Gasoline

by Bella Jeanisse

  “Hey, Dominic.” Brandon came up next to them. “Is Dean around? I need to talk to him.” He gritted his teeth, trying not to show the fury within.

  Dominic turned. “Not now. Someone’s going to get him.” He smiled. “Did you hear about Noelle and I?”

  “Yeah,” Brandon admitted. “Read it on the Internet. Good for you guys.”

  Noelle laid her head on Dominic’s shoulder. “Where’s Chico?”

  “He’ll be here in a few.” Brandon checked the door for Dean. “He’s signing autographs with Jake.”

  She laughed. “Yeah, autographs. I know him better than that.” She put a hand on Dominic’s chest. “Blowjob, huh?”

  “Probably.” Brandon smiled back at her.

  Dominic had an odd feeling. He watched Brandon’s demeanor. “What’s wrong?” Brandon’s eyes flashed anger for a brief few seconds. “Is it about Dean?”

  “Kinda…” Brandon was seething, but controlling it well. “Mackenzie’s a huge fan.” Well, she was before Dean fucked her. The door opened again, and he saw his target.

  Shocked by Brandon’s sudden disappearance, Dominic hugged Noelle, carefully, as to not spill her drink. “If you wanna skip the party, it’s OK.” He felt her tremble.

  “No. I wanna go.” The party had not made her nervous. The look in Brandon’s eyes worried her. She’d known him a long time, and she could see that he was pissed. Beyond pissed. Something was about to happen, and she knew it. “Maybe we should find Jon.” She knew he could diffuse a fight if one started.

  As if on cue, Brandon shouted, “Motherfucker!”

  Dominic turned to see Dean hit a wall, and then put his hands up. Brandon swung again and caught Dean in the jaw. He rushed over to try and stop the fight.

  At the same Tommy was doing the same. “Shit, shit!”

  Dean went down, blood running from his nose and mouth. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” He put his hands over his head, terrified. Brandon was scary in a fight. Brandon kicked his thigh until he moved his hands, then whaled on him again, with hits to the cheek, temple, ribs and head. He was shouting incoherently.

  Knowing he couldn’t stop Brandon, Dominic dialed Jon. “Get your ass in here fast. Brandon’s beating the shit out of Dean.”

  “Seriously?” Jon was dumbstruck.

  Dominic looked around. No one was doing anything to help. “Yeah. Hurry up.” Everyone was watching it like a trainwreck, mouths open in shock.

  “You fucking piece of shit!” Brandon screamed as he slugged Dean in the ribs again. “Keep your fucking hands off her!”

  Trying to protect anything he could, Dean had his hands over his face and was in a fetal position. His cries of pain were the only sounds coming from him. Another hit to the back made his legs straighten. Then he felt a weight on his chest. He looked up. Brandon had a knee on his sternum.

  “You touch her again, and so help me, I’ll fucking kill you.” Brandon pulled his arm back ready to swing again.

  Jon grabbed Brandon fast. “Enough.” He pinned his arms back then looked down at Dean. He was bloody and wincing.

  Brandon struggled to get loose. He wasn’t done. “Do you know what he did?”

  “He fucked my sister, too,” Jon admitted, assuming Dean had screwed his woman.

  Brandon fought harder. “You don’t get it. He tried to rape my girl. He fucking held her down while she screamed for him to stop. Scott saw it.”

  “She wanted me!” Dean immediately regretted the words when Brandon kicked his thigh.

  Angrily, Brandon yelled, “She wanted you the first time, and you tried to tear her pussy up.” When Dean’s eyes opened wide, he continued, “Yeah, she told me you held her down then and practically raped her. You motherfucker.”

  Dominic’s mouth dropped. “You are using again, aren’t you?” Dean always got overly aggressive when high. “We told you, no more fucking cocaine.”

  Dean loudly replied, “I haven’t taken any of that shit since rehab. I swear.” He sat up, but felt a bit dizzy and put a hand to his head.

  “Get my bag,” Dominic shouted to no one in particular. When Sam brought it to him, he examined Dean’s face and cleaned the cuts. He had heard what Dean did, but wasn’t sure what to say. Brandon punished him good for it at least. “Grow up, will you?” he whispered as he dabbed at the blood in Dean’s mouth.

  Jon felt Brandon relax and eased his grip. “You good now?”

  “Yeah.” Brandon took a deep breath and glared at Dean. “As long as he stays the hell away from my woman.”

  Dean’s head was spinning and he couldn’t think straight. He looked up at Brandon and smirked. Dominic was suddenly helping him to his feet. He grabbed his friend’s arm and steadied himself.

  “Shit, you hit hard.” Dean rubbed his jaw.

  As soon as Dominic backed away, Brandon threw a right, then a left, hitting Dean’s temple and jaw again. When Dean put his hands up, he got him in the kidney. Then he grabbed his arms and kneed him in the groin as hard as possible before shoving him into the wall. Brandon was panting with the exertion.

  Dean had dropped to the floor again, in a fetal position, tears streaming down his face. He clutched his balls, which felt like they were on fire. A kick to the back made him gritted his teeth.

  “Now I’m done. If I ever see you again, it’ll be too soon.” Then Brandon screamed, “You touch my girl again, and I’ll end you, no fucking joke!”

  “Enough!” Jon shouted and pinned Brandon again. “Is he lying?” He looked at Dean crying. “Did you attack her?”

  Dean nodded. There was no point in lying anymore. He sniffled and shouted, “She fucking pissed me off! I wasn’t gonna let her get away with head-butting me.”

  “And raping her’s your first thought?” Jon shook his head. He had to force himself not to slug Dean, too. “You’re gonna wind up in jail again, you dickhead. Get your shit together, or I swear we’ll find another singer somehow.”

  “The band’ll never be the same without me!” Dean shut his eyes to hold in the pain. He was still seeing stars. “That’d be like starting over.”

  Jon knew he was right and hated that fact. Almost every band out there who replaced their singer lost a lot of fans. He let go of Brandon, who immediately walked out of the room. Then he crouched down in front of a still-writhing Dean.

  “After what happened to Josie, you’d think the concept of rape being wrong would sink in,” Jon growled. “How the fuck could you attack any woman like that? Huh?” He punched Dean in the side, furious. “You’re no better than the asshole who killed Josie!” He felt that way since she committed suicide after her rape. The rapist was responsible for her death, too, as far as Jon was concerned.

  Tommy and Crazy Mike stepped in and grabbed Jon after he hit Dean again. “I think he’s had enough,” Tommy pleaded. He tugged on Jon’s arm. “He’s already crying. Stop.”

  Noelle had her hand over her mouth in shock. She watched as Dominic shifted to paramedic mode and knelt down next to Dean. He carefully examined him, obviously knowing what he was doing. She didn’t know what to do. Dean had deserved the whipping, but it was so brutal. His soft cries as Dominic touched various parts of his body told her he was hurt more than they realized.

  Brandon must be stronger than she knew. She closed her eyes. The feeling she had earlier was right. Brandon had been angry and most likely waiting for Dean. She was not sure if she should mention it. That may get Brandon in more trouble than he most likely was.

  “His lungs sound off, and his ribs feel cracked.” Dominic called out to no one. “We need to get him to the hospital, now.” He worried he had punctured a lung. “Sam, call 911.”

  Sam was still next to them. “He’s that bad?”

  “Dean…” Dominic called to him, but he didn’t open his eyes. “Dean, Dean look at me.”

  The pain overwhelming still, Dean whimpered. Everything hurt. “I can’t.” He was trying to stop the tears, but he had never gotten a beating like that. “It hu
rts.”

  “What hurts?” Dominic put a hand on Dean’s back and he squirmed away. “Your back?”

  Dean took a painful breath. “My balls, my chest, my face, my fucking leg. Dom-in-ic,” he whined.

  “Sam, call now.” Dominic brushed the hair from Dean’s face to check for more damage. He was still bleeding from his mouth, nose and several cuts on his face. “I’m gonna get you to the hospital. Tommy, where’s Noelle?”

  She stepped forward. “I’m here.”

  “Good.” Dominic turned to her. “Stay with Tommy till I get back.”

  Jon got down on a knee and took in Dean’s condition. “I’ll go. It’s partly my fault.”

  “Dom, it hurts,” Dean wailed. “Gimme my pills… Please?”

  With a shake of the head, Dominic denied him. “That’s the last thing you need. Jon, have someone outside, so they know where to go.”

  Noelle started to get nervous. “He’s going to be OK, won’t he?” Tears fell as she imagined Brandon in jail.

  “Yeah.” Dominic stood and took her in his arms, careful not to transfer the blood on his fingers to her clothes. “He’s awake and talking, so no head trauma. Even if he broke a few ribs or his leg, he’ll heal.”

  Sam touched his arm. “They’re on their way.”

  “Good.” Dominic nodded.

  Tommy had his hands on his hips. He stared down at Jon and Dean. Someone had finally had the balls to punish Dean for something he shouldn’t have done. So many times, he had wanted to bash Dean’s face in. Jon always stopped him, though. He had gotten in a few punches when they were alone. Dean was no good in a sober fight, so it was usually one-sided.

  “I’ll go with him, Dom.” Jon got to his feet. “You and Noelle go to the party.”

  Tommy shook his head. “No way.” He was worried Jon would kill him in the back of an ambulance.

  “Not a good idea,” Dominic added.

  Glad he had backup, Tommy continued, “You and me have to go to the party,” he insisted. “Or there’s gonna be a lot of questions. We have to come up with a story.”

  “I’m gonna sue that asshole,” Dean almost shouted.

  Jon glared at him. “Yeah, good idea, dickhead. Sue him so Mackenzie brings rape charges against you. Brandon said Scott saw you. Don’t you ever think before you act?”

  Dean pouted, but knew Jon was right. He moved his right leg and his thigh burned. Then he tried to sit up but cried out in pain.

  “Stay still,” Dominic admonished him and got back on the floor. “You’re gonna make it worse.” He looked behind him at Tommy. “So who’s going with him?”

  “Me,” Vince volunteered. “Rick said he’d come, too. Just in case.”

  Tommy agreed, “Yeah, great idea. Thanks, Vince.”

  Chapter Thirty Three

  “I haven’t heard from Vince.” Dominic squeezed Noelle’s hand as they walked to Winter Wind’s bus. His medical bag was slung over his back. He had a change of clothes stashed inside. “Obviously, they don’t know who he is, or he’d be done already.”

  Noelle leaned her head on his arm. “Relax. He’ll be fine.” She hoped she was right. When they had lifted Dean to put him on the stretcher, he screamed.

  “Hope he doesn’t rope them into giving him more Oxys.”

  Dominic knew Dean wasn’t hurt too badly. He just had a low pain tolerance when sober. Dean whined about a paper cut. Then he realized Dean had barely complained in weeks. That wasn’t like him. Other than the look on his face when he commented about a girl. Shit, he must have done it, then. He wished he had put two and two together sooner. Maybe he wouldn’t have attacked Mackenzie twice.

  They had left the party early, so when they stepped onto the bus, it was quiet. “Sounds like we’re alone.” Dominic grinned as he followed Noelle down the narrow pathway between the couch and kitchen area. He thought she was joking. Their bus was seriously cramped. “Can we take a shower?”

  She nodded and led him to the end of the bunks. “Good idea. You can go first.”

  Dominic counted only six bunks. Wow. He hoped she had one of them to herself. Then he realized what she said. “You mean shower alone?”

  She sighed and opened the bathroom door. “You’ll see.”

  Curious, Dominic peeked inside and he couldn’t believe his eyes. It was much smaller than the crew’s bathroom. The sink, toilet and tiny shower stall almost touched each other. There was maybe two square feet to stand on.

  “Wow.”

  She shrugged. “Better than nothing.”

  “Hey.” He pulled Noelle close. “I didn’t mean anything except, I thought you were joking it was so small. It’s fine. We spent years going to gigs without a bathroom. Sucked balls. Especially when we had to go to like Boston, or the time we toured Florida during spring break. I’m so glad that’s behind us.”

  She gave him a small smile. “OK.”

  He kissed her lips. “You know me. I don’t care about material things. This is fine.”

  “You go first,” she insisted.

  He nodded and set his bag on the sink. “You can watch if you want.” He winked at her, then undressed. Just as he stepped into the shower, his phone rang. “Can you get it?”

  Noelle found his phone on top of his bag and answered, “Hello.”

  “Dominic?” Vince asked, confused. “Why do you sound so weird?”

  She let out a short laugh. “Because I’m Noelle.”

  “That makes a lot more sense.” Vince was standing outside getting some air. “Can I talk to him?”

  Glancing at the slightly open shower curtain, she bit her lip. “He’s kinda indisposed.”

  “Who is it?” Dominic called out over the water.

  Noelle moved the phone down. “Vince.”

  “Hey, can you tell him Dean’s doing OK?” Vince had a few calls to make.

  Dominic turned off the water. “What’d he say?”

  “I didn’t hear.” She handed him his phone.

  “Vince?” Dominic hoped for good news. “Anything broken?” He took the towel Noelle offered him.

  With a loud exhale, Vince tried to recall all the doctor had said. “Well, looks like two cracked ribs, but not bad. A lot of cuts and bruising. His dick still works. He got a woody when a nurse helped get his pants off.” Vince laughed and shook his head. “He got her fucking number, too.”

  A frown on his face, Dominic asked, “So nothing serious?” He was a bit relieved, but had hoped it would slow Dean down.

  “Doc says he needs bed rest for a few days at least.” He paused. “He looks pretty fucked up. Almost his whole face is bruised. Hope it heals by next week.”

  Dominic hadn’t thought of that. The Virginia Festival was in six days. “If he’s not, then oh well. He goes on looking like a punching bag. It’s his own fucking fault anyway.”

  “True.” Vince’s lip turned up. “Never knew he was that much of an ass. Thought it was all an act. He got schooled though, huh?”

  After hanging the wet towel on the sole rack, Dominic responded, “Yeah, he did. Just hope he learns this time.” He looked up at Noelle, who was naked. “I gotta go. Got plans tonight.” He grinned as he ended the call. “I see what I want.”

  “Shower first.” She glared at him until he moved out of the way. They had not had time to shower after the show. Because of Dean, they had to rush to the party to make an appearance. “Let me know if someone comes back.”

  Dominic watched her step into the stall. “Will do.”

  Still at the party, Tommy and Jon avoided the rumors that had already begun about Dean. Since he was rushed out via ambulance, everyone backstage and around the arena had seen something. So far, Brandon was not part of the story.

  Tommy had heard Brandon was on Wicked End’s bus nursing swollen knuckles and trying to diffuse the lingering anger. Neither he nor Jon had heard from Vince or Rick at the hospital. So they did not even know what to tell anyone. Suddenly, his phone vibrated. He quickly pulled it out. Vince
had sent him a text.

  Doubt you can hear, so thought I’d just text you what the doc says.

  Seconds later another message from Vince came through.

  Two cracked ribs. His face is pretty bad but he’ll be fine.

  Tommy sighed, relieved that Dean wasn’t as injured as he suspected. Then Vince sent another text.

  I checked him in under a fake name. Told them his wallet was stolen. I’ll pay cash. Can someone pay me back?

  Tommy sent back,

  I will.

  Anyone recognize him?

  You’re kidding right? LMFAO. I don’t even recognize him! He’s fucked up. Should be interesting next week.

  Groaning, Tommy wondered if Dean would balk at performing with the evidence from the one-sided fight still fresh. Six days was not a lot of healing time. He looked up at Jon, who was talking to the head of a much larger record company. Knowing Dean was more important than schmoozing, he headed Jon’s way.

  “Excuse me,” Tommy politely said. “Jon, I need to speak to you.” He smiled at the bigwig. When he and Jon were alone, he took a deep breath. “Vince updated me. He’s got two cracked ribs and superficial shit. What are we gonna tell people?”

  Jon frowned and closed his eyes. He did that when he was thinking. After a while, he folded his arms over his chest. “Can’t say he fell. Then the press would talk about his drug addiction and say he was high.” He exhaled loudly. “Looks like no one blabbed Brandon kicked his ass. We could say Dean got into a fight with a temp worker.”

  “Or we could just let them all speculate,” Tommy suggested. “We should be able to trust everyone who saw the fight.” He had spoken to the group before the paramedics arrived.

  Nodding, Jon replied, “Nah.” He paused. “We have to put out a press release. Before it turns into something beyond our control.”

  “I agree.” Scott came up behind them. “Kenzie would not want anyone to know this mess was over her.”