The album release took place at midnight on the 405 freeway. Brenden announced them as the next big thing in rock ‘n’ roll. Their self-titled album was already being hailed as a hit. Cassie and Tommy looked at each other, as the curtain dropped from the huge version of their album cover. It was mind blowing where they were standing. And the fact that their dreams were being realized hit them at the same time.
Both Tommy and Cassie let out a yell of pure elation and hugged each other fiercely. And it was captured by the media there for the release. It was a rare public show of joy for both Tommy and Cassie, and it was immortalized for the world. The rest of the group joined in, and they all hugged excitedly. Brenden looked on, smiling happily for the group. Tammy and Shannon were there too, watching and smiling.
There was a party afterwards at the latest hip club in Hollywood. The very exclusive Lightning Club opened its doors for the party. The motif was black with blue lightning everywhere. The ceiling was made to look like a stormy evening sky and lightning frequently fired off across it.
Brenden spared no expense, everything was free, and everything was the best; the food, the drinks, the guest list. Everyone who was anyone in the rock business was there. Even people who were part of another music genre were there. The latest and greatest were there. Everyone from Justin Timberlake to Ozzy Osbourne.
Within a half hour, Tommy was feeling totally overwhelmed. He wandered out onto the back veranda and found himself a quiet spot to sit and smoke, and just think.
A few minutes later, Shannon wandered out and found him.
“You want to be alone?” she asked him quietly.
Tommy looked up, smiling softly at her. Flicking his cigarette away, he held his hand out to her. She took it and he pulled her into his lap.
“I just needed to get out of there for a little while,” Tommy told her.
“Too much?” she asked.
“Yeah,” he said, “too many people.”
Shannon nodded. She put her head down on his shoulder and just sat quietly with him. Greg walked out a little while later, followed by Tammy.
“Man …” Greg said, shaking his head, “what are you doing out here?”
“Chillin’,” Tommy replied.
“You and your goddamned claustrophobic ass,” Greg said, shaking his head.
“Man, I’ve told you a million times, I’m not claustrophobic, it’s demophobia,” Tommy said.
“What?” Shannon asked, never having heard the term before.
“demophobia,” Tommy repeated, “it’s a fear of large crowds.”
“I’ve never heard of that,” Shannon said.
“Most people think it’s the same as agoraphobic, but that’s actually a fear of open spaces and crowds in them,” Tommy said, grinning. “The doctors say my demophobia is self-induced, because of having to live with so many people in my step-mother’s family for a year.”
“So, you became afraid of them then?” Shannon asked.
“Yeah,” Tommy said, “I got to where I could only be in a crowded room for so long before I had to get out to breathe.”
Shannon nodded. “But what about things like concerts?”
“That’s okay,” Tommy said, “because they’re in the audience, not right up there with me.”
Shannon nodded. “I never would have guessed that one about you,” she said.
Tommy shrugged. “Doesn’t really bother me a lot of the time. I’m fine at the clubs as long as they’re not too crowded. I think tonight is a little different because people seem to be all over me right now, you know?”
“You mean, like sitting on your lap?” Greg asked, grinning as he raised an eyebrow.
“Fuck you, Greg,” Tommy said, grinning too.
“What’s goin’ out on here?” Brenden asked, walking out on the veranda.
“Uhhh …” Tommy began.
“Your big night, and you’re hiding out here?” Brenden asked.
“Well, not really, I just … we … well,” Tommy stammered.
Brenden laughed, waving his hand in dismissal at Tommy’s nervousness. “Don’t sweat it Tommy, I spent my release party in the john with a woman.”
“Now that’s style,” Greg said, grinning and winking at Tammy. “And a really good idea too.”
“Ah, man!” Tommy said, shaking his head.
“What?” Greg asked, laughing all the while as Tammy elbowed him.
“Try to make it back inside at some point,” Brenden said. “I want everyone to have a good time, and Cassie’s getting edgy without you guys around. Everyone’s bugging her.”
Tommy laughed and nodded.
Cassie saw Brenden walk back inside, and noticed that Tommy, Greg, Shannon, and Tammy walked in shortly after that. She knew he’d told them about her attitude problem. Reporters kept getting in her face and it was making her crazy. John handed her a drink and she took it seeing his pointed look.
“What?” she asked, narrowing her eyes at him.
“Just drink,” he told her.
“I’m being a bitch,” she said.
“You’re being high strung,” he replied.
She smiled, shaking her head. She drank what he’d given her and the two after that. She got irritated when the shot girl, a statuesque blond in tiny black leather lace-up shorts and an even smaller black leather halter and four-inch heels, walked up to John again. She’d asked him if he wanted a shot about ten times. He’d politely said no every time. The blond was almost on eye level with him and didn’t seem to notice the tiny little woman standing next to him.
“Come on, have a shot,” the blond said.
“I’m going to take a shot, in a minute,” Cassie growled.
The blond’s eyes shifted to Cassie, and she smiled a wintery smile.
“Calm down, honey,” she said condescendingly, “I’m just pedaling shots.”
“Well, go pedal them somewhere else,” Cassie replied sweetly.
The blond gave her a sour look, winked at John, and walked away. Cassie took two steps after her but was pulled back by the long train of her black velvet dress. Looking back, she saw that John had put his foot on her train. He looked back at her with a wry grin on his face.
“Shit head,” she said, narrowing her eyes at him.
“Brat,” he replied.
Reaching down, he picked up the train and pulled her back over to him. He took her in his arms, picked her up, and kissed her lips.
“I’m into brunettes now little one, not blonds,” he told her.
“Yeah, but” she began but his lips silenced her again. “John” she began again, but again his lips silenced her.
She started to grin, looking right into his eyes, he did the same.
“I love you,” she told him.
“And I love you, Cassandra,” he told her.
“So, I should stop trying to start fights with blonds for your attention, huh?” she asked as he set her back down.
“You’ve already got my attention, little one,” he told her.
She smiled up at him and he smoothed his thumb over her cheek.
Tommy sat watching the fish in the huge tank in the corner of the club. He was holding a shot glass and was frequently being approached by someone or other who poured him a shot. He’d drink the shot, thank whoever it was, and then go back to watching the fish. Shannon watched Tommy from across the room, amused by his behavior. He was sitting on a bar stool, his long legs extended in front of him. Every so often, he’d look up from his aquatic study to locate her in the room. Their eyes would connect, he’d smile at her, and she’d do the same. She’d also walk over every so often to lean over and kiss him on the lips.
Brenden walked by Tommy then, holding up a bottle of Jägermeister.
Tommy made a face but held out his shot glass all the same. Brenden poured, and they drank. Tommy shook his head, making the same face he had before drinking it.
“Okay, who’s got Southern Comfort, damnit!” Tommy yelled.
&
nbsp; A lot of people at the party laughed, as Tommy rubbed his mouth with the back of his hand. The blond shot girl made a beeline for him. He accepted the shot she handed him gratefully. He drank two more shots, and then the blond found it necessary to sit down on his lap and start kissing him. Everyone started making cat calls. Tommy wasn’t even thinking, the woman was basically giving him a tonsillectomy right there, and his brain wasn’t engaging to get her off of him. When she finally pulled back to look at him, he was able to use his head again.
He looked around the buxom blond’s body, and saw Shannon watching the scene. He got up, setting the blonde on her feet, and walked straight over to Shannon. He put his hand to the back of her neck, and pulled her to him, kissing her deeply. Everyone in the room cheered. When their lips parted, Shannon smiled up at him brilliantly. He hugged her tight, lifting her off her feet.
So, the night went.
When Cassie and John left the party, they walked together down the street to where he’d parked his car. He tensed instantly when he noticed someone leaning against it. Cassie pulled back, recognizing the man immediately. It was Mike.
“You’re cordially invited to get your ass off my car,” John said, his tone low.
“John, that’s Mike,” Cassie said, grabbing at his hand.
“Oh, really?” John said, lowering his tone to a dangerous level. “Well, that’s different. You and I have some business to finish, Mike.”
“What kind of business is that?” Mike said, getting up off the car.
“The kind where I beat the shit out of you for attacking Cassandra,” John replied simply.
“You come try, old man,” Mike said, all piss and vinegar.
John dropped his hands to his sides, gesturing with his finger tips for Mike to bring it on. Mike took a run at John, trying for his mid-section, but missed him totally when John stepped aside. When Mike turned to try again, John’s fist caught him in the face, putting him on the ground. John allowed Mike to get up, wanting him to have at least half a chance. John pointed to his jaw.
“Hit me,” John said.
“No!” Cassie yelled.
Mike didn’t hesitate to take a swing that connected with John’s jaw. He wasn’t prepared when John snatched him up off his feet and threw him three feet away. Mike landed in a heap and didn’t move. John walked over to him and leaned down to check for a pulse. Mike had one, so John straightened and headed for Cassie. He didn’t see Mike move or the gun he pulled out. All Cassie saw was the explosion of blood from John’s chest as he walked toward her. She screamed at the top of her lungs as John fell forward. She continued to scream hysterically as she ran to John, and Mike retrained the gun on her.
“Stupid bitch, you never knew how good you had it,” Mike said.
“I’ll fucking kill you!” Cassie screamed, running at Mike.
He fired a shot but missed her because she was coming at him so fast. She attacked him, all nails and anger. Tommy came running, yelling to Shannon to call 911 as he ran to assist Cassie. She had Mike on the ground, but he threw her off of him, and went to hit her. Just when Mike pulled his fist back, Tommy grabbed him. He picked Mike up and slammed him to the ground.
Cassie got up and scrambled over to where John lay bleeding. She heard the ambulance coming, but it wasn’t going to be fast enough. He was bleeding profusely. Someone handed her a towel and she pressed to his back.
She held John’s head, tears falling on the side of his face.
“Please don’t die,” she whispered to him, “please don’t leave me.”
The ambulance arrived, and they took over. Cassie stood to the side, watching them work. Tommy walked up, having beat Mike unconscious. He took her shoulders, holding her as she cried. It was a bad nightmare that Cassie was sure she would wake up from soon. She didn’t wake up, watching as they put John on the gurney, doing CPR when they lost his pulse as they put him in the ambulance.
She was in such a daze she didn’t even think to tell them she wanted to go. It was like everything she’d ever thought. Every good thing in her life ended eventually. Her father had died, leaving her with her alcoholic mother. Her life in New York had ended by being dragged to California. Her relationship with Mike had turned to hell. She knew something would happen to ruin the album they’d just released, and now the one man she’d ever allowed herself to depend on completely was probably dying.
“No!” she yelled, pulling away from Tommy and starting to run in the direction the ambulance had taken.
“Cassie!” Tommy yelled, catching up to her easily.
He scooped her up.
“Tommy let me go, I have to go with him,” she cried, struggling against Tommy’s hold.
“I know, babe, I know, I’ll take you,” Tommy said, his voice raised to get through to her.
It was easy to see she was half hysterical. With Shannon and Tammy’s help, Tommy got her into the truck and drove toward the hospital. Cassie grew quieter and more comatose as they got closer. Tommy threw the truck in park and jumped out running inside to find out how John was. He didn’t want Cassie to hear from anyone that John was dead. And if he was dead, Tommy wanted to be the one to tell her, not some clinical sounding doctor.
He strode up to the desk, startling the woman with his appearance and the obvious haste.
“John Machiavelli,” Tommy said, “he was brought in a few minutes ago in an ambulance. He was shot, how is he?”
The nurse looked on the screen in front of her, then looked at Tommy.
“Are you immediate family?” she asked him.
“Are you kidding me?” Tommy replied. “Look, don’t fuck with me lady, I’m so not in the mood.”
“Sir—” the nurse began, drawing herself up.
“Ma’am,” another voice said then, a calm English voice, “I’m sure you can understand that my friend here is upset. Mr. Machiavelli doesn’t have any family here. He works for me, however, so can you please tell me how he is?” Brenden said it so smoothly. He put his hand on Tommy’s shoulder and gripped it, warning him to be quiet.
The nurse’s eyes widened as she recognized BJ Sparks.
“I,” she stammered, then looked down at the screen again, “he’s in surgery now.”
Brenden blew his breath out in a relieved sigh. “Thank you.” He paused as he read her name tag. “Margie, thank you.”
Brenden steered Tommy away from the front desk, knowing the younger man was in a rage. Cassie walked in with Shannon and Tammy then, seeing Brenden with Tommy. She stopped dead in her tracks and stared at them, not wanting to hear what they would tell her. He was dead, she just knew it, and she didn’t want to hear it.
Tommy looked up and saw the look on her face.
“Cassie, he’s in surgery,” he told her quickly, knowing she thought John was dead.
He watched as Cassie let her breath out, almost collapsing from the relief. Brenden and Tommy strode to her and helped her over to a chair. Cassie shrugged off their hands, shaking her head. She couldn’t sit, not yet.
♫ Seven ♫
It was hours before anyone came out. By that time all of Fast Lane was there, as well as most of Sparks. Everyone waited, some sitting, some standing, many going out to smoke frequently. Cassie stood by herself for a long time, finally sliding down to the floor, sitting like a homeless waif. She leaned against the wall, staring into space. Tommy kept an eye on her, as did Brenden. Greg, Johnny, and Terry took turns offering her coffee, food, cigarettes, alcohol. Cassie just shook her head every time, not looking like she was even hearing them.
“Did you see what happened?” Brenden asked early on.
“It was Mike,” Tommy said, his tone low, not wanting Cassie to hear them talking.
“Son of a bitch …” Brenden growled.
“Fuck!” Tommy exclaimed, as he realized that the police hadn’t even arrived at the scene before they’d left.
“What?” Brenden asked, looking at Tommy like he’d lost it all of a sudden.
“I’ll bet the bastard got away too,” Tommy said, shaking his head.
“What do you mean?” Brenden asked, having totally missed what happened.
“I ran up when I heard Cassie scream, that’s when I saw John on the ground bleeding, and Cassie wrestling around with Mike. He was getting the upper hand so I stepped in and beat him unconscious. But I left him there when the ambulance got there, and then with Cassie trying to take off after the ambulance, I was so busy getting her here I didn’t think about Mike again. Damnit, damnit,” he chanted over and over again.
“We’ll get him,” Brenden said, “I’ll make sure of it this time. I know Cassie’ll want his blood now.”
Tommy nodded, still castigating himself for letting Mike get away again. But maybe he hadn’t, maybe someone else had stopped him from leaving, and the cops had gotten there. Tommy hoped. Shannon did her best to assure him that he’d done the right thing, and that if Mike had gotten away, they’d find him.
Hours later the doctor finally came out to talk to them about John.
Cassie stood but stayed against the wall, as if it were holding her up. Tommy and Shannon walked over to stand near her, just in case. Brenden walked up to the doctor to receive his news.
“Mr. Machiavelli is out of surgery,” the doctor said. “Fortunately, the bullet didn’t do too much damage and we were able to control the bleeding. The bullet missed the heart altogether and most of the major organs. One of Mr. Machiavelli’s lungs was damaged, so we’ll need to watch that to make sure no infection develops.”
“Is he going to be okay?” Brenden asked, wanting to cut to the chase for Cassie’s sake.
“Yes, his prognosis is very good,” the doctor said, proudly. “I’m very hopeful for a full recovery.”
“Thank God …” Cassie breathed, leaning against Tommy for support.
In the Fast Lane Page 18