like an eternity passed before a middle-aged doctor in a pristine white coat entered the room. “Which one of you is Jake Slater?” she asked.
Swaying on my legs, I tried not to pass out. “I am,” I croaked.
She gave me a reassuring smile that sent relief ricocheting through me. “I’m Dr. Mitchell, and I’m in charge of Ms. Renard’s case.”
“How is Abby?”
“I won’t lie when I say that she suffered some pretty extensive injuries. The CT scan along with some X-Rays confirmed she has some bruised and fractured ribs, a fractured clavicle, and a concussion, but fortunately, there’s no internal bleeding or hemorrhaging.”
In one long, exaggerated whoosh, I finally exhaled the breath I’d been holding. “So she’s going to be all right?”
Dr. Mitchell nodded. “She’s going to need quite a while to recover though. Fractured ribs can take up to eight weeks to heal, and they can be very painful. After stitching her up, we’ve sedated her and are moving her to a room. We’ll keep her overnight and then probably release her in a day or two depending on how she’s doing.”
“Can I see her?”
Dr. Mitchell hesitated. “Well, we currently have her heavily sedated for the pain, so she probably won’t wake up.”
“I don’t care. I still want to be there for her. In fact, I don’t plan on leaving her alone one minute. I want to be right there when she wakes up.”
With a smile, Dr. Mitchell patted my arm. “She’s very lucky to have such a caring and loving boyfriend.”
I fought the urge to say, Yeah, well, it’s all because of me thinking with my dick that Abby’s in the broken and bruised condition she is.
“Give us about thirty minutes, and you can go up to see her. She’ll be on the fourth floor.”
Extending my hand, I shook Dr. Mitchell’s. “Thank you so much, and thank you most of all for taking such good care of my Angel.”
“No problem,” she replied before she left the room.
“Need me to stay with you?” Brayden asked while Rhys and AJ nodded in agreement.
“No, I’m fine.”
“Are you sure?” AJ questioned.
“Yeah, you guys go on home.”
Brayden stepped forward to give me a hug. “Frank told us that Abby’s family should be here in the morning. They were going to have to drive since they couldn’t get a flight out.”
Inwardly, I cringed at that statement. “Okay, thanks for letting me know.”
After AJ and Rhys gave me a brotherly hug, Brayden said, “I guess we’ll head out for now and come back to check on Abby in the morning.”
“Thanks guys.”
While I waited to go up to see Abby, I called my mom. She was devastated to hear what happened. And because she was the most amazingly giving and caring woman, she told me to bring Abby back home to the farm for her recovery. The thought of having the two women I loved most in the same place made me very, very happy.
I had just hung up with my mom when a nurse came out to tell me that Abby was upstairs and I could see her. The entire elevator ride up I waged war on myself for what had happened. I played a thousand “what-if” scenarios in my mind of why I hadn’t ensured there were more security or insisted that Frank walk Abby all the way to the bus. Most of all, I wondered how I ever let someone like Bree weasel her way into my life and my bed.
When I got to Abby’s room, I hesitated outside of the door. I couldn’t help but be afraid of what I might find once I got inside. Guilt continued crisscrossing its way through my chest. The sins of my past had come barreling into my future and almost destroyed my perfect happiness. With a gutted feeling, I pushed open the door.
The room flickered in shadows as only the dim light over Abby’s bed lit the room. Even in the dark, I could see the extent of her injuries. Just the sight of the angry purple and green bruises along with Abby’s swollen face made me feel like someone had kicked me in the balls. Bending over, I braced my hands on my knees and tried stilling my out-of -control emotions by taking several deep breaths.
At Abby’s whimper, I jerked my head up. “Angel?” I questioned before striding over to her bedside. I took her hand that was bandaged with IV’s in mine. “Angel, I’m here, and I love you.”
Her eyes stayed pinched closed, but her brows furrowed. “Just rest, baby. You’re safe now, and I’m not leaving you.”
At her continued restlessness, I considered calling the nurse’s station and asking for more pain medication. But then an idea flashed through my mind, so I acted on it. Drawing the chair close to the bed, I eased down. I then began singing Angel again to Abby just like I had earlier. Almost instantly, she calmed and began to rest more peacefully.
I continued singing different songs to her until my voice was hoarse, and my eyelids drooped in exhaustion. Laying my head down on the side of the bed, I fell asleep with my head nestled against her hip.
Rays of amber sunshine bursting through the window blinds stung my eyes and woke me from my sleep. Raising my head, I looked at Abby. Some of the swelling had gone down in her face, but the bruises were just as bad. I was about to go to the bathroom when she moaned. At the fluttering of her eyelids, I leaned forward. “Angel?”
Her eyes flew wide open. She turned her head to look at me and winced in pain. “Jake…”
“Are you hurting? Let me get the nurse for you.”
“No, that’s okay. I just feel woozy and really sore.”
I nodded. “You’re in the hospital. Do you remember what happened?”
“Bree tried to kill me,” she replied hoarsely.
“Yes.”
“But I’m okay?”
I filled her in on everything Dr. Mitchell had said. Then taking her hand in mine, I squeezed it tight before bringing it to my lips and bestowing kisses across the back of her hand and fingers. “I’m so, so sorry for what happened to you, Angel.”
“But it wasn’t your fault.”
“Yes, it is. If I hadn’t ever been involved with Bree, she would have never gone after you like that.” Ashamed of the remorseful tears burning my eyes, I buried my face on the side of the bed. “I ruin everything for you.”
“No you don’t.”
Raising my head, I stared sadly at her. “Yes, I do. I’ll never be good enough for you.”
“Stop it, Jake. I don’t want you beating yourself up over this.” She reached out to run her fingers over my cheek. “You gave me the most romantic night of my life—you told a crowd of fifty thousand people that I was the girl you loved most in the world and that my love had saved you. Nothing that happened will ever take that moment away from me.”
I groaned. “You go and say shit like that and make me realize for the millionth time that you’re way too good for me.”
Abby gave a slight shake of her head. “You stayed with me last night?”
“Of course.”
She tried to smile at me, but the stiches in her lip made it more of a grimace. “Just when I think I couldn’t love you more than I already do, you go and prove me wrong.”
“Listen, Angel, you’re going to have a long recovery ahead of you—maybe six weeks. I want you to come to my farm and let me take care of you.”
Abby’s eyes widened. “No, Jake, I can’t let you do that. You have too much going on with your mom.”
I shook my head. “This isn’t up for discussion, Angel. I’m not letting you out of my sight. I intended on seeing you through your recovery every step of the way.”
“But what about your mom?”
I grinned. “It was her suggestion in the first place.” When Abby started to protest, I replied, “She and I both want to do this very much, Angel. Besides, she knows all about my love for you. In fact, she was the one who told me to keep fighting for you after I screwed up.”
“Really?”
“Yes, so there’s no point in arguing, okay?”
Happy acceptance entered Abby’s eyes. “Thank you. I would love to spend that time with you.”
“Good, I’m glad to hear it.” I rose up to tenderly kiss her forehead. It was one of the only places that wasn’t bruised or cut. With a grin, I added, “Since we’re off tour for a while and recording the album, you can let me know which songs are good or which ones suck.”
“I highly doubt any of them will suck.”
“That’s debatable.” I brought her hand to cup my cheek. “Maybe we can work on some more collaborations?”
“I’d like that a lot.” Her fingers brushed against the stubble on my skin. “I like anything that means I get to be with you.”
“Right back at ya, Angel,” I replied with a smile.
Our beautiful moment came to a screeching halt when the door burst open, and Abby’s parents rushed in. “Oh Abigail sweetheart!” her mother, Laura, cried as she practically elbowed me out of the way to get to Abby. Tears streamed down her face as she hovered between wanting to hug Abby and knowing better. Finally, she grabbed Abby’s hand.
“Mom, it’s worse than it looks. I’m going to be just fine.”
“We just spoke with the doctor, and it seems pretty bad to me,” her father, Andrew, replied. His expression hardened as his gaze honed in on me. His dark eyes narrowed at the sight of my t-shirt stained with Abby’s blood along with the tattoos peeking out from under my sleeves. Without even a hello or an introduction, he demanded, “How could you let this happen?”
My hand automatically flew up in surrender. “Mr. Renard, I’m terribly sorry for what happened to Abby. I never meant for her to get hurt because of me,” I replied as sincerely as I could.
Apparently my words had little effect on him. He abandoned Abby’s other side and rounded the bed towards me. “It’s no secret that my wife and I are less than pleased about this infatuation that Abigail seems to have with you. Your reputation as a womanizer and heavy drinker certainly makes you the last young man on earth we would want our daughter being associated with.”
“Daddy!” Abby admonished. Raising her voice caused her to grimace from the exertion.
“Stop it! You’re upsetting her!” I shouted as I came to stand toe to toe with him.
“Don’t you tell me what to do! Abigail is my daughter, and I know what’s best for her,” Andrew countered. He took a step forward to where we were practically nose to nose. “The moment she’s released from the hospital I intend to take her back to Texas where she belongs. Hopefully, when she’s far, far away from you, she’ll forget this silly infatuation and come to her senses.”
I opened my mouth to protest, but Abby beat me to the punch. “Daddy, stop being such an a*shole to Jake! And I’m not leaving with you!”
Andrew’s brows shot so far up in his hairline they practically disappeared. “Excuse me?”
Abby softened her expression. “I’m sorry, but you’re being disrespectful and rude to the very guy who stayed all night in an uncomfortable chair while I was out cold to make sure I was safe and not alone.” Abby sighed. “But most of all, you’re breaking my heart by being so cold and thoughtless to the man I love.”
Both Andrew and Laura’s mouths gaped opened at Abby’s statement. “You two have been the best parents, and all my life you taught me not to judge people and to give everyone, no matter the circumstances, a chance. Now how is it that you’re completely trampling upon everything you instilled in me?”
“Abigail, it’s just that—” Laura began.
“No, you’re stereotyping and judging Jake by rumor and what you think you see. But he’s so much more than just a rocker. He has a tender heart and a giving soul. If you only knew the love and affection he has for his mother, his bandmates and even the crew who works for him, you would see that he is someone you should like and respect.”
Andrew ran a shaky hand through his hair while Laura stared wide-eyed at me. Just like Abby, she nibbled her bottom lip when she was nervous and was waiting for the courage to say what she needed. “Do you truly love Abby?” Laura asked.
“Yes, ma’am, I do. I love her with all my heart and soul. I intend on working my ass—” I cleared my throat at my language choice, “Uh, I mean, butt off the rest of my life to prove that I’m worthy of her and her love.”
“Oh that’s so sweet,” Laura gushed to which Andrew only grunted.
“Daddy, you know that I love you both, and I’m not going to do anything to hurt you or disappoint you. Just like I told before to you about Jake, I am an adult, and I have to live my life. And right now I chose to spend my recovery time with him.”
Her words sent a beaming smile to my lips. I was so f*cking proud of her for being so strong. I couldn’t have loved my girl more for standing up for me and herself.
“But Abby, we want to be with you while you’re healing. I can’t bear the thought of just abandoning you.”
Tentatively, I reached out to touch Laura’s arm. “You won’t have to do that. You and Mr. Renard are more than welcome to stay at my farm for as long as you like.”
Laura’s expression warmed at the thought. “Really? You wouldn’t mind?”
“Of course not. Abby needs her parents around her.” I gave a pointed look at Andrew.
After a few seconds of staring each other down, he finally sighed resignedly. “I do apologize for any wrong doing on my part.” He held out his hand to me. “I believe we were never formally introduced. I’m Andrew Renard.”
“Jake Slater,” I replied as I pumped his hand up and down.
Although I knew he hated it, a smile filled his face as he added, “It’s a pleasure meeting you.”
“Likewise.”
“You guys really make me happy,” Abby said.
“Anything for you, sweetheart,” Laura replied.
Abby winced. “Good. Because I really need some more pain medicine.”
Even though I wanted to, I held back and let Andrew punch the button for the nurse. I figured it was just another set of baby steps along the way to building our relationship.
***