by Anna Edwards
I place the wallet on the bed and shut his curtains. I try not to think of him finding it after he’s discovered I’ve gone missing. His anger and distress will pass eventually. I’m not that memorable.
You’re the woman he loves.
His wife.
I have to get out of here. I sling my bag over my shoulder and head toward the front of the bus. I descend the steps, ready to run into the darkness of the night, when I’m stopped by the angry face of Zoey in front of me. Liam’s bodyguard stands next to her with an equally stern expression. They both block my path.
“Please,” I whimper. “Please, I have to go.”
Zoey folds her arms across her chest. “Who was the man in the queue behind you at the restaurant?”
“What?” I stumble on my words, shocked she’d noticed him. I quickly compose myself and try to move past her. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Let me tell you something about me, Yivi. I’ve lived with a liar most of my life. My mom was an alcoholic. She made my life hell, and the first time I felt freedom was when I met Saving Tate. They told you about me leaving the tour once. Well, the reason I left was because my mother tried to kill herself. I went to be with her, but the band couldn’t continue without me. I’d become a part of their family. So instead, they supported me, and my mom is now sober and living her life again.” Zoey’s lips wobble as she speaks. “They don’t fuck around when they say we’re a family. They want to support us.”
“Please move.” I can barely get the words out with the tears cascading down my cheeks.
“Who was the man?”
“Zoey, please.” I move forward to try and barge past her, but she’s too strong. I’m feeling weak, and all I want is to collapse into her arms and tell her everything, but I can’t.
“I don’t love Liam. I don’t want this life,” I scream, the lies almost killing me as they spill from my mouth.
I try once more to push past her. This time, she moves out of my path, and I make my way quickly across the parking lot.
“I don’t believe you. The man in the restaurant was someone from the cult. They’ve ordered you to do something, and rather than do whatever it is, because it will hurt Liam, you’re running away again. The stupid thing is you’re going to kill him doing this rather than trusting him and the rest of the band.”
I freeze on the spot.
The vision of Liam discovering I’m gone enters my head. I can’t do it to him. I can’t break him like that.
“Please,” I whimper again, my words barely audible against the background of the rock concert still going on next to us. I feel Zoey’s hand on my shoulder.
No death, no feeling,
In my core I’m numb,
Bring me back to life.
I drop my bag to the ground as Zoey moves around to face me. I can see she has tears streaming down her cheeks as well.
“Help me,” I plead and collapse in her arms at the realization I can’t do this on my own anymore.
I can’t run because I love Liam too much. I’m so scared, but I know Zoey, Liam, Tate, Austin, and Cameron, my new family, will help me. They all love me. I’ve never been loved before, and it’s taken me a long time to fully understand what it means.
I will come back to life because of them.
Chapter 23
Liam
#ItsTimeForMeToGrowTheFuckUp
I know the second I walk onto the bus and see Zoey with her arms wrapped around a sobbing Yivi that something is seriously wrong. I’m immediately across the floor and pushing Zoey out of the way so I can check on my wife.
“Have you called an ambulance?” I shout, examining Yivi for signs of what’s wrong with her. Her eyes are red rimmed, and she looks exhausted.
“She’s not injured,” Zoey replies as my bandmates enter the bus.
Cameron has a woman with him, but the moment he sees me with Yivi, he turns around and takes her back out. A few seconds later, he returns alone.
Tate pulls Zoey to him and checks her over. It’s then I notice Zoey has been crying as well.
“What’s going on?” I shout with a little bit too much force. Yivi opens her mouth to speak but breaks down again. I cradle her to my chest. “Zoey?”
She looks up at Tate, who nods at her to reassure her. He’s clearly concerned that his fiancée seems to be in as much distress as my wife.
“When I returned to the bus, I found Yivi trying to run away.”
“What?” I can’t believe what I’m hearing. I pull Yivi’s face up so I can look at her. “You were going to run?”
She opens her mouth to speak, but the only words that come out are, “I’m sorry.”
“Liam, it’s not what you think. It’s partly my fault. I should have said something the other day. I didn’t think much about it as I was too busy arranging tonight’s concert and dealing with the fall out of the marriage announcement,” Zoey begins to explain. “When we were in the restaurant the morning after the concert in Houston, I saw a man join the line that Yivi was waiting in to fetch Cameron’s coffee. The man stood there for a while, spoke briefly to Yivi, and then left immediately. I thought it was strange, and when Yivi came back to the table, her hands were shaking and she was white as a sheet. I thought nothing more of it after she was sick. However, I didn’t recognize the man in the line as an invited guest. I’ve seen most people in this business, and he wasn’t one of them.”
“I don’t understand?” I’m baffled by Zoey’s story. It doesn’t make any sense.
“Tonight when I followed Yivi to the bus and found her about to run away, it all made sense. The man was someone who’d scared her. She didn’t have a bug—it was terror making her ill. When I put all the details together, only one person would make her that scared.”
“The Leader!” Austin exclaims, and all the pieces of the puzzle fall into place for me.
“How the fuck did he get in? We’ve got security in place? I’m going to get a full review done tomorrow. This can’t happen again.” Tate is livid, but at the moment, I’m managing to control my temper.
“Agreed.” Cameron thumps the table, and Yivi jumps in my arms.
“What the fuck did the creep want?” Tate asks his fiancée.
“I don’t know, but whatever it is, it scared Yivi enough to leave with only a t-shirt, a planner, and teddy bear as her sole belongings.” Zoey points at the table where the three items sit.
“No money?” Austin looks directly at me.
Tate stares at the table, searching for anything Yivi would have been able to use to help her survive, but there’s nothing but memories in front of us.
“I think we’ve all had a bit of shock. I’m going to take Zoey to get a drink. Cam, Austin, I think you better come as well,” Tate urges and makes his way to the steps with Zoey, and Cameron follows.
Austin lingers a minute.
“You okay?” He nods at me.
“Yeah, give me five.”
He nods again and leaves.
The bus falls silent except for Yivi’s sobs.
“Baby.” I lift her face so her eyes meet mine. The link between us is clear. “I need you to talk to me. Tell me what happened?”
“I’m sorry,” she sobs.
“It’s all right. I’m not angry. I want to know what could have happened to make you so desperate to leave.”
There’s a glass of water on the table. Yivi reaches out, and I help her take a sip. Her hands are shaking.
“It was the Leader in the line, and he spoke to me. He told me if I didn’t pay for my freedom, then he’d tell the world about me and where I came from, and how I’d abandoned my parents to poverty. I thought I was dreaming at first, but I knew I wasn’t when I came back to the table and saw him through a restaurant window. I know him. He’d manipulate it so I’d seem like an evil person. I was scared you’d hear what he was saying and think me a devil.”
I shake my head. Even though I haven’t met the man, I know I’d
never believe a word that came out of his mouth.
“I wouldn’t, I promise you. Why didn’t he try to take you?” I question.
“He wanted me to get five hundred thousand dollars from you to buy my freedom from the cult. He promised he would leave me alone if I did. That’s the reason I was running.”
“I doubt he’d leave you alone. He would come after you with the same threat anytime he needed more money.”
Yivi looks down at her fingers, the tip of one of her nails goes to her mouth, and she nibbles it.
“I suspected as much, but the alternative was worse. He said that if I told anyone or failed he’d come for me. He’d managed to contact me once, so I knew he could do it again. He told me I was poison to the cult now because I’ve been tainted by the corruption of the outside world. He said he’d make an example of me, and I’d be put in the hole, basically buried alive and left to die.”
I push away from Yivi at her words. The thought of that happening to her sends such a fury through me I can barely control it.
“He’d do what?” I ask her to repeat what she’s just said. I’m sure I must be hearing things.
“I can’t say it again, please.”
“Okay.”
My chest heaves with the agitation in me. I need to calm myself down. I’ve had a fiery Spanish temper all my life, and if I let it go right now, I’ll probably end up in prison for murder. I go to the liquor cabinet and pour myself a large whiskey before returning to Yivi and pulling her into my arms.
“Tomorrow I’ll get the money, and we’ll go together and give it to him. I’ll make sure he understands this is the only money he’s getting, and he’s to stay away from you. If he ever comes near you again, I’ll make sure it’s the last thing he does.”
“You can’t.” Yivi tries to protest.
“Believe me, I can. I’m a cocky little shit when I need to be. If I antagonize him enough, he’ll probably hit me, and then he’ll be at the mercy of our bodyguards.”
Yivi lets out a soft laugh, and I drink in every part of her beauty.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about it. I panicked. It was the fact he was able to find me that frightened me.”
“Don’t worry, that won’t happen again. Heads will roll when Tate finds out who let him into the restaurant.”
“Thank you.”
Yivi settles her head on my shoulder while I drink my whiskey, and as we sit in silence, I hear her breathing begin to slowly even out. I know she must be exhausted after worrying about this for days. When she’s asleep, I pick her up and settle her on the bed in the room at the back of the bus. It’s technically Tate and Zoey’s night in there, but I need to be wrapped around Yivi tonight while we sleep.
I return to the front of the bus, intending to grab a quick shower. I must stink as I haven’t had one since I came off stage, but instead I sit down and stare into the whiskey glass. So many possible bad endings for this story go through my head, and I can’t get them out.
I failed my wife.
She got scared in that restaurant. I was sitting nearby but didn’t protect her.
Is this what marriage is like, taking the rough with the smooth? I won’t let her get hurt again. I don’t think I could cope with it.
My bandmates and Zoey return to the bus. I’m not sure how much later it is, but I’m still sitting there staring at my now empty glass.
“Where’s Yivi?” Zoey questions. I know she’s equally worried about her. I point to the bedroom, and she quickly makes her way there.
Tate gets the bottle of whiskey and pours three glasses before topping up mine while I explain to my bandmates about the Leader and his demands.
“So how are we playing it?” Cameron asks
“I’ll get the money and give it to him tomorrow if he shows up. I’ll make sure in no uncertain terms he knows to stay away in the future,” I reply and drink down the amber nectar.
“Is that wise?” Austin questions.
“What? Giving him the money?”
Austin shakes his head, “No, you going. You can’t afford to lose your temper. He’s just the sort of bastard who’ll take advantage of it.”
“I’m not letting Yivi go alone.”
“She won’t,” all three of my bandmates reply at once.
“What do you mean?” I ask.
“We’ll be going with her and recording the whole conversation so he can’t come back at us.” Cameron pulls his phone from his pocket and places it on the table.
“I can’t expect that from you. We don’t know what he’s going to be like. He’s a dick that’s for certain. I’m sure he’s going to try something.” I feel blessed to have these guys as my best mates, but I won’t allow them to get into trouble for me.
“And we’ll make sure he doesn’t get away with whatever he does try.” Tate is adamant. “You can come in the car, but that’s where you’ll stay. We’re not just looking out for Yivi in this situation—we’re looking out for you as well. I know exactly what you’re thinking because if it were Zoey, I’d want to pound the guy to death. We need our drummer as much as we need me as the lead singer. So listen and do as you’re told. We do this tomorrow, and then we move on and see what the future holds. I’m sure we’re due one or two new additions to our family. Cameron, Austin, anything you need to tell us?”
Both of our other bandmates flip Tate off.
“Thank you, guys.” I finish my whiskey and stand.
“We all need to sleep,” Tate orders.
Cameron groans. “Damn, no chicks! The one I had tonight looked like she had a red hot pussy.”
“No, that was crabs.” Austin laughs as he slaps Cameron on the back.
As a band, we walk back toward the bedroom, four big men crowded around so we can peer into the door where Zoey and Yivi lie sleeping. Both of them cuddled up together.
“In other circumstances, this would be incredibly hot, but with those two, I just want to say it’s cute,” Cameron states.
“I have to agree,” Austin adds.
“Do we wake them?” Tate looks at me.
“No, let them sleep. Zoey went above and beyond her babysitting duties today, and those two have just solidified a friendship for life,” I reply and head to my bunk.
When I draw back the curtain, I find Yivi’s wallet, rings, and a note. I don’t read it—I simply crumple it up and throw it into the trash can. Only my wife would try to leave me to save me. I know tomorrow I have to behave myself so I can save her right back…I just hope I can.
Chapter 24
Yivi
#HolySugarCubesThatsALotOfMoney
“I feel sick,” I tell Zoey as we sit, waiting for the band to get back from the bank.
They’ve gone to get the money I need to buy off the Leader. Half a million dollars in return for my life. I researched a bit last night about how much money it was in terms I could understand, and I don’t know how I’ll ever be able to pay it back. I’ll have to work my fingers to the bone for the band until the day I die.
The nagging feeling persists at the back of my mind, though, that it won’t buy me my freedom. I’ll always be looking over my shoulder, waiting for him to come for me the next time he needs more money.
“It’ll be all right. The guys are pretty scary when they join together. I don’t think this Leader will know what’s hit him. I swear it’s all the tattoos, piercings, and strange hair styles. Did you see how high Tate did his mohawk this morning? He’s even painted it red and orange like he’s a Native American going into war.”
“He did look a bit scary,” I agree.
“Hot as hell, you mean. I’m going to jump his bones later.” Zoey smacks her lips together.
“I hope I’ll have the chance to do the same to Liam,” I reply, scared I might never get to be with him again if this goes wrong.
“You will. Don’t worry.”
The bus door opens and in walks the band. Tate is at the front, carrying a suitcase. It looks completely
at odds with his appearance.
“Did you get it?” Zoey is on her feet.
“Yes.” Tate opens the case, and I stare down at half a million dollars. It’s strange—it looks just like paper to me.
“Didn’t anyone ask why you wanted it?” I question, thinking it’s crazy they can withdraw this amount of money.
“No, when you’re a rock star, you can take as much money as you want out of your bank account and no one questions it. I’m sure somewhere there’s a fraud check going on, but they probably just think we’re going to go and put a deposit down on a summer house here or something. I’ve done it before,” Tate explains.
I take one of the notes from a bundle and hold it up.
“This is a one dollar bill. I know the rest are different denominations, but this dollar is significant. It’s the first of five hundred thousand favors I owe you all. I won’t stop working tirelessly for you until my debt is paid.”
“You don’t have to…” Liam starts, but Cameron interrupts.
“Fuck that. She can take over my toilet cleaning duties for me.” He winks at me, and I know he wouldn’t dream of letting me do that, but he’s trying to lighten the mood.
“Just try it, dickhead.” Liam holds a fist up.
“Damn it, the Spanish pit bull is unleashed again. We’ll have to make sure he stays in the car during the hand over,” Cameron warns.
“He will. The sensible Liam is coming to the meeting today. The one who only has his wife’s best interests at heart,” Tate responds.
“Good.” Austin looks at the clock on his phone. “We should get going. It’s nearly time for the meeting.”
“Have you set the security breach review in progress?” Tate questions Zoey.
The band was even more furious when the Leader sent me a text message on my phone last night, telling me he wants to see me at a particular location and time with the money, or he’s going to the press. Liam got so crazy with rage he smashed my phone and had to arrange for a new one to be delivered to me first thing this morning with a different number.