“After the Marines, we rattled around, unfamiliar with the lack of routine and orders to follow. It’s a common dilemma for career military and we fell victim to it like many others. We settled into the strictest routines civilians can ever achieve.
“Then one night, a young woman came to his shop and started a ripple effect that changed Rex’s life and the lives of his closest friends. Somehow, she opened her heart to a man twice her age and completely her opposite. She was beautiful, gentle, and adored by millions. He carried a lot of scars both visible and invisible, he was hardened…maybe even leaning toward cynical, and lived a solitary life for the most part. Thus began the unlikely relationship between America’s country music sweetheart, barely eighteen from rural Oklahoma, and a nearing-forty Harley-riding, tattoo artist, retired Marine from Chicago.
“The next day, Brooke brought her friends with her and we fell immediately in love with them. Suddenly, four men who’d lived their lives alone had these perfect creatures in their hands, these bright and beautiful women who acted like we were just what they needed. It happened so fast but when something feels that right, you don’t take a step back to think. Thank God we didn’t.
“Rex sometimes worried Brooke would regret giving him her love and her youth. But he told me once, ‘I’ll love her as hard and well as I can for as long as she wants me to.’ He had so many plans, so much he wanted to do for her. He was scared for her safety constantly. She’d become so popular. I’d always known if it came down to it, Rex would die to protect her. I know he feels good knowing he eliminated the threat that’s followed her for two years before he succumbed to his wounds. That he would do it again without hesitation.
“He had the chance to tell Brooke he loved her, to secure her promise to fight through her grief and survive it. The last words he heard were from the woman he loved telling him how much she loved him. That’s what carried him through to the next leg of his personal journey. I know it soothed him. That he wrapped her love around himself and took it with him. He was my friend and my brother. He was the man who made my current life possible. There is a void in my life he once filled. I love him, I miss him. But I know he died the happiest he’s ever been in all his life, secure in the pure love of his woman.
“Thank you, Brooke. Thank you for loving him. But don’t forget your promise. You gave your word. You know how Rex always stood behind his word. Fight and survive, baby. Live to love again. Share what your time with him taught you. We all love you and we’re here for you. Goodbye, Rex. God, I miss you, man.”
Mack stepped off the raised platform and crouched in front of a sobbing Brooke. He hugged her and she whispered, “I’m so sorry. I’m so, so sorry.” He stroked her back and whispered to her, soothing her. She was shaking and so tired.
Travis brought her to her feet carefully as the three Marines, Jackson, and the Bradshaw brothers raised Rex’s casket and left the chapel. Brooke followed behind, her sunglasses unable to hide her tears. They rode together to the cemetery but she didn’t seem to realize any of them were there. Tears fell constantly, Jeanette and Sidney in perpetual pain for their best friend.
Jackson cared for Molly and Becca, worried about Brooke. No one was sure what to say, she was in such a fragile state. Dozens of reporters actually stayed back a respectable distance, film rolling the entire time.
During the twenty-one gun salute, Brooke’s body jerked between her friends with each shot. Young Marines folded the flag and presented it to Brooke who took it with quiet thanks and more tears.
The preacher said a final prayer and Becca tugged her big sister’s hand. “I’ll Fly Away, Brooke. We should sing it for Rex like we did Mama and Daddy. He always loved to hear us sing. Come on, Brooke.”
She wondered if her heart would survive it. Stepping forward, she knelt beside the grave and tried to start but her throat hurt. Becca started, Molly and Jackson with her. Brooke came in low and gradually gained strength, remembering how Rex loved to have her sing and play for him. The four of them got stronger, glancing up gratefully as the Bradshaw brothers joined in. Then other people began to sing and when it finished, she smiled carefully for the first time in days.
She launched into She Talks to Angels, the first song she’d sung at the bar on their first real date together. Closing her eyes, she remembered that night, the way he’d watched her while she sang. It was already clear to her she’d fallen in love with him, she’d felt so immature, only teenagers did shit like that. Then he told her he needed her, wanted her. Felt as scared and confused as she did.
A week later, he’d been the first to talk about love. Her relief had been overwhelming. More than two years since of him loving her hard and asking her to marry him. Living together and working together.
When she finished, the Marines directed people away, the mourners moving back to give her privacy. Her siblings stepped away to stand with Sidney and Jeanette. The twins and Travis stood with them, all of them crying.
Brooke whispered how much he’d changed her, helped her grow, and taught her what love was. Shown her it was okay to be scared and how to power through it. How good he’d been to her when she’d been so lonely and unsure of herself. How he’d taken a risk on a stupid teenager with more talent than sense, and lovingly embraced her family like his own and helped all of them keep it together.
“You’ll always have a pure piece of my heart, Rex. A piece that only belongs to you because you earned it with every word, every action during the time I knew you. I’ll try to keep my promise but I hurt. I hurt so bad, Rex. Right now, it doesn’t feel like the hurt is going to stop. If you could send me a little of your strength to help me, I would be so glad, baby. I miss you. I love you. Thank you for every minute, every single minute. Travel safe, Rex.” Then she blew him a kiss and clutched his flag to her chest. She tried to stand and couldn’t. Mack and Boyd came to lift her between them and felt how hard she was shaking.
Sidney said, “We’re having the reception at our place, Brooke, on the third floor. We didn’t want people in your house. I need you to stay the night, baby. Will you do that for me?” Brooke nodded groggily. “The kids can stay with us or go with Jeanette and Mack.”
“They can come with us, Brooke, I think they’ll be good with distractions,” Jeanette said softly. She held Sofia and Brooke smiled at the precious little girl.
“Jeanette, I swear, you get prettier every day. Motherhood looks so good on you. Hey, Sofia,” her voice was hoarse and weak. She reached out to stroke the soft cheek, “You get prettier every day, too, princess. Your daddy’s eyes are going to be so lovely with your mama’s features.” She wobbled and Boyd gripped her tighter.
“We need to get her out of here, right now.” Jeanette began giving orders and everyone moved without question.
They arrived at the converted warehouse half an hour later. Sidney and her men had locked off the second level where they lived. The third floor was usually Sidney’s dance and exercise space but today was outfitted with seating and buffet tables. Someone put food and a drink in front of Brooke but she couldn’t bring herself to attempt eating.
She held the flag in her lap and stared out the huge windows as the day passed. People approached her and she would nod and thank them. At least she hoped she did.
Travis came to sit with her. She had gradually moved further and further into a corner. “Brooke baby, can I do anything for you?” She shook her head and gave him a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Don’t worry about the album or anything else. You focus on you, baby girl. I’m so damn sorry, Brooke. I was afraid to face you today.”
“Why?” she asked softly.
He swallowed hard, his voice broken as he said, “I should have had more security, I should have gated the studio. So much we could have done, should have done.” He buried his face in his hands.
Reaching out, she took one of his hands in her too-cool one. “Travis, they’d been after me for two years. No one could track them. We know why now. They were t
raveling with us the whole time.”
The first man Rex had shot at the studio was Dean, and the second, his friend Abel. The young men who’d attended every concert since her first one. Men she’d smiled with, laughed with, signed their bare chests, and taken photographs with. They’d been obsessed with her since the first photos of her had gone up on the band’s website. They literally had hundreds of photos with her between the three tours they’d followed.
Their focus had taken a turn for the worse when she’d appeared with Rex in public, when it was obvious she was sleeping with him. They’d kept journals. Unlike their blog which critiqued each performance of the band and usually found it ‘better than the last’, their journals were dark and very angry.
Initially, they’d fixated on the twins as the threat, discussed ‘taking them out’ so Brooke could shine on her own and be free to be with them. Then the rage had turned on Rex. Vandalism done to his shop a few months ago could now be attributed to them. A broken window at the house they’d thought was a neighborhood kid scared to come forward was also them, scared away when the alarm sounded. Other things they hadn’t thought about. The air in the Harley tires being let out. A bird that looked like it had hit the back porch windows. Incidents occurring far apart and so small that none of them had put it all together.
Their intention, the day they’d come to the studio, had been to kill Rex and kidnap Brooke in the chaos. Their truck held duct tape, chloroform, implements of torture and pleasure, photography equipment, lingerie they’d planned to dress Brooke in, and a wish list of things they’d planned to do with her. As Rex had exited the studio doors they’d opened fire, gunning him down in cold blood.
Brooke liked to imagine their surprise when her man had dropped to one knee instead of going all the way down. Pulling his 9mm on the way to the pavement, he’d taken Dean out with two shots to the chest, dead center, stopping his heart before he had time to register being hit. Abel’s death they’d all witnessed.
According to their writings, since her debut they’d only had sex with women who could have been Brooke’s sisters. There was an investigation into rapes or assaults on women during Broken Bronco concerts. The first two matches had come through yesterday as Brooke sat with Jeanette while she put the finishing touches on Rex’s memorial service. The police suspected there would be others.
Brooke’s expression was sad when she said, “If it’s anyone’s fault, I’d say it rests firmly at my door, Travis. I just don’t want to go there right now. We’ll talk later in the week. I’m not sure about touring or recording. I know I cannot do any appearances for a while. I can’t handle it.” He nodded. “If you need to replace me with the band, I won’t be upset, Travis. I’ll understand.”
He gripped her hands, “You’re stayin’ with the band, Brooke, there’s no question about that. You take whatever time you need, darlin’. Tours and albums will damn well wait while you heal. I assure you, the twins will back me on this. Worry about you baby girl and call me if you need anythin’. I don’t give a shit if it’s to water your plants.”
“Thank you, Travis. I just need to be still for a little while,” she was about to cry again and blew him a kiss as she released his hands and turned away, her eyes begging him to understand.
Stepping deeper into the corner she closed her eyes. For a long time, she stood there, the sunlight washing over her. She was freezing and the glass was warm. Putting her palm against it, she whispered, “I miss your warmth, I’m always cold now. I left my hair curly today, Rex. I know how much you liked it that way. I’m trying to be strong. Help me be strong, baby.”
Sidney and Jeanette watched Brooke from a few feet away, silent tears tracking down their cheeks. They didn’t know how to help their best friend keep from flying apart because both of them recognized the agony they’d experience if it were them.
They felt pure terror bubbling through their veins, their arms around one another and hands clasped until their knuckles were white. Bone-numbing fear threatened to suffocate them and they were trying to so hard to fight as they watched Brooke grieve.
Then their men were in front of them.
Mack said softly, “Stop it, right now, Jeanette. Stop.” He pulled her from Sidney’s arms and into his own as Boyd and Zane crushed Sidney between them. “You cannot do this. Look at me, Jeanette. I’m right here and I’ll love you every minute of my life. The reality is that could be another fifty years or another five minutes. That is reality, baby, but you can’t fear the end. You live every moment to the fullest and confront the grief if it comes. That grief for Brooke is right now and she needs you both to pull it the fuck together and help her.”
Lifting Sidney’s face, Boyd said firmly, “She will not make it without you, Sidney. She won’t survive this if you don’t help her. You have to stop. Don’t worry about what could happen. We have you now, we love you now. Brooke is falling to pieces because her time with Rex is over.”
Zane turned her face to him, “You’re the strongest woman I know, Sidney. If you are feeling this residual grief for Brooke, imagine what she’s feeling. Stop fearing the future and be strong for your friend. Never has she needed either of you as badly as right now.”
Both women took a deep breath and nodded. Taking kisses and giving them, they put their shoulders back and wiped their faces. Their men gave them encouraging smiles as they walked with sure footsteps to Brooke. She gave them a watery smile, then broke down between them. Sidney led her to the sofa and they sat her between them as they shared her grief.
Ten seconds later, Mack said brokenly, “I need a drink. Right fucking now.” The three of them headed for the bar. After a long fortifying sip he whispered, “That is what we’ll all leave behind us. I can hardly breathe at the thought of Jeanette going through this. I’m scared to death Brooke is going to hurt herself. She’s barely functioning. If we can get her through the first month in one piece, I think she’ll have the foundation she needs.”
Drinking double scotches and turning to keep an eye on the women, the friends discussed a schedule to cover Brooke’s siblings and taking care of Rex’s shop until Brooke decided what she wanted to do with it. She’d been his sole beneficiary which had utterly destroyed her. Mack had had to carry her from the lawyer’s office to the underground parking garage.
After a while, they started watching the other people in attendance. Molly had Sofia in her arms, swaying back and forth as she sang to her. Jackson stood with Kyle and the band, his body positioned where he could keep an eye on Brooke.
Becca was involved in an animated conversation with the employees from Rex’s shop. Crush and the girls were staring at the little girl in wonder. She flipped through her sketchbook and pointed to different parts of Violet’s body to explain. Rex had always answered all her questions and had let her watch him work several times.
Several members of Mack’s family were here, most crying openly. The primary attendees were Marines. As far as the three friends could tell, almost every person who’d been in the bar their first night out was here, many shaking their heads at the broken image of the woman he’d left behind. All the tour crew and label employees who’d worked with Brooke from day one.
“Those two haven’t approached her once. Haven’t allowed themselves to so much as speak to her, much less touch her,” Zane observed quietly of the Bradshaw brothers talking together at the opposite side of the large space from Brooke. They sat at a small table, their bodies bent and obviously distraught.
“They’re worried about us. That we’ll think they’re trying to move in on her before the dirt settles over our friend,” Boyd said and the others nodded. As they watched, both brothers looked up and stared at Brooke, both of them obviously destroyed and trying to keep it together. “Jesus…”
Zane told them about the day of Rex’s death, what had happened before the shooting. “They are in love with her, deeply from what I can tell. In the beginning, from what Sidney says, she was just another conquest. Apparently
she had a couple of very harsh conversations with them, slapped them into reality. It’s why they went into rehab after the first tour and changed from having one or two women every day to a few each month. In the last year, I only know of two and I’m not sure there was sex involved.”
“We should talk to them,” Mack said and started in their direction. The brothers glanced up warily as the three Marines approached. They stood and moved to stand side by side. Mack held his hands out, “Hey, you’ve known us a long time now, you know we’re not like that. Relax. We just wanted to talk to you for a few minutes.”
Gesturing to the table, the brothers sat and the three friends sat opposite.
Boyd asked carefully, “What are your intentions for Brooke?” Their eyes widened but they said nothing. “We’re not going to pound you. We already know you’re in love with her, that you’ve been in love with her almost from the beginning. The only person who isn’t aware of that is Brooke.” An expression of intense pain crossed their faces.
Boyd leaned forward and folded his hands. “I didn’t ask what your feelings were, those are obvious and understandable. Rex had excellent taste.” Logan winced and Decklan looked struck. “I asked about your intentions. I think you’re aware we have a core lifestyle in common?” The brothers’ heads dipped once sharply.
“Are you prepared for being in the public eye with Brooke or are you thinking dirty little secret?” Zane’s voice was pitched low. “Because you’re public figures and she is, too. If you eventually pursue her, you’d better be strong enough to protect her.”
Mack added softly, “It shouldn’t be right away of course but you’re obviously causing yourselves endless pain right now trying not to talk to her or touch her. You were her friends before and you’re her friends now. I’d imagine she’s wondering why you’re avoiding her. Not understanding why you’re keeping your distance. It could hurt her and she doesn’t need any more pain on top of what she’s feeling.”
Yes to Everything Page 30