His Assurance (Assured Distraction Book 3)

by Thia Finn

  When the stage went to black, I launched myself off the platform and made my way to Journey’s group.

  “Journey!” I yelled across the grassy area as they were leaving the barricaded section.

  The five turned and looked at me. “What do you want, Gunner?”

  “Where’s Lola?” I finally caught them, so I could keep my voice controlled.

  “She went home. Why would she want to watch AD play?” I suppose I deserved the glare I received since I was the one who spoiled Journey’s birthday.

  “She could have stayed and listened to the other band playing across the way.” Two different headliners played the last time slot.

  “Maybe she didn’t like the other band. I don’t know. She didn’t clear her schedule with me.” She turned to walk away, but I grabbed her arm.

  “Wait.” They all spun to look at me this time. “I’m sorry, Journey.” She didn’t react as if she expected me to go on. “I’m sorry for ruining your birthday week. I know you planned to enjoy it together, and I caused a problem.”

  “Yes, you did. Thanks anyway, the damage is done. Thank you though for getting us the tickets and all. She’s leaving tomorrow to go back to Houston to apply for jobs, and we are staying through next weekend. No use in everyone not taking advantage of the house and the festival since you bought armbands for both weekends.”

  “No, you’re right. You should stay and enjoy yourselves. The home your parents rented is a perfect place, and next weekend will be outstanding with the scheduled line-up.” At least some people would enjoy the festival.

  “You could call her, you know. Ask her to stay,” Ivy threw out there. “I doubt she’ll listen to you, but you have nothing to lose.”

  I pushed my fingers back through my long hair which fell to the side. “I don’t know. She probably wouldn’t accept my call.”

  “You won’t know unless you try, Gunner.” Addie must have been the peacemaker of the group.

  “Yeah, we’ll see. I’ll catch y’all later at the party?” The girls all looked at each other.

  “Yes, we planned to go at least for a little while. Will we stick out not being the part of the band?”

  “No, lots of people were invited, and the doors are opening about now. I’m sure the five of you will be the hit of the dance floor. Have a good time.”

  “Okay see ya later then.”

  I moved back onstage to talk to the tech guys who tore down the set. Carter and Ryan sat backstage drinking a beer.

  “Hey, Gun, I thought you’d be with that cute little French babe by now.” Ryan slapped me on the back.

  “Uh, no. She didn’t come to the show. She’s leaving in the morning for Houston.” I knocked back the beer bottle and guzzled about half.

  “Already? I thought the whole entourage of babes in front of the stage were going to entertain you for the week. Wasn’t she with them?” Carter smirked at the thought of the fresh faces for him to choose from.

  “No, she left before our show started.”

  Ryan looked over the top of his bottle. “You dumb shit. What did you do?”

  “Hey, asshat, it wasn’t completely my fault. She was a little less than honest with me when we were in Paris. She’s not even from France. She’s from Houston; only she failed to mention that to me while I was fucking her all night long.”

  “Oh, really? And you think that’s the first hump ‘em and dump ‘em that’s been less than honest with you when we’re out on the road?” Carter’s smirk turned into a full-blown laugh.

  “Shut the fuck up, Carter. You know nothing about her. She’s not like that.” I’m not exactly sure why I defended the very person I was furious with.

  “Yeah, you say that now, but she dumped your sorry ass, so you can’t make the choice to have her again.”

  “Whatever.” Now he’d pissed me off. “I’m out.” I walked away from them both before I said anything else. I didn’t fight with my family over women, ever. She was not going to be the first.

  I didn’t want to go to this party, but I was obligated to do so. When I got in my truck, I pulled out my phone and threw it on the seat. I saw there were some missed messages and calls, so I grabbed it and scrolled over the list. I didn’t recognize the number, but whoever it was had been blowing up my phone for the last fifteen minutes, so I decided I better call back.

  Journey answered on the first ring. “Hello, oh Gunner. Thank God it’s you. Lola’s been arrested and is in the county jail. I don’t even know where that is. I’ve never bailed someone out of jail before here in Austin. What do I do, and where do I go?” She spoke so fast I hadn’t gotten a word in yet.

  “Wait a second, Journey. Lola’s in county jail?” What the fuck happened?

  “Yes, that’s what the message said she left on my phone. I didn’t get to talk to her.”

  “Google the address. I’m on my way. It’s downtown, so you’re not too far.”

  “Okay. We’ll see you in a second.” She ended the call.

  I couldn’t escape the backed up traffic, and I was tempted to ditch my truck and run. It was less than the six miles I ran every day, but I would need my truck once I got there. Rolling into a parking spot forty-five minutes later, I found a place to park in the throngs of festival goers partying downtown. I prayed she was still here.

  The officer behind the front desk gave me a once-over. With all my tattoos and long hair, I didn’t look much different than most of the people who hung out in County. “Can I help you?”

  “Yeah, my girl…” I stopped. Hell, was she still my girl? “The police arrested earlier this evening, and I want to bail her out.”

  “Name?”

  “Lola Reitzell.” He typed her name into the computer.

  “Yes, she was picked up, but she’s not here. She’s over at the jail and central booking location on 10th Street.” He read from his screen. “You gotta go there for more information.”

  I headed back for the doors and ran into the girls looking like they were ready to bust her out. “Whoa, James Gang. Slow down, she’s not here.”

  “Very funny. Where is she?” Journey asked.

  I repeated the information to her, and she took off through the doors followed by her posse. I didn’t know where they thought they were going since she didn’t wait for me to tell them where. Walking down the steps, I saw them looking at a phone.

  “Hey, follow me, we are going to the 10th Street building. It’s this way.” They turned did and as I had asked.

  “Let me ask the questions, please,” I said to them. The jailer would not be happy to hear her barrage of questions from this irate group.

  I looked at the woman behind the desk who never looked up from the computer. “May I help you?” she asked.

  “Yes, I was told that Lola Reitzell is here. I want to bail her out.” I reached for my billfold. The jailer typed something and started reading.

  “Not going to happen tonight. She’s being arraigned tomorrow morning, and then if she can get bail, she’ll be let go until her hearing.”

  “She has to stay here all night long?” Journey stepped to the desk and asked. So much for letting me do the talking.

  “Yes, she will. She can see the judge at eight. But looking at her record here, I doubt they are going to turn her loose even then.”

  “What do you mean her record? She’s been arrested before?”

  “Yes, but hasn’t gone to trial for that one, yet.” I turned and raised my eyebrow at Journey.

  “What?” I couldn’t believe what I’d heard. What other things did I not know about Lola? Maybe my instincts weren’t too far off. Then it dawned on me.

  “Wait, does this have to do with what I saw on television with the Air Marshal? She said it was no big deal. She said it was all a mistake. I assumed that had been straightened out already.”

  “Get real, Gunner. It’s the government. They’ll stretch that out forever. The lawyer’s still working on it all. That’s all I know about it.” />
  “So you’re saying she’s already out on bail? She can’t get out on bail a second time, Journey.”

  The officer finally spoke up. “According to the notes, she wasn’t arrested tonight. She’s waiting for someone to come and verify her identity. She was picked up at a house on the lake for breaking and entering. Claimed she belonged there but had no form of ID. Let me call the arresting officer. Take a seat over there. I’ll call you when he’s ready.”

  We walked to the waiting area and sat down. “You know we are supposed to be having a wild time with rockstars right now, don’t you?” Ivy informed the girls.

  I forgot I was supposed to be at that party. I would be getting a text or call any minute from an angry Peri.

  “Y’all can go. I’ll wait and bring her with me.”

  Journey looked at me like I was crazy. “She’s not going anywhere with you. You shot that possibility out of the water, remember?”

  “Wait, Journey,” Addie spoke up. “She said that it was her fault, not his. Maybe she’s changed her mind.”

  “Right. I still doubt she’ll be willing to do anything with someone who calls her out on one little mistake.” I listened to them talking about me like I wasn’t even there.

  I jumped in with my own comment. “When this is over, we are going to talk, Journey. I want it all out in the open. Do you think y’all can talk her into staying for at least a few days?” I would listen, but she needed to spill her guts about all of her mistakes and lies this time.

  “Who knows? If she’s made up her mind to go, she’s going no matter what I say to her,” Journey said.

  The arresting officer walked in and called us over. He pulled his phone out and looked at his notes. “Do you know Lola Reitzell?”

  “Yes, that’s my sister,” Journey stated, stepping forward.

  “Do you have an ID?”

  “Yes, I do.” Journey produced her driver’s license.

  He looked over the rest of the group. “And are any of you the homeowners?”

  “No, my parents rented the house for the week for my birthday, officer. We have a contract for it inside the house.”

  “Where’s the key to this house?” he asked, and Journey promptly produced the key ring.

  “I have the remote for the garage door in the car, too.” I could see the officer finally putting the circumstances together.

  “Okay, then I guess she is free to go. We found her trying to break into the house, and she had no photo ID on her, and no way to prove who she was or what she was doing at that house. I’ll let the proper people know, and she’ll be out shortly.”

  “Thank you, officer,” the group of girls offered him.

  We went to the seating area again to wait. “You don’t have to wait, Gunner. We will bring her with us or take her home,” Journey informed me.

  “No. I want to talk to her, tonight. I’m not going anywhere until I see her.”

  It wasn’t long before we saw Lola bouncing on her toes behind the barred door until it slid open. She rushed to her sister and hugged her close. “Thank God you got my message. They were going to arrest me for breaking and entering and maybe a few other things.”

  Lola turned and saw me, obviously surprised. “What are you doing here, Gunner?”

  My first instinct was to wrap her in my arms and reassure her I was there for her, but I knew she would think I was sending all kinds of mixed signals. I settled for standing back and talking. “We were all worried about you, Lola. Even if we have our differences, I would never want to see you sitting in Travis County Jail all night.”

  “Really Gunner?” The look on her face said it all. She didn’t trust my motives. Not that I blamed her after the way we parted.

  “No, Lola. I wouldn’t.” I stepped between the girls to stand in front of her. “Do you think we can talk?” I looked around me, and the girls were anxious to hear what I would say to her. “The girls are anxious to get to the party, and I need to make an appearance. If you go for a little while, we can find a quiet place to talk.”

  The James Gang faces were back on, and ready to defend if needed. Lola saw them watching us when she looked around me. “I suppose we can since you were kind enough to come down here, but don’t get your hopes up, Gunner. I don’t like being accused and convicted without even having a chance to defend myself.”

  “That’s fair, Lola, and you’re right. I should have talked to you about it all before I took off.” I tried to wrap my arm around her shoulder and steer her out, but she wasn’t ready for contact yet. She stepped ahead of me, and Journey hooked her arm through Lola’s.

  “Uh, Lola?” She stopped and looked over her shoulder at me.

  “Yeah?”

  I put my head down between theirs, so only she and Journey could hear me. “Did you know I can see one fine ass cheek since your shorts seem to be missing the right panel of fabric?”

  She stopped and bent down to look at her shorts. Journey leaned back and saw what I was talking about. “What did you do, Lola?” Journey tried to pull the fabric back together, but it wouldn’t work.

  Lola looked at me and then at the rest of the girls, giving us a smirk. “It’s a long story, but don’t think that officer is all innocent. He got a handful of butt cheek when we were going over the fence, and I do believe he enjoyed the handful he said he didn’t squeeze.” With that, she put her hand over her butt and walked off down the sidewalk.

  The five girls and I look at each other, and it was too funny not to laugh. Lola never looked back.

  Loud music poured from the building when we arrived at the door. Gunner talked me into riding with him over to the celebration, but we only exchanged unnecessary small talk. Nothing was discussed or settled in my mind. I wasn’t sure we were ready to spend time together. He located a hoodie in the truck for me to tie around my waist, so I didn’t half-moon the world. After being assured I looked fine for the party, I glanced at the waiting crowd and saw most of the people came from ACL in an array of clothing choices. I was over it all at this point. I only agreed to go because I ruined the girls’ night with a stupid mistake, so I didn’t want to add to the situation by complaining.

  A lengthy line outside the door of the venue only heightened the girls’ excitement, and Gunner and I smiled at their squeals. He showed his face and the roped corridor opened. The sea of people parted impressing the girls and the royal treatment made coming to the party worth it. My anger with Gunner hadn’t changed, but I wanted Journey to remember this birthday as a special one, and a party of this magnitude offered that.

  Journey and the girls flew in and made a bee-line for the bar when the main doors opened to the packed club. A massive amount of work went into turning this place into a huge celebration with the streamers and confetti floating down from the ceiling at short intervals. Loud music filled my ears, and I was not sure I was going to last too long in here with my mind still hovering around the turmoil.

  “It’s really loud!” Gunner shouted in my ear, but I still barely understood him.

  “Yeah, almost too loud for me after the evening I’ve had.” I was sure the look on my face expressed exactly how I felt.

  “Let’s go to the VIP area. Maybe we can find a place away from the speakers, and it’s not so loud.” He wrapped his large hand around mine, and this time, I didn’t pull away. As we climbed the steps to the second level of the building, he spotted another set of steps leading to the next level with glass partitions used to block some of the sound. He nodded in that direction, so we took them. Thank God. I’d had enough of the revelry in the few minutes we were there.

  We stepped up the top step as a huge doorman opened the glass doors. A nod at Gunner revealed the man’s understanding that Gunner was supposed to be there. His eyes roamed down my body, taking in the ridiculous way I had a hoodie tied around me. I knew he judged me not worthy of entering, but Gunner didn’t stand there long enough for me to be embarrassed as he tugged on my hand.

  “I needed
to change before we came, Gunner. I’m not dressed appropriately to be in this section,” I quietly told him.

  “It’s my party, and you look beautiful.” He never gave it another thought.

  “Yeah, tell that to the bouncer back there. He was ready to kick me out.”

  “Fuck him. He has no say so where you’re concerned.” Gunner led me to a table surrounded by the rest of AD. Oh God, please open up that hole in the carpet, I’m coming through.

  A beautifully styled pin-up girl stood and greeted me with a welcoming smile. “Hello, I’m Peri, and you must be Lola.” She offered me her hand on the end of a fully decorated arm.

  “Hello. Yes, I’m Lola. It’s nice to meet you, Peri. Gunner has told me what a great job you do as their manager.” I wanted to make a good impression with the band, but right now I couldn’t remember why. I found myself staring at a group the gods had favored with a level of gorgeousness that only few could rival. Five guys who stole my breath.

  Next, I looked into the most unusual aqua eyes and dark hair on a woman. She moved in beside Peri, introducing herself as Chandler, before pulling me in for a hug. “I’m from Texas and not good with a handshake.” She laughed when she looked at Peri.

  “It’s very nice to meet you both. I’m sorry I’m so underdressed for this occasion. I had a little mishap with my shorts on a pole, and they ripped.” I immediately realized that made me sound like a stripper, and I could feel the heat as it rose up my face. “Oh, wait, not like a stripper pole. It was more like a rod, on a fence, with a spike.” Now I sounded like an idiot to these two women. Did I say carpet open up? I meant floor open and swallow me into a deep, black hole.

  “Don’t be silly. You look great. We’ve all been out at the festival at some point today,” Peri said. “Please come and sit with us. We want to hear all about you and Gunner.”