Authors: Cat Mason
The nurse jumps
up, running around the desk. “Follow me sir.” She says to Henry, who says
nothing. He just follows her through the double doors. I wrap my
arms around myself, fear chilling me to the bone. At every turn, it seems
everything is falling apart. Aiden’s strong arms surround me, his face
diving into my hair, inhaling deeply.
“Hunter will be
okay.” He whispers, but I’m not sure if he is saying it for me or himself.
Turning to face Aiden,
I wrap my arms around his neck, drawing my comfort from him. Sending up
silent prayers that he is right and hoping that if Tad is behind all of this,
he is caught soon. None of us could handle losing someone in the group
and this is way too close for comfort.
Daisy paces the
floor in front of a couch where Gray and Mack sit when we walk into the waiting
room. “Wildflower, sit down.” Gray pleads. “It’s not helping Hunter for you to
pace a traffic pattern on the carpet baby.”
“I just feel so
helpless.” She replies, gritting her teeth.
The sound of a
throat clearing behind me makes me jump. Turning around, Aiden and I see
two uniformed officers standing at the doorway to the room. “I’m looking for
those accompanying Mr. Chesterfield.” One of them says. “I’m Officer Williams.”
He adds before reaching out his hand.
“I’m Camaron
Allen, Shaft’s manager.” I say, “This is Hunter’s brother, Aiden.
Everyone else that was with us is over there as well, minus Henry, he’s in back
with Hunter.” I explain.
“Do we know
anything yet?” Aiden asks.
“No, Mr.
Chesterfield, we don’t, not yet. We are waiting on the lab work to come
back to know for sure.” Officer Williams replies. “I know y’all are worried
about him, but we need to know what happened tonight. After Officer Ward
and I take each of your statements, we can hopefully figure out what
occurred. The doctor and nurses are with your brother now, we should know
something soon.”
“Did you even go
to the club?” Daisy huffs in frustration.
“We have an
officer there now, ma’am. He is pulling security tape and talking with
the employees, or anyone who may have seen something. If there’s anything
there, we’ll get it. The quicker we get your statements the better.”
Officer Ward chimes in. Daisy nods in agreement, leaving the officers to
begin their questions with her and Grayson.
Aiden and I are
last to talk with the police since we were filling out paperwork, while Henry
is back with Hunter. Officer Williams sits in the chair across from us,
leaving Officer Ward to stand behind him. “So, did you notice Mr. Chesterfied
acting out of character?” Williams asks.
“No, he was
fine. He had lemonade with his dinner, I only saw him with one beer the
whole night.” I answer. “Then, not thirty minutes later, I found him in the
bathroom. The ladies bathroom.” I emphasize. “He was mumbling, slurring,
but hadn’t had enough time in my absence to get that intoxicated. I’m
sure of it.”
“So, in the
bathroom was he disoriented?” Ward asks, meeting my eyes.
“Yes,” I nod to
drive the point home. “He was staggering, nearly fell once before he actually
did.” Standing up, I throw my hands up in frustration. “I’ve seen the man down
a bottle of Tequila and walk a straight line in a sobriety test. Never
have I seen him so off-kilter. This wasn’t just alcohol and you all know
it! You shouldn’t be here still questioning us. You should be out
looking for Tad.” I shout. Aiden stands grabbing my shoulders in an
effort to calm me but it does little good.
“After what
everyone has said, that is what we are leaning toward ma’am, but we need
proof. That’s what we’re hoping to get from the doctor and, hopefully,
the club. The best thing for you to do is remain calm.” Ward replies,
making me want to scream.
“Calm,” I huff
angrily. “Tell me how we do that? That lunatic is getting too
close! Damaging our bus, instruments, now Hunter. When is it going to
end?”
A low growl
rumbles in Aiden’s chest, encouraging me to push the issue further. “If this were
you and your family, officer, is this how you would handle it?” I ask, hanging
onto my calm by a thread. “Please understand our concern. This is my
family; all we want is for this to be over. We’ve all shared everything
with you. I’ll show you the text messages and everything. Besides,
we’ve filed a report earlier today for the vandalism.”
“Yes, I’m aware
of that Ms. Allen.” Williams says, standing. “Though according to the Highway
Patrol, they didn’t believe it was Mr. Johnson who broke into your bus.
We have to start from here. Is there anyone we can call for you?”
“No,” Aiden
sighs, “Everyone that matters is already here.” He replies, sagging back to the
couch, pulling me with him. We sit for a long time, no one saying a
word. Williams and Ward take calls, and write things in their notepads,
sharing nothing with us. After nearly two hours of waiting and going damn
stir crazy, a doctor walks out of the double doors. I jump to my feet,
along with everyone else. Aiden shakes his hand when he reaches us. “Is
he okay?”
The doctor nods,
“Yes, he should be just fine. He really had minimal alcohol in his
system. The blood work, however, shows traces of
Hydroxybutyric acid.” He says gauging our reaction. “By the
look on your face, I assume one of two things, either Mr. Chesterfield was
experimenting with the drug without your knowledge or he didn’t know he had
received it.”
“Hydroxybutyric?” Mack asks, running a hand over his head.
“As in G.H.B.? Some bitch slipped him the date rape drug?”
“Hunter has never touched drugs doctor.” Aiden says surely.
“That’s something he just wouldn’t do.”
“Aiden’s right,” Gray adds. “We all live in such close
quarters there is no way he could use without us knowing about it. He was
drugged.”
The doctor nods. “Well, hopefully he will come around soon
and we can see if he remembers anything. Chances are, though, he won’t.”
He says, shaking his head. “Often times, there are severe memory gaps.
I’ll let you know when he wakes up. If there are no lingering issues, we
can clear him and see about discharge.”
Yanking my phone out of my pocket, I start to dial Tuesday so
that we can cancel the show. I don’t see a way out of this. There
is no real way that Hunter can possibly be on point tonight. “I’ll call
Tuesday.”
“And tell her what?” Aiden asks, yanking the phone from my
hand. “If something like this happens, you deal with it. We can’t just
drop this and you know it Cam. What would Abby say if we cancel twelve
hours before a sound check? ‘Hi Abby, we just signed with you a week ago,
but can we get a sick day?’ Think that’ll work?” His brow arches when I don’t
answer. “That’s what I thought. Now, we have back-up track of each of us
when needed. Gray can sing if absolutely necessary.” Aiden says confidently,
looking at Gray who swallows hard before nodding in agreement.
“Then it’s settled. If Hunter can’t go on tonight, we
handle it. But, we all know he will be ready, come hell or high
water. He will not miss show. That arrogant bastard won’t miss a
show if he doesn’t have to, Gray and I can handle it with a little help from a
soundboard and our ladies.” Aiden says, tossing me back my phone, putting an
end to the conversation.
After deciding none of us want to leave, we settle in on
couches and chairs for a rough night. I curl up against Aiden, while Gray
and Daisy take the other couch, leaving Mack to position chairs together
against wall. None of us will really get any sleep like this, but how
much more sleep would we get on the bus while worrying about Hunter. At
least here, Henry may come out eventually and tell us something. “Sleep, Cam,”
Aiden says, pulling me tight against him. Forcing my eyes to close, I
settle in and try to rest even if for just a few hours.
I toss and turn for the most part, only getting in about two
hours sleep, off and on. Every time the doors buzz, I jolt thinking it
may be Henry. The sky is dusky pink with the upcoming dawn when Henry
finally comes through the double doors, looking worse for the wear.
Walking into the waiting room, he shakes his head. “Why didn’t you all go back
to the bus once the doctor said Hunter was alright?” He asks, slumping into a
chair. Henry scrubs his hand over his face, blowing out a breath.
“We couldn’t just leave.” Daisy says, sitting up from her
make-shift bed on a couch in the corner. “Is he awake yet?”
“Yeah, awake and flirting with the nurses already.” Henry
chuckles. “He doesn’t remember anything much after eating and other than a really
killer ass headache, he’s seems fine.”
Aiden sighs in relief, “Can we see him?” He asks, lacing my
fingers with his.
“Yeah, c’mon you two.” Henry says, pushing to his feet. “I’ll
walk you back, but then I’ll get Mack to take you all back to the bus.”
Walking us down the hall, Henry stops outside a propped open
door. “Right here you two.” He says, shaking his head then opens the door.
Hunter is sprawled out on the bed on his stomach, his ass
bared by the backless blue gown. His eyes lighting up the moment he sees
us walk into the room. “Good morning spooners, you can call off the candle
light vigil in my honor, I’m gonna make it.”
“I told you dumbass, this isn’t funny.” Henry says shaking
his head. “You scared the shit outta all of us. Who knows what would’ve
happened if Cam hadn’t put two and two together.”
“Cam?” Hunter says, kicking his foot back and forth off the
bed while he thinks only making the gown slide off, baring more of his ass.
“Yeah, I remember her screaming.” He says, his eyes going wide to match his
grin. “Oh yeah, she was screaming alright.”
“Look at that, he’s still a jackass.” I say, even though I
can feel the blush spreading across my face. “Of all the things you could
remember, that’s it huh?” I ask, crossing my arms over my chest.
“Well,” He says rolling to his side, nearly giving us all a
shot of the front as well. “Well, it was unforgettable. When can I get
outta here?” He says looking at the clock.
“I’ll see if the doctor thinks you’re up for it.” I reply.
“As for tonight…” I start, but his eyes shoot daggers at me.
“Haven’t I been through enough?” He pouts. “Don’t take my
chance for peaches away from me too. Have you no sympathy? I was
damn near violated.” He says, puffing out his lip.
“The police seem to believe your ass was spared,” Henry
interrupts. “Camaron stumbled on you before whoever drugged you could make
their move. She may have scared them off, along with Aiden coming in
right behind her when you scared her.”
“I’m sorry.” Hunter says, his expression softening. “I don’t
remember, but I’m sure I was a mess.” Even though he had been joking around, I
can see the mix of fear and relief in his eyes. As scared as we were, I
can see in his eyes that he is worried about what is happening too. If
this was Tad, and I have no doubt in my mind that it is, he has already been
close enough to hurt one of us, if not all of us. It’s only a matter of
time before he does.
“I’m just glad you’re okay.” I reply.
“Yeah, I guess until this shit is settled we’re not leaving
the bus for a while.” Aiden says, “It’s the logical thing to do anyway.”
“The logical thing to do, would be to find the fucker and rip
out his throat,” Hunter growls. “That’s just how I would handle it though.” He
shrugs.
“Well, the police are handling it, not you.” Henry says,
ending the argument before it can start. “Get your clothes on, it’s time to
roll out.”
After fighting with Hunter for twenty minutes, about how
walking out in just his boots and the hospital gown is a bad idea, we all climb
into the ‘Burban, anxious to get back to the bus. The doctor assured us
that Hunter will be fine, giving us a list of things to watch out for and
explaining the effects the drug may or may not have, as it leaves his system.
The minute Hunter climbs into the vehicle, Daisy starts
squawking and fussing over him like a mother hen; and damn it if that shit
isn’t loving every minute of it. “Henry we need to stop somewhere, Hunter needs
to eat something.” She yells from the back seat. Gray rolling his eyes,
but can’t stop his grin from spreading.
“I think he’ll survive.” Henry chuckles. “Once I get you all
back to the bus, I’ll send Mack out to get food for everyone so you can try and
rest some before tonight.”
“Don’t be such a pussy, Big Man.” Hunter says, flipping
through the radio stations. “After we drink a few pots of coffee and I jerk
off, we’re golden.”
I smile at how normal the conversation is after everything
that has happened in the last two days. Leaning back in the crook of
Aiden’s arm, I relax. I force myself to forget all about Tad, the concert
tonight, meeting Aiden’s mom tomorrow, and everything that could happen.
Even if it’s just for right now, if everything goes to shit the minute the car
stops, I take my moment of comfort. Aiden sighs, wrapping his arms around
me tighter, making me feel unbelievably safe. I close my eyes and let
myself doze.
Shaft Management
*Aiden*
The minute we pull up in front of the bus, I slide out, pulling
a sleeping Cam into my arms. She doesn’t even flinch. The whole
night, she held her composure. Doing whatever needed to be done, and the
entire time she was ready to fall apart. Hunter nearly jumps up the bus
steps. His deep sleep, as he calls it, really put a jump in his
step. The rest of us have barely closed our eyes and are starting to
drag. Walking up the steps, I turn down the aisle and give my bunk a once
over before laying Cam in it. She shifts when I cover her, but she
doesn’t open her eyes. I lean down and kiss her forehead before pulling
the curtain closed. I’m too wired to sleep, and as much as I want to just
lie there with her, I know it will just wake her up.
Yanking my sticks and my notebook from the shelf next to my
bunk, I trudge up the aisle while everyone else sleeps, showers, or whatever
they plan to do until the food gets here. Plopping on the couch, I’m determined
to make some sense of the lyrics swimming in my head before we start recording.
“Cam asleep?” Daisy asks from the kitchen, where she digs through the pantry
for snacks. “I’m not going to last on pretzels and cheese in a can.” She
grunts. “Mack better hurry up with some real food.”
Walking over she sits in Hunter’s recliner with a satisfied
grin before shoveling a handful of cheese covered pretzels into her mouth.
“Wow, I must be starvin’ ‘
cause
this is really good.”
She mumbles, spraying pretzel crumbs onto her shirt. “You want some?”
“No, I think I’m good,” I mutter trying not to laugh. “You
know, you’re looking a lot like Hunter right now.”
Daisy points a pretzel at me, shooting blue eyed daggers at
me. “Hey, you and me, we’re fighting.” She snaps playfully, then launches the
pretzel at my nose. “Hunter is like a junkyard dog, he’ll eat anything.” She
snaps, before squirting the cheese onto another pretzel. “I, on the other
hand…”
Hunter stumbles up the aisle in just a pair of shorts, drying
his hair with a towel. “Oh, baby momma! You found the can-o-crack!” He
yelps, yanking the cheese from her hand and squirting it straight into his
mouth. “This shit is a food group!” He fumbles around her, before flopping onto
the couch. “I would remove your ass from
my
chair, but I spent two hours
looking for that cheese yesterday, so consider it your free pass. I can’t
wait to squirt this on my bacon.” His words are barely understandable through
the massive amount of cheese in his mouth.
“You are such a pig.” Daisy mumbles, spitting pretzels. “Have
some manners.”
I look at Daisy then roar with laughter. “Yeah, nothing like
him.” I tease with a wink before looking over at my brother. “So, you plannin’
to tell me what the hell happened with Chase?” I ask, making Daisy’s eyes perk
up.
“Yeah,” Hunter says, running a hand through his shaggy dark
brown hair. Looking anywhere but at Daisy or me, he blows out a breath.
“Bitch told me she loved me.”
“I fucking knew it!” Cam shouts, barreling out of the bunk,
scaring the shit out of all three of us. “I knew it! She finally admitted
it and scared you stupid didn’t
she
?” Cam, perches on
the arm of Hunter’s recliner, grabbing a handful of pretzels from the bag.
“What’s the big deal, Hunter?”
“You don’t know me!” Hunter shouts, a possessive growl
rumbles up in my chest. Looking at me, his shoulders slump in defeat,
“Agh, shit. She told me she loved me; I was floored. No one, other
than Daisy, has ever said that to me before. Then, when she fell asleep,
some fucker named Mitch sent her a text. He said how excited he was to
see her, how much he was missing her, and that he would be at the airport
waiting.” Cam and Daisy both are stunned silent. “Yeah, and I had asked her to
come with us to Macon just before she fell asleep, too. So, when she woke
up I told her to go back to Vegas. That I had made a mistake asking her
to come with us,” He shrugs, “Chase got upset, we fought, I said shit that I
didn’t mean, and then she left.”
“Damn, man.” I mutter, unable to say anything more.
“Do you love her?” Cam asks, studying him as if she is trying
to read his mind.
“It doesn’t matter,” He replies, grabbing the remote to the
television, “not anymore.”
“Did you even ask her about Mitch?” Cam asks, pushing the
subject.
“No,” Hunter snaps, “I didn’t ask her about Mitch the
bitch. For some reason, she didn’t want to tell me about him when we were
scorchin’ the sheets; well, that’s on her. Since Chase and I aren’t in a
relationship, it’s none of my business.”
“Well then, what are you bro?” I ask, curiously.
“I was nothing to her but an escape.” He mumbles, not taking
his eyes from the television.
“You’re wrong, Hunter.” Daisy grounds out. “It’s so much more
than that. You may have just made the biggest mistake of your life, and
now, you may never know all because you’re a stupid man.”
Hunter’s eyes snap to Daisy’s, “Damn, woman, tell me how you
really feel.” He says rolling his eyes. “You don’t hold back on us do you?”
Her brow arches, “Do you want me to sugarcoat it for you
honey? Last name is Cole, not Hershey.”
Hunter chuckles, blowing her a kiss. “No, you’re the only
woman to ever give it to me straight from day one. You walked onto this
bus like you belonged here, and you do. Plus, you give good bacon.” He
winks.
“I’ll be damned if he isn’t fast.” Gray shouts, running up
the aisle. “Practice my cover for tonight and shower, Mack’s already back with
the chow, hell yeah.” He says, flinging the bus door open just as Mack comes
into view carrying enormous take-out bags. Everyone starts digging
frantically through the bags, and by the time the dusts settles everyone is eating,
downing coffee by the cups, and ready to get everything set up for tonight’s
show.
“Yo, Big Man, you tend to that shit I asked you to grab for
me?” Hunter asks after inhaling his last piece of bacon.
Henry groans from his bunk. “Yeah, it’s in my shelf.”
Hunter hops up off the couch, digging through the shelf next
to Henry’s bunk. “Whatcha doin’ in there, Big Man,” He asks, pulling at the
curtain. Loud rustling and grumbling comes from behind the curtain making
Hunter chuckle. “You jerkin’ your gherkin?”
“If I was tamin’ the beast you’d know because ladies would be
outside beggin’ to get at me like cats in heat. What I am doin’, is
tryin’ to catch a few minutes of sleep while your ass feeds your face.”
“Alright bro, damn, somebody needs a good piece of ass.”
Hunter blurts, walking back over and handing Cam and Daisy each a black shirt.
“These are for you ladies.” He purrs.
“They’ve already been ‘Shaft Approved’, Cunter.” I growl.
“Daisy and Cam are sorta beyond that aren’t they?”
Daisy opens her shirt and giggles, making Cam do the same.
“Oh, Hunter they’re perfect!” Daisy squeals. “Did Gray’s wife tell you that she
loves you today?” She teases, kissing his cheek. Daisy turns showing us her new
halter top with the words ‘HBIC of Shaft Management’ in pink letters.
“HBIC?” I ask, arching a brow.
“Head bitches in charge.” Hunter clarifies.
“I love it!” Cam says excitedly. “Come on Daisy, we have to
meet with everyone and get shit rollin’ for tonight.” She says pushing to her
feet. “Besides, you boys have sound check soon; get ready and get to staging so
you can get familiar with your new guitars.”
“Hell yeah!” Hunter says, bumping Gray’s fist. “Nothing
better than popping a Fender’s cherry,” he adds, and again I can see him
running across the floor like a puppy and humping that damn thing before he
plays it. Cam leans over, kissing my lips. That amazing smell from
her lotion and perfume lingering on me, making me ache for her. I
watch her shake her ass as she follows Daisy down the aisle to the bedroom,
leaving me fantasizing of all I will do to her once I get her alone.
*Camaron*
After a mad scramble for the shower, I change into my new
shirt, a short hot pink skirt that has zippers and chains on it and borrow a pair
of black boots Daisy bought back in Vegas. By the time I fix my hair and
make-up, Daisy is pacing. “You know we’ll be late and ‘Anal Annie’ will be
bitchin’.” She teases.
“Aiden will be fine. He knows all too well that I take
this job seriously.” I assure her. “Besides, after everything that happened the
last two days, I’m thinkin’ he’s happy we’re all in one piece.”
“Time’s tickin’! Gotta check the gear, before sound
check.” Aiden shouts up the aisle. “Can’t keep us waitin’, ladies.”
“And, there’s Annie!” Daisy giggles.
“I heard that.” Aiden snaps when Daisy opens the door.
Sliding my phone into my back pocket, I smile at Aiden who is
leaning against the bunks. “We’re ready, Aiden.” Walking over to him, I slide
my arm through his. “Let’s go get you guys settled in staging.”
***
Hunter has swooned and nearly tongue bathed his new bright
red Fender bass by the time Daisy and I leave them to practice and meet with
the vendors for tonight’s show. With extra security precautions in place,
along with all the usual things Daisy said gets done, the guys are back in the
staging room eating by the time we get back there. Aiden is held up in
the corner, hovering over a take-out container while Hunter and Gray argue over
a chord change. Mack walks over, talking to Henry, but everything else
fades into the background when Aiden’s eyes drift up meeting mine.
The look in his eyes is pure power as he watches me. My
heels click along the floor, inching closer to him under his silent
command. Aiden doesn’t have to say a word, I know what he wants. He
slides back away from the table, pulling me into his lap. “How’d everything
go?” He asks, nuzzling my neck before nipping the spot behind my ear.
“Ready for you guys to go kill it as always.” I respond,
kissing his lips.
“Come somewhere with me.” He says, those brown eyes igniting,
and I nearly melt from the heat. “We have thirty four minutes and I plan to
make good use of every single one of them.” The cool, controlled tone of his
voice makes me shiver, desire curling in my belly so tight I can barely sit
still on his lap.
“Yes,” I answer; my voice barely a whisper.
I am barely steady on my feet before Aiden is up and dragging
me toward the door at the back of the room. “Going somewhere?” Hunter asks
innocently. “Gotta be on stage soon, you know.”
Aiden turns, glaring at Hunter. “Yes, thirty three minutes
now. So go jerk off, I gotta take a piss.” Hunter rolls his eyes, but
Gray chuckles, shaking his head. Ignoring all of them, Aiden flings the
door open and pulls me inside with him. He slams and locks the door, the
sound echoing off the walls of the tiny bathroom. “Come here, Cam.” He says
sternly, making me shiver in anticipation.
Aiden’s finger’s run up my bare arm, leaving goose bumps
along my trembling flesh. My eyes flutter closed the second he leans in
running his tongue along my collar bone. “What do you want from me Camaron?” He
asks, nipping up my neck.
My breathing accelerates so rapidly, I have to force myself to
slow down before I faint. The way he commands me, knows just the ways to
touch me, it obliterates my rational thinking. Right now, standing in a
bathroom where nothing but a flimsy door separates us from the rest of the
group, here I am getting ready to let Aiden do anything he wants to me.
And
just in case you haven’t figured it out yet, I am so going to let him.
“Anything you want, Aiden.” I whisper, trying to gather my
wits.
“Good girl.” He purrs against my ear, his hands slide down to
cup my thighs.
Without a word, his hands drift higher, taking my skirt along
with them. Our eyes lock, mouths just inches away from each other, and
gone is all rational thinking. I’m dying to kiss him, but, right now, I
can sense his need to control the way this plays out. That’s the funny
thing I’ve come to realize about how submission works. If I choose to
submit, I do so gladly because it’s my choice. If I decide not to, it
could put an end to the entire scene and I will miss out on all of this.
Aiden needs my submission just as much as I crave his dominance over me.
The exchange of power between us is a dynamic that only makes
the love for him sweeter. The amount of trust it takes to know he will
give me what I need; yet, he puts just as much faith in me, doesn’t he? Those
private moments he gives me, and no one else; the fact that no matter what I
need, Aiden gives it to me without judgment. It is love in the rawest,
purest, most intense forms. I could never have asked anyone I dated
before for this. Aiden knew my needs without me asking for them. He
unlocked those deep, dark desires; some of which I didn’t even realize I had
but now know I can’t live without. If that isn’t a sign that we belong
together, I don’t know what is.
“Where are you, Cam?” Aiden’s voice breaks through my
thoughts. “Am I boring you?” He asks sliding a finger into me.